Loved the energy of this competition ! Wish they would only allow highest scoring entry to place in overalls though when single dancer is performing multiple solos. Multiple dancers had multiple solos and each solo placed in top 10 (for example. 1 dancer may place 1st 3rd and 4th a second dancer was 2nd and 5th) I think an unfair for the dancers performing one solo.
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Well organized competition. The dancers love Backstage Bill!
Our studio attends Backstage every year and it is one of our favorites! The emcee is the best, the judging/scoring is fair, and they have some of the best merch. Can't wait to be back in 2024.
We attended the solo, duo/trio event in Lincroft last March. I thought this was a really fun competition. Instead of dead air, they made it fun for the kids young and older. The kids didn't like the scoring-but mostly because they had to work hard to earn a platinum-but I personally felt the judges were very generous and fair. The awards were ok. Kids who's solos earn overalls don't necessarily need a giant banner, but I like that they can be hung in the studio for group dances.
This regional was a regular for us before covid and the kids always enjoyed especially because of Mr Backstage Bill who they like. They were excited to be back on stage but truthfully alot of the parents and teachers feel this comp is in need of a revamp. It was just meh. Event we last attended was Millstone in February.
This competition would be so much better without all of the unnecessary talking. When it is award time, announce the awards. There is no need for extended babble. If there are a few dances left before awards, don't have the judges take a meal break. Finish the show. They can wait 10 minutes for meal. What about the kids that have been up and dancing since 7am? They are doing it without a meal break. You can sit and judge for a little while longer. The judging is completely unfair.. apparently if you don't attend this on a yearly basis then you aren't judged fairly. This is a talent show, based on the kids talents and abilities. Take the politics out. The only ones hurting in all of this are the kids. They are being judged unfairly and under the impression that they are better than they are or aren't as good as they really are. It is ridiculous and completely unfair.
"Review is Locked, Pending Review"
So disappointed with this past weekend's comp in North Caldwell NJ. Our studio has been attending Backstage for 5 years and the decline is markedly apparent. This comp was oversold, to the point that even the addition of another performance area was of no help. Judging, which in the past was rather fair, seemed robotic and just complacent. Many of the judges seemed bored and uninterested. Plenty of platinum all around to appease everyone , but by trying to make everyone a "VIP" they provide no incentive for dancers to learn and grow or improve. One couldn't help but feel that the main motivation here was to generate revenue. Really couldn't wait for the weekend to end, the only consolation was Backstage Bill who is always entertaining!Our director announced today that we will be taking a break from this comp next season and exploring more challenging options. All parents in attendance were in agreement.
We are very sorry that you didn’t have a positive experience at the competition. We here at Backstage are always working to improve and would be more than happy to hear your feedback. Please give us a call at (732) 740-0046 so we can help make it more enjoyable in the future.
I recently attended a Backstage event and even though there were clearly some kinks that needed to be worked out, the thing that sets backstage apart from the rest is the staff. From the minute I get there the staff truly does try their best to make everyone a VIP. I have always loved this competition and I continue to look forward to attending them in the future.
I'm not even done at the current regionals that I am at and have to post. I am so annoyed with what Backstage has become. There is a studio here competing and their teacher and choreographer is ONE OF THE REGULAR BACKSTAGE JUDGES. HOW IS THAT FAIR?! Obviously they are going to favor this guy and his stuff if he is on Backstage staff! He has judged US before! How is this fair?!?! Also, They are all about packing the competitions and making money. They tell you that there are glitches in the system and that is why there are so many studios here but then the next staff member says that it is because the owner doesn't want to turn anyone away and hurt their feelings. Which one is it? Probably neither because they just want to make money. Never returning to Backstage and I can't wait for this weekend to end.
Sorry to hear you have not had a good experience with Backstage. To address your concerns, we our implementing a new two room system at this venue in order to accommodate our dancers school schedules; the two rooms allowed us to not start on Friday and end early Sunday. Also, the two rooms allowed us to take schedule requests. We are not familiar with any this glitches in the computer system this weekend. Additionally, Backstage has strong integrity; the panel of judges this weekend in both rooms have no idea what studios are attending, and therefore have no connection to the studios whatsoever, thus, the scoring is absolutely fair. I would love to speak with you about your experience, so please come find me backstage. -Cathy
My daughter has attended 4 regional and 2 national event at backstage and they have all been great experiences. As a parent I love that the staff makes it entertaining for the whole family. Fun opening ceremonies and award show. They are also mindful that families need update on how the schedule is adhering to time. I always know what time it's going to end because they make announcements when they are behind or ahead of schedule. This is so helpful considering that once it's over most families have a long commute home. Backstage is also very well diverse and I love seeing that and that my child is seeing all cultures and all forms of dance represented. My daughter also loves the judges feedback she says it's always fair and helpful to her techniques.
so much fun, the judges are great and have a high respect for musical theatre numbers!
