POP-OFF! LIVE DANCE COMPETITION

Welcome to the ConnectiCon XXIII 2026 Pop-Off! LIVE Dance Competition Application!

Important Dates:

• Application Deadline: April 15th at 11:59 PM

• Notification of acceptance, waitlist, or denial: April 25th

Rehearsal: Saturday July 18th 8 AM

Event Check in Time: Saturday July 18th 3 PM

Pop-Off! Dance Competition Rules & Guidelines

Please ensure you complete this form in its entirety as incomplete applications may result in a denied entry.

• Participation: Applicants may apply either as a group or as a solo performer. All group members must be registered convention attendees to perform.
• Age Requirement: Contestants must be at least 13 years old to participate.
• Placement Limitations: If you win 1st place two years consecutively, you will be asked to refrain from entering the competition the following year, though you are welcome to perform an exhibition dance during the judges' deliberation. This rule applies to individuals, not groups. For example, if you win 1st place as part of one group and again the following year as part of a different group, you will be asked to step aside as an individual to allow other dancers a chance to shine.
• No professional dancers* may enter the Pop-Off: Live! Or Debut! Professional Idols/Dancers ARE allowed to apply for Pop-Off: Rising! If an individual that has applied for Live! or Debut! is found to be a professional, their entire group will not be allowed to perform. *A “professional dancer” is an individual who performs dance for monetary compensation as the majority of their income
  
  • Pop-Off:Debut! and Pop-Off:Rising! Rules
    

All times are subject to change as we finalize the schedule. Communications will go out once the schedule is finalized if times changed.

• This year Pop-Off! is strictly an idol competition. Dances must be choreographed and performed in costume, based on dances from anime idols, virtual idols, Vocaloid, or other animated dance sources. Examples include μ’s, Aqours, AKB0048, Liella, Idolm@ster, IDOLiSH7, Project Sekai, etc. If you have any questions or need further clarification, feel free to reach out!
• You must provide the source material for your performance and the specific song you intend to perform.
• Performances are limited to 5 minutes maximum to accommodate as many performers as possible.
• Medley edits combining multiple songs or dances are permitted as long as the total performance time does not exceed the 5-minute limit.
• All applicants must submit a demo video of themselves performing a choreographed dance as part of the application. The demo must be at least one minute long but does not need to feature the exact song or costume for the competition. It’s fine to upload it to platforms like Google Drive or YouTube (as "unlisted") and share the link. Ensure the video is submitted as part of your application.
• Judging Criteria: Dancers will be judged in three key areas:
  1. Technical Skill: Movement, Flow/Musicality, Rhythm/Step Work, Transitions/Precision, Synchronicity.
  2. Style: Presence/Charisma, Aesthetics, Facial Expressions, Energy, Showmanship.
  3. Execution: Crowd Appeal, Use of Stage, Creativeness/Group Dynamics, Degree of Difficulty, Overall Impact.

Awards will be given for:

• Best in Show: Given to a performance that was not only outstanding but also had handmade costumes.
• Top Three Placements: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.
• Judges’ Awards: For standout performances that didn’t win top prizes but impressed the judges.

Event Day Instructions:

• Once participants arrive at the convention, all applicants must check in at Cosplay HQ to be able to perform.
• A block of rehearsal time will be available on the same day as the event for performers to walk the stage and run through their performance. If you are unable to attend the allocated practice time, you will not be allowed to perform and will be considered dropped from the competition.
• Arrive at the scheduled setup time for event-specific rules and instructions.
• Please follow all instructions given by event staff. Non-compliance may result in disqualification from the competition and future events.

• Any groups or individuals who run into difficulties that impair them from meeting guidelines either before or during the convention must contact the Event Coordinator as soon as possible so they may consider if an exception can be made.

For any questions regarding this form, please email programming@connecticon.org, use the subject prefix “PopOff”, and we will respond as soon as possible.

We look forward to seeing your performances at ConnectiCon XXIII 2026!

Please note: Due to time constraints, there is a limited number of performance slots available. If all slots are filled, you will be placed on a waitlist. Any performances that are not fully registered or fail to submit the required materials by the application deadline will be disqualified, and their spot will be offered to a group on the waitlist. Applications are not accepted on a first-come, first-served basis; instead, they are evaluated based on several criteria. Therefore, it is in your best interest to complete the entire application thoroughly. We are primarily looking for idols with a strong passion for stage performances!