Step It Up 2026 Landing Page Logo
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    • About the Competition 

    • Step It Up NYC is not just a dance competition—it’s an inspiring journey that combines creative performance and social impact. This one-of-a-kind competition challenges youth teams to showcase their talent on stage while using their voices to champion meaningful change through a dynamic social impact campaign.

      Why is Step It Up unique? It’s the only competition in NYC where 40% of your score is based on your social impact campaign. This means your team’s ability to creatively advocate for important causes is just as vital as the energy and precision of your dance performance.

      Why should your team join Step It Up?

      1️⃣ Unleash Your Creativity: From high-energy choreography to impactful storytelling, Step It Up gives teams the platform to express their unique artistry and individuality.

      2️⃣ Make a Difference: This years teams are selecting their own campaign themes! 

      3️⃣ Grow and Elevate: Teams receive constructive feedback from seasoned judges, with the opportunity to refine and elevate their performances to the next level.

      4️⃣ Collaborate with Experts: Top 10 teams will work with professional video production crews to create a public service announcement (PSA), blending art and advocacy into a powerful showcase.

      5️⃣ Experience the Spotlight: With multiple rounds of auditions, including semi-finals and a final showcase, your team will gain valuable experience performing in front of diverse audiences.

      Step It Up is more than a competition—it’s a movement that celebrates youth creativity, leadership, and resilience. Join us and be part of a platform that transforms passion into purpose, builds lasting connections, and inspires change!

    • Team Requirements

    • 🔸 Team Size:

      • Each team must consist of a minimum of 6 performers and no more than 15 performers—no exceptions.

      🔸 Age Requirement:

      • Performers must be between 10 and 17 years old.
      • Date of Birth (DOB) must be listed on your team roster. Verification may be required, so ensure accuracy.

      Roster Submission

      • Teams must submit a complete and final roster at Audition 1.
      • No changes will be allowed after your first audition, so double-check your list before submission.

      Attendance

      • Teams are expected to attend ALL meetings, auditions, and rehearsals outlined in the official Step It Up season calendar.
      • Important dates and reminders will be sent to the coach’s email.

      Participation

      • The Top 10 teams will be required to have at least one representative participate in either:
        • The Opening Number, or
        • The Half-Time Performance.

      This is a chance to shine beyond your routine and be part of the larger Step It Up community!🎉

    • Competition Theme 

    • 🌟 Get Ready to Make an Impact! 🌟

       As part of the Step It Up 2026 Competition, each team will be tasked with developing and creating a social impact campaign to showcase your creativity and passion for driving change.

       🎯 This Year’s Theme:

      Design Your Own!

      NYC Communities face a multitude of issues worthy of solving.  This year, we ask for your team to identify a relevant issue of importance and to develop a social impact campaign to help address it.  

      1. Raise awareness about your chosen issue.
      2. Inspire action and create a positive impact in your community.
      3. Reflect your unique voice and perspective.

      📋 What You’ll Need to Do:

      1. Brainstorm ideas that align with the theme and represent your team’s mission.
      2. Design a campaign that can include visuals, videos, social media content, or in-person activities.
      3. Be prepared to present your campaign during the competition.

      💡 Why This Matters:

      Your voice has the power to spark conversations, break stigmas, and bring awareness to an issue that affects us all. This is your chance to make a difference while showing off your creativity and teamwork!

    • Auditions 

    • 🌟 Step It Up 2026 Audition Instructions 🌟

      We’re thrilled to see your team in action! Here’s everything you need to know to prepare for your auditions and ensure you’re ready to shine.

      Pre-Auditions Requirements

      🔹 Register!  Your first step it submitting the Registration Form by December 12th, 2025

      🔹 Your second stepp will be to attend the virtual orientation on December 19th, 2025

      🔹 Your third step will be to register for your 1st audition slot. 

      🔹 If you make it to the top 25, your next step will be to register to compete in the top 25 elimination round.

      🔹 If your team makes the top 25 but not the top 9, you will have the opportunity to participate in a wild card elimination.

       

       

      Audition Day Instructions

       📅 Dates:

      •Saturday, January 24, 2026

      •Saturday, January 31, 2026 (Top 25)

      •Saturday, February 21, 2026 (Battle Round/Wild Card)

      📍 Location:

      Auditions:  Wadleigh Secondary School for the Performing and Visual Arts

      (215 W 114th St, New York, NY 10026)

      Battle Round/Wild Card:  To Be Determined

       

      🔹 Arrive one hour before your scheduled audition time.