This is my daughters first year in the competition team and we really had a great time at Backstage comp. the staff was very nice, helpful and fun!
We are glad to hear that you enjoyed your time at Backstage and we look forward to having you at our future events!
Backstage was one of my first dance competitions and I love it every year. The staff is welcoming. the judging is very fair. It is a very fun event every time.
We always have the best time at Backstage, whether it's regionals or nationals. Their staff always goes a step above and are very easy to talk to. Mr. Backstage Bill is usually the highlight of all the students weekend. And, the MC, Elliot is the most hysterical host- makes Backstage Awards one of my staffs favorite ceremonies! We have never had an issue and we look forward to returning year after year. We have made great "studio-friends" along the way! I highly recommend!
We are glad to hear that you enjoyed your time at Backstage and we look forward to having you at our future events! We will make sure to pass the message along to Mr. Backstage Bill and Elliot!
Backstage runs an amazing competition. Their staff is so friendly and welcoming. We always have a wonderful time attending. I feel they go above and beyond making the competition a fun time for all the dancers and their parents!! Looking forward to the next one!!
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From when we walked in early morning till we left late that night we was treated great like we were family . Everyone was so nice and polite , there energy was just great this was my daughters first time at backstage and she loved it , she was so excited they made the kids feel so welcomed ... the judges were great too I feel like there scoring was fare and honest and they really did make this a great experience for all the kids as well as the parents ... there the best.
What a great competition!! Pleasant, encouraging, positive competitive environment.
Our kids have so much fun at this competition! The staff is so friendly and helpful.
Amazing competition, excellent staff, wonderful experience! We have competed at Backstage for several years and all of our dancers, staff and parents always look so forward to this competition. We always have the BEST time at Backstage. Great job Backstage, Keep up the great work!!!!
Backstage competition is made up of professional wonderful people who not only put their heart and soul into their jobs but also give our dancers an incredible experience on and off their stages. The positive and awesome energy that Backstage brings to their events is contagious for not only the dancers which is super important but also to the audience, making everyone feel welcomed and part of the event. The sportsmanship and family atmosphere is felt throughout the day or days of the entire competition and we are so lucky our studio chooses Backstage!!
Great competition! Very organized, easy to work with, responds quick to emails and phone calls. Flexible if you need any adjustments/changes in the schedule. Understanding when you need more time in between your fast changes. Never pushy or impatient with that. Awards go quick, they strive to get you out at a reasonable hour. Lourdes backstage always has a smile on her face and is so accomodating. Teachers lounge with coffee - YAAS! Glow rings were given to all the kids, they give out a ton of free tee shirts! Merchandise is great and affordable! Venue is perfect, didn't feel on top of any other studio in the dressing rooms! Opening ceremonies are always fun and get the kids and parents excited for a fun day. MC is hilarious and makes the audience laugh throughout the day. Lots of opportunities for recognition for dances that stood out - whether it be their vip awards for costume, choreography, etc. Keep it up Backstage! Can't wait for Nationals!
We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the competition and we would like to thank you for taking the time to write this review. We'll pass along the kind words to our staff members!
Backstage is amazing!! We are always welcomed with positive energy, and enjoy interacting with the staff every time. I feel they take the time out of their day to meet each studio and every dancer that gets on stage. We have been competing at this competition for the past 6 years! Their scoring is always fair and consistent. I know my daughter feels this is her favorite competition to attend every year!
Backstage always treats our studio like family- we look forward to attending their competition every year. The staff goes above and beyond for everyone , always helpful, friendly and supportive. The best part about them is the way they treat the dancers- always so positive and encouraging which helps to ease their nerves before hitting the stage. The competition is run so professionally and filled with fun so everyone in the audience has a great time also!! Backstage feels like home every time we attend!!
The best competition around! Judging is always extremely fair. Staff is super entertaining and fun. Very friendly and welcoming atmosphere all around. Backstage bill is the absolute best and such a hit with all the kids. LOVE BACKSTAGE!!
