Changes Coming to DTU: What High School and All-Star Teams Need to Know for 2026–2027

Dance Team Union has released its updated rules and regulations for the 2026–2027 competition season, and while this is not a complete overhaul, there are several changes that coaches should understand before registering routines, building rosters and planning for Nationals.

The updated rules apply to school-age programs, including Varsity, Junior Varsity, Middle School and Elementary teams - as well as All-Star and Studio programs. DTU has also made it easy to identify the updates by printing substantive changes from the previous season in red.

Here are the changes that stand out most for Season 11.

https://www.danceteamunion.com/rulesandscoresheets

DTU Continues to Emphasize Judging Transparency

This is not necessarily a new division or registration rule, but it is worth highlighting because not every competition company is this direct about how its judges are evaluated.

DTU states that judges will be reviewed following Regional competitions, virtual competitions and the National Championship. Feedback from participating teams may be included in that evaluation process.

Judges are expected to score routines based solely on the applicable score sheet and their professional dance training. While judging decisions remain final, DTU encourages coaches to raise concerns through its formal post-competition evaluation process or other available channels.

That distinction matters.

DTU is not promising that a score will be changed simply because a coach disagrees with it. Instead, the organization is creating a system in which coaches can provide feedback about judging quality, consistency and professionalism. According to DTU, that feedback is then used to help evaluate and improve its judging panels.

For coaches, the takeaway is simple: use the evaluation process thoughtfully. Feedback should be specific, connected to the score sheet and focused on the judging process rather than simply the final placement.

Team Performance Will Be Called Variety for All-Star and Studio Teams

School teams will continue to compete in Team Performance. For All-Star and Studio programs, that category will now be called Variety.

DTU’s listed team categories for the season include:

Pom, Jazz, Hip Hop, Kick, Military, Lyrical, Open, Spirit Showdown – Game Day and Spirit Showdown – Rally Dance, along with Team Performance for school programs and Variety for All-Star and Studio teams.

This is primarily a naming change, but All-Star and Studio coaches should make sure they are selecting Variety during registration rather than looking for Team Performance.

Production Is Expanding for All-Star and Studio Programs

All-Star and Studio teams may compete in a Production division at the DTU National Championship.

DTU may also offer Production at Regional or virtual competitions when there is enough demand in that particular region.

Production routines are generally built on a larger scale and may include more elaborate staging, costuming, concepts and visual elements. However, teams interested in the category need to pay close attention to DTU’s staging requirements.

A Production team may bring movable curtains for the back and sides of the performance area, but the team must receive permission from DTU in advance. The curtains must be safe, must not damage the venue and must be capable of being moved without disrupting the event.

DTU also states that dancers will not be permitted to cross behind the performance floor at its events. Coaches should account for that restriction when planning entrances, exits, costume changes and transitions.

This is not the division to finalize two weeks before Nationals. Production teams will need to think through staging and event logistics early.

There Is No Set Limit on Solo, Duo/Trio or Officer Entries

At Regional and virtual competitions, teams may enter an unlimited number of:

• Solos

• Duo/Trios

• Officer routines

At the National Championship, there is no set limit on Solo or Officer entries.

Duo/Trio divisions are offered at Regional and virtual competitions only, not at the National Championship.

Officer entries at Nationals also follow a separate qualification process. DTU will hold a virtual preliminary round to determine which schools advance a group of officers to the in-person Officer Finals. A school may submit multiple Officer routines during the virtual qualifier, but only one routine from that team may compete in Officer Finals.

All-Star and Studio Age Divisions Have Been Updated

For All-Star and Studio routines, the oldest dancer performing on the floor determines the routine’s division.

The listed Season 11 birth-year requirements are:

• Open: Born on or before December 31, 2012

• Senior: June 1, 2007 and after

• Junior: Born in 2010 or later

• Youth: Born in 2013 or later

• Mini: Born in 2016 or later

• Tiny: Born in 2019 or later

DTU also reserves the right to permit or require an All-Star or Studio team to compete in a different division at its discretion.

Coaches should verify birth years before building rosters around a specific age division. One older athlete can change the classification of the entire routine.

The Senior date is also written differently from the other divisions, using “June 1, 2007 and after” rather than a simple birth-year cutoff. That is one coaches should double-check carefully during roster placement.

The Rankings Will Use Each Team’s Top Two Scores

DTU’s virtual series, The Rankings, will calculate standings using the average of a team’s two highest scores earned during the season.

A team may participate in more than two Rankings events, but only its top two scores will be used in the final average.

This creates an interesting strategy for coaches. Teams are not necessarily punished for having one weaker performance if they compete multiple times. Additional events can provide another opportunity to improve the routine, receive feedback and replace a lower score within the final calculation.

However, teams must register for at least two Rankings championships in the same division to qualify for the available prizes.

A team that enters only one Rankings event may still receive a score, video critiques and a ranking, but it will not be eligible for the listed prize options.

All-Star Rankings Winners Have Two Potential Bid Opportunities

The highest-ranked All-Star or Studio team at each level may receive one of the following, at DTU’s discretion:

• An at-large bid to that season’s Allstar World Championship

• A partial paid bid to the following season’s DTU National Championship

This gives All-Star and Studio programs an additional incentive to participate in the virtual Rankings series, even if they already have a full in-person competition schedule.

It is important to note that the rules say the prize will be determined by DTU. Teams are not necessarily choosing between the two bid options themselves.

Battle Round Matchups May Be Built Differently

At Nationals, DTU may divide Battle Round matchups according to:

• Style

• Team size

• Team type

• Another grouping selected by DTU

The Battle Rounds remain separate from the official National Championship results. They are designed as an additional showcase opportunity, and the Battle winner is selected based on qualities such as overall performance, showmanship and representation of the style.

A team’s placement or score in its regular division does not automatically guarantee a Battle Round invitation. DTU may also consider entertainment value, creativity and how well a routine fits the atmosphere of the event.

The updated grouping language gives DTU more flexibility to create matchups that make sense for the teams and routines selected.

Only Registered Athletes May Carry Props On and Off the Floor

Props may be used in any dance category when they are wearable or handheld and can be handled safely.

However, DTU now specifies that the props must be carried on and off the performance area by registered athletes on the team.

Coaches, parents, spectators and other unregistered individuals may not assist with bringing those props onto or off the floor.

This could have a major impact on routines using larger handheld items. Coaches need to make sure the dancers can safely transport, place, use and remove every prop without outside assistance.

A prop may look incredible in choreography, but if the athletes cannot manage it within the competition setup and exit process, it may not be practical.

What Coaches Should Do Now

The biggest Season 11 changes affect All-Star and Studio programs, particularly the addition of Production, the switch from Team Performance to Variety, updated birth-year divisions and new opportunities available through The Rankings.

School teams should still pay close attention to scheduling conflicts, virtual competition policies, judging evaluations, Officer qualifications and the rule requiring registered dancers to manage their own props.

Before registering, coaches should:

Confirm every athlete’s eligibility and birth year, review crossover schedules, identify routines that require props or staging approval and make sure the correct category is selected for each routine.

The rules also remain subject to change, so teams should continue checking DTU’s official materials and communicate directly with the organization when a routine, prop, lift or staging concept falls into a gray area.

Season 11 is not introducing a completely different DTU experience. But it is giving programs more competitive options and with those options comes a greater need for coaches to plan carefully.