Entries are now closed.

PLEASE NOTE: Adjudication is delayed. Winners will be announced via results video now being shared week commencing 16 May.

The Classical Indian Dance Faculty are delighted to host the second Bursary Awards Selection Event in readiness for our annual Theatre Bursary Awards later this year.

The Bursary Awards selection event format consists of competitors submitting one recorded dance in either the Bharatanatyam or Kathak style appropriate for their age group, which is submitted and uploaded by their ISTD teacher to a secure Dropbox folder.

Junior Section (Ages 11-14 Years) - Junior entrants will enter 1 Classical Indian solo / prepared sequence (2 mins maximum).
Senior Section (Ages-15-18 Years) - Senior entrants will enter 1 Classical Indian solo / prepared dance only (2 mins maximum).

All entries will be viewed by the Classical Indian Dance Faculty and industry adjudicators, and the selected competitors will go on to represent the Classical Indian Dance Faculty at the Theatre Bursary Awards later in 2022 - where winning dancers and winning teachers receive financial bursaries.

Entrants will be shortlisted by the Classical Indian Dance Faculty and internationally recognised dance artist, teacher, choreographer, and resident director for Akram Khan - Mavin Khoo.

• Teachers can enter as many students as they wish to within the Kathak and Bharatanatyam styles.
• Entries must be made by the ISTD teacher and not parents/guardians.
• Entrants must be studying an ISTD Classical Indian Dance syllabus.
• Entry tickets will be sold on a first come first served basis. If teachers rescind their entrant, there are no refunds on the entrant ticket.
• Teachers are permitted to use the same solos for all competitors in the same category.
• Junior entrants will enter 1 Classical Indian solo/prepared sequence, maximum of 2 mins.
• Senior entrants will enter 1 Classical Indian solo/prepared dance only, maximum of 2 mins.
• Entrants may use the ISTD “Prepared dance sequence” from their exam syllabus as their entrant solo if they so wish.
• Costumes are optional.
• Competitors body, feet, hands, and face must be clearly visible on the recording throughout.
• Teachers, please ensure that all entrants and parents/guardians are fully aware and understand the competition rules.
• The Classical Indian Dance Faculty Adjudicators’ decisions are final and no correspondence regarding their decisions will be permitted.

Upon payment of the entry fee, the teachers will receive a confirmation email from Eventbrite. This automated email will include the Dropbox link to upload their entrant's solo, the entry form and the consent form.

All teachers must complete their competitor’s online entry form and all competitors’ must have their parents/guardians complete their online consent form, to be within our safeguarding regulations.

Once the teacher has uploaded their competitor’s video, a confirmation email will be sent from Dropbox to confirm the upload, and this will then conclude the process for the teacher and competitor.

Filming Guidelines

1. It is of paramount importance that the video is of good visual quality, with detail clearly shown of the dancers, hands, feet, body, and face to see the expressive qualities.
2. Please ensure that the music is clear but that it does not overpower or is too quiet in order that all rhythm work performed has clarity
3. Whether you use a video camera, DSLR camera or mobile phone to record the video, please ensure the lens of the camera/phone is cleaned to avoid finger marks or dust.
4. Please check the camera settings are set to the highest resolution when filming.
5. Please record your video in landscape NOT portrait.
6. Please be aware of what is behind the dancer and in the video frame. If possible, have a clear, tidy studio, with no external noises when filming.
7. Please allow at least 3-5 seconds at the beginning of the video before the music and dance commences, and do not stop recording until at least 5 seconds after the music/dance finishes.
8. Videos of poor quality may affect the result of the entries.
9. Videos can be recorded by a family member of the entrant, but teachers must ensure that they follow these guidelines. All Videos must be submitted by an ISTD teacher ONLY.
10. Video submissions must be clearly labelled as below:

Junior-CandidateName-TeacherName & MembershipNumber

Senior-CandidateName-Teachername & MembershipNumber

The data received on the entry form will be kept securely and used for the purposes of administrating this award day. After a reasonable time, this will be destroyed. No data will be shared with any person or group outside the ISTD.

Clips from participants' solos may be used across all ISTD’s publications and on our social media platforms and website.

Please ensure consent forms are completed.

Please ensure the floor is safe and the entrant is working within COVID safe measures.

Teachers should ensure their competitors are fully warmed up beforehand and perform the dances in a safe manner, which will not cause injury, ensuring the area chosen to dance is suitable and clear from any obstructions.

For safeguarding and security reasons it is preferable that teachers use a recording device with (preferably password protected) a memory card.

If teachers choose to use a mobile device, the footage should be uploaded immediately to the secure Dropbox link provided by the ISTD, once the footage is transferred, this should be deleted from your device and not stored to be within GDPR regulations.

Anyone competing in this online event does so at their own risk. The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing will not accept any responsibility for any injury howsoever caused.

A media consent form will be circulated to those who have purchased entry tickets. Written consent must be obtained for competitors and any additional performers from parents/carers/guardians before submitting recorded footage.

By entering your competitors’ videos, you have:

• Agreed on your competitors’ behalf, if they are selected as a winner or for any commendation, for their name and possibly footage of them dancing, to be published on the Society website and other media channels.

Upon submission of your application on the competitor’s behalf you are agreeing to the entry criteria set above and to adhere to health and safety regulations and the competitor rules.

Principals and Teachers – Please ensure all teachers involved in preparing pupils for the competition are fully aware of and understand the competition rules.

Winning and commendation video footage may be kept and used by the Society for any promotional purposes for up to two years, all other video entries will be deleted within 10 working days of winners and commendations being announced.

No refunds are payable once an entry has been made and payment received.

The successful running of this competition relies on a certain number of entries being received. If insufficient entries are received, the competition may not be viable and in this case entry fees will be returned - Competitors must be made aware of this by their teacher in advance. If the competition cannot take place teachers will be advised by email.