join us for our 30th anniversary 2025 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS!
Spotlight Nationals is the highlight of every season, but especially our 30th! Our three annual National events are centrally located and offer everything from FREE Master Classes to more than $75,000 in cash awards and prizes. To be part of an unforgettable experience, look into one of our Nationals events and join us for a week of instruction, world-class competition and memories that will last a lifetime!
midwest nationals
june 18-24, 2025
branson
chateau on the lake RESORT + spa
WEST COAST NATIONALS
july 07-13, 2025
las vegas
planet hollywood resort + casino
pacific northwest
nationals
july 14-20, 2025
seaside
SEASIDE civic + CONVENTION CENTER
Contact our office for more information about our 2025 Nationals Events
2024 nationals results
branson 2024
san diego 2024
seaside 2024
NATIONALS NEED-TO-KNOW INFO
QUALIFICATION:
Receive a Diamond, Ruby, or Emerald placement at A Regional event, or by video qualification. Dancer substitutions at a National event is permitted when 50% of the original participants are retained for duo/trio, groups, lines, and productions.
NOTE: Routines receiving the Overall High Score Award in the Diamond Class at the previous year’s National Championship Finals are ineligible to compete with the same or different dancers in the current year’s Regional or National competitions.
VIDEO QUALIFICATION
If unable to attend one or our in-person events during the regional season, routines can qualify for Nationals by registering via Video Qualification. Routines will receive one judge critique and a digital adjudication award. Login to your DanceCompGenie account for rates and deadlines (when available).
PHOTOGENIC REGISTRATION
All Regional Photogenic Winners will be automatically entered for the National Photogenic Title! If a dancer was not chosen or did not compete at a Regional event they may enter the Last Chance Photogenic contest at our National Spotlight Boutique.
SHARING THE SPOTLIGHT
All Regional Sharing the Spotlight winners are automatically entered into our National Sharing the Spotlight contest – with a chance to win up to $10,000 in scholarships for continued dance education. If a dancer was not chosen, or did not enter, at a Regional event they may enter the Last Chance Sharing the Spotlight contest. Visit the Scholarship Opportunities page to apply. All Last Chance applications must be submitted by June 1.
national title contestants
TITLE CONTESTANTS EARNING A DIAMOND OR RUBY ON THEIR TITLE SOLO AT THE REGIONAL EVENT QUALIFY TO COMPETE FOR THE NATIONAL TITLE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE CONTESTANT WON TITLE AT A REGIONAL EVENT. REGIONAL TITLE WINNERS FROM 2024 MAY COMPETE AT NATIONALS 2025 WITHOUT RE-QUALIFYING THE SPOTLIGHT TITLE PORTION IF THEY DID NOT COMPETE AT NATIONALS 2024; HOWEVER, THEY MUST QUALIFY THEIR SOLO AT A REGIONAL EVENT OR BY VIDEO QUALIFICATION. 2024 NATIONAL TITLEHOLDERS ARE INELIGIBLE TO COMPETE IN 2025 UNLESS MOVING TO A NEW AGE DIVISION. FIRST SOLO UPGRADES TO TITLE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED AT THE NATIONAL EVENT.
The National Title competition includes:
Solo performance and on-stage Title interview
Participation in the Spotlight Elite
An off-stage, group interview - participants should dress in business casual attire.
Title Promenade - participants attend all rehearsals and will dress in formal attire for the performance
spotlight elite
National Title Competitors, Regional Junior and Senior Dance Down Finalists, as well as Regional Top 10 Elite Gems soloists are eligible to participate in Spotlight Elite. This exclusive performance team will be featured in the Championship Extravaganza on the final day of competition. A registration fee is required for Dance Down Finalists and Regional Top 10 Elite Gems soloists; however, this fee is already included in the National Title Competitor fee. Must be 8 years or older to participate. Dancers registered in the Novice Gems and Future Gems Divisions are ineligible to participate.
