Artists of Promise Competitions

dancer with arms crossed

Dance: Performance and Choreography

The Maricopa County Community College District sponsors a competition that recognizes student achievement and provides professional adjudication feedback in the following categories:

  • Solo Choreography
  • Solo Performance
  • Group Choreography
  • Group Performance

Professionals in the dance field will adjudicate this full-day event. Adjudicators will provide feedback on all dances using common Rubrics. These will be provided to the directors to share with participants after the competition is completed.

solo dancer on stage wearing white shirt with suspenders

Eligibility Requirements

  • The choreographer(s) and performer(s) must be a student(s) taking a for-credit dance class at the Maricopa Community Colleges during the 2023-2024 school year.
  • The choreography must be original student work for both the Choreography and Performance Competitions.
  • MCCCD faculty are NOT eligible to apply or perform in the competition.
  • Your Dance Program Director must approve all submissions and will be disqualified if submitted without permission.
  • Failure to arrive at the appointed adjudication time will result in disqualification.
  • Please refrain from wearing or showcasing any school-identifying apparel or items, as the adjudication process should be as anonymous as possible.
dance group performing on stage

Guidelines

Submissions should adhere to the following time limits:

  • Solo Choreography: Minimum of three (3) minutes; Maximum of five (5) minutes
  • Group Choreography: Minimum of four (4) minutes; Maximum of twelve (12) minutes.

Applicants are limited to one entry per category (Performance and Choreography).

  • Example 1: Submit the same piece for both performance and choreography.
  • Example 2: Submit a solo for performance and a group for choreography or vice versa
two dancers on stage wearing formal wear

Choreography and Performance Competition Details

Where: MCC Performing Arts Center, 1520 South Longmore, Mesa, AZ 85202

When: Saturday, February 10, 2024

Schedule: The full schedule will be available on February 6 and will include calls, warm-up, and performance times.

Submission Deadlines and Application Link

Application Opens: January 22, 2024  |  Application Closes: February 5, 2024  |  Music Due: February 6, 2024


dancer swinging arms

Gather the following information for all your performers and choreographers before you begin the application:

  • Full names as associated with your Student ID#
  • Email Addresses
  • Phone Numbers
  • Preferred name to be used in a show program
  • After completing the application, don’t forget to hit “SUBMIT” (Once submitted, you cannot go back and edit your application)

Choreography and Performance Competition Application

  • Music Format: .wav files are preferred, but Music can be in an .mp3, .wav, or .aiff file.
  • Title your music files with the following syntax: title_college abreviation_aop24
  • Example: title_scc_aop24
  • Email your music files to [email protected]
dancer kneeling on stage

Awards / Gala Performance

First- and Second-place winners of the competition will have their work presented at the Artists of Promise Music and Dance Gala on the evening of March 19, 2024, at Paradise Valley Community College, 18401 N. 32nd St., Phoenix, AZ 85032. The Gala Tech Rehearsal will be scheduled at a later date.

Winners will also receive monetary awards via US Mail shortly after the Artists of Promise Competition.

  • $500 First Place
  • $200 Second Place
  • $100 Third Place

Note: Choreography awards are disbursed to the choreographer(s) only, and Performance awards are split between and dispersed to the performers.

solo dancer on stage

Dance Program Directors by College

Photo Credit

Photography by Rick Bivona, Bivona Photography, LLC.