Dance Competition Registration

The Wausau Area Hmong New Year, Inc. will host the Wausau Hmong New Year celebration on November 8-9, 2025 at the Central Wisconsin Convention & Expo Center in Rothschild, WI. The dancing competition has a registration fee of $100 non-refundable for Group A (12 years old or under) and $100 non-refundable for group B (12 years old and over). Contestants must pay the $100 non-refundable by using the link: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/dance-competition-registration-fee

The registration form must be completed via online. A no-show at the competition will result in the loss of your security deposit. 

 

AWARD OFFERING

• Dance Competition Group A (12 years old and under): 1st place is $1000 plus a trophy, 2nd place is $700 plus a trophy, 3rd place is $500 plus a trophy, 4th place is $300 plus a trophy, 5th, and 6th place will receive a trophy. 
• Dance Competition Group B (12 years old and over): 1st place is $1500 plus a trophy, 2nd place is $1000 plus a trophy, 3rd place is $700 plus a trophy,  4th place is $400 plus a trophy, 5th, and 6th place will receive a trophy. 

 

We require that there must be at least 15 teams or performers in each competition to receive the prizes above. If the number of teams or performers is less than 10, the prizes will drop to the following: 

• Dance competition Group A: 1st place is $800 plus a trophy, 2nd place is $500 plus a trophy, 3rd place is $300 plus a trophy, 4th place is $100 plus a trophy, 5th, and 6th will receive a trophy.
• Dance competition Group B: 1st place is $1000 plus a trophy, 2nd place is $700 plus a trophy, 3rd place is $500 plus a trophy, 4th place is $300 plus a trophy, 5th, and 6th place will receive a trophy.

 

The dancers must email all songs to the competition committee coordinators listed, marked with which day it will be performed. In preparation for a tie, we will require a repeat performance of day two dance. 

To participate, each team/performer must report to the Competition Committee table no later than 10:30 AM on November 8 and 9, 2025. 

For further preparation, we suggest that you bring your downloaded song on a thumb drive or saved on your phone.

Once we receive this form, we will contact you for confirmation and additional information about the competition. Should you have any questions, please contact us at Wausauareany@gmail.com. 

 

PRACTICE ROOMS

• The Wausau Area Hmong New Year, Inc., has reserved 3 rooms for all teams to practice Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon at the Holiday Inn in Rothschild, WI. We suggest that you book your hotel there so you can walk to the event. Please use "Hmong New Year" when you call to book your hotel for a discount. 

• We will have a sign-up sheet for dance practice on first come first register for the competition. 

 

DANCE COMPETITION RULES & REGULATIONS

1. Contestants may not bring in water or any carry-ins. The Wausau Area Hmong New Year, Inc. will provide water to all dancers.
2. A water station will be behind the check-in table.
3. Contestants do not get free entrance and must pay their entrance fee.
4. Day 1, Round 1 (Saturday, 11/8/25) is Hmong-themed, and Day 2, Round 2 (Sunday, 11/9/25) is freestyle-themed; a performance of your choice.
5. If a dance team's performance on Saturday (Round 1) is not Hmong-themed, 10 points will automatically be deducted from that round.
6. Beginning entrance introduction is optional and is not judged.
7. Each team will have 10 minutes for set up, performance, and clean up. Failure to do so will result in a 10-point deduction from the overall score in that round.
8. Dance teams must perform their ENTIRE performance on the stage or they will not receive a full score for their performance.
9. If technical issues or electrical failures disrupt the dance team's timing, or if an unexpected incident occurs involving the contestant, they will be allowed to perform again.
10. Explicit language or profanity in songs will result in a 10-point deduction in that round. The Competition Committee and New Year Committee will have the final say if any disputes arise. Songs with explicit sexual content, vulgar language, or deemed age-inappropriate are strictly forbidden.
11. If your performance requires a stop at a certain point of the song performance, it is your team's RESPONSIBILITY to have another person available to guide the sound system team when to START and END the music. This is not the responsibility of the competition coordinator, assistants, or WAHNY staff members.
12. If a dancer encounters a significant accidental wardrobe malfunction that results in inappropriate exposure and is recognized by the dance committee, or if the performance is interrupted due to this issue, the dance team will have the opportunity to perform again. The dancer experiencing the malfunction should promptly exit the stage. For minor wardrobe issues, like hats or leggings, the dancer may choose whether to continue with the performance. In either case, no penalties will be imposed.
13. Teams are advised to assemble 10 minutes before their scheduled performance by positioning behind the dance stage. If a dance team is absent or unprepared by the third call to perform, a deduction of 10 points will be applied to that round (not attributed to any specific category), and they will be bypassed until the subsequent team has completed their performance. Should they remain absent or unprepared by the second call, they will be disqualified from the competition.
14. Performers may not enter or exit the stage from anywhere other than the entrance wings.
15. Starting or ending the performance within the audience is not permitted.
16. Jumping off the front of the stage and running in front or approaching the panel of judges is prohibited due to safety concerns.
17. If a team does not submit their music on time, they are responsible for coordinating their music with the sound system team. The delay time will count towards their 10 minutes on stage if they are not ready once on stage. The music must be on a phone in MP3 format.  
18. In case of any complaints toward other dance teams and judges due to the conflict of interest, they must be submitted by the coach. A formal complaint should be documented in writing and accompanied by supporting evidence. Failure to provide evidence will result in the disqualification of the team.