Backstage competition is by far the most amazing competition I have ever been to - both as a dancer when I was a kid, and now as a studio owner for the last 12 years. I have been delighted to take my team for Backstage for the last 6 seasons. They provide an incredible atmosphere for the entire family. They are organized, friendly, compassionate, efficient, and professional to the MAX. Their judging panels are always experienced, insightful, and fair. The Backstage team actively works to ensure that every dancer and their families can have a wonderful time at the competition. Backstage finds opportunities for every studio to be recognized and celebrated. Dancers are empowered and supported as artists and entertainers. Leading into competition, the registration process is easy! The staff is readily available to contact and quick to reply. The guidelines are clear, the schedules are organized. The discounts offered are superior to all other companies I’ve worked with. The awards are beautiful - Backstage spares no expense to reward the champions on a job well done. Of all the events I’ve been to, BACKSTAGE GETS IT - it’s about professionalism. It’s about empowering children. It’s about artistry. It’s about fun. It’s about celebrating the love and passion for dance. I commend the director and her team for staying true to their vision and ideals and creativity after all these years. Go attend a Backstage event. You will NOT be disappointed!
Backstage is the most enjoyable and fun competition. The staff helps make everyone feel welcome and accommodated. Most of all they have fun doing it, backstage Bill is always encouraging the kids to have fun backstage and in the audience. Also, Backstage is a very well run competition and they organize their competitions to meet the needs of every dancer and parent and director.
Let me open by saying BS has been a fun comp for years and the staff has always been wonderful and accommodating. We just came back from a 3 day extremely long weekend. There was simply too many studios, too many numbers, the dressing rooms were overcrowded , and 2 rooms were being judged by completely different judging staffs on polar opposites of the judging scale. A dancer in a solo could receive gold and walk across the hall and receive Plat in a duet with the same style and choreo. To say that is difficult to explain to your student is an understatement. Judges looked bored and were missing the beginning of almost every number. Audience members were actually counting how long it took for them to look up...longest I witnessed was 35 seconds. That’s a LONG time to be dancing and to be ignored. Awards were confusing as well. Why would BS find it necessary to give a routine that won high score( congrats!) and a HP(again congrats) the special oversized trophy? Perhaps another routine could have had a moment ? Maybe not...It seemed a little all right already to me on some issues like that. They also seemed to judge the beginner categories harder than intermediate and advanced . Giving out golds to those dancers when you would think judging would be based on their training there.Again...guess not. Saw some “Plat “ in the inter and advanced younger age groups that were very interesting calls. Yet the beginners received golds. I will move on as this was just one of many competitions we did this year and the ONLY one with these scoring and lack of attention issues from the judging panel. I think we will move on to other competitions...
We are very sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your experience at Backstage. Our company works hard to provide an educational yet fun experience for everyone and we sincerely apologize for not meeting that goal. We value feedback in regards to our scoring system and judging panel to help make improvements for future competitions. We want to thank you for shedding light on issues we need to address and if you have anything else that you would like to discuss with us please give us a call at (732) 740-0046
Where to begin? Backstage has changed. It used to be a charming, positive experience. Now it is clearly about the money. It was so overbooked that try as two rooms going, one of which was a Marley floor on a gym floor. Hardly the experience that we paid for. They ran so behind because they were so overbooked and it was just very poorly ran. They used to hand out trophies, now just ribbons. The scoring was just awful. Dancers scoring 20-30 points lower than every other regional we attended this season. It was almost like they were out of platinums and high golds so they started handing out golds. The judges looked bored and their special awards were ridiculous. Such a shame because it used to be a fun event. But we won’t be returning.
We are very sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your experience at Backstage. We strive to promote an enjoyable atmosphere as well as a fair scoring system for everyone at the competition and we sincerely apologize for not meeting that goal. Thanks to the feedback from our regional competitions we are making improvements to continue to provide a positive and memorable experience for everyone. We value your feedback very much and if you would like to further discuss anything with our staff please call us at (732) 740-0046
We just attended Backstage at Millstone this weekend. They were completely overbooked.....which just represents greed on the competitions behalf. Scoring was so off it was laughable. They gave BEGINNER 5/6 year old soloists gold....what a disgrace! Not giving out trophies anymore is also a slap in the face to the customers paying over $100 for a solo entry. I would never choose to do this competition again if I had my way.
