A beginner's solo section for the youngest dancers, where a child performs their very first competition solo in a style of their own choosing and is marked out of 100.
First Solo (Any Style) is the entry point for a young dancer who has not yet competed alone. Instead of joining a jazz, tap or ballet class, the child performs one short routine by themselves in whichever style they feel most at home with, and an adjudicator marks it. The aim is a first stage experience that is encouraging rather than intimidating, so it sits alongside the named-style sections as the gentlest door into solo competition.
A round is a single performance on the stage floor. The dancer is called, walks to their starting position, the music begins and the routine runs for up to three minutes, though for the youngest entrants a much shorter piece is perfectly normal. The adjudicator watches the whole routine and gives one mark. Because the section is open to any style, the panel reads the choice first and then judges how well the child carries it out, so a simple routine delivered with focus tends to score above an ambitious one that falls apart.
On the Luminous-style Australian dance template this page draws on, the item is carried for two solo groups only: 6 and Under (ages 3 to 6) and 8 and Under (ages 7 to 8). Boys and girls compete together, no language is needed and each entry is marked out of 100 under the label Marks, with a three-minute limit. That template prints no judging criteria for the section, so none are installed here. Older dancers move on to the Any Style section, which is a separate item with six solo age groups.
For a coordinator using eTalenter, set it up as a normal solo: register each child in the right age group, record the adjudicator's mark out of 100 and the placing follows within that group. The template does not say how a first-time entrant is defined, for example whether a dancer who has already won elsewhere may enter, so organisers should state their own eligibility rule in the programme.
Where First Solo (Any Style) is run
In eTalenter's data First Solo (Any Style) appears on one Australian dance eisteddfod-style template, for the two youngest solo age groups. Beginner or first-time sections are a familiar feature of dance festivals and eisteddfods in countries with a studio dance tradition, but this exact item is only evidenced by that one programme.
- Australia
Key facts
- Solo (Individual) entry; boys and girls compete together; no language requirement.
- Two groups on the template: Solo 6 and Under (ages 3 to 6) and Solo 8 and Under (ages 7 to 8).
- Time limit of 3 minutes per routine; younger children often perform well under it.
- Marked out of 100 under the label Marks; the template prints no criteria, so none are invented.
- Separate from Any Style, Any Style Solo and All Abilities (Any Style), which are their own items with their own age groups.
- Idea starters, not rules: a short story dance about a favourite animal, a simple jazz routine to a bright pop track, a ribbon or scarf piece if the organiser allows props, or a cultural dance learnt at home.
On eTalenter, First Solo (Any Style) is filed under Dance and typically scored with Marks. It appears in 1 ready-made event templates — each one can adjust its time limit, age-group assignment and scoring setup independently.
Across the templates that use it, First Solo (Any Style) is most often entered as an Individual competition, typically scored out of 100, commonly time-limited to around 3 minutes where a limit is set.
What judges look at in First Solo (Any Style)
What a First Solo (Any Style) panel is actually weighing up, and where the marks are usually won or lost:
- Confidence on stage: walking on, taking position and starting without hesitation matters a great deal for a first solo, and a child who looks settled earns the adjudicator's goodwill early.
- Control of the steps the child has chosen: clean, simple movement that is repeated accurately scores above bigger moves that wobble or are rushed.
- Staying with the music: starting on the beat, keeping time and finishing when the music finishes, even if the routine is short.
- Expression and enjoyment: a face and body that show the child is performing, not just remembering steps, is often what separates close placings.
- Presentation and finish: neat, safe costume and hair, a clear final pose, and a routine that feels complete rather than stopping abruptly.
Treat these as the judging focus, not a fixed rubric: publish your own weighted criteria for First Solo (Any Style) under Scoring Setup, or start from the full group dance judging criteria guide.
How to prepare for First Solo (Any Style)
How entrants and their teachers usually get First Solo (Any Style) right on the day:
- Choose the style the child enjoys most; a happy, well-known routine is better for a first solo than something new learnt in a rush.
- Keep the choreography short and repeatable, and cut the music to fit comfortably inside the three-minute limit.
- Practise the walk-on, the starting position and the final pose until they are automatic, since nerves usually strike there first.
- Rehearse in front of a few family members or classmates so the first time with an audience is not on the day.
- Do a run-through in the actual costume and shoes, on a similar floor, so nothing is a surprise.
- Teach the child what to do if the music stops or a step goes wrong: smile, carry on and finish the routine.
Frequently asked questions
Is First Solo (Any Style) judged individually or as a team?
Across eTalenter's templates it's most often run as an Individual entry, though an organiser can set either participation type when assigning the item to an age group.
What does First Solo (Any Style) mean?
It is a beginner solo class for very young dancers where the child chooses the style. It is meant for a first competitive solo, so the focus is on confidence and enjoyment as well as technique.
Which ages can enter First Solo (Any Style)?
On the template this page draws on it is offered for two groups: 6 and Under (ages 3 to 6) and 8 and Under (ages 7 to 8). Other programmes may set different ages, so check the organiser's rules.
How long can the routine be?
The template sets a three-minute limit. Many young dancers perform for much less, and a shorter polished routine is perfectly acceptable.
Is First Solo different from Any Style?
Yes. Any Style is a wider open solo section with six age groups up to Open Age, while First Solo is the beginner version for the two youngest groups. They are entered and placed separately.
Want the full judging picture? Read the full group dance judging criteria guide, or browse every dance competition item.
Try First Solo (Any Style) in eTalenter
See every ready-made template that runs First Solo (Any Style), and install one as a live event — age groups, rules and scoring included.
