(March 13, 2015) Epic Brand’s Reach the Beach national dance championship will take place at the Ocean City convention center on 40th Street this Saturday.
There will be 106 dance teams participating, which consists of athletes ranging in age from 4 to 20 years old. Each group will put on a two minute and 30 second performance.
The competition will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday with the solo and small group performances.
“This event is special because it is a dance-only national event that offers bids to the Dance Worlds, where these athletes can compete against the best dancers from around the world,” said Epic Brand’s Marketing Director Karissa Hall.
The competition runs all day until 10:30 p.m. with teams traveling from Pennsylvania, New York, Washington D.C., Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, Connecticut and North Carolina.
The event is expected to attract more than 2,000 athletes and spectators, in addition to coinciding with the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Ocean City.
The new Ocean City Performing Arts Center will be utilized during Reach the Beach’s dance competition.
“We are extremely excited that we are able to make our dance-only event very prestige and take it to another level with the Performing Arts Center,” Hall said.
Reach the Beach will be awarding multiple bids to the Dance Worlds, which is the biggest competition in the industry for dance and cheer.
To be eligible for Dance Worlds, dancers must compete at a prior event and win a “bid.” After receiving a bid, participants get the chance to compete against the best dancers from across the world, Hall said.
On Saturday, partially paid bids will be given to the two highest scoring teams, which means part of their registration and travel fees will be paid for. In addition, at-large bids will qualify two teams for Dance Worlds, along with two international at-large bids, which apply to the event for the international division.
“We will also be giving out bids to the U.S. Finals competitions, which is another bid event that you must qualify for,” Hall said.
All participants will receive a Reach the Beach exclusive beach towel and coaches have the chance to win $1,000.
Several award ceremonies will take place on Saturday and all teams will receive a placement surfboard.
National champions will receive a backpack and solo or small group winners will be given a placement trophy. The highest scoring dance team will receive uniforms by The Line Up and the winner of the season’s best award will take home a banner.
There is more than $3,750 in high score cash prizes up for grabs at this year’s competition.
The dance solo winner will receive $250, dance duet or trio will earn $500, $1,500 goes to the top recreation or school dance team and $1,500 will be awarded to the first place all-star, studio or college dance team.
The March national dance competition is one of three other Reach the Beach events that take place in Ocean City, including the national cheerleading competition held a couple weeks ago.
Saturday’s admission is $20 for adults (ages 13-64) and $14 for children and seniors. Children 5 and younger will be admitted for free.
For more information, call 877-322-2310 or visit theepicbrands.com.
