FAQs – West Coast Aerial Arts Festival

A. The Competition

There are be as many as 26 categories and divisions clustered according to age, discipline and skill available as a competition entry.  Click here for the complete Category List.

B. The Choreography Showcase

A showcase performance act can either be a DUO or SMALL GROUP entry. The piece addresses the creative substance with special attention to the execution, fluidity and artistry of the performers. Props are welcome. If you are not sure if you would like to participate based on the merits of the piece, you may submit a private link via email with the uncut video of the piece. The entries in this division can be showcased live virtually either in person at the performers’ home studio/ school or can submit a pre-recorded video. Please know that is NOT a competition and is open to all choreographers.  We have limited spots, and therefore we encourage you to submit early to reserve your spot.  All showcase participants shall be required to pay a fee of $75. Choreography pieces will be showcased at various times including a scheduled livestream viewing at the opening and closing nights.   Please check the Schedule of Events for updates.

Please refer to our Criteria Page for vertical space limitation and other routine requirements

Novice:  Any person who, on November 1 of the event year, has had aerial arts training of up to one (1) year or 145 hours of training.   

Amateur: Any person who has not received compensation as a result of any aerial performance or for instruction. Verifiable statements (AAA form) from the contestant’s instructor/ mentor, coach or any reliable person that can attest to his/her activities shall be submitted as part of the application.

Semi-Professional: One who received compensation as a result of up to 3 – 5 events in a year, whether for instruction OR performance.

Professional: One who, whether intermittently or regularly receives compensation in more than 5 events/ year for either instruction or performance.

*Semi-Professional and Professional applicants will be combined in one division and shall be designated as “Professional”, unless there are three or more entrants under the “Semi-Pro” level,

The organizing committee will see fit to segregate or create another division based on the number of entrants, the number of Semi-Pro and Professionals and the apparatus.

1. Get informed of the category and division to enter.  Click the Category List.
2. Ascertain the Fees and Application Deadlines:
   • Early Bird Fee: $150/entry / category (Sept. 1)
     Regular:  $175/ entry category (Sept. 2 – Sept. 30.)
     Additional Entry:  $75 – 2nd and subsequent category entries (Until Sept. 30)
     Choreography Entry: $75./ participant.  We do not accept late entries.
     Single Entry w/ Late Fee: $250  from October 1 – October 15)
     *Registration will close upon reaching participant limits
     ***Note: All application payments include transaction/ processing fees and sales tax.
3. Click here to check requirements for photo and bio submissions.  We will not include your Photo/ Bio if you have been accepted as a late registrant.
4. Pay the Application Fee:  Make a note of the total amount paid and receipt number.
5. Fill out the Contestant Application or the Choreography Application
6. As we process your application, we urge you to peruse the website relating to the WCAAF FAQ Page and upcoming pages regarding information on COVID-19 protocols and logistical Virtual participation.

• Early Bird Fee: $150/entry / category (Sept. 1)
  Regular:  $175/ entry category (Sept. 2 – Sept. 30.)
  Additional Entry:  $75 – 2nd and subsequent category entries (Until Sept. 30)
  Choreography Entry: $75./ participant.  We do not accept late entries.
  Single Entry w/ Late Fee: $250  from October 1 – October 15)
  *Registration will close upon reaching participant limits
  ***Note: All application payments include transaction/ processing fees and sales tax.

Refunds are only allowed within one (2) weeks of your purchase or 21 days prior to the festival date, whichever is earlier.   If for any reason beyond these period, you are not able to participate in any way, we will apply your payment to the following year less any administrative costs.

To View/ Pay Your Application Fee
Associated fees (transaction and processing fees) have already been included 

Participation Fee – 1 Contestant + Fee

Primary/ Single Entry $163.00 USDPrimary & Secondary Entries $240.50 USD

Please write down the receipt number and indicate this in the application form

Please Click Here for In-Depth Insights Regarding our Judging Criteria

Since the first WCAA Festival in 2013, we have taken the judging system seriously.  It is our priority that our judging criteria be fair and competent and aimed to promote safety and awareness in the aerial arts community.

The criteria for judging will be based on technical skills, choreography and transitional interpretation, artistic elements and overall interpretation of the act as it relates to musicality, rhythm and dynamics.  The judging will be as follows:

Technical & Execution:  60% :::  Choreography: 20%  ::::  Artistry & Presentation: 20%
Total Score: 100

Consistent with our commitment to safety, the first, and primary judging criteria is Technique.  A judge is able to recognize if a contestant has “shortcut” the system, by displaying a degree of difficulty that is beyond one’s abilities.

