COMPETITION DETAIL

I feel very torn between my review, so I will list the good vs. bad. Pros: best venue I've ever been to. The dressing room was a dance studio within the building with a beautiful set of ballet barres and mirrors that were full length! Also, the entry fees are very good and reasonable. Cons: so many errors with the music. A dance that went before that was jazz, had the song play after for a contemporary routine. They then called the dancers off stage and blamed it on the wifi. Also, the music stopped for about two or three different routines, and picked up after nearly 30 seconds to minute later from where it had stopped. Being they were solos, and only 2:30 routines, the dancers had to improv for a full minute until the song ended. Also, I feel like the judging was heavily biased. We were the biggest studio there, and definitely did not compare to other smaller studios, but still got the most in quantity of awards as well as the highest. So it's not like we didn't do well, we won the most and highest awards, but definitely not fairly. The trophies are completely cheap. The were wobbly the minute we got them. Just cheap plastic that was breaking, I mean if you use cheap plastic just apply it better. Also, the sound booth and backstage crew were pretty much clueless. There was a number before a tap number that involved feathers as props to be thrown around the stage, and the studio had parents ready to clean them up, but the crew said that they can't hold up the next number. The studio owner had to flat out refuse to let the tap number go on while the other parents from another studio ran onstage and swept quickly. Also, one dance had sharp hair pieces fall out onstage, and the crew allowed the next number to go on. (and I mean actually meant to look sharp- like cheap plastic that cuts your fingers) Luckily, no one got hurt, but too many oppertunities to do so. Also, they announced numbers before they checked in...one duo had one girl backstage and another one still getting dressed, to which they did not check in for backstage nor with any crew member, and then announced them anyways. I was not from their studio, but I respectfully stood up for the girl, as she was on verge of tears from nerves. I really do feel like every studio there had to give each other more emotional support just from the competition itself. I also do not appreciate how the competition owner had a dog- not a service animal, just a pet dog, at the venue. Many people were allergic, as well as many little ones frightened by a big dog just running around the building with no leash. Very unprofessional. Service animals would not even be comparable, but it was not one. I had to run out and get Allegra in the middle of the day at the CVS near by just because so many parents from multiple studios, as well as kids, were having severe allergies, to which the competition did not care about. One mother asked if they could remove the dog until the little ones leave, being her tiny kid was allergic and scared of dogs, being that the dog was big enough to fit up the whole backseat of a car, and they told her to leave if it was a problem. Mind you- THIS WAS A RANDOM PET DOG OF THE OWNERS- NOT A SERVICE ANIMAL! No vest, no training, and clearly not working. (As someone with a service animal) Also, I have never been a fan of dancebug, but these photos were by far the worst. Nearly every solo photo, yes, solos only, were stretched out horizontally by edit, clearly not the camera. Also, you can't preview the videos before paying a whopping $65 for a single video that may not even be good! I am very disappointed, and I had read so many great things, but was absolutely appalled and want to forget that weekend every happened. You messed up, Elite Performance Challenge.

Organized competition, and felt it was fairly judged. Competition was high, and felt the most technically elite dancers did win. I think the best part of this competition is generally the feedback. We've always had thorough, intelligent judges critiques from this competition. Felt awards were lackluster, no music, or flash which sort of killed the vibe a bit, especially it being our last competition. Other than that no complaints.

We enjoy this competition every year, and look forward to attending again next year! Very organized, fair judging, and this year especially we had some of the best judge's critiques and comments that we have ever seen from any competition! The only complaint we had was that they combined the comp with the convention this year in our area and we didn't love that - makes for some very tired dancers.

Favorite competition by far. Venue (in Danvers) is just about as good as we\'ve ever seen. Very well organized and level of competition is high.

Great competition ran on time. Kids had a great time.

This was our first year attending. Since it was new we expected it to be fairly small but we surprised to find it had over 600 routines! The talent their was amazing too. The routines you saw were those equivalent to what you would see at a huge competition like NYCDA, KAR, of jump. The judges also gave very useful critiques, and the trophies were nice.

