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National Young Performer Awards
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2026 Criteria for Troupe
A. Competitors will be under 21 years as at 1st of October 2024. Competitors may compete in ONE nominated Troupe only. The ONLY exception is when they perform in their Studio Troupe AND for their Primary School/High School/Educational Institution. In order to represent a Studio or School, the Dancer MUST be a registered (fee paying) Student of the Organisation.
B. Each Troupe will be nominated at a Member Society Competition by performing in any dance genre pertinent to the Competition they enter. There can be no crossover of dancers (dancing in more than one Troupe) in the Nomination class at the Society Competitions, as each Society has a minimum of two Troupe nominations to offer. The ONLY exception is when they perform in their Studio Troupe AND for their Primary School/High School/Educational Institution.
This competition is for amateur troupes only and is not open to professionals*.
C. There will be a maximum time limit of 4 ½ minutes, taken from the beginning to the conclusion of the music.
D. Troupes who gain nomination must be able to attend the National Young Performer Competition which will be held in Palmerston North. Compulsory Registration/Orientation will be on Wednesday 21st October and the Competition will be on Thursday 22nd October 2026.
E. A Final will be held on the afternoon/evening of Thursday 22nd October,, with up to 18 Troupes recalled to perform. The number of Troupes in the Final may change, at the discretion of the Adjudicator(s)
F. It MAY be possible for the top 3 Troupes to perform at the Soloist Final Award Concert on the evening of Sunday 25th October 2026.
G. Costumes, choreography & music should be appropriate to the age of both the competitors and suitable for a family audience, as determined by the Adjudicator.
New Rules
A. Once a Troupe Item has received a Nomination, it is no longer eligible to enter another Nomination class. The Dancers in the Nominated Troupe cannot perform in an additional Troupe to assist in gaining a Nomination. The Studio name, the Item name and the genre of the nominated item will be published on the PACANZ website as soon as PACANZ is notified by the nominating Society.
B. The Nominating Troupe will be required to complete the entire Entry process, via the APP, within 14 days of receiving a Nomination. The Entry process will include uploading a Video file of the Nominated Troupe item. Video footage taken at the Competition where the Nomination was awarded would be most appropriate.
C. The Item receiving a Nomination and submitted in the Video file following nomination, will be the same Item when it is performed at the National Young Performer Awards on 22nd October 2026. Minor alterations are allowed in choreography and costuming only. Dancer numbers and/or actual dancers, can only be altered on receipt of a Medical certificate OR with the PACANZ Office sign off on extenuating or special circumstances which are unforeseen/unplanned.
These alterations to Dancer numbers and/or actual dancers, may affect either the Item at the time of Nomination AND/OR the Item being presented at the NYPA. If clarity is required in regards to any changes, please contact the PACANZ Office PRIOR to making the changes.
D. Troupe nominations are subject to challenge and a Troupe risks disqualifying themselves, if the above criteria are not adhered to.
NB: The CLOSING DATES will be relative to the date of Nomination. Troupe members’ names and ages, the Item name and genre & entry fee will need to be submitted in the Official APP Entry by the closing date. The Video file will also need to be uploaded as part of the Entry process.
Nominees in the Troupe section are required to upload a performance copy of their music in MP3 format when submitting their entry, and a list of the titles and composer and/or artists for each piece. They must bring the same music on USB to registration. This music MUST match the music on the Original uploaded for the Entry.
B. Each Troupe will be nominated at a Member Society Competition by performing in any dance genre pertinent to the Competition they enter. There can be no crossover of dancers (dancing in more than one Troupe) in the Nomination class at the Society Competitions, as each Society has a minimum of two Troupe nominations to offer. The ONLY exception is when they perform in their Studio Troupe AND for their Primary School/High School/Educational Institution.
This competition is for amateur troupes only and is not open to professionals*.
C. There will be a maximum time limit of 4 ½ minutes, taken from the beginning to the conclusion of the music.
D. Troupes who gain nomination must be able to attend the National Young Performer Competition which will be held in Palmerston North. Compulsory Registration/Orientation will be on Wednesday 21st October and the Competition will be on Thursday 22nd October 2026.
E. A Final will be held on the afternoon/evening of Thursday 22nd October,, with up to 18 Troupes recalled to perform. The number of Troupes in the Final may change, at the discretion of the Adjudicator(s)
F. It MAY be possible for the top 3 Troupes to perform at the Soloist Final Award Concert on the evening of Sunday 25th October 2026.
G. Costumes, choreography & music should be appropriate to the age of both the competitors and suitable for a family audience, as determined by the Adjudicator.
