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Performer Information*

READ ME BEFORE APPLYING!

RULES AND REGULATIONS

• • Entrants must be over 18 at the time of entry.

• • Application fee is non-refundable.

• • Applicants may be any gender.

• • Applicants can be national or international.

• • Applicants must make themselves aware of all Dance Filthy USA code of conduct and terms and conditions prior to entry.

• • Competitors will be judged on the same criteria in the Submission Video and Final rounds.

• • Poles will be cleaned in between each performer.

• • Judges decision is final.
  • DFUSA reserves the right to make modifications to the rules, regulations, terms, and conditions of the competition at any time.

Dance Filthy and Censorship

Dance Filthy USA as an organization does not support the censorship of performances, except in limited circumstances. Outside of these limited circumstances, whether a performance is in good taste or has artistic validity is a matter for individual audience members to decide. As organisers, we remain committed to allowing performers to tell their story in the manner in which they choose, subject to the following limitations and considerations.

Banned Subject Matter

Dance Filthy USA will not tolerate performances that are:

– Racist or cultural appropriation (including but not limited to black face)
– Homophobic, Transphobic, or discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation

– Whorephobic or stigma against sex workers

– Misogyny or discrimination based on gender

– Body shaming, ableism or discrimination based on physical appearance or ability

– Harassment, hate speech or any form of demeaning or harmful representation
– Likely to incite hatred towards or vilify a minority.

Any performances that are deemed by the organizers to fall within the above categories will be required to submit a new performance concept. If on the night, a performance is deemed to fall within one of the above categories by the judges, the performer will be disqualified. If after a Dance Filthy USA has been held, it is discovered that a performance constitutes a grave breach of these guidelines, a performer may have their titles revoked.

Whether a performance constitutes a grave breach of these guidelines will be a matter for the Dance Filthy USA team to decide, having regard to any correspondence received from the public and the relevant performer.

Decisions made by the Dance Filthy USA team will be final.

Note: performances that deal with the topics of racism, homophobia or vilification are not banned, but will be considered sensitive content (see below).

Sensitive Content

Pole Theatre performances often deal with subject matter that can provoke strong emotional responses from the audience. We believe that audience members at Dance Filthy USA should feel safe and supported, and be given the opportunity to prepare themselves for performances that may be upsetting or triggering.

As a performer, you are required to provide your National Organizer with a detailed description of your performance when you enter Dance Filthy USA. If your performance concept changes, you must update your National Organizer so that a decision can be made as to whether your concept is appropriate and whether a warning is required.

​Failure to provide an adequate description of your performance may result in disqualification.

If you believe that your performance deals with subject matter that has the potential to cause a strong emotional reaction in your audience, you must advise your National Organizer that a warning will be necessary on the night.

​Examples of subject matter that may be considered sensitive and may require a warning include:

• Mental health

• Sexual assault

• Disability

• Abuse or torture

• Self-harming behaviour

• Eating disorders

• Suicide

• Hate speech or strong abusive language

• Violence, including domestic violence

• Murder or physical assault

• Depiction or discussion of discriminatory attitudes or actions, such as racism, sexism, homophobia, prejudice

• Drug, alcohol or substance abuse

We do not ban performances that relate to the above subject matter. However, we require performers to advise us if their performance relates to the above subject matter.

CLICK TO READ DANCE FILTHY ETHICAL GUIDELINES

 

Judging & Criteria

There will be 3 judges.

Competitors will be judged on the following criteria (40 POINTS MAX):

• • ­ Pole tricks (skillful execution and difficulty): 10 points – Do you have a variety of tricks and spins? Are you trick heavy ? Are you clean in and out of the trick? **Please note there are no trick requirements or restrictions in any division – however, this IS a POLE DANCING competition, so tricks are expected to be included.

• • Floor work and dance: 10 points – Does the routine flow, does it have enough floor work to connect the routine, does the floor work look effortless?

• •  Costume: 10 points – Have you made an effort; do you have props? Have you put thought into your show and performance? Does the costume support your theme/character? Are you wearing heels (not required!)?

