NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Dance Event of the Summer!
July 20-26, 2026
Hollywood Beach, FL
"ADA Nationals was the highlight of my summer, year after year! ADA has shaped me into the person I am today."
– Michaela Marfori, alumnus of In Motion Dance Project in Orlando, FL. Past 2-time ADA National Winner, currently on the North American Tour of MJ The Musical.
Why the ADA National Championship?
If you’re looking for a summer event to inspire and motivate your dancers, the ADA National Championship is for you. With only one national final event, ADA brings you a caliber of talent unparalleled in the industry. It’s a true National Championship! The camaraderie and respect among the dancers and teachers creates an atmosphere that keeps studios coming back year after year.
At the ADA National Championship, you can count on an organized and friendly staff dedicated to making the event a perfect family vacation. Whether it’s the competition, the Dancer of the Year events, or the highly acclaimed Video Awards Gala, your studio will experience a professional production of the highest standards. With education at the top of the agenda, ADA offers every dancer the opportunity to take classes with some of the world’s most respected master teachers and choreographers. Our full line up of 25+ classes is available to dancers with their registration fee!
At ADA, it’s about bringing the best teachers and dancers together to learn from each other. Studios who attend the ADA National Championships can count on going home with a group of dancers who are motivated to be the best they can be!
National Championship Convention
ADA offers a full convention at our National Championships! With their Registration Fee, all dancers gain access to 25+ classes throughout the week in all ages and genres. These classes are not to be missed! Our faculty of industry professionals creates an exhilarating experience for every dancer. We offer special workshops, Teacher seminars, audition readiness classes…and more! ADA in Class Ambassadors for Fall workshops are nominated by the faculty out of the convention classes.
Registration Fee
Each registered student will pay a one time Registration Fee upon entering the National Championship. This grants access to ALL convention classes, and admission to the Awards Gala for dancer and two adults! This is an incredible savings! DOTY participants are not exempt from this fee.
What You Can Expect
National Championship Competition
Daily Convention Classes
America’s Dancer of the Year
Dance-Off & Awards Galas
The Dance Off
The top scoring entries from each category (Solo, Duo/Trio, Small Group, Large Group, etc.) in each room (team) of competition will perform once again in the exciting National Championship Dance Off!
Dance Off participants are determined by the performance score only from the National Championship Competition. High score entries in each category are announced at the Awards Gala! It is a night not to be missed.
Gala tickets for dancer + 2 adults are included in each competitor’s registration fee.
9 & Under Dance Off: The top 3 Solos, and the top 10 Duo-Production entries from each team compete in the Dance Off.
12 & Under Dance Off: The top 5 highest scoring entries from each category (solo, duo/trio, small group, large group, etc.) from each team of competition will compete in the Dance Off.
13 & Over Dance Off: The top 7 highest scoring entries from each category (solo, duo/trio, small group, large group, etc.) from each team of competition will compete in the Dance Off.
Dance-Off Regulations
No soloist will perform more than once in the Dance Off. Duos cannot be the same dancers.
No studio is allowed more than 2 entries in any one category, with the exception of soloists.
Cash award winners are determined by their Dance Off performance. Cash prizes are dependent on the number of entries.
The Elite Six
From the Dance-Off entries, the Elite Six is chosen (in 12 & Under and 13 & Over) to re-compete at our Awards Galas!
The top 6 highest scoring Small Group-Production entries will be announced immediately following the Dance Off. They will then dance again that evening for a packed Video Awards Gala audience.
Making the Elite Six is HUGE – it means you are the top 6 out of thousands of performances!
The Elite Six is tabulated live for the audience by use of a skating system. Each judge holds up a card with a number on it (1-6) for how they rank each entry!
The winner is determined by a majority of 1’s or a majority of the lowest numbers, based on the skating system.
This tabulation method is not only exciting and exhilarating, but it is also completely transparent for the performers and the audience!
National Choreography Awards
America’s Choreographer of the Year
A $1,000.00 cash scholarship!
The routine must have qualified at a regional event, won a Diamond Choreography Award in that regional, and be in the National Dance Off. America’s Choreographer of the Year is awarded in 12 & Under and 13 & Over. This award is for in-house choreographers/teachers only. Guest choreographers are not eligible. For details on regional Diamond award eligibility, click here.
America’s Young Choreographer of the Year
A $500.00 cash scholarship!
The routine must have qualified at a regional event, won a Young Choreography Award in that regional and be in the National Dance Off. America’s Choreographer of the Year is awarded in 12 & Under and 13 & Over. For details on YC eligibility, click here.