NEXT LEVEL is a widely known aespa single and the name of ConnectiCon’s K-POP DANCE COMPETITION!

Are you ready to bring the drama and give them whiplash? Set the tone and make your dreams come true by dancing on the main stage in front of hundreds of K-Pop lovers? WE WANT TO SEE THE P1 STANS AND FIMMIES TEAR UP THAT STAGE.

Event Day: Saturday 10:30 AM

Rehearsal: Friday 11 AM

Applications Due By: Wednesday April 15th

Winners receive free badges to the following year’s convention!

NEXT LEVEL K-POP DANCE COMPETITION RULES & GUIDELINES

• Applicants may apply as a group or solo performer.
• All members of your performance group must be registered convention attendees to perform.
• Contestants must be at least 13 years old.
• First place winners of the previous year’s convention may not compete in the current event. Winners from events before the previous convention are allowed to compete again.
  • Previous winners may request to return as a judge for the event in the year following their win.
• No professional dancers* may enter NEXT LEVEL. 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.
• All applicants will need to identify the source material for their performance and what song they intend to perform as part of the competition application. Should you choose a medley, the medley must consist of the same artist/band.
• Performances are limited to 5 minutes maximum at length.
• All applicants will be expected to provide a link to a video dance demo which should be at least 30 seconds long. This should be in the form of a google drive file or an unlisted YouTube link (easier option).
• All dancers will be judged based on rubric given to them before the competition. This would include Knowledge of Choreo, Effort, Technique, Musicality, and Stage Presence.
• There will be a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place award
• Please arrive at the requested set-up time to receive event-specific rules and instructions. Please follow directions given by the staff during this time, as well as during the event. If you do not follow the rules set up by the Event Coordinator and event staff, you will be disqualified from the competition and may be unable to participate in future events.
• Due to this year’s rehearsal being on a different day from the show, participants are required to have a badge valid for access to the convention for both the day of rehearsal and the day of the show, which is Friday and Saturday for 2026

All timings are subject to change based on additional scheduling requirements!

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 by April 30th at 11:59 PM for use in promotions and voting. If you submitted a photo previously to programming@sonnecticon.org, please let Cosplay HQ know.
• All performers must email audio files ahead of time to programming@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 must be submitted by April 30th at 11:59 PM. Applications who fail to submit music by this deadline will be disqualified.
• There will be a block of rehearsal time set aside for performers to walk the stage and run your number. If you cannot make the allocated practice time, you will not be able to rehearse your event before the performance.
• Please pick up any dropped off flash drives/CDs at the Cosplay HQ desk anytime after the conclusion of the competition.

MEETINGS & OTHER NOTES

• There will be a Discord group chat to do routine check-ins and asking general questions. While not required to be in it, it is highly recommended. This option is here due to an overload of emails that may come during that time. It also allows faster response times and better organization.
• While it is a competition - this event is also supposed to be fun. Please do not lose sleep over this.
• Cosplay is optional. There are bathrooms located close by to change in.