American Dance Awards was founded in 1979 with the concept that competition would be an educational tool to inspire dancers and their teachers to be the best they could be. As we enter the thirty third season, our philosophy still remains the same. Competing at American Dance Awards is all about opportunities. From cash scholarships to special awards, the priceless critiques offered by our highly respected panel of judges, and the chance to perform with some of the most talented dancers in the USA and Canada. The emphasis isn’t on winning but personal gain. ADA encourages the dancers to meet dancers from other studios. Some remain friends for a lifetime. It’s about camaraderie, not the color of the ribbon. A great opportunity is “America’s Dancer of the Year” Competition. Open to all solo dancers free of charge. The winners in each city come together at the national competition to win the most prestigious dance title in the country. Dancers come year after year to experience the process and the learning experience it has become over the years. You can see many ADA national winners dancing professionally. American Dance Awards prides itself on a fair realistic scoring system. Each routine is adjudicated by three judges, plus one designated special awards judge who recognizes special qualities in the dancers. When all the medals and trophies have been distributed, studios return for the friendly, organized atmosphere. In the early days, we were one of only a few competitions; today we are one of many. High standards have kept us on top for many years. The quality and friendly service as well as a focus on education are what we are all about and those traits we look forward to continuing in the future.

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