The Competition

A dance competition designed for the big screen

Pulsate is not a traditional stage competition. It is a dance-for-camera experience where your work is created, submitted, and selected with the final goal of appearing in a feature-length dance film that premieres in a movie theater.

Multi-style, multi-age, and open to all levels, the competition is built around growth, storytelling, and cinematic presence—not just tricks, medals, or speed.

How it works Ready to register?

How the competition works

Pulsate runs in phases: creation, submission, selection, filming, and finally the cinema premiere. Each step is clear, structured, and designed so dancers feel guided throughout the process.

1

Create & rehearse your piece

Dancers, studios, and crews choose their concept, style, and music and create a choreography adapted for camera. Pieces can be solo, duo, small group, or team within the allowed time limit.

2

Film your submission video

You film your piece following the Pulsate guidelines (framing, lighting, space, and video quality). It can be filmed in a studio, hall, or other space that showcases the choreography clearly.

3

Submit online before the deadline

You upload your video, fill in the age category and level, and complete the registration form and payment. Once confirmed, your piece is officially in the competition and ready to be seen by the jury.

4

Jury selection & feedback

The jury reviews all videos in each age and style category. Finalists are selected for professional filming days, and non-finalists still remain part of the Pulsate journey with alternate opportunities.

5

Filming days & dance film

Finalist pieces and selected collective segments are filmed with a cinematic approach. These sequences become part of the Pulsate dance film that will premiere on the big screen.

6

Premiere & awards

The adventure ends with a movie-theater premiere, awards ceremony, and the possibility of VIP upgrades such as the Glow-Up Lounge for selected guests.

Age categories & levels

Pulsate is open to multiple ages and experience levels. The goal is to create fair groupings while still allowing friends and studio groups to stay together as much as possible.

Age categories

  • Kids – approximately 8–12 years
  • Teens – approximately 13–17 years
  • Adults – 18+ years
  • 30+ / 40+ – for dancers who prefer a mature category

Final age brackets may be adjusted depending on registrations, and special cases (e.g. mixed-age groups) are reviewed individually.

Levels

  • Recreational / Beginner – limited performance or training experience
  • Intermediate – regular classes and some performance history
  • Advanced / Pre-professional – intensive training or professional-level work

Levels are self-declared when registering and may be adjusted by the Pulsate team if a piece is clearly misaligned with the chosen level.

Formats

  • Solo – 1 dancer
  • Duo / Trio – 2–3 dancers
  • Small group – 4–9 dancers
  • Large group / team – 10+ dancers

Multi-style is welcome: commercial, contemporary, Latin, hip-hop, reggaeton, heels, fusion, and more. The key is clarity of intention and how it reads on camera.

Registration & Participation

Registration is completed entirely online through the Pulsate platform. Choose your category, upload your choreography video, and finalize payment to secure your entry in the competition.

  • Open to independent dancers, studios, and crews
  • Multi-style entries welcome (commercial, contemporary, Latin, hip-hop, etc.)
  • Solo, duo/trio, small group, and large group formats
  • Clear guidelines for video quality and submission format

Capacity may be limited. Once a category reaches maximum participation, it may close before the final deadline.

Start Registration View Full Rules & Guidelines

Scoring Framework

Judging Criteria

All entries are evaluated using a fixed set of criteria. The panel applies the same framework to every piece, with expectations adjusted for age category and declared level.

✓

Choreography & Structure

Overall construction of the piece: clarity of theme, use of space and formations, phrase development, transitions, and musical interpretation.

✓

Performance Quality

Presence, focus, commitment, projection, and ensemble unity where applicable. Dancers are expected to maintain performance quality from the first count to the last.

✓

Technical Execution

Control, accuracy, alignment, strength, coordination, and clarity of movement. Technique is assessed relative to age and level, but standards of precision and consistency apply to all entries.

✓

Concept & Artistic Direction

Strength of the artistic idea: coherence of theme, originality, emotional impact, and alignment between choreography, music, styling, and overall direction.

✓

Camera & Spatial Awareness

Adaptation of the work for film: awareness of fronts, depth, spacing, and use of the frame. Submissions must present the choreography clearly and support the dancers’ performance on camera.

✓

Global Impact

The overall impression of the piece as a complete work. Judges consider whether the entry feels film-ready and contributes meaningfully to a professional dance-for-camera program.

A detailed scoring breakdown and weighting for each criterion are provided to registered participants so they can prepare with full transparency.

Competition – Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to common questions about the Pulsate competition: how it works, age categories, judging criteria, and registration. If you still have questions after reading this, you can always reach out to us directly.

How is the Pulsate competition different from a regular dance competition?

Pulsate is built as a dance-for-camera competition that leads to a film, not a traditional stage event. You create and submit a video, finalists are selected for professional filming days, and the journey culminates in a cinema premiere instead of a single weekend on stage.

Who can enter the competition?

Pulsate is open to independent dancers, studio dancers, and crews of all ages and levels. Kids, teens, adults, and mature dancers (30+/40+) can participate, as long as they register in an appropriate category and respect the guidelines.

What age categories are available?

Age groupings typically include Kids (around 8–12), Teens (13–17), Adults (18+), and optional 30+ or 40+ categories for dancers who prefer to compete in a mature section. Final brackets may be adjusted depending on registrations.

How do levels work (beginner, intermediate, advanced)?

When registering, you select Recreational/Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced/Pre-professional. This is self-declared based on your training and performance history, and the Pulsate team may adjust if a piece is clearly placed in the wrong level to keep things fair.

What formats can I register in (solo, group, etc.)?

You can register as a Solo (1 dancer), Duo/Trio (2–3 dancers), Small Group (4–9 dancers), or Large Group/Team (10+ dancers). Studios can submit multiple pieces in different formats, and independent dancers can also register without a studio.

What dance styles are accepted?

Pulsate is multi-style. Commercial, contemporary, Latin, hip-hop, reggaeton, heels, jazz, fusion, experimental, and more are welcome. What matters most is how clearly your concept reads on camera and how it fits your chosen music and dancers.

How does the judging process work?

A jury reviews all submissions by age, level, and format. Pieces are evaluated on choreography, performance, technique (age/level appropriate), storytelling, camera awareness, and overall artistic impact. Finalists are then invited to professional filming days for the dance film.

What exactly are the judging criteria?

The main criteria include: choreography & structure, performance & presence, technique, concept & storytelling, camera awareness (how the piece reads on video), and global artistic impact. Registered dancers receive a more detailed scoring grid so they know what to focus on.

How do I register for the competition?

Registration is done online through the Pulsate website. You choose your category, fill in the dancer and piece information, upload your video (or link), and complete payment. Once you receive a confirmation email, your submission is officially entered.

What information do I need to have ready before registering?

You’ll need your choreography title, style, and duration, dancer names and ages, chosen level and format (solo, duo/trio, group), studio or independent details, a video that respects the Pulsate guidelines, and parent/guardian consent for minors.

Is there a limit on how many pieces a dancer or studio can submit?

Dancers and studios can usually submit more than one piece, as long as each entry is registered separately and respects the rules. However, some categories may have capacity limits. If a category is full, registrations may close early for that section.

What happens if my piece is not selected as a finalist?

Not being selected as a finalist does not end your Pulsate journey. Non-finalists can still be included in other parts of the project (for example, collective segments) and are invited to be part of the community, premiere experience, and education around the film.

Do I have to attend the filming days and premiere to compete?

You can enter the competition by submitting your video even if you’re not sure you can travel to filming days or the premiere. However, finalists will be invited for professional filming, and attending the premiere is strongly encouraged so you can fully live the Pulsate experience.

Still have questions? Contact us