SPOTLIGHT ON TALENT GROUP ENTRY APPLICATION 2026

SPOTLIGHT ON TALENT 2026 GROUP COMPETITION REGULATIONS AND INFORMATION

Please read these regulations and information carefully.

1. By submitting this application, you agree to allow us to use the following in publicity and on the association's website including, but not limited to - your likeness (photo/video of performance), name, age, home town, and studio / teacher.
2. Eligibility requirements - may be amateurs or professionals, children up through 12th grade, no older than 19 years old, and can only compete once as a 12th grader.
3. Each participant may be in only one solo and one group performance each year, at the most. Note : If you’re a member of 2 participating groups, inform the teacher right away which group you will perform with – before applications are submitted. You will need to list which group you will be performing with on your Solo application.
4. There will be a limited amount of time to prepare make-up/costumes and change between acts, so please consider this in your planning for the finals if in both a solo and group act.
5. Group time limit - 5 minutes. If you have competed before, you may not repeat the same performance piece.
6. Acts are judged on:
   • Talent-40 points
   • Stage Presence-5 points
   • Appropriate Appearance-5 points.
7. Because Spotlight has always been a family friendly show, all dance moves and gestures, costumes, lyrics to songs and words to drama should respect that, and be reasonably acceptable for all ages. No nudity, violence depicted, sexually explicit words or movements or curse words will be allowed. Judges are aware of this and will mark down their scores if this is ignored.
8. On Accompaniment music – no other voices / instrumentalist / dancing sounds / etc. should sing / play / perform your part.
9. Heads up!! Stage props must be small and light – able to carried onstage by 2 people, max..
10. Accompaniment must be submitted as Mp3s only - no CDs - these should be submitted online at the time of application. MP3s submitted outside of the application must be uploaded by the deadline of February 20 - NO EXCEPTIONS.   Sorry, but we cannot accept any changes after that. Please bring a back-up copy of your accompaniment on a USB thumb drive to turn in at check in at prelims. The thumb drive will be returned upon request.    
11. Preliminary competition is Saturday, February 28, at the PHSC's Instructional Performing Arts Center (IPAC). Auditions begin around 8:30 a.m. Young ages will audition earlier, and judging for older contestants later.
12. Important! After application deadline February 12, you will receive a notice via email informing you of your audition time, and the full schedule will be posted on www.heritagearts.org. If you DO NOT get that email by February 20, DO NOTIFY us - you need that letter and info! Also, please check your SPAM Folder.
13. Final competition is Saturday, March 28 at the same theater. We will have 2 shows. Groups may be scheduled in either show depending on the average age of the group and number of groups. If you have a conflict with either date, contact us before entering – spotlight@heritagearts.org or call 352-424-0135.