OPUS

COMPETITION

FINE PRINT

PRE-QUALIFYING COMPETITION

  • For 2027, our Pre-Qualifying Competition will be conducted entirely through video submissions.
  • Submit a single-take performance video — either filmed in your studio or from a competition. No multi-clip edits or compilations will be accepted.
  • Each routine submitted will be critiqued and scored by our judges.
  • Routines earning Top of the Chart, Platinum, High Gold, Gold, or High Silver qualify for Nationals.
  • Solos and Duo/Trios do not need to pre-qualify.

FINALS COMPETITION

  • OPUS Nationals is open only to routines that have earned a qualifying placement during the 2026–2027 season at a regional Press Play or RYZE event city or have become eligible through video submission.
  • Capacity for Finals is determined by available stage time. Once the schedule is full, registration will close. All entries are confirmed in the order they are received.

FINALS SOLOS

  • To compete a solo, the dancer must also be registered in a Small Group, Large Group, Line or Extended Line — no exceptions.
  • Dancers are permitted only one solo at Nationals, plus an additional solo if competing for Artist of the Year.
  • Artist of the Year Finalists who are also competing in the Finals Solo Competition must perform a different solo for each.
  • Solo spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Solos do not require pre-qualification.

MUSIC

  • All competition music can be uploaded directly to your online account.
  • We recommend using MP3 audio files up to 50 MB each.
  • To avoid any issues onsite, competition music must be uploaded prior to the event.
  • Please always bring a back-up for your music on a USB or Flash Drive.

DRESSING ROOMS

Dedicated dressing rooms for Female, Male, and Gender Neutral dancers will be available at all events. Dressing rooms are for changing only and may not be used as rehearsal space. To ensure privacy, photos and videos are strictly prohibited inside all dressing rooms. Studios, dancers, and parents are expected to respect and maintain the designated dressing areas. Any abuse of the dressing rooms may result in disqualification from the competition. All participants are responsible for keeping their space clean and properly disposing of all trash before leaving the area.

ONLINE CRITIQUES

OPUS Nationals features an industry-leading scoring and critique system designed to provide valuable feedback for every performance. Within one week of the event, all scores & video critiques will be made available to the users of the online account from which the registration was originally submitted.

TEACHER ONLY CRITIQUES

One judge on each panel is dedicated to providing feedback specifically for teachers and choreographers. These critiques may include notes on individual dancers, costuming, choreography, and more. They are included with your studio's online critiques and are clearly labeled as "Teacher Only."

APPROPRIATENESS POLICY

OPUS Nationals is a family-friendly event, and we expect all music, choreography, costuming, and themes to reflect that standard. Routines that contain excessive violence, sexual content, suggestive material, explicit language, or other content deemed inappropriate for a general audience may result in a point deduction or disqualification, at the sole discretion of the judges and Event Director.

Music containing explicit lyrics must be edited in advance. Even if a clean version is used, the overall theme and presentation must still be suitable for all ages.

OPUS Nationals reserves the right to disqualify any routine, without refund, that is considered excessively inappropriate for our event environment. If you are unsure whether a routine may be questionable, we encourage you to contact us ahead of time for guidance.

Our goal is to create a positive, inspiring, and inclusive atmosphere where all dancers, families, and guests feel comfortable and celebrated.

SPECTATOR POLICY

We are thrilled to welcome family & friends to cheer on their dancers! To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, please review our spectator guidelines:

  • Admission: Spectator admission is free to friends and family. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Etiquette: Please be respectful of all performers, staff, judges, and fellow audience members. Disruptive behavior, loud talking, or negative comments will not be tolerated. Air horns or similar devices are prohibited. OPUS Nationals reserves the right to remove any spectator for inappropriate conduct.
  • Video and Photography: Personal photography and video recording are not permitted inside the performance areas or dressing rooms. Professional photos and videos may be available for purchase after the event. Please see further details below.
  • Permission: All attendees and spectators automatically permit OPUS Nationals to use all photos and videos for advertising and publicity.
  • Saving Seats: Saving more than 1 seat is not allowed. Please be considerate and make room for all guests who wish to support their dancers.
  • Venue Policies: All spectators must comply with the specific rules of each venue, including food, drink, and facility use policies.
  • Support the Performers: We encourage loud applause, positive energy, and good sportsmanship throughout the event!

