POP-OFF! LIVE DANCE COMPETITION

Show us your moves and win the crowd!

2025 Event Coordinator: Whimsy

Event Day: Saturday PM

Applications Due By: SUNDAY APRIL 13th

Hosted by: Special Guest!

Do you know the dance moves to Aqours, Selection Project, or IDOLiSH7? Have you practiced as hard as they have, pouring your blood, sweat, and tears into perfecting every step? Now’s your chance to show off all your hard work and compete for the #1 spot in our Pop-Off! Live Dance Competition!

Welcome to the ConnectiCon Pop-Off!, where you’ll perform your choreography LIVE in front of a room full of cheering fans and glowing light sticks! Professional judges will evaluate your technical skill, style, and execution to determine the best dancers. Win the hearts of the audience and earn the fan-favorite award, voted on LIVE during the event!

Winners will receive free badges to next year’s convention!

Pop-Off is the most spectacular event at ConnectiCon. You don’t want to miss it!!

POP-OFF! DANCE COMPETITION RULES & GUIDELINES

• Applicants may apply either as a group or as a solo performer. All group members must be registered convention attendees to perform.
• Contestants must be at least 13 years old to participate.
• 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 competition. If an individual is found to be a professional, their entire group will be disqualified.
  *A “professional dancer” is an individual who performs dance for monetary compensation as the majority of their income.
• This year Pop-Off! is strictly an idol competition, there is now a separate event for K-Pop competitors. 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 accessible to the Event Coordinator.
• All applicants must link or email a picture of the costumes you intend to wear during the performance.
• Judging Criteria: Dancers will be judged in three key areas:
  • Technical Skill: Movement, Flow/Musicality, Rhythm/Step Work, Transitions/Precision, Synchronicity.
  • Style: Presence/Charisma, Aesthetics, Facial Expressions, Energy, Showmanship.
  • 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.
  • Fan Favorite: Voted live by the convention audience.
  • Judges’ Awards: For standout performances that didn’t win top prizes but impressed the judges.
• If accepted you must 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.
• Please read all event rules before filling out the application. For any questions about this form, please contact Cosplay@connecticon.org and we will respond as soon as possible. Applications close on April 13th at 11:59pm and you will be notified on April 27th if you have been accepted, waitlisted or denied.

CHECK-IN & AUDIO REQUIREMENTS

We recommend submitting a Google Drive or Dropbox folder in your application to collect all your photos, videos, and audio in one place.

• Once participants arrive at the convention, all applicants must check in at Cosplay HQ to be able to perform. Anyone who is unable to check in before the event must contact the Event Coordinator as soon as possible.
• All performers will be asked to provide a professional photo of their dance group upon check in for use in promotions and voting.
• All performers must email audio files ahead of time to Cosplay@connecticon.org. Please use the .mp3 file format only and bring a backup copy of your file to the convention on a flash drive or CD. Audio will NOT be accepted at the event start, it must be submitted through Cosplay HQ upon check in.
• There will be no live microphones onstage. All audio must be pre-recorded.
• 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 able to rehearse before your performance.