 

PRACTICING

1. Practicing is not allowed on the stage during or before the competition/or on Friday, 11/7, 2025. Dance teams, however, have the opportunity to view the space during set-up.
2. There will be a designated space at the Holiday Inn hotel for teams to practice during competitions on weekends. Teams must sign up to use the practice space on a first come, first serve registration.

 

PROPS

1. Contestants are responsible for any necessary cleanup involving prop usage after each performance.
2. Props may be stored in the dancer preparation area, but should be communicated to the coordinator beforehand. Please note that we cannot take responsibility for any props that are lost, damaged, or stolen if they are left overnight or unattended.
3. The following items are strictly prohibited on the stage or within the premises during the competition:
   • Powder, liquid or likeness of these items.
   • Candles, matches, lighters (or likeness of lighters), fireworks, sparklers, explosives, swords, knives, or any sharp objects and weapons.
   • Toy weapons and toys that may cause fire or have blunt points or sharp edges
   • Any liquid, gel, powder, food, glass objects, or aerosol cans (including spray paint)
   • Wet paint, fake blood, bubbles, chalk, crushed cork, flour, sand, sawdust, or dry ice on your body, costume, or prop.
   • Drugs, alcohol, or smoking.
4. Using prohibited substances or items that pose a safety risk on stage during a performance may lead to disqualification or a deduction of points.
5. Should there be any props that need assembly involving tools like nails, drills, or similar items, kindly notify the coordinator in advance.
6. While handling sliding props or moving scenery, ensure not to change or damage the backdrop, wings, dance floor, or stage. If any of these elements are damaged beyond repair, the dancer will be held responsible for its replacement.

 

VIEWING SCORES, TIES & WINNING TITLE

1. Dance Group A (12 and under)

• • Monetary Prize: Dancing Competition Group A (12 years old and under): 1st place is $1000 plus a trophy, 2nd place is $700 plus a trophy, 3rd place is $500 plus a trophy, 4th place is $300 plus a trophy, 5th, and 6th place will receive a trophy. 
  • Dance Group A (12 and under) - 45% of the dancers must be under 12 to be in this group. This rule may be subject to change or evaluated based on the number of dancers per team.

1. Dance Group B (12 and older)
   • Monetary Prize: Dance Group B: (12 years old and over): 1st place is $1500 plus a trophy, 2nd place is $1000 plus a trophy, 3rd place is $700 plus a trophy,  4th place is $400 plus a trophy, 5th, and 6th place will receive a trophy. 
2. The top 3 winners in Group A and Group B are required to fill out a W-9.
3. In the event of a tie, contestants will repeat the second-round performance (day 2). If another tie occurs, the lowest score from one judge's overall score sheet will be discarded to determine the tiebreaker winner.
4. ALL contestants must be present during FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT to receive their prize.
5. If a winner is absent, the prize will go to the dance team with the next highest score.
6. Teams and coaches must wait for the dance coordinator to be present at the check-in station before reviewing their scores. Photographing or video recording score sheets is allowed. All score sheets must be returned to the check-in station.
7. If dance teams are disqualified in the middle of the competition, they will forfeit their place. In addition, their registration fee will also not be refunded.
8. If a dance team is found to have cheated, such as swapping, adding, or removing dancers between rounds, they will be disqualified.

 

SPORTSMANSHIP

1. All contestants, family members, and sponsors are expected to demonstrate good sportsmanship. Non-compliance will lead to immediate disqualification and forfeiture or removal from the Wausau Area Hmong New Year.
2. Engaging in arguments or harassment towards a judge or New Year staff will result in disqualification and removal from the Wausau Area Hmong New Year. This applies to contestants, family members, coaches, and sponsors of dance groups.
3. Judges' decisions are final and will not be required to explain them aside from what's on the scoresheet.
4. The Wausau Area Hmong New Year, Inc. and dance committee have the authority to modify the prize for each competition if the minimum number of participants/teams is not met.
5. The Wausau Area Hmong New Year, Inc. and dance committee reserves the right to disqualify any contestant/team they deem to violate any rules.            
6. The Wausau Area Hmong New Year, Inc. and all associated members, including representatives, staff, board members, and volunteers, are not responsible for any injuries or loss of personal property during the event, including any COVID-19-related issues.
7. The Wausau Area Hmong New Year, Inc. and dance committee reserves the right to change any rules and regulations at any time, with or without notice.

 

COMPLAINTS

1. All complaints must be requested by the coach through a formal written process. 
2. The complaint form must be completed by the last dance of the competition. 
3. The complaint must include evidence with the complaint form. 
4. If a complaint has no evidence, the complaining team may be disqualified or 20 points deducted from their overall scores.