Enjoy this company and they way the run their event. Tends to run early, no complaints about that!! The more efficient and to the point a weekend is, the more I appreciate the staff and overall competition company. The venue we attended this season was by far the best with the expansion into Nashua. Judging was fair, not everyone went home with a high score, love the challenge in working for your score/placement. Nothing more frustrating that everyone receiving the same award.

Well run, friendly staff, they were running a bit early and the backstage staff came to the dressing room to let us know. I liked the way they do awards. Gives more dancers opportunity to place within their division. Would be happy to return next season.

Second time attending and it was well run again. Was not overly fond of the venue this year, but that is minor. They ran on time and the announcer was easy to understand.

Good competition. There was strong talent at the Providence event. Judging seemed fair; haven\'t seen the critiques yet so don\'t know how valuable they are. The staff was friendly and helpful. Venue was very nice.

We have been attending for three years and this is my student\'s favorite competition! Staff is professional and friendly. They also have more staff than any other competition we\'ve been to so they can deal with issues that come up (like moving around dances because we had a sick kid throwing up). The scoring system was much easier to follow this year and I agree with the place my students came in. We have a full range of levels and I felt that they really considered that my recreational dancers were at a different level. The special awards are great and focus on things my students are proud of (i.e. technique, quality of movement). Every one of the competitions we\'ve attended has ran within 15 minutes of our scheduled time. My student\'s favorite aspect of this competition compared to others is the Elite Dancer award. They love that they are given the opportunity to work with \"famous people\".

My students\' least favorite competition of the year. Venue was not good, competition showed favoritism, and there were a lot of inappropriate dances that were praised.

This was my girls 3rd year competing at Elite. Love the special awards. Loved the new award pins this year given out for placement. The award process is slow to start. Good judge feedback provided.

A little disorganized and hectic. A lot of skipping around is allowed which is a turn off. Judging js more than difficult and is a little discouraging to some dancers...seems almost impossible to do well there. Also Seems that preference is given to certain studios and when they win one overall they win them all. Granted they are talented, but for example, they seemed to be a bit biased towards a certain studio that faithfully attends their regional events and national events every year while we, who are pretty much equal to them in many categories and only attended this comp once, could not seem to catch a break, I don\'t want to sound like a sore loser just my opinion. Still had fun though and the comp attracts good studios and usually runs three days which most of us actually like. Did not like how the medals don\'t say what the award was. Backstage crew is funny and upbeat. Also liked the special judges awards because they recognized things like partnering, technique, and costume, rather than being foolish awards for \"cuteness\" and things like that

The venue was a joke, and the whole competition was chaotic and disorganized. I was disappointed.

Good experience. Challenging judging. Nice special judges awards.

They don't know how to add, one of my students got a 292.67, and the competition said they got 282.67. One of my other students got a 287.5, and received first. Very dissapointed

This is my 10th year of attending my son's dance competitions with his studio. This is the worst competition that I've ever attended, and the most poorly run. Particularly the judging, was very poor, when you have judges Molly Misgalla and Dedrick Lee Anthony who aren't watching the dancers at all; how can you possibly judge the dance? Judge Dedrick gave my son so many dirty looks during the competition that I wonder if he was judged before he even danced. The Titliest competition was a joke; to even find out who won, you had to attend a dinner which cost $85 (adult meal) and $65 for the children's chicken finger meal! REALLY?!!

My kids were last to go before awards. There were 6 other productions ahead of us. They started my music before the other school was out of their way. The girls tried telling them, but because they were running behind,they said unless the teacher told them they would not stop. The auditorium was so packed that I couldn\'t even get out of my seat to go and ask them to restart. So my dance started without the girls for the first 3 counts of 8 and by the 12 count of 8 most of them had made it to the stage. about 1 minute into the dance they other school was finally out of the way with their props and the rest made it to the stage. the judges said I had an awful beginning and I should add more dancers or something. I was so mad and they couldn\'t redo it because that section was over and already scored. Will not return to this one.