The United States Tournament of Dance
along with Emmy Award Nominated celebrity choreographer
Chloe Arnold
In association with the 2019 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Present...
The ULTIMATE "TAP"
convention, audition, and performance opportunity!
About the Event
USTD will be producing a holiday tap performance to be featured in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and we are searching for America’s top tap dancers to join the performance group!
The convention, scheduled for Sunday, September 29, 2019 at the Hartford Marriott Downtown in Hartford, CT, will serve as the audition for this
incredible performance opportunity. Dancers will be scouted and selected by our team of tap professionals in 2 separate age divisions. The performance is calling for dancers ages 7-14.
This group of talented dancers will be included in the entertainment lineup for a planned routine/performance in Herald Square for the NBC cameras on Thanksgiving Day! Don’t miss your chance to be part of this amazing experience! A minimum of
90 dancers will be chosen for the opportunity! Registrations will be limited for each division and we do expect to sell out quickly.
*Please note: NBC cameras as well as other media may film at the convention and as such, all participants will be required to sign a media release which will be included in with the standard injury waiver.
Tour Details
Ages: Ages 7 – 14 (age at time of registration)
Date: Sunday, September 29, 2019
Location:
Marriott Hartford Downtown
Marriott Ballroom
200 Columbus Blvd.
Hartford, CT 06103
(860)249-8000
Cost: $150.00 per participant
Registration Start Date: Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Registration End Date: Friday, September 27, 2019
Participant Cost & Details
$150 per participant
$125.00 per participant for groups of 10+
Participation fee includes:
- 3.5 hours of class
- 1.5 hours with Chloe Arnold who will be choreographing and setting the performance piece
- PLUS an additional 2 hours with our special guest
artists and creative team}!
- Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Tap Performance Audition
- Meet and Greet
- Complimentary Autograph Poster
*Please note: A signed Release Form is required for each participant. Save time during event check-in by downloading and filling out this form ahead of time. Please bring the Release Form with you and present to Event Check-In personnel upon arrival. Release Forms will be available on site and may also be filled out and signed at that point.
Age Divisions
Mini Division (Ages 7 – 10)
Junior Division (Ages 11 – 14)
Dance Style/Facet
Tap
Participant Experience/Eligibility
The Convention, is open to all levels of tap dance experience; including beginners and dancers should be in good health prior to registering.
Registration Fee
$150.00 per participant (all inclusive). Package includes: classes, audition, meet and greet & rap session, and complimentary autograph poster.
Registration Process
All registrations must be processed online through our easy online registration system and paid for with a major credit card (Visa/Master Card/Discover). Age division must be indicated at the time of registration and dancers should be able to show proof of age on the convention day. Once registration has been processed, registrants will receive an e-mail for payment confirmation which should be reviewed for accuracy. (The e-mail will be sent directly from Paypal and not from USTD. If you do not see your payment confirmation e-mail within 30 minutes of the transaction, please check your spam or junk e-mail folders).
Refunds
All registrations are NON-REFUNDABLE unless the event is otherwise cancelled by the producers at which time a full refund will be issued as a credit back to the credit card from which it was charged.
“Sold Out Policy”
All registrations will be processed on a “first come first serve basis” and be subject to availability. Class sizes WILL be limited; therefore, it is strongly recommended that interested participants register early. Once class sizes have reached their capacity the online system will automatically close out the event and a “Sold Out” message will appear in the registration area prohibiting any additional registrations.
“Walk-In” & Late Rate Registration
Will be accepted on a given convention date providing the event has not been “Sold Out,” and will still be subject to availability on the convention date. Additionally, Walk-In registrants will be charged the late rate of $200.00
Mini Division (Ages 7-10)
7:15am – 8:00am Check-In
8:00am – 8:20am Warm-Up
8:20am – 8:30am Introductions
8:3am – 10:00 am Class #1 /Audition Chloe Arnold
10:10am – 11:10am Class #2 Kelly Kaleta and Ryan Casey
11:20am – 12:20pm Class #3 Alycea Monaco
12:30pm Mini Performance Group Selection Announcements
12:30pm – 1:00pm Chloe Arnold Meet & Greet
Mini Performance Group Parents Meeting/Performance Group Registration
1:15 pm – 1:45 pm Capital I Meeting Room (Level 3)
Mini Performance Group Costume Fittings with Macy’s Team
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm Marriott Ballroom Pre-Event Area
Junior Division (Ages 11-14)
11:30am – 1:15pm Check-In
1:30pm – 1:50pm Warm-Up
1:50pm – 2:00pm Introductions
2:00pm – 3:30pm Class #1 /Audition Chloe Arnold
3:40pm – 4:40pm Class #2 Kelly Kaleta and Ryan Casey
4:45pm – 5:45pm Class #3 Alycea Monaco
6:00pm Junior Performance Group Selection Announcements
6:15pm – 6:45pm Chloe Arnold Meet & Greet
Junior Performance Group Parents Meeting/Performance Group Registration
6:45pm – 7:15pm Marriott Ballroom
Mini Performance Group Costume Fittings with Macy’s Team
7:15pm – 8:30pm Marriott Ballroom Pre-Event Area
Checking In
Participants should arrive at check-in time as posted on their respective schedule to allow ample time for “Warm Up.” The Check-In table will be divided evenly into two lines based on the first letter of the participant’s last name (A-M and N-Z). Upon Check-In, participants will receive a packet containing a color-coded wristband and complimentary autograph card. Once checked in, participants will proceed directly to the event room for “Warm Up.” Parent or Guardian of all participants will be required to sign a participation waiver at check-in.
