Jewels Festival 9th Edition

March 28 - 30, 2025

Competition & Master classes

March 28 - 30, 2025

Neumann University PAC, Aston, PA

Gala performance & Award ceremony

March 30, 2025

Neumann University PAC

Aston, PA

Age categories for Soloists:

-        Group A (age 7 – 9) Pre-competitive

-        Group B (age 10 – 12) Junior- No Pointe *

-        Group C (age 10 – 12) Junior

-        Group D (age 13 – 15) Teen

-        Group E (age 16 – 19) Pre-professional

-        Professional participants (age 20 – 25)

* New for the 2025 season: We are now offering a new group for Junior participants who choose to compete in flat shoes.

Dance categories:

-        Classical variation

- Classical variation (No Pointe)

-        Contemporary/Modern dance

-        Free Style dance (Character/Folk dance, Acro, Hip-Hop, Breakdance and other)

Time limit – 2m 30s

*Pointe / No pointe rules for Classical dance division: Group A participants may perform on pointe according to their teacher’s discretion.

Dancers from other age groups (D, E) will incur a point deduction if their performance is not on pointe.

Please note that participants not on pointe are not eligible to be evaluated for a Grand Prix Award.

Boys Solo

Girls and Boys will be evaluated separately in each Dance category.

-        Classical/Neo-classical variation

-        Contemporary/Modern dance

-        Free Style dance (Character/Folk dance, Acro, Hip-Hop, Breakdance and other)

Time limit – 2m 30s

Pas de Deux / Duet

Must be a girl and a boy.

-        Classical Pas De Deux (full pas - extra point)

-        Contemporary

-        Duet Free Style dance

Time limit for Pas de Deux - 10m

Time limit for Duet Free dance - 3m

Ensemble

2 dancers and more

-        Classical/ Neo-classical

-        Character/Folk Dance

-        Contemporary/Modern

-        Free Style Dance (Hip-Hop/Acro/Breakdance)

Time limit - 4m

Choreography Contest

 Any choreography can be performed by any dancer (participant or not) and in any dance style.

The new choreography should be created no later than 2020. The contestant must be aged 10 and up.

Time limit - 2m

THE COMPETITION

Solo participants must be between the ages of 7 to 25 on January 1st, 2024.

Jewels Festival Rules

  • The Jewels Festival runs the competition by groups that are determined by participants’ ages at the time of competition.

  • The Festival is staffed by a professional photographer and videographer. No other photography is allowed during the time of the event.

  • The audience (including parents) may not enter the auditorium without a ticket.

  • The ticket price at the theatre is $20 dollars per person for all days (cash only).

  • The ticket price online is $15 dollars for all days.

  • Parents are not permitted to observe master classes or rehearsals on stage.

  • Parents are not allowed backstage. Only volunteers and teachers with a badge may enter the backstage area. Please make sure that you request your badge on our website prior to the competition start time.

Scoring

Throughout the competition, the jury will evaluate a candidate’s potential as a dancer by each of the following qualities on a ten-point scale:

For Solo Performers

  • Artistry

  • Musicality

  • Ballet school education & Physical suitability

  • Technique, control, & coordination

For Ensembles

  • Artistry, Stylish, Character

  • Musicality

  • Synchronicity/School education

  • Technique, control, & coordination

AWARDS

The award ceremony will be held after the Gala performance on March 30th.

Please do not leave the Award ceremony until the end for the group picture with our founders, judges, and teachers.

-The Grand Prix “The Konstantin Award” a main award of the festival

(awarded to the dancer who has captured all of the judges’ hearts, performed beautifully on stage, met all the required goals and earned the higher score - $500 & Crystal Award)

 -Grand Prix “Diamond Award” an overall award

(awarded by judges’ decision in each age category, to the dancer who received the best score - $200 & Crystal Award)

Awards evaluated by the best score in each Age and Dance category

-        Crystal Award 1st, 2nd, 3rd place

-        Medal Award Top 5

-        Diploma Award Top 12

-        Diploma Award Top 24

-        Crystal Awards for Professional dancers (1st, 2nd, 3rd places)

-        Crystal Awards for Choreographers (1st, 2nd, 3rd places)

Additional Special Awards evaluated by the judges’ decision

-        Judges Award (each judge will choose they own best dancer or a dance - Ballerina Award)

-        Best School Award

-        Best Teacher Award

-        Rising Star Award

-        Scholarships for summer programs 2025 will be presented by ballet schools.

Social Media Prize *

A free solo entry to one of our future competitions will be awarded to a member of the Jewels Ambassadors program who has impressed our viewers with the most creative and engaging posts.

All other ambassadors will earn an invitation to dance in our gala performance as well as prizes from Jewels Festival sponsors.

Master Classes

Details about our Spring 2025 Master Class Series will be updated shortly. Please check back soon for more information!

  • We holding up to 8 Master classes during the festival. Mater Classes will be led and observed by our Judges on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

  • Our judges lead master classes of Ballet, Character Dance, Contemporary, and Break Dance. All registered participants are automatically invited to attend master classes. (Detailed schedule will be provided in a week before the event).