The Next Step Wiki
Register
Advertisement


It was... spectacular. Like nothing I've ever seen.

Emily, to Richelle, "Coming Home?"

Click here to see more quotes.


Absolute Dance Nationals (or simply Nationals) is a dance competition that involves the winners of a countries respective Absolute Dance Regionals competitions, broadcasted by the fictional SNR Network, in which studios within a single country compete for a national title, as well as a chance to go to Absolute Dance Internationals. The first ever Absolute Dance Nationals competition took place in 1998.

This article focuses on the competitions that take place in Canada unless otherwise stated.

History

Canada

The Next Step first competed at the 7th Absolute Dance Nationals in which Kate competed in the small group round and lost.

Life of Dance won the 15th and 16th Absolute Dance Nationals, having made the finals of the 14th edition.

The Next Step Dance Studio defeats Life of Dance in the finals of the 17th Absolute Dance Nationals, The Next Step also won the Best Nationals Small Group and Miss National Soloist, as well as runner-up for Best Nationals Duet.

Gemini Dance Studio win the 18th Absolute Dance Nationals.

The Next Step Dance Studio win the 19th Absolute Dance Nationals defeating Ultra Elite.

U.S.A.

Michelle wins Miss National Soloist at the 16th Absolute Dance Nationals (U.S.A.) for her Wisconsin-based studio.

Format

All of the winning Regionals teams from across the country compete at Nationals. As of the 2015 competition, at least sixty-four studios can qualify for Nationals each year.

Nationals is made up of knockout rounds; during each round, half of the studios are eliminated via one-on-one performances. However, unlike Regionals, the individual points are not revealed and there is no wildcard. Additionally, whereas the first known Regionals competitions appeared to require only group routines, the rounds at Nationals are divided into four specific categories: solos, duets, small group dances and ten-person dances. As evidenced by the statements of various characters, this format appears to have been unchanged for many years.

As opposed to the entire team competing in each round, select member(s) are chosen to perform depending on the nature of each round. The loser and his/her team are eliminated. Besides any possible alternate members, the entire team dances in the semi-finals and finals.

Rules

  • All teams must have ten dancers, and may have up to two alternates.
  • Although costumes are not mandatory nor specifically scored, a studio automatically loses points if its dancers enter the stage without costumes.[1]
  • If a studio has made unspecified and extensive changes to the original team they sent to Regionals, an Absolute Dance representative must re-assess whether the team should be allowed to attend Nationals.[2]

Flaws

  • A known rule is that any team may have up to twelve dancers, two of which will be alternates. However, prior to the 17th Annual Nationals, there is no written rule that a dancer cannot be on more than one team.
    • Since such a rule was taken advantage of at the 17th Annual Nationals, Sandra professes that the rules will be tightened up the following year.[3]
  • A team is able to qualify for Nationals through any Regionals competition, meaning studios can compete and qualify through any region, even if it is not where their studio is located. Furthermore there seems to be no restriction on the amount of official Absolute Dance Regionals competitions a studio can compete in, meaning a studio can compete in as many of the various competitions as it takes for them to qualify.

Awards

Awards are given out to the highest scoring routines in each of the first four rounds. Second and third place awards are also given out, but if a dancer comes first in their round, they receive an official title and may also get special treatment from Absolute Dance.

The awards are:

List of competitions

Trivia

  • The Absolute Dance Nationals was filmed in the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, Ontario

References

  1. "Lost." Wikia. Retrieved on February 7, 2016.
  2. "B-Troupe, Best Troupe!". Wikia. Retrieved on June 6, 2020.
  3. "Rewind." Wikia. Retrieved on February 7, 2016.
Advertisement