West Coast Dance Explosion's National Finals is an annual event seeped in tradition, community, and passion for dance. It offers you a full week of dance at its best to help you finish your season with celebration. The week's programming includes 3 days of convention classes, a national competition, the Elite Dancer of the Year Competition, The Studio ICON Challenge, and The Final Showdown featuring The Legacy Ball. All of this, and there is still plenty of time to hit the pool and create memories with your friends that will last you a lifetime.
If you are serious about finding the best national event in the industry, your search is done. After 28 years of seeing the country’s top talent, we can say with confidence that WCDE's National Finals attracts the “best of the best” in the dance competition industry.
COMPETITION
EXCITING
If you are serious about finding the best national competition of the summer, your search is over. After 28 years of seeing the country’s top talent, we can say with confidence that WCDE National Finals attracts the “best of the best” in the dance competition industry. More importantly, our National Event is known for attracting studios that are seeking a community of dance educators who support each other’s accomplishments. In an industry that is becoming more and more egocentric, we are proud to host the National Event that is as friendly as it is fierce.
New this past season, we enhanced our National’s experience by celebrating merit awards for all routines, introducing PowerPack Overall Awards, and extending category placement awards. WCDE takes great pride in curating panels of judges for our National’s Event that are well-rounded, unbiased, and highly qualified to provide the best competition experience in the industry.
WORKSHOPS
INSPIRING
Get ready for three days of uplifting, motivating and challenging workshops! Jam packed with new combos from the WCDE Faculty and exciting new Breakout Room class experiences, the National’s Workshops are sure to push you to your next level.
Additionally, for all students not participating in the Elite Dancer Program, there will be a scholarship audition opportunity to help you jump start your next season of dance.
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For more information about the West Coast Dance Explosion faculty, Breakout Classes, and our convention structure please visit our convention page.
COMMAND THE STAGE
TITLE COMPETITIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL DANCERS, SPECIFIC ROUTINES, AND ENTIRE STUDIOS
The Studio ICON Challenge is an isolated competition from the rest of the national event; held as its own celebration of studios determined to provide a well rounded dance education. In this event, studios compete in 4 genres of dance, (Example; Jazz, Ballet, Hip-Hop & Contemporary), against all of the other studios who are entered in the challenge at the nationals event for the title of “Best Well-Rounded Studio” as well as prizes totaling $5,000.
PLEASE NOTE: This event is adjudicated by a separate panel of judges from the rest of the national event to ensure that the outcome of the Studio ICON Challenge does not affect the scoring of the national finals competition.
Students who received an Elite scholarship (Silver, Gold, or Platinum) at a regional event in the current regional season are eligible to compete as a part of this summer's Elite program. The cost to participate in the Elite program is $450 and includes all rehearsal and choreography of the Elite number performed at The Final Showdown, the adjudication of their solo and auditions, costuming for the Elite number, the participant’s ticket to The Final Showdown and Legacy Ball, and exclusive Elite participant activities.
PLEASE NOTE: Beginning this season, WCDE will recognize dance excellence in a unified Elite program no longer divided by gender. Just as in previous seasons, WCDE will continue to offer two costume options for an Elite program participant’s studio to select for them.
FEATURING THE LEGACY BALL
Known to be one of the most exciting evenings of dance competition in the entire industry, the Final Showdown showcases the top seven highest scoring studios in each age division, based on their highest scoring routine (in the Small Group, Large Group, Line, Production, and Showstopper categories). The passion is contagious as these studios, and the dancers who represent them, return to the stage and
re-compete to win their share of $25,000 in prizes as well as a place in WCDE history as the new Pinnacle Cup Champions.
PLEASE NOTE: No additional entry fees will be charged to compete in The Final Showdown.
MEMORIES TO LAST A
LIFETIME
Get ready to dress up and have some fun! The evening of the Final Showdown is the ultimate season finale and goes far beyond a gala.
The night kicks off with a full red carpet experience where you are invited to immerse yourself in a cocktail hour with passed hors d’oeuvres and live music.
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Immediately following The Final Showdown Awards Presentation, the celebration continues at The Legacy Ball! Enjoy a “sweet surprise" as you dance with your friends (new and old) to live music and make dance memories to last a lifetime.
MORE THAN A DANCE CONVENTION
FUN ACTIVITIES & EVENTS TO IMMERSE YOURSELF IN ALL WEEK LONG.
At National Finals, WCDE curates a series of special events to engage dancers and their families as a community and providing additional opportunities to celebrate our shared love of dance. Past events have included The Dream Duffel Dash, The Dancing Fair Cutting Board Challenge, and the Jo+Jax Open Call.​
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The WCDE staff is currently working on finalizing the additional events for this year's National Finals! Check back here for additional updates.