Adjudication Policies For Participating Schools

1. Only ACDFA INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS in good standing are eligible for adjudication. Membership dues are payable to ACDFA and sent to the Executive Director. See current Membership Information on the ACDFA web site (www.fsu.edu/~acdfa/) or contact the ACDFA National Office at 301 770-4443 or acdfa@bellatlantic.net.

2. The ACDFA has established regions for purposes of organization only. Members are not restricted to participation exclusively or solely in their own geographic area. International members are always considered out of region. All members may participate in one or more regional festivals each year.

3. No more than two pieces from any institution may be adjudicated in a festival year. Once a work has been adjudicated, it cannot be submitted for adjudication at any other festival during the same festival year. Adjudicated works that are not accepted for the Gala Concert in one festival year may be reworked for adjudication in subsequent festival years. However, once a work has been accepted for a Gala Concert performance, it may not be resubmitted for adjudication by the same institution.

4. A work presented for adjudication may be choreographed in any idiom by a student, faculty member, or professional; however only students may perform. Performers include anyone seen by the audience. A student is one who is officially declared by the represented institution as being a degree, diploma, or certificate-seeking candidate, full or part-time, at that institution during the academic year in which the work is adjudicated. If a student graduates in the Fall semester, they may perform in the Spring adjudication concerts. However, if a student drops out, or is not considered a student in the Spring semester, they are not eligible to perform in the adjudication concerts.

5. The maximum time for each work presented for adjudication is 12 minutes. The burden of meeting the time requirement rests with the choreographer. ACDFA recommends that the choreographer allow a time margin within the twelve-minute limit for technical errors or theater peculiarities. The dance will be judged to begin when any one of the perceived elements of choreographic choice (lights, sound, movement) is visible or audible to the audience. This includes the rising of the curtain on a pre-lit stage. The dance ends when all perceived elements of choreographic choice have been diminished (no lights, no sound, no movement). Bows are not included in the twelve minute time limit unless they are required as part of the dance by the choreographer. It is the responsibility of the Festival Coordinator to enforce the time limit.

6. If two works are submitted, at least one must be choreographed by a student. An adjudication fee will be charged for each piece.

7. It is the responsibility of each school to obtain and secure all appropriate and necessary licenses and permissions prior to bringing any choreography to regional and national festivals for performance.

8. If a work is unable to be performed in the Gala Concert, notification must be given to the Festival Coordinator prior to the Gala selection. Institutions that are not available for participation in the gala may receive adjudication feedback but are not eligible for consideration for gala selection.

9. If an institution chooses to bring a work choreographed by a festival adjudicator, that work will be adjudicated only for performance and not considered for the gala concert. All adjudicators will be informed in advance of this information.

10. A faculty member or other chaperone from the participating institution must accompany the students.

11. No attempt is made either during the adjudication process or in the selection of works for the adjudicated concert to classify or equate college dance programs. All works presented for adjudication will be evaluated in terms of Performance and Choreography.

12. Festival participants (faculty and students) should not attempt to engage adjudicators in any conversation pertaining to festival participants, choreography or attending institutions. Questions concerning the adjudication should be directed to the Festival Coordinator or other ACDFA Representative.

13. An audio tape or CD of concert quality will be provided by the choreographer for the adjudication in the format specified by the Festival Coordinator.

14. All festival participants must be prepared to work within the technological capabilities and all other limitations stated by the host institution.

15. Students performing in the adjudicated concert must be officially registered at the festival and are expected to participate fully in festival events.

16. A registration fee must be paid for each festival participant with the exception of Board members and host institution students working at the festival.

17. Cast replacements for works accepted for the Gala Concert must be approved by the adjudicators.

18. Regarding video/technology in adjudication, pieces being adjudicated must contain a live dance performance element.