St. Catharines: Event Information
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre; May 6 - 9, 2027
THEATRE
ADDRESS
- FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, 250 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines, ON L2R 3M2
- **Shine Dance Competitions is being held in Partridge Hall
- The building will open 1 hour prior to the first performance of the day
STAGE DIMENSIONS
- approximately 35′ deep x 45′ width (at the back) & 58′ width (across the front); wings are approximately 10′
- Max height for aerial rig: 24'
PARKING
- On-site parking is not available at the First Ontario PAC; however, there are more than 1000 pay parking spots available in nearby parking garages, surface lots, and on city streets within a five-minute walk to the PAC. Please visit this link for more details.
- Drop off points are available in front of the Box Office Entrance on St. Paul Street and by the front doors closest to Partridge Hall along Carlisle Street.
- **Please ensure you give yourself extra time to park and walk to the theatre.
LOADING DOCK
- Access to the loading dock is off of Carlisle Street. Unfortunately, this is not a parking area – and once you have finished loading/unloading, please move your truck.
PROPS
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- Please unload only what props you will need for the day and remove them promptly after use to make room for incoming props.
- We thank everyone in advance for sharing the loading dock space and keeping it organized.
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- Please ensure you have adequate staff to prep your props for easy load-in and load-off the 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.
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Thank you everyone for your combined efforts as we know this takes a lot of time and coordination!!
DRESSING ROOMS
- All studios will be assigned dressing rooms. 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.
- Parents -- please pack-up all belongings from changerooms if you are leaving after the awards to make room the incoming dancers.
REHEARSAL ROOM
- 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: Best Western St. Catharines Hotel & Conference Centre
For Dates: May 6 - 9: FirstOntario PAC, St. Catharines
| Block Booking Under |
Shine Dance Competitions To make reservations click HERE |
| Distance From Venue | 7 min drive |
| Address (See map) |
2 North Service Road, St. Catharines, ON |
| Phone | 905-934-8000 |
|
See website |
|
| Rate |
$199 a night (applicable taxes not included) |
| Parking | Included |
| Group Booking Ends |
February 16, 2027 |
| Cancellation Date/ Policy | You may cancel your reservation for no charge before 4:00pm local hotel time on Wednesday, May 5, 2027. All reservations must be a minimum 2-night stay. |
| Check-In/Out | Check-in: 4:00pm / Check-out: 11:00am |
| Restaurant on Site? | Onsite Dining Available |
| Breakfast Included? | Yes – please check open hours with hotel |
| Pool | Yes |
| Website | Click here |
Hotel Name: Hampton Inn by Hilton St. Catharines Niagara
For Dates: May 6 - 9: FirstOntario PAC, St. Catharines
| Block Booking Under |
Shine Dance Comp To make reservations click HERE |
| Distance From Venue | 7 min drive |
| Address (See map) |
89 Meadowvale Drive, St. Catharines, ON L2N 3Z 8 |
| Phone | 905-934-5400 |
|
See website |
|
| Rate |
$215/night (applicable taxes not included) |
| Parking | Included |
| Group Booking Ends |
February 16, 2027 |
| Cancellation Date/ Policy | There is a credit card required for a reservation. You may cancel your reservation for no charge before 11:59pm local hotel time on Wednesday, May 5, 2027. All reservations must be a minimum 2-night stay. |
| Check-In/Out | Check-in: 4:00pm / Check-out: 11:00am |
| Restaurant on Site? | Yes – please check open hours with hotel |
| Breakfast Included? | Yes – please check open hours with hotel |
| Pool | Yes |
| Website | Click here |
Hotel Name: Comfort Inn St. Catharines
For Dates: May 5 - 9: FirstOntario PAC, St. Catharines
| Block Booking Under |
Shine Dance May To make reservations click HERE |
| Distance From Venue | 10 min drive |
| Address (See map) |
2 Dunlop Dr, St. Catharines, ON L2R 1A2 |
| Phone | 905-687-8890 |
|
See website |
|
| Rate |
Thursday & Friday: $120/night (applicable taxes not included) Saturday & Sunday: $150/night (applicable taxes not included) |
| Parking | Included |
| Group Booking Ends |
April 6, 2027 |
| Cancellation Date/ Policy |
Guests may cancel by 4:00pm local hotel time, 2 days prior to arrival to a avoid a cancellation penalty. |
| Check-In/Out | Check-in: 3:00pm / Check-out: 11:00am |
| Restaurant on Site? | Yes – please check open hours with hotel |
| Breakfast Included? | No |
| Pool | No |
| 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!