Étoile Dance Competition

Baltimore, MD

General

Reviewer:

Parent

Dancer Age:

Competition experience:

6-10

Event Details

Round:

Regional

Season:

2026

Location:

Baltimore, MD

Traveled to compete:

Yes

Regional was the closest:

Yes

Regionals attended:

Who encouraged multiple regionals:

Entry affiliation:

School

Rules Easy to Access?

Yes

Did Dancer Miss School?

Attended master classes:

Yes

Master Classes

Master Class Types:

Technique, Contemporary

Master class teachers:

I don’t remember

Distance from venue:

At the same venue

Received corrections:

Yes

How corrections were given:

Corrections were given to individuals and as a group. Instructor is very kind. Dancer reports this was her favorite master class of the comp season.

What corrections were about:

Encouraging

Anatomical language:

Yes

Correction tone:

Positive

Teacher engagement:

Very engaged. Kids seemed happy!

Crowding:


Really Crowded	Plenty of Room to Move

Master Class Feedback

Technique:

Contemporary:

Additional master class comments:

Etoile is unique as they have master class in ballet and contemporary but learn a small contemporary piece that they perform as a group before awards.

Performance Details

Venue name:

Harford County Community College Theater

Venue description:

Theater - many seats, beautiful venue and stage

Stage description:

Marley, did not appear slippery.

Off-stage warm-up space:

Lots of room in the halls/lobby area and stage

Dressing rooms:

It was crowded but doable for the kids

Parents in dressing rooms:

Male dressing room:

Unsure

Parents backstage:

Onstage warm-up:

She did fine. Plenty of room however it was a big warm up crowd.

Schedule adherence:

Tended to run ahead

Other schedule comments:

We were due for snow the second day of comp, so they adjusted the Sunday schedule to get us out before the storm!

Staff communication:

Great!

Parent seminar offered:

Judging

Judging rubric clarity:

Yes

Judges' attentiveness:

Yes, all judges were actively watching

Feedback turnaround:

A few days after the competition

Type of Feedback:

Numerical scores, Audio commentary over a performance video

Feedback helpfulness:


Not Helpful At All	Extremely Helpful

Main takeaway:

Amazing. Having the judge talk as she danced and give praise and small corrections is stellar. She can see why they said what they said!

Scoring felt fair:

Yes

Awards & Scholarships

Awards ceremony:

Wonderful. Organized. Fast. They did scholarship awards, intensive invites, then placing by level. And overall placements.

Won an award or training offer:

Yes

Festival offer:

Gala offer:

Invited to finals:

Yes

Award or Training Offer Description:

She placed 3rd in her age category. She was the youngest in her group to place. Awards are mixed so its top scores in the age group together - so contemporary and classical are one award group. She placed for one of her Classical pieces.

Final Comments

Best aspect:

This comp is a positive, feel good competition. The kids are HAPPY, they know there are no favorites to be played. The kids are judged by number and nothing else. They get feedback that is useable. This by far has been our favorite comp.

Worst aspect:

Nothing.

Competition culture:

Positive. Everyone can perform. It is incredibly inclusive.

Attendee culture:

Same - the parents are relaxed. No one is on edge.

Suggested changes:

I wish the feedback videos lasted longer than 14 days.

Cost vs. expectation:


Significantly More	Significantly Less

Time worth it:


Not Worth It	Worth Every Minute

Overall rating:

Anything else?

This competition is among the best out there for feedback.