Please note that your acts must include the following compulsory moves:

• NOVICE:  Basic/ Standard/ Universal Footlocks; Stand Alone Single Drop/ Roll/ Dive (no multiple, double or consecutive); Basic Entrances to Wraps and Inversions
• AMATEUR: Straddle Climbs; at least one (1) Roll, Drop or Dive; Flexibility; and Strength
• PROFESSIONAL/ SEMI: There is no limit provided that the contestant can safely and confidently execute the skills.

The panel consists of three (3) judges, carefully selected based on their master credentials as teachers/educators and as professional aerial artist.   One is disqualified to judge if he/she has or is a coach to a contestant, excluding workshop instructors.

Compliance of competition rules is strictly observed.   Any non-compliant action shall be penalized against the contestant’s score regardless of the wrongdoer’s knowledge/ignorance of the rules.   Noncompliance in the following areas shall result in as much as a 10 point score deduction:

• Costume compliance (including hair accessories)
• Duration of act
• Skills as defined for each level
• Others as noted in the Judging Criteria webpage (that may be deemed unsafe, including entanglement)

If there is a tie, the score for the technical criteria shall prevail. The judges are required to score according to movements that are above the ground.  To ensure uniformity and objectivity of judging, all judges are provided with judging score guidelines (see Judging Criteria webpage)

Final scores shall comprise of the judges score, less any deductions.

The duration of your act will depend on your age.  There is a minimum and maximum length of time, as follows:

• Novice: 2 – 3  minutes
• Kids 7 – 14 yrs old: 2 – 3 minutes;
• Teens and Adults 15+ yrs old: 3 – 4 minutes

We shall begin timing your act from when you commence (from stillness) your move, whether from the wings or from the ground, even without touching the apparatus.  Any act that falls outside the duration range will have up to 10pts. deduction.

Sound and Music shall also be screened as follows:
– File format:  MP3
– Submission Deadline:  Oct. 25.
– A back-up should maintained by applicant during the event.
– Music should be clean – free from explicit wordings
– Copyright Free Music is highly preferred.  Note that we cannot guarantee the broadcasting of your routine to its original if the music is protected by copyright.  Alternatively, we will overdubbed your performance with a no-copyright/ free music.

Note:  Any changes in music after Oct. 25 may have consequences including the inability to use the music of their choice.  During the registration day, all applicant is required to check-in at the Music Desk to ensure the correctness of their music.

Please check this link:
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE CREATING YOUR COMPETITION ROUTINE

The fundamental categories (Silks – Lyra – Trapeze) shall have at least 3 contestants per age group.

Click Here for the Competition List of Categories and Divisions

If the required number of entrants have not been met, the organizer will make a judgment call to either move the applicant to the nearest category/ division by age, apparatus and status or open the category based on emerging necessity.

Please read our COVID-19 Safety Protocols.

Aerial Arts poses many risks including slips and falls that may result in injury or death. The organization prioritizes in safety and shall enforce any and all precautions and safety measures in order to make the event a safe place.   Contestants should only perform skills that they have mastered.   If for any reason, any part of your act is considered unsafe (including any resulting entanglement), the organization has the right to end your act in order to prevent any or potential injury. Additionally, all contestants, performers and guest artists are required to sign a Release of Liability form.

• Height from the hardware to the floor is between 18 – 19 feet (depending on the point)
• The applicant has a choice of bringing her own apparatus or using our apparatus.
• If the applicant chooses to bring his/her apparatus, this shall be inspected by our certified rigger
• There shall be a 4:1 pulley system. If you opt to us this, you need to bring an assistant in order to use this 4:1 point. Please notify our technical director, Luca Cecchini (lucachn@gmail.com), no later than October 31.
• Mats are mandatory.  Any acts that require flat flooring shall have with them a person who will drag back the mat when the contestant starts her aerial executions.   Any swinging movement has to be covered by a mat..
• The mat measurement is 4′ X 8′.   Please note that if the contestant’s movement (swinging while suspended with no foot on the floor) goes beyond the measurement, this will potentially pose a deduction in the score.
• If you plan to use the 4:1 point, please have your pulley/ cue operator present.   Said operator would need to meet with our technical director.  Please check schedule of events for rigging time.
• Please consult with our technical director, Luca Cecchini (lucachn@gmail.com) for any questions or rigging set-up.