      🔹 Performers should come dressed and ready to perform—there will be no changing area available.

      🔹 You will have up to 5 minutes maximum to perform.

      🔹 Share your social impact campaign, referring to the required documents.

      Post-Auditions

      🔹 Once your audition is complete, teams will be asked to exit the premises.

      🔹 For any questions or concerns, please speak with a DYCD Step It Up team member on-site.

      🔹 Wait for the Top 25 Announcement Emails from DYCD with further instructions.

       

      💡 Pro Tip: Preparation is key! Double-check your music, documents, and schedule to ensure everything is ready to go.

    • Scoring

    • Scoring Breakdown

      🔸 60% - Performance:

      • Your dance routine will be judged on creativity, technique, energy, synchronization, and overall presentation.

      🔸 40% - Social Impact Campaign:

      • Your campaign will be evaluated on its originality, alignment with this year’s theme (Mental Health Awareness), clarity of message, and the materials you provide.

    • Click on the Images Below to Download Essential Documents to Support Your Team’s Success!

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    • Semi-Finals - Top 25 

    • The Top 25 Teams will be announced on January 27th via our social media channels and communicated via email! If your team is selected, you will be invited to a follow-up audition on January 31.

      What to Expect:

      • Your team is not required to create a new dance for this audition—it’s completely optional!
      • If your team decides to continue with your original piece, we want to see how you’ve incorporated the judges’ feedback and elevated your performance to the next level.
      • This is your opportunity to show growth and impress the judges!

      Important Notes:

      • Only teams who are notified will be invited back for this round.
      • More detailed information about the Top 25 process will be shared when the announcement is made.
      • Semi-Finals will not be a closed audition, so bring your energy and confidence to shine on stage!


      We can’t wait to see your passion and dedication in action. Stay tuned for updates and get ready to take it to the next level! 💃✨

    • Top 9 and Battle Round 10 

    • The Top 9 teams will be announced on February 6th via email and social media.

      On February 6th, those who did not make the top 9 (who are in the top 25) will be invited to compete in a battle round for the remaining 10th spot.  The battle round will take place on February 20th.

      As part of the Top 10, you’ll receive an incredible opportunity to work with professional dance coach mentors and a team of videographers to bring your social impact campaign to life through a PSA.

      Be prepared to:

      • Participate in additional events to showcase your talent.
      • Hear feedback to refine and elevate your performance.
      • Compete in front of hundreds of people and put on a spectacular show.
      • Take your social campaigns to the next level, sharing your impactful message with a broader audience.

       

    • Prior Step It Up Top 10 Finalists

      Take a look at previous finalists!

    • Dance Coach Mentors

    • Top 10 Teams – Get Ready for Expert Guidance!

      Making it to the Top 10 comes with an exciting opportunity to be paired with professional dance coach mentors! These mentors will:

      • Visit your practice sessions to observe your performance.
      • Provide personalized feedback tailored to your team.
      • Offer expert advice to help enhance and elevate your final performance.
      • Prepare you for the next steps in the competition. 

      It is the team coach’s responsibility to coordinate a schedule that works for both the team and the mentor. This is your chance to refine your skills, gain invaluable insights, and showcase your best work on the big stage. Let’s take your performance to the next level!

    • About the Public Service Announcements (PSA)

    •  🎉 Exciting Opportunity for the Top 10 Teams! 🎥

      If your team makes it to the Top 10, you’ll have the incredible chance to create a professionally produced Public Service Announcement (PSA) for your social campaign! Each team will be paired with a skilled video production crew to bring your campaign message to life for the final showcase.

      Coach’s Role:

      Coaches will play a key part in this process by coordinating a schedule that works for both the team and the video recording crew. This ensures that your PSA is impactful and ready to shine at the showcase.

      This is your chance to take your campaign to the next level and make a lasting impression! Let’s show the world what your team can achieve! 🌟

      Past Examples of PSA's:

      You can learn how youth have activated in their communities during past Step It Up NYC competitions on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter using the hashtag #StepItUpNYC and watch videos from each year’s campaign on DYCD’s YouTube page:

      View Here (2025 PSAs)

       

       

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