free master classes
FREE MASTER CLASSES TAUGHT BY LEADING DANCE PROFESSIONALS WILL BE OFFERED AT ALL OF OUR NATIONAL EVENTS! AN EMAIL WILL BE SENT TO ALL STUDIOS WHEN REGISTRATION BECOMES AVAILABLE (APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE START OF THE COMPETITION). THESE CLASSES ARE EXTREMELY POPULAR AND FILL UP FAST; ONCE CAPACITY IS REACHED, REGISTRATION WILL BE CLOSED. DANCERS SHOULD REGISTER FOR ONE LEVEL OF CLASSES ONLY. IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN OTHER LEVELS, PLEASE ARRIVE AT THE MASTER CLASS AT LEAST TEN MINUTES EARLY AND SEE THE ATTENDING SPOTLIGHT STAFF. NATIONAL TITLE CONTESTANTS RECEIVE PRIORITY REGISTRATION FOR MASTER CLASSES AND SHOULD NOT PRE-REGISTER.
the blacklight party!
DANCERS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS ARE WELCOME TO OUR ANNUAL BLACKLIGHT DANCE PARTY HOSTED BY YOUR FAVORITE SPOTLIGHT DJS! ADMISSION TO THE PARTY IS A SPOTLIGHT T-SHIRT, AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT THE SPOTLIGHT BOUTIQUE. WIN AWESOME PRIZES AND DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY WITH SPOTLIGHT STAFF AND JUDGES!
parent dance down
SPOTLIGHT’S PARENT DANCE DOWN IS THE MOST ENTERTAINING ACTIVITY DURING NATIONALS! A THEME WILL BE ANNOUNCED PRIOR TO THE EVENT AND PARENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DRESS THE PART. FREE TICKETS CAN BE PICKED UP AT THE SPOTLIGHT BOUTIQUE. COMPETE FOR THE PARENT DANCE DOWN CHAMPION, OR WIN FOR BEST COSTUME!
“cut above” dancers
MASTER CLASSES, REHEARSALS, + PERFORMANCE:
DANCERS TAKING MASTER CLASSES HAVE THE CHANCE TO PERFORM IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP EXTRAVAGANZA AS A “CUT ABOVE” DANCER. INSTRUCTORS WILL INVITE DANCERS FROM EACH CLASS, DESIGNATED IN REGISTRATION AS “CUT ABOVE”, TO PERFORM THE CHOREOGRAPHY DURING THE CHAMPIONSHIP EXTRAVAGANZA. ATTENDANCE AT “CUT ABOVE” REHEARSALS IS MANDATORY AND PARTICIPATING DANCERS WILL PURCHASE AN EXCLUSIVE TOP FROM THE SPOTLIGHT BOUTIQUE FOR THEIR COSTUME. NATIONAL TITLE COMPETITORS WILL BE INELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PERFORMANCES, BUT ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MASTER CLASSES.
future gems championship finals + extravaganza
THE FUTURE GEMS CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS WILL OCCUR MIDWEEK PER THE SCHEDULE. TOP SCORING FUTURE GEMS GROUP AND LINE ROUTINES WILL BE INVITED TO RE-COMPETE FOR DIAMOND CLASS OVERALL AWARDS. FUTURE GEMS DIAMOND OVERALL SOLOS, DUOS/TRIOS AS WELL AS NOVICE GEMS GROUPS AND LINES WILL BE INVITED TO EXHIBIT THEIR WINNING ROUTINE AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS. IF UNABLE TO RE-COMPETE, THE ROUTINE WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE AWARDED THE LOWEST OVERALL AWARD. STUDIOS THAT DO NOT HAVE AT LEAST ONE GROUP ROUTINE COMPETING IN THE FUTURE GEMS DIAMOND CLASS, IN EACH AGE CATEGORY, MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO RE-COMPETE FOR RUBY CLASS OVERALL AWARDS. THE HIGHEST SCORING GROUP ROUTINE, RECEIVING A RUBY AWARD OR HIGHER, FROM UP TO three QUALIFYING STUDIOS, WILL BE INVITED TO RE-COMPETE.THE NOVICE GEMS DIVISION IS INELIGIBLE FOR THE RUBY CLASS.
THE FUTURE GEMS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP EXTRAVAGANZA TAKES PLACE FOLLOWING THE CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS. THIS FABULOUS AWARDS CEREMONY WILL INCLUDE JUDGE, STAFF AND STUDIO INTRODUCTION AND PERFORMANCES FROM THE CUT ABOVE DANCERS. VIP PRIORITY SEATING TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT THE SPOTLIGHT BOUTIQUE.
elite gems championship finals + extravaganza