LIVESTREAM

If friends or family can't watch you compete in person, don't worry! Enjoy a free livestream of the Competition. While we aim to deliver a smooth and high-quality stream, please note that occasional technical issues may arise due to venue or internet limitations. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

VIDEO AND PHOTOGRAPHY

To protect the privacy and safety of all performers, personal photography and videography are strictly prohibited inside the performance spaces and dressing rooms at all times. This includes the use of phones, cameras, tablets, or any recording devices.

Professional photography and video coverage will be provided by OPUS Nationals' media team. Approved media will be made available to studios, dancers, and families during and following the event.

Violation of this policy may result in removal from the venue, disqualification of routines, and/or forfeiture of awards.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe, respectful, and focused environment for all participants!

PROPS

To ensure the safety of all dancers, crew, and audience members, and to maintain a smooth flow of the Competition, all props must follow the guidelines outlined below:

SAFETY REGULATIONS

  • All props must be safely constructed and secure for transport, setup, and performance.
  • Props must be free of sharp edges, broken parts, or any materials that could cause injury or damage to the dancers, stage or venue.
  • No fire, open flames, fog machines, powder, liquids, or hazardous materials are allowed on stage.
  • Hanging backdrops are not permitted.
  • Props must not leave excessive debris onstage. If any residue (feathers, glitter, confetti, etc.) is left, studios must immediately clean the stage following their routine or may incur a point deduction.
  • If a prop exceeds the maximum allowable weight for the venue's stage, or if the Event Director determines the prop poses a safety risk, the prop will not be permitted onstage.
  • OPUS Nationals reserves the right to disallow any prop deemed unsafe at the Event Director's discretion.

PROP SIZE

  • Props must fit through a standard double-door entrance (approximately 7 feet high x 6 feet wide).
  • For safety reasons, all props, whether handheld or freestanding, are restricted to a maximum height of 10'. Safety railings are strongly recommended for elevated structures.
  • Dancers are not permitted to stand or perform on props that place them more than 6' above the stage floor.
  • Props must not damage or alter the stage surface in any way.
  • If your prop requires significant height or width, you must notify OPUS Nationals in advance for venue clearance.

SET-UP AND STRIKE TIME

  • Prop setup and removal must be completed within 2 minutes total, unless otherwise pre-approved. Routines in the Production Division are allowed up to 4 minutes total.
  • Routines requiring longer setup times must be pre-approved in writing at least 30 days prior to the event.
  • Extended setup without prior approval may result in point deductions or routine disqualification.
  • Studios must supply sufficient crew to quickly and efficiently move props on and off the stage.
  • OPUS Nationals staff/crew cannot help with props.
  • Props cannot be built or constructed backstage.

PRODUCTION DIVISION

If a routine's prop is large in scale and/or central to the theme and choreography, studios are encouraged to enter it in the Production division. If the judges feel a routine has been incorrectly placed, OPUS Nationals reserves the right to reclassify it into the Production division.

STORAGE

  • OPUS Nationals and event venues are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged props.
  • Props must be stored in designated areas only. Any props left behind after the event will be discarded. If OPUS Nationals incurs any costs related to the removal of props, the responsible studio will be billed for those expenses.

PROHIBITED PROPS

For the safety of all performers, crew, audience members, and venue staff, the following props and materials are strictly prohibited at all OPUS Nationals events:

  • No fire, flames, or explosives of any kind (including candles, matches, lighters, fireworks, sparklers, or pyrotechnics).
  • Smoke or Fog Machines (including handheld devices)
  • Swords, knives, guns, weapons. Toy weapons are permitted only if they do not fire projectiles and do not have blunt points or sharp edges.
  • Animals (live animals are not permitted on stage or in the venue)
  • Hoverboards, trampolines, motorized vehicles, and similar devices are not allowed.
  • No use of liquids, gels, paint, fake blood, powders, chalk, sand, glass objects, confetti, small debris, compressed air devices or aerosol cans.
  • Props releasing objects into the air (such as balloons, streamers, or paper releases)
  • Helium balloons may only be used if they are properly weighted and allowed by the venue. (Please check with OPUS Nationals in advance.)
  • Dangerous Materials (including glass, sharp metal edges, or hazardous substances)

ROSIN

  • If a performance intends to use rosin, OPUS Nationals must be notified at the time of registration so that appropriate schedule adjustments can be made for cleanup after the routine.
  • Failure to disclose rosin usage that results in residue or damage to the marley floor may result in point deductions at the discretion of the OPUS Nationals Event Directors. Rosin must be self-contained and may not be applied directly to the marley floor.