• • “Filthy Factor” (stage presence, sexiness, creativity, engagement with audience, entertainment and originality): 10 points – Is the performance original and creative, was the performance sexy or inappropriate?

Video Submission Rules:

• • Videos MUST be on youtube or vimeo. No downloadable files allowed. Videos may be on unlisted setting in youtube, but not private.

• • Videos must be between 2 – 4 minutes in length (any longer will not be watched).

• • Videos must not be edited in any way, and must be filmed in one single take (i.e. no splicing together of different clips).

• • Videos must be of good quality with sufficient lighting.

• • Only one video will be viewed per entrant per category. Entrants cannot submit multiple videos.

• • The video must show only the entrant performing. It is not acceptable to submit a group performance and expect the judges to identify the entrant in the group. Human props are allowed to be in the video if they are being used as human props and not also performing.

• • The description of the video on YouTube or Vimeo must contain the entrant’s proposed performance description (so that the judges can easily refer to it while watching). For example: ”In my proposed performance at Dance Filthy USA 2026, I will be portraying a nerdy school girl who desperately wants to prove she’s not a young girl anymore bound by her books.”

• • It is strongly advised that competitors submit a video that matches the Dance Filthy criteria, i.e. it is advisable to enter a video of you doing a more sexy performance with floor work rather than a contemporary lyrical piece. This is so the judges can see that you are capable of “Dancing Filthy”. It is also important to make sure you have a balance between tricks and floor work, and that you demonstrate that you have strong performance skills and have good stage presence, even if your video is filmed in a studio setting. The judges want to see that you are capable of engaging and connecting with an audience.

Videos must be submitted by August 15th,  2026.

Eligibility

• • Entry is open to anyone aged over 18 years.

• • Amateurs: If you have never won an amateur competition before or competed in a professional level competition, this is the division for you. Paid performers are prohibited from entering this division. If you have won a smaller amateur competition or competed in a professional level competition, but believe that you should still be allowed to compete in amateur, please email DanceFilthyUSA@Gmail.com with details/video links of the relevant competition and your reasons why you think you should be classed as an amateur. Pole dance instructors are allowed to enter the amateur division if they have never won an amateur comp or competed in a professional level competition.

  • Semi-Pros: If you have won an Amateur competition but have never won a Semi-Pro competition before or have competed in a professional level competition, or if you are an instructor, this is the division for you! Paid performers can enter this division.

  • Professionals: If you have won an amateur or semi-pro competition or competed in a professional level competition before, then you must enter the professional division. You do not need to be an instructor or a paid performer to enter this division.

  • Note: To ensure fairness and maintain the integrity of our divisions, judges reserve the right to reassign an applicant to a different category or level than originally applied for, based on the skill level, choreography complexity, or overall performance quality shown in the submission video.

Entry
Applicants are selected based on the video submitted.

Props, Costume, etc

• • Performers are permitted to use any props, sets, costuming, additional performers, sound effects, performance apparatus or footwear, provided that:
    • a. the space allows for it physically;
    • b. it is of a size that can be easily transported on a plane (so that international competitors are not disadvantaged); and
    • c. it can be set up and completely removed in under 3 minutes.

• • If any props are to be used, performers must advise us by email, and must send photos of their proposed props for approval.
  • Competitors are allowed to remove items of costume, down to g-­string and pasties.
  • Humans are allowed as a prop, and they may touch the pole, but for no more than 30 seconds.  You will be marked down if they touch it longer. Human props must submit application fee, application and performer paperwork if selected.
  • All human props must be pre approved, provide proper ID, and are required to fill out DFUSA paperwork and pay entry fees to perform.
  • No glass of ANY kind, no fire/fireworks/sparklers, shoes/clothing or any materials that could potentially damage the poles/stage/etc.
  • No pets or live animals
  • Nothing that clamps to the pole and is intended to bear your body weight, such as hand loops, FabPole or PoleSilks type devices.
  • All liquid, messy and dirty props (hot wax, oils, liquids, paint, sand) will be required to be used on stage over a drop sheet/tarp and must be pre-approved.