New Rules
A. Once a Troupe Item has received a Nomination, it is no longer eligible to enter another Nomination class. The Dancers in the Nominated Troupe cannot perform in an additional Troupe to assist in gaining a Nomination. The Studio name, the Item name and the genre of the nominated item will be published on the PACANZ website as soon as PACANZ is notified by the nominating Society.
B. The Nominating Troupe will be required to complete the entire Entry process, via the APP, within 14 days of receiving a Nomination. The Entry process will include uploading a Video file of the Nominated Troupe item. Video footage taken at the Competition where the Nomination was awarded would be most appropriate.
C. The Item receiving a Nomination and submitted in the Video file following nomination, will be the same Item when it is performed at the National Young Performer Awards on 22nd October 2026. Minor alterations are allowed in choreography and costuming only. Dancer numbers and/or actual dancers, can only be altered on receipt of a Medical certificate OR with the PACANZ Office sign off on extenuating or special circumstances which are unforeseen/unplanned.
These alterations to Dancer numbers and/or actual dancers, may affect either the Item at the time of Nomination AND/OR the Item being presented at the NYPA. If clarity is required in regards to any changes, please contact the PACANZ Office PRIOR to making the changes.
D. Troupe nominations are subject to challenge and a Troupe risks disqualifying themselves, if the above criteria are not adhered to.
NB: The CLOSING DATES will be relative to the date of Nomination. Troupe members’ names and ages, the Item name and genre & entry fee will need to be submitted in the Official APP Entry by the closing date. The Video file will also need to be uploaded as part of the Entry process.
Nominees in the Troupe section are required to upload a performance copy of their music in MP3 format when submitting their entry, and a list of the titles and composer and/or artists for each piece. They must bring the same music on USB to registration. This music MUST match the music on the Original uploaded for the Entry.
Society Nomination
Each Society, which is a financial member of PACANZ, may nominate TWO Troupes**, who shall be selected by the adjudicator, based on a performance at the Member Society Competition.
The adjudicator will determine that the Troupe has displayed a sufficient standard of performance to competently represent that society at the National Troupe Finals.
The standard required will be at the absolute discretion of the adjudicator but will include:
If the adjudicator considers that sufficient standard has NOT been reached by any Troupe, then NO nomination will be made.
The nominated Troupe is responsible for paying the entry fee to the National Young Performer Awards, which is $310.00 incl gst, for up to 10 Troupe dancers, plus $10 inc gst for each and every additional dancer.
The adjudicator will determine that the Troupe has displayed a sufficient standard of performance to competently represent that society at the National Troupe Finals.
The standard required will be at the absolute discretion of the adjudicator but will include:
- A demonstration of adequate preparation
- An authority of performance
If the adjudicator considers that sufficient standard has NOT been reached by any Troupe, then NO nomination will be made.
The nominated Troupe is responsible for paying the entry fee to the National Young Performer Awards, which is $310.00 incl gst, for up to 10 Troupe dancers, plus $10 inc gst for each and every additional dancer.
* A professional is someone whose primary employment is being paid to perform or work in the performing arts. For the present purposes, being a student constitutes “primary employment” and therefore is not seen as a Professional. For the Student who receives payment for participation, either teaching or performing, this should not impose professional status on a person if it is by way only of an occasional bonus or benefit rather than their principal means of earning a livelihood. The exception to this is a participating teacher who may perform.
** As some Societies split their dance genres and run large Competitions with different Judges and/or at different times of the year, they will be able to nominate more than one Troupe to represent their Society.
** If a Society has 10 or more Troupes that enter and compete for a Troupe Nomination, then they are entitled to offer an additional Nomination. This applies to every multiple of 10 Troupes that enter and compete for a Troupe Nomination. Therefore –
1-9 Troupes = 2 Nominations
10 Troupes = 1 additional Nomination
20 Troupes = 2 additional Nominations
30 Troupes = 3 additional Nominations
40 Troupes = 4 additional Nominations
** As some Societies split their dance genres and run large Competitions with different Judges and/or at different times of the year, they will be able to nominate more than one Troupe to represent their Society.
** If a Society has 10 or more Troupes that enter and compete for a Troupe Nomination, then they are entitled to offer an additional Nomination. This applies to every multiple of 10 Troupes that enter and compete for a Troupe Nomination. Therefore –
1-9 Troupes = 2 Nominations
10 Troupes = 1 additional Nomination
20 Troupes = 2 additional Nominations
30 Troupes = 3 additional Nominations
40 Troupes = 4 additional Nominations