Observer Wristband
A limited number of Observer Wristbands will be made available for a purchase price of $20.00 and may only be purchased at the event.
The number of Observer Wristbands sold will be determined by event personnel to ensure the safety of participants and the quality of the classes. Observer Wristbands will be sold at the Concession Booth on a “first come first serve basis.” Observer Wristbands will not be available at the Check-In table. Observer Wristbands are Non-Refundable and may not be transferred from one person to another. USTD will not be held responsible for lost or stolen wristbands. Excessive talking, cell phone use, videotaping, and or otherwise disruptive behavior will result in the observer being escorted out by event personnel as to maintain a proper atmosphere for participants to learn and artist to conduct class.
What to Wear
Tap shoes are required. There is no requirement on what to wear, however, as the event is a “family friendly” atmosphere, participants are expected to dress appropriately.
Participant Wristband Policy
Participants will be required to wear event wristbands for the duration of the convention and respective age division. If a participant should lose or remove their wristband USTD will require full repayment to re-enter convention room, no refunds, no exceptions.
Food & Beverage Policy
Participants are encouraged to bring water and light snacks. There will also be water stations provided in the convention room.
Cancellation Policy
Event producers reserve the right to cancel the event for any reason. Should event producers cancel the event a full refund shall be issued in the form of a credit to the credit card used for registration.
Change of Venue
Event Producers reserve the right to change venue locations due to any potential unseen circumstances
A minimum of 90 dancers will be selected to perform at the 2019 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Dancers selected at the convention will be required to adhere to the following in order to be eligible to participate:
- Attend Parents Meeting/Costume Fittings Sunday, September 29, 2019
- Pay $250.00 additional performer’s fee (exclusive of convention fee) to cover rehearsals, and other related production expenses – fee will be due on location Sunday, September 29, 2019 (cash, Master, Visa, or Discover – personal checks will not be accepted for payment)
- Attend a minimum of 3 rehearsals (see below – times TBD):
- Sunday, October 27 – Brewster, NY
- Sunday, November 10 – Brewster, NY
- Sunday, November 24 – Brewster, NY
*Rehearsals are 100% mandatory – NO EXCEPTIONS
- Attend a mandatory NBC camera block set/staging week of parade (Tentatively Monday, November 25, 2019 in the evening)
- Sign performance agreement to be provided at meeting Sunday, September 29, 2019
Convention Faculty
Chloe Arnold – Lead Choreographer
Emmy Nominated Choreographer, Chloé Arnold, was discovered at a young age in Washington, DC by Debbie Allen. Chloé’s choreography has been featured on hit television shows such as So You Think You Can Dance, Good Morning America, The Ellen Show, The Talk, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen’s A Legendary Christmas, and over 40 episodes of The Late Late Show With James Corden. Chloe Arnold is the founder of the hit Female Tap Sensations Syncopated Ladies. They have over 50 million views online, receiving praise from Beyonce, Whoopi Goldberg on The View, as well as many other celebrities and news outlets around the world. Some of their credits include The Ellen Show, Good Morning America, So You Think You Can Dance, Global Citizen Week, New York Fashion Week, Essence Fest, Imagine Justice (featuring Common, J Cole, and Andra Day), Glamour Women of the Year Awards, Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative at the US Open, CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, The Women in the World Summit, Democratic National Convention, Beyoncé’s Ivy Park Launch at Top Shop London, and many more.
Chloé recently was named one of LeBron James’ “The Strongest”, a campaign featured in Essence to celebrate his 16th Nike Sneaker Release, was on The Root 100 list, and featured in Shonda Rhimes and Microsoft’s “Language of Leadership” panel discussion. Chloé is also an entrepreneur that holds a degree from Columbia University. She and her sister co-founded Chloé and Maud Productions, DC Tap Festival, and co-produced the award-winning documentary TAP WORLD with Hollywood Executive Producer Dean Hargrove.
Ryan Casey – Guest Choreographer
Kelly Kaleta – Guest Choreographer
Alycea Monaco – Guest Choreographer
Macy's Performance Creative Team
Natasha Flanagan – Creative Director
Chloe Arnold – Lead Choreographer
Alicia Monaco – Creative Assistant
Lisa Cavaretta – Creative Assistant