If there are questions we have not answered, please email us: info@aerialartsamerica.org

For Competition Rounds, COSTUME is encourage provided that there shall be NO PROPS involved.  Your costume would need to be secured.  Any dangling of material (including unsecured skirt) may be subject to infraction in our score of up to ten (10) points.  We also suggest wearing a unitard, and if leotard is worn, avoid thin flesh tights for lower garment which instead, can be replaced with leggings.  Also, since we have kids in this festival, we suggest costumes that are PG rated (appropriate for kids audience).  If you are unsure, we recommend you emailing us a picture of your costume (for skirts – we will need an inverted pose).  Send this to info@aerialartsamerica.org no later than November 1,  so we may address any possible issue at an early stage.  Any costume not previously approved that potentially pose danger in the execution of your routine, may be rejected at the competition rounds if the committee finds that said costume is in violation of its policy and/or if it seems to be unsafe.

At the Choreography and Culminating Nights, we encourage our participants to bring in the entertainment element of their performance including additional costumes & props (provided these are approved).

The initial entrance fee includes the following:

• Participate as a competitor or a showcase artist
• 1 Workshop (virtual attendance with supervision is available)
• Discount rate for additional workshop
• Participation Medal, T-Shirt and other souvenir goodies from sponsors (extra fee for S&H may apply)
• Inclusion of your picture and bio inside the Souvenir Program
• Participation in the collaborative choreography and culminating showcase (virtual livestream)
•  Audition to become a scholar
• School Promo broadcast and Coach Workshop representation
• Chance to network, meet and greet participants, guest artists and judges virtually
• Priority given to sign-up for private session spot/s with any of the judges or workshop instructors
• Judges comments of your act

Our team is currently discussing the challenges that goes along with hosting a virtual Culminating Concert and assessing responses from participants.

The Culminating Showcase is a concert featuring all the winning pieces  It is normally hosted on the last day (Sunday) of the festival.  In the past, a very important feature of this festival is the getting together of all contestants on stage performing newly choreographed routines with the assistance of coaches from various schools.   This year, due to COVID-19, we will be cancelling the group section of the concert to practice social distancing.  However,  we will do our best to effectuate the virtual hosting of the Culminating Concert to showcase and honor our winners. We shall keep everyone posted and will be announcing updates on this website as well as in our newsletters and social media.  

No, so long as you pay the application and other related fees, and submit your entry before the deadline.

Each category will have an award consisting of a trophy/ medal and more from our sponsors.   We also have prize money for the Top 3 Overall Winners.  In addition, the Overall Winner will be the featured guest artist at the subsequent WCAAF.

All participants regardless of whether they are contestants or choreography artists shall be provided with participation medals, souvenir T-shirt, and a printed/ online souvenir program.  They are also provided with 1 Free Workshop and access to all activities including audition for Aerial Arts America’s scholarship program.

Aerial Arts America is also raising funds and gathering sponsors for non-monetary prizes.  More information will be posted as new development arises.

*Virtual participants will have to make separate arrangements with our team for their T-Shirt and Medal/ Trophy to be shipped. All expenses associated with this shall be borne by the participant.  

For any category, there must be at least 80% aerial related movement within your act.  Please remember, that although your ground moves may be technical, beautiful, creative and entertaining, as an aerial arts competition, the judges are required to score according to movements that are above the ground.

This page is constantly being updated as additional information becomes available.

We will be streaming the event for virtual viewing.  Please come back to get more details regarding the credentials for the video streaming.

Competitors will be performing without an audience. Their routines will be pre-recorded and streamed on the schedule competition rounds.    We shall be making available the livestreaming of each participant’s entry during the actual competition rounds  and will be accessible virtually.  We shall be providing the platform and credentials for viewing soon.

Main Control Hub:  Aerial Dance Theater, 3001 Red Hill Ave. Bldg. 1 Suite 107, Costa  Mesa, CA 92626

Map it!

Please visit our Calendar of Events.   Ticket sales will start Oct. 15.  Check our homepage for ticket link.

We welcome professional showcase artists at the festival’s welcome and culminating nights.  These pieces focus more on creativity and theme based performances, given the performer’s elite skill set.  Simply submit (via email) your act on Youtube  (private setting) for consideration.  You shall hear from us no later than Oct. 1, 2020  to let you know if your act has been selected and featured in our festival.  And if so, we would need the video footage with high quality resolution.  By accepting this, you are giving us permission to broadcast your act at any of our controlled media outlets including YouTube, Instagram and Facebook for no less than 2 years, and until such time as you ask us to disable the broadcast.