Terms & Conditions
Entry Terms & Conditions
Acceptance of Terms
By submitting an entry to the Dance Excellence Awards, entrants agree to comply with these Terms and Conditions and the decision of the judging panel, which are final.
Eligibility
Entries are open to dance studios and dance educators operating within Australia. Studios must be actively operating at the time of entry.
Entry Requirements
All entries must:
Be submitted before the closing date.
Be completed in full via the official entry form.
Provide accurate and truthful information.
Completed by the Studio Owner or Representative of the studio.
Must have a current membership subscription (non-refundable).
The organisers have the right to request additional information if required.
Entry Fees
Where applicable, entry fees must be paid at the time of submission. Entry fees are non-refundable one an entry has been submitted.
Judging Process
Entries will be reviewed by an independent judging panel selected by the Dance Excellence Awards Pty Ltd.
Judging will be based on the information provided in the submission and assessed against the criteria for each award category.
Judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding results.
Judges may use any contacts provided to request or assess further additional information if required.
Finalist
Finalists will be selected in each category. Finalists will be announced publicly on our website and social media. Finalists will be notified by email or phone number and invited to attend the Dance Excellence Awards Gala.
Promotion and Publicity
By entering the awards, entrants agree that their studio name, images, and information provided in the submission may be used for promotional purposes related to the Dance Excellence Awards.
Accuracy of Information
Entrants must ensure all information provided is accurate. The organisers reserve the right to disqualify entries found to contain false or misleading information.
Withdrawal
Entrants may withdraw their submission prior to judging by notifying the organiser in writing by the closing date.
Organiser Rights
The organiser reserves the right to:
Amend award categories if required
Decline entries that do not meet eligibility requirements
Cancel or reschedule the awards if necessary
Eligibility
Studio of the Year
Open to all dance studios currently operating in NSW.
Studios must:
Demonstrate excellence in the dance industry
Show strong leadership and studio culture
Demonstrate impact on students and their community
Studio Owner of the Year
Open to all dance studio owners currently operating in NSW and demonstrate outstanding leadership.
Nominees must:
Be the owner or director of a dance studio
Be actively involved in the leadership of the studio
Demonstrate positive impact on students, staff, and the dance community
Hall of Fame Award
For studios with 20+ years of operation.
Nominees must:
Demonstrate a long-standing commitment to dance education
Show sustained excellence and leadership
Demonstrate impact on generations of dancers and the community
Community Impact Award
Open to all dance studios that demonstrate a significant contribution to their community.
Studios must:
Actively participate in community initiatives
Support local events, charities, or outreach programs
Demonstrate positive impact beyond the studio
Excellence in Inclusivity and Studio Culture
Open to studios that foster a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Nominees must:
Promote diversity and accessibility
Create a positive environment for students and families
Demonstrate strong studio values and culture
Youth Teacher of the Year
Open to all dance teachers in NSW under the age of 25.
Nominees must:
Be the owner or director of a dance studio
Be actively involved in the leadership of the studio
Demonstrate positive impact on students, staff, and the dance community
Emerging Studio of the Year
For studios that have been operating under 5 years.
Studios must:
Have opened in the past 5 years
Demonstrate growth and innovation
Show strong potential and leadership
Excellence in Dance Education
Open to all dance studios that provide structured dance education programs.
Nominees must:
Offer formal training pathways, traineeships, or mentoring programs
Support teacher development and professional learning
Demonstrate strong educational standards
Innovation Award
Open to studios introducing creative or forward-thinking initiatives.
Nominees must:
Demonstrate new ideas, programs, or teaching methods
Show innovation within the dance industry
Provide examples of successful initiatives
Code of Conduct
Purpose
The Dance Excellence Awards are committed to recognising and celebrating excellence, leadership, and positive contribution within the dane studio industry.
All members and entrants are expected to uphold values of professionalism, integrity, respect, and fairness.
Membership Eligibility
Participation in the Dance Excellence Awards is open to dance studio owners who hold an active annual membership with the Dance Excellence Awards organisation.
Studios must maintain a current and valid membership at the time of entry submission and throughout the awards process.
Only financial members are eligible to submit entries into any award category.
Annual Membership Fee
Memberships operate on a 12-month annual basis.