We are very sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your experience at Backstage. We strive to promote an enjoyable atmosphere as well as a fair scoring system for everyone at the competition and we sincerely apologize for not meeting that goal. We are always working to improve and value your feedback if you would like to further discuss anything with our staff please call us at (732) 740-0046
I just attended the Millstone competition this past weekend. It was overbooked by at least 5 studios. It ran until almost midnight on Saturday and it was just hectic and not an enjoyable experience at all. The judges could not have been less educated and the scoring between the two rooms were so different that it just was not fair. Soloists were getting golds and high golds but getting high golds and platinums in the other room. It got to the point where I was watching to see how long it took for the judges to look up during dances and it was in the 30 second mark because they were so distracted by trying to score what was just on stage because they had to go so fast because they were so overbooked. It was just a mess. Never again.
We are very sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your experience at Backstage. Unfortunately, we did run into some problems during the competition which caused us to run behind on a tight schedule. We strive to promote a fun, educational, and enjoyable experience for everyone and we sincerely apologize that we did not fulfill that goal. If you have any more feedback please give us a call at (732) 740-0046.
We attended Backstage Performing Arts Dance Competition this past weekend and really enjoyed it. I like how they had individual rooms for the schools to change in. I felt the judging was fair. I like that each soloist received a trophy. The stage crew was really fun and kept the audience entertained during breaks and waiting for the next dance. I think it was run smoothly and I hope our school goes back to it next year!
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We have attend this competition numerous times and have always had a great experience
we love this competition andattend evry year!!!!!!
My staff, dancers and their parents love this competition. We have attended Backstage Competition every year since they started. The owners and staff are always friendly and welcoming. Both Regionals and Nationals are run efficiently and the directors and backstage staff are always helpful. Always a good atmosphere, locations are good and staff is professional
Not impressed at all with this competition. The backstage staff was rude. You could not understand the announcer at all whether it was at awards or who was next to the stage. The actual awards were very cheap and dated looking. The judges barely said anything on the critiques other than \'good\' and \'cute\'. Wasn\'t a fan of the backdrop with the flashing lights. Very distracting. Will not be back!
Great
Extremely disappointed and disgusted with Backstage this year. First off, the judging was horrible. They scored cookie-cutter, highly-technical but not musically relevant numbers high, and anything with storytelling or out of the box choreography was discouraged with low scores. The judges only cared for tricks-even if the dancers executed them poorly. To make matters worse, the competition allowed a studio to perform a number that unnecessarily used the racial slur for Hispanics 3x in their music without penalizing them and another dance that consisted of mothers and teachers mocking Hispanic women blatantly. Our studio, which performs traditional flamenco numbers, was highly offended. When we brought this to the attention of the co-owner, she laughed it off and told us not to take it so seriously. The portrayal of our culture is a very serious matter, and I for one will not be taking my dancers to this competition again.
As a mother of a competitive dancer for the past 11 years, I can honestly say this is one the best competitions we have attended. We look forward to attending this competition every year. It is very well run & they make it a great experience for the kids. It\'s all about the kids & that\'s what it should be. The staff is professional, courteous & always pleasant. The event is always on schedule & is so well run it is often ahead of schedule. The awards ceremony is always a pleasure. They don\'t have the kids on stage waiting for hours. I wish all competitions were run so well. The regional competitions are great & their Nationals are even better! Thank you Backstage for the great experiences. My daughter truly loves dancing at your events.
Backstage is the best competition I attended my whole dance career ! As a senior i looked forward to attending this competition and enjoyed every second of it ! Love the staff and the energy that backstage has . Will truly miss this competition when I graduate
LOVE LOVE LOVE this competition!!! The staff is not only great with teachers and owners but have a great time with the kids! Our dancers and families are always so excited to go to this competition. I\'m reading these other comments and it seems people must have been at a different competition. My studio had their routines listed in the wrong categories but they were announced in the.correct categories so perhaps if people listened before commenting they\'d be more informed. It\'s sad that people cannot be more mature and act like nothing more then sore losers. It\'s such a shame. We never miss this competition because we love them!!!
Two words... NEVER AGAIN!!!! With the lack of professionalism I experienced leading up to this event, I really shouldn\'t have been surprised. No one working there seemed interested or like they wanted to be there. You couldn\'t understand the announcer both when announcing next to the stage and at awards. Awards were just confusing and lackluster. No real recognition to the dancers and choreographers. Was not impressed with any of the judges they had and I don\'t even care to listen to the critiques. They switched out judges during the weekend which was annoying. Dated looking trophies and ribbons. Studios clearly misusing the levels. Everyone got High Gold with a few Platinums here and there. If you want to go to a low budget, no frills competition where everyone wins... This one is for you! If you want to know where you really stand take your money elsewhere!!!
