Hamilton: Event Information
Hamilton Convention Centre; April 15 - 18, 2027
THEATRE
ADDRESS
- 1 Summers Lane, Hamilton ON L8P 4Y2
- *Shine Dance Competitions is being held in Wentworth Hall on the first floor.
STAGE DIMENSIONS
- approximately 32’ deep x 40’ wide; wings are approximately 8-12 feet wide.
- Max Height for aerial rig: 15'
*A professional raised stage will be built and installed in the Conference Room. An Adagio floor appropriate for Tap will be laid.
LOADING DOCK
- The loading dock entrance is on MacNab Street South and is accessible by turning left off of Main Street West at the lights (See picture below).
PARKING
- April 15, 2026 Update Due to Construction from HCC:
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The best way to access the Hamilton Convention Centre is (Signage will be posted on-site):
1. Use the bridge that connects HCC to The Sheraton. This will be open from 6:30am - 11:00pm daily.
2. You can also take the elevator from levels P3, P5, and the main level of the underground lot in the parking garage under the HCC and the Art Gallery.
3. You can also come up the stairwell (pink area in parking) that will lead you to HCC's grey crash doors on your right. Those doors will be open from 7:00am - 10:00pm, and lead you into our main lobby.
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- The Hamilton Convention Centre by Carmen’s is attached to a Municipal underground parking garage with 600 spots available for your convenience. Parking rates are set by the City of Hamilton. Please contact the Hamilton Municipal Parking System Office for rates.
PROPS
- Please ensure you have adequate staff to prep your props for easy load-in and load-off the RAISED stage. Heavy items should be on dollies to avoid scratching the dance floor. Props can be pre-assembled in the loading dock and then wheeled onto the stage. We want to keep to our time-schedule so dancers are dancing as scheduled.
- Keep all props neatly packed to ensure room for all Studios. Props will be stored in the loading area.
Thank you everyone for your combined efforts as we know this takes a lot of time and coordination!!
DRESSING ROOMS
- All Studios will be in one dressing room 'WENTWORTH C'. We thank you in advance for your cooperation with regard to sharing this space.
- To avoid congestion:
- Have hair/make-up done.
- please vacate when the room is not needed.
REHEARSAL
- An area will be designated as rehearsal for all dancers to share.
SHINE SHOP
- Please note that we will be accepting credit or debit cards -- we will not be accepting cash.
HOTEL
**Due to high cancellation rates associated with event hotel blocks, hotels often limit the number of rooms available at the group rate and may not extend the block once it is full. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Hotel Name: Hampton by Hilton Hamilton
For Dates: April 15-19: Hamilton Convention Centre, Hamilton
| Block Booking Under |
Shine Dance 2027 To make reservations click HERE |
| Distance From Venue | 3 min drive |
| Address (See map) |
7 Queen Street North, Hamilton ON, L8R 2T9 |
| Phone | 289-246-7000; provide group name or group code 038 |
|
See website |
|
| Rate |
April 15 & 18: $179/night (applicable taxes not included) April 16 & 17: $209/night (applicable taxes not included) |
| Parking | $19.50/night plus tax |
| Group Booking Ends |
March 3, 2027 |
| Cancellation Date/ Policy |
All reservations must be confirmed with a valid credit card. The credit card and matching ID will be requested at check-in. Guests may cancel up to 72 hours prior to arrival with no charge. Room cancellation within 72 hours of arrival will result in a charge of one night's room and taxes. |
| Check-In/Out | Check-in: 3:00pm / Check-out: 12:00noon |
| Restaurant on Site? | No |
| Breakfast Included? | Yes – please check open hours with hotel |
| Pool | Yes |
| Website | Click here |
EVENT DETAILS
ARRIVAL
- The building will open 1 hour prior to the first performance of the day.
PROGRAMS
- Programs will be made available for download, free of charge, through our website approximately 2 weeks prior to the event.
- Hard Copy programs will not be sold at the event
AWARDS PIN
- Every dancer receives a custom Shine Awards Pin to display your ribbons on your Team Jacket! ONE per dancer available at the Shine Shop.
LIVE STREAMING
- This event will have a live stream available through our website
- A code to watch will be provided to your Studio prior to the event
- We may run up to 15min early from the scheduled times -- remember to tune in early
FOOD DRIVE
- We are very excited to continue our annual Food Drive where all proceeds are donated to a local food bank. To date, we have collectively raised 22,825 lbs of food!!
- Please remind your dancers to bring at least 2 items of non-perishable food for our drive.
PHOTOGRAPHY
- For the privacy & safety of the dancers, there is no photography or videography allowed during performances
- As a reminder, your entry fees include all your photos and videos!
- Media will be available approximately 1-2 weeks after the event through a link sent to your Studio
- Tag us in your favourite photos! @shinedancecompetitions, #ShineDanceCompetitions #ShineFamily
STUDIO NAME/LOGO
- In an effort to keep your studio’s identity from the judges during performances, we ask that you please cover your studio logo when placing props on the stage. *
- Your performance costume should not contain your Studio's Name
- Your dancers are certainly encouraged to wear their studio attire during awards ceremonies
STAGE ETIQUETTE
- Substances which alter the condition of the stage, and may affect the dancing surface for other competitors are prohibited (e.g. tossing sparkles, baby powder, water/liquid, body paint, etc.). If it cannot be easily swept off the stage quickly, it should not be put on the stage. Dances in violation of this rule may result in not being allowed on stage, have a deduction, and/or deemed "adjudicated only", at the discretion of Shine Dance Competitions.
- If the stage is littered after your performance (ex: feathers, paper, props, etc.). you must be ready for the immediate removal of the items. We will have a flat broom backstage.
- Helium balloons are not to be released on-stage as it is costly to get them down and they may pop during another performance if left on the ceiling. They may be used if they are on a weight and not released.
- Released balloons may result in a deduction or the routine being ‘adjudicated only’
JUDGING
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Expertise in Dance and Age-Appropriateness: Our judges are selected for their deep understanding of dance and their ability to assess performances based on age and training levels.
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Diverse Perspectives and Subjectivity: Our judging panel consists of individuals with diverse backgrounds, training, and life experiences. Given the subjective nature of performances, it's natural to observe variations in scores, sometimes exceeding 3 points.
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Encouraging Dynamism and Excitement: We empower our judges to utilize their marking scales while providing valuable feedback in their adjudications. This approach fosters a dynamic and thrilling competition atmosphere, enriching the experience for participants and audiences alike.
Your support of our judges and their expertise contributes to the positive and enriching experience we strive to create for all participants. Thank you for being part of our dance community where we can learn and grow from different perspectives.
USHERS & VENUE GUIDELINES
At select venues, ushers are in place to support the event and ensure a safe, calm, and enjoyable experience for all attendees.
We kindly ask that all guests treat ushers with respect and follow their direction at all times. Their role is to help manage the theatre environment, including audience flow, safety, and cleanliness.
As a standard:
- Theatre doors remain closed during performances
- Food and beverages are not permitted inside the theatre
Please note that venues reserve the right to remove any individual demonstrating disrespectful or non-compliant behaviour.
We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a positive and respectful environment for everyone.
JUDGES
Info Coming Soon!