Welcome to Season 25!
There’s no way around it: We’re in a season of change — where we must work together and thrive in order to survive. That's why, at WCDE, we have taken on the incredible task of building a new model for success.
To do so, I have not only worked closely with the WCDE Core Faculty to develop next-level programming for this season’s tour, but have also engaged with experts to build the most comprehensive and adaptable Covid Preparedness Plan in our industry.
Inspired by the dedication invested by the hardest working and passionate administrative and IT teams imaginable, I have rolled up my sleeves alongside them to launch a revolutionary digital broadcast platform designed to help you and your students breakthrough to the next levels of success — not only this year, but for the next 25 years and beyond.
I know I can speak on behalf of my entire team in saying: Now is not the time to lower our expectations — its time to raise them!
Let’s begin the process of taking our community to the next level now!
Live with passion!
NICK Bowman
Executive Director | Tap Dance Educator
NICK Bowman
Executive Director | Tap
- Rhythmic Circus
- Disney's La Feet
- Caution: Men at Work Tap
- America's Got Talent
ELIZABETH Parkinson
Ballet
- Movin Out/Broadway
- Fosse/Broadway
- Astaire Award/Best Dancer on Broadway
- Joffrey Ballet
SCOTT Myrick
Industry Jazz
- Katy Perry
- Taylor Swift
- MTV VMAs
- Billboard Awards
- Lip Sync Battle
GEV Manoukian
Hip-Hop
- Whitney Houston
- SYTYCD
- American Music Awards
- High School Musical 2
-
Dancing with the Stars
ASHLEY Valerio
Jazz
- SYTYCD: Season 5
- Glee
- The Voice
- IBM
- NBA Suns
WILL Johnston
Contemporary
- Entity Contemporary Dance/Co-Director
- MFA Dance
- Katy PerryGlee
- Wade Robson Creations
KIM Wolfe
Contemporary
- American Music Awards
- MTV Awards
- Prince
- Ani DiFranco
- Nike
NOEL Bajandas
Commercial Jazz
- Dancing With the Stars
- MTV Video Awards
- Disney's Jessie
- Hulu's East Los High
- America's Got Talent
DOUG Burkhardt
Contemporary
- Sleep No More/Broadway
- Marrymount BFA Dance
- Springboard Dans Montreal
- Tayeh Dance
-
Astaire Awards
Featuring Special Guest Faculty
JOHN Crutchman
WCDE Co-Founder | Lyrical Jazz
*Joining Us In Select Cities
2O20-2O21 Workshop Rules and Policies
Ages
The age group for workshops, scholarship auditions and competition is determined by using the dancer's age as of January 1, 2021.
The following is a list of the age groups for the workshop ballrooms and scholarship auditions:
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Senior DANCER: Ages 16 & UP
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TEEN DANCER: Ages 13-15
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JUNIOR DANCER: Ages 1o-12
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MINI DANCER: Ages 6-9
Please Note: The Junior Ballroom is open to students over the age of 12 with less dance experience.
Observers
Please see our 2020-2021 Tour Preparedness Plan for details.
Safety
- No blankets permitted on floor.
- Please make sure all dance bags are kept against the wall and out of the dancers’ way to avoid any injuries.
- If you are in need of first aid, please see a WCDE staff member.
- All students must wear cover-ups outside the ballroom area.
- Be respectful to both hotel property and staff. Be courteous to other hotel guests by keeping the noise level to a minimum in your rooms as well as in hallways. No food allowed in the ballrooms at any time.
Videotaping & Photos
Video cameras are prohibited at all times during the convention. Still photos are permitted. Professional video and photography services are available through ShutterStorm all events.
Chaperone
All dancers 15-years old and under who are registered at the hotel must be accompanied by a chaperone of legal age.
Wristbands
West Coast Dance Explosion wristbands must be worn by all teachers, students and observers at all times. Anyone without a band will be denied entry into the ballroom. Full tuition must be paid for lost wristbands!
General
- Be respectful to the hotel property and staff.
- Be courteous to other hotel guests by keeping the noise level to a minimum in your rooms as well as in hallways.
- No food allowed in the ballrooms at any time.
Scholarships & Elite Dancer Program
We offer a variety of scholarships at our conventions to further the training and education of young dancers.
Students will be awarded scholarships based on 1) their regional scholarship audition classes if they are participating in a Live In-person Intensive, or 2) their class submission videos if they are participating in a Digital Dance Intensive (DDI).
The following list of Scholarship Classifications is the minimum we will offer in each city:
Mini & Junior Ballrooms
- Three single convention scholarships–Dancer may attend any one WCDE convention free of tuition, within one year of issue. *May not be used at National Finals.
- Two year-long convention scholarships–Dancer may attend as many WCDE conventions free of tuition for one full year. *May not be used at National Finals.
- One National Finals Scholarship-Dancer may attend our 2020 FINAL SHOWDOWN free of tuition. *May not be used at a regional convention.
Teen & Senior Ballrooms
- Three single convention scholarships–Dancer may attend any one WCDE convention free of tuition, within one year of issue. *May not be used at Finals.
- Two year-long convention scholarships–Dancer may attend as many WCDE conventions free of tuition for one full year. *May not be used at Finals.
- One National Finals Scholarship-Dancer may attend our 2020 FINAL SHOWDOWN free of tuition. *May not be used at a regional convention.
- One EDGE studio scholarship—Student receives ten-class card
One (1)Broadway Dance Center NYC scholarship—One (1) five-class card (BDC requires scholarship to be used by Sept 1, 2020).
Elite Dancer Program
The Elite Dancer Program is the premier soloist competition in the country. Dancers are selected to participate in this program based on: 1) their regional scholarship audition, or 2) their class submission videos from DDI.
All students who are awarded an Elite Platinum, Elite Gold, or Elite Silver scholarship are invited to compete at our Final Showdown for the National Elite Title.
Additionally, each Elite Silver will receive a National Finals Scholarship; each Elite Gold will receive a National Finals Scholarship and a Single Convention Scholarship; and each Elite Platinum will receive a National Finals Scholarship and a Year-long Convention Scholarship.
All Elite Platinums, Elite Golds and Elite Silvers attending National Finals and participating in the Elite Dancer Program will perform a routine together in the Final Showdown Gala. This performance will be choreographed by the WCDE Faculty.
Scholarship Eligibility & Rules
- You must attend all of your classes on both days of the convention to be eligible for scholarship awards.
- You can only be awarded a specific scholarship classification once per season.
- If you are attending more than one regional convention during a WCDE tour season, and have won a scholarship in a previous city, you may audition for other scholarship award classifications.
- Substituting or transferring scholarships is not allowed.
- Scholarships can not be used as a studio credit.
- If you leave the studio you were attending when you won a scholarship, that scholarship becomes null and void. You may re-audition with the new studio you are attending the following season.