I wish that I had more than 2,000 Characters to give you an accurate rating of this competition. I have been in this business a LONG time and have attended hundreds of competitions across the country. This is BY FAR that worst I have ever seen. From the Judging to the support staff to the image, and please don\'t get me started on the sound tech. I attended a competition in Shanghai China just last year and was able to understand Mandarin Chinese over this person So Called English. OMG!!! The judges should be ashamed of themselves with the scoring they gave; they were giving out High Platinum and Platinum like they were candy. DO YOU UNDERSTAND that this is 3pts away from a perfect score!!! You have to be kidding me!!!! As I read the judges Bio, they were from Joffrey School of Ballet. SO I contacted them this morning and Joffrey has NEVER heard of them. Now, unless of course the Tally person changes their adjudication scores, which is also very possible and SO BAD!!!!! They changed the judges throughout the weekend, which is unheard of. YOU NEVER change judges mid day!!!! EVER!! Then bring them back later, unless of course a person gets sick or something like that. So some advise to the Judging staff. If you want to protect your reputation, find another competition to employ you because you will go down with the sinking ship. The backdrop they use is distracting to the dancers, the awards ceremonies are underwhelming and they don\'t really acknowledge the Dancer they way other comps do. Depending on the size of the show you may want to down load some movies to watch to get you through the VERY long, drawn out ceremony. They DO NOT acknowledge Choreographers or the schools as others do. I hate to sound like such a snob but I just can\'t help it. I can tell you there is literally nothing I can say that is positive about this competition. For all those folks who rated this a 5 Star I just can\'t imagine! Now I ran out or Room !!!!!!
Fun competition! The master class wasn\'t very helpful...that break would have been better used for lunch. But the rest of the weekend was enjoyable!
The best competition! Backstage is so generous with their awards! Staff is second to none
THANK YOU ROCKI!
Backstage was a great competition and it was loads of fun! I can\'t wait to go back next year
THANK YOU! :-)
This will be our third year attending this competition and I am very much looking forward to it. They truly try to make it a fun experience for the kids. Since this is a newer competition and word may get out about what an enjoyable production they provide, I hope they continue to keep the number of dances at a reasonable level. We are attending one that is \"sold out\" this year so fingers are crossed. Update: I am forced to drop a star (from 5) although I would imagine others who attended Backstage for the first time this past weekend would give it a much lower rating. For starters, the venue was horrible. An older, way-too-small hotel is not the appropriate location for a sold-out competition. Dressing room was inadequate and actual \"ballroom\" was awful to actually watch the dancers. You had to stand if you wanted to see anything or weren\'t from the studio that \"reserved\" the first 6 rows with jackets for 2 days. Though their awards have never had an onstage MC, they were so fast that we barely knew what had happened. The kid\'s favorite part had always been the pre-awards with glow sticks and free t-shirt giveaways. The only time to do that was during the opening ceremonies (Sat. & Sun.)at 8am. I\'m sorry but if my daughter doesn\'t need to be there that early and will still be dancing at 9pm on a Sunday, we are not coming to an opening ceremony. Due to how late dances were scheduled on Sunday (a school night) plus an hour+ ride home, we got home at 11:45pm. Skip the master class at a sold-out venue and get us home! I will try to focus on how enjoyable Backstage was the previous 2 years and hope they learn from their major mistakes this year. Please choose appropriately-sized school stages/venues and not hotels and skip the master class if a venue sells out.
Fun competition. Ran on time. Fair judging. Two reasons I didn\'t give 5 stars: 1) The master class seemed to be a waste of time; a lunch break would have been a better use of time, and 2) there was no staff member backstage to monitor the groups as they waited to go on stage for awards. We took mostly little ones, who could\'ve been trampled by all the other big kids that were pushing to get in first. Someone should have been at the door maintaining order so that no one would get hurt. Another parent and I were the ones trying to do that...the staff should have done that.
Thank you for your rating and you comments. We are continuously working to improve our events and will definitely use your feedback.
Regionals and nationals both great experiences!
Was competing this weekend. Overall, we had a pleasant experience.
My daughter competed her this weekend and it was a great experience! Very organized and ran on time.. Professional and courteous staff. My only suggestion is to slow down a bit with the special awards. Girls didnt even know why they received them. Great competition. Looking forward to Nationals!