Members benefits may include:
Eligibility to enter the Dance Excellence Awards
Access to member resources
Industry recognition opportunities
Member announcements and promotions
Access to awards events and programs
Membership fees are determined annually and published on the offical Dance Excellence Awards website.
Non-Refundable Membership Payments
All membership payments strictly non-refundable.
This includes situations such as:
Change of mind
Withdrawal from the awards
In eligibility discovered after joining
Failure to submit an award entry
Cancellation of entry by another member
By purchasing membership, studio owners acknowledge and agree that membership fees will not be refunded under any circumstances, except where required by law.
Respectful Behaviour
Members must conduct themselves professionally and respectfully toward:
Other studios
Teachers and staff
Students and families
Judges and organisers
Sponsors and partners
Bullying, harassment, discrimination, or unprofessional behaviour will not be tolerated.
Integrity and Honesty
All information submitted for award entries must be accurate, truthful, and verifiable.
Providing false or misleading information may result in:
Disqualification from their awards
Removal of membership
In eligibility to participate in future awards
Fair Participation
Members must respect the integrity of the award process and refrain from:
Attempting to influence judges
Misrepresenting awards results
Making public statements that undermine the credibility of the awards
Judging decisions are final.
Promotion and Representation
Members who are finalist or winners may promote their recognition; however all promotional material must accurately reflect the award received.
Misrepresentation of awards may result in disciplinary action.
Breach of Code of Conduct
The Dance Excellence Awards reserve the right to investigate any breach of this Code of Conduct.
Consequences may include:
Warning notice
Disqualification from awards
Removal of membership
Exclusion from future participation
Amendments
The Dance Excellence Awards reserves the right to update or amend this Code of Conduct and Membership Policy at any time. Members will be notified of any significant changes.
Membership Policy
Purpose of Membership
Membership with the Dance excellence awards provides Dance studio owners with the access to a professional network that celebrates excellence leadership and innovation within the Dance studio industry membership is required for participation in the Dance excellence awards program.
Membership eligibility
Membership is open to:
Dance studio owners or directors
Studio is currently operating within Australia
Studios that maintain professional teaching standards and ethical practices
Applicants must provide accurate information about their studio during the membership registration process. The Dance Excellence Awards reserve the ride to approval or decline membership applications at its discretion.
Membership Requirement for Awards Entry
To enter any Dance Excellence Awards category:
The studio owner must hold an active and current membership with the Dance excellence awards
Membership must be valid at the time of award entry submission
Studios that do not hold an active membership will not be eligible to submit award entries.
Membership Term
Membership is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.
Members may renew their membership annually to maintain eligibility for awards participation and members benefits. Memberships will be new automatically after 12 months and studios can cancel at any time.
Membership Fees
Membership fees are set annually ($60) and published on the official Dance Excellence Awards website.
Membership benefits may include:
Eligibility to enter the Dance Excellence Awards
Access to member announcements and recognition opportunities
Industry networking opportunities
Access to awards events and programs
Member resources and updates
Membership benefits may evolve as the organisation grows.
Non-Refundable Payments
All membership fees are non-refundable.
Once membership has been purchased refunds will not be provided for any reason including:
Change of mind
Withdrawal from the awards
Failure to submit award entries
In eligibility discovered after membership purchase
Membership payments are only refundable when required under Australian Consumer Law.
Member Responsibilities
Members are expected to:
Maintain professional conduct within the dance community
Provide truthful and accurate information and award submissions
Uphold the reputation and integrity of the Dance Excellence Awards
Members must also comply with the organisations Code of Conduct.
Suspension or Termination of Membership
The Dance Excellence Awards reserves the right to suspend or terminate membership if a member:
Breaches the Code of Conduct
Provides false or misleading information
Engages in behaviour that damages the integrity or reputation of the awards
Members whose membership is terminated will not be entitled to a refund.
Membership Renewal
Members will be notified when their membership is due for renewal.
Failure to renew membership will result in:
Loss of membership benefits
In eligibility to enter the awards categories
Membership can be renewed at any time through the official Dance of Excellence Awards platform.
Policy Updates
The Dance Excellence Awards reserves the right to update or amend this membership policy at any time.
Members will be notified of any significant policy changes.