GENERAL REMINDERS

  • All props must be labeled with the studio name.
  • Studios are responsible for ensuring their props comply with venue-specific regulations, including ceiling height limits and backstage space limitations.
  • Any use of unsafe props, materials, or delays caused by props may result in point deductions or disqualification at the sole discretion of the OPUS Nationals Event Directors.
  • Studios are financially responsible for any damage caused to OPUS Nationals or venue property, including replacement costs for the backdrop, wings, or marley flooring.
  • For any questions or clarification regarding our prop guidelines, please contact the OPUS Nationals office.

LIGHTING & POWER REQUESTS

  • Routines may request a full blackout or dimmed lighting from our lighting rig for their performance.
  • Routines may also request access to one power source backstage if a prop requires electricity during the routine. Battery-operated props are strongly recommended for reliability and ease of setup.
  • If a studio chooses to bring special lighting effects onto the stage, those effects must be operated solely by the dancers registered for the routine.
  • Teachers, parents, or non-performing individuals are not permitted to control lighting or any other props or set pieces from the wings or backstage. Only registered dancers in that routine, who are also registered for the Workshop, are permitted to participate in the routine in any capacity.

EVEN FINER PRINT…

  • Dancers must be fully registered for the Workshop to be eligible to compete.
  • All competition routines must be entered under a studio name. OPUS Nationals does not accept Independent entries, including for solos.
  • All competition changes must be submitted no later than one week before the event.
  • OPUS Nationals welcomes professional dancers to participate in our Workshop and Competition. However, any professional dancer or teacher aged 20 or older is only eligible to perform in a routine that is placed in the Performance Only category. Studios are responsible for registering dancers appropriately based on their professional status. Misrepresentation of a dancer's status may result in reclassification or disqualification at the discretion of OPUS Nationals.
  • Dancers may compete for only one studio per event. In rare cases, exceptions may be granted with prior approval from the OPUS Nationals Event Directors.
  • To keep our event running smoothly, OPUS Nationals reserves the right to adjust the schedule when needed. Except for rare situations (nosebleeds, illness, or legitimate quick costume changes), routines are expected to perform in order, and dancers should be prepared to go up to one hour earlier than their scheduled time. Please keep this in mind when leaving the venue, especially if you plan to return for the awards ceremony. Improperly holding routines may result in a point deduction or disqualification.
  • If a routine experiences a clear technical issue with its music, the dancers may be permitted to perform again with approval from OPUS Nationals staff. Outside of music-related technical difficulties caused by OPUS Nationals, re-performances may be adjudicated only and may not be eligible for overall placement.
  • Rehearsing on stage prior to the start of Competition or after the completion of a Competition day is strictly prohibited. At no time are teachers, parents or dancers allowed to practice, rehearse or meet on stage.
  • Entries that were a 2026 Performance of The Year Nominee at Press Play Nationals are not eligible to compete during the 2026–2027 regional season at Press Play or RYZE, and are not eligible to compete at OPUS Nationals 2027.
  • The maximum total cash prizes awarded per studio is $5,000, and the maximum total value of OPUS vouchers awarded per studio is $5,000. These limits supersede all other group-based cash prizes and voucher awards. The studio receiving the $25,000 OPUS Award is excluded from these limits and will receive the $25,000 cash award only. That studio will not receive any additional group-based cash prizes or OPUS vouchers. Any individual cash prizes are not affected by these limits and will be awarded in full.
  • Only a Studio Owner or Teacher may file a protest. All protests must be submitted in writing and delivered to an Event Director within 30 minutes of the incident in question. Protests will not be accepted after the conclusion of an awards ceremony.
  • Please be aware that each venue has its own policies regarding outside food and beverages, helium balloons, and other items.
  • If, in the opinion of the judging panel, a routine has been entered in the wrong category, OPUS Nationals reserves the right to reclassify it into the category that best reflects its style, choreography, or content. This decision is final and may occur at any point during the event.
  • OPUS Nationals is committed to supporting and respecting studio loyalty. Soliciting dancers from other studios at our events is strictly prohibited. A first offense will result in a formal warning. Any further violations may lead to the studio's suspension from all future OPUS Nationals events until further notice.