87upcoming
Competitions · Independent entries · Texas
Texas Dance Competitions That Accept Independent Entries
19 independent-friendly competitions with upcoming events in Texas. Solo, duo, and unaffiliated dancers welcome — with verbatim policy quotes you can verify yourself.
- 11Welcome independents
- 8Conditional acceptance
Source-checked. Policies change. Always confirm with the competition directly before registering. Source URLs last verified: April 2026.
Competitions in Texas that accept independent entries
11 companiesTheir exact wordingVerbatim policy · verified 2026-04-20
“Independents cannot compete at the same event if their studio is also registered to compete at the same event.”
View source ↗Website ↗Verified 2026-04-20
- 65upcoming
Their exact wordingVerbatim policy · verified 2026-10-08
“Independent performers may compete. Independents are subject to a one-time fee per registration.”
View source ↗Website ↗Verified 2026-10-08
- 63upcoming
Their exact wordingVerbatim policy · verified 2026-04-20
“Independents cannot compete at the same event if their studio is also registered to compete at the same event.”
View source ↗Website ↗Verified 2026-04-20
- 48upcoming
Their exact wordingVerbatim policy · verified 2026-04-19
“We do! Head to the DanceComp Genie registration page and register under the Independent/Solo area.”
View source ↗Website ↗Verified 2026-04-19
- 47upcoming
Their exact wordingVerbatim policy · verified 2026-04-20
“Independents cannot compete at the same event if their studio is also registered to compete at the same event.”
View source ↗Website ↗Verified 2026-04-20
- 28upcoming
Their exact wordingVerbatim policy · verified 2026-04-20
“Independents cannot compete at the same event if their studio is also registered to compete at the same event.”
View source ↗Website ↗Verified 2026-04-20
- 13upcoming
Their exact wordingVerbatim policy · verified 2026-07-14
“ShowTime International is one of the few companies that allows independent solos to compete without their team being present.”
View source ↗Website ↗Verified 2026-07-14
- 11upcoming
Their exact wordingVerbatim policy · verified 2026-04-20
“Can I register for Nexus without my studio? Yes, for both competition or convention.”
View source ↗Website ↗Verified 2026-04-20
- 10upcoming
Their exact wordingVerbatim policy · verified 2026-04-20
“Independent entries are allowed to compete. Please create an 'Independent' account within the registration portal.”
View source ↗Website ↗Verified 2026-04-20
- 6upcoming
Their exact wordingVerbatim policy · verified 2026-07-13
“Independent solos are those individuals not associated with a studio or school that is already entered into the contest.”
View source ↗Website ↗Verified 2026-07-13
- 2upcoming
Their exact wordingVerbatim policy · verified 2026-07-14
“There is no limit to the number of entries a studio may enter. We do accept independent entries at this time as well.”
View source ↗Website ↗Verified 2026-07-14
Conditional acceptance
8 companies- 71upcoming
Their exact wordingVerbatim policy · verified 2026-04-19
“A minimum entry fee is required for live competitions; independents are not accepted. No minimums for virtual competitions, and independents are accepted. Independents are accepted (Regionals Only) [conventions].”
View source ↗Website ↗Verified 2026-04-19
- 58upcoming
Their exact wordingVerbatim policy · verified 2026-04-19
“Paper entry forms must be submitted for all INDEPENDENT entries.”
View source ↗Website ↗Verified 2026-04-19
- 30upcoming
Their exact wordingVerbatim policy · verified 2026-04-19
“All entries must be submitted by the studio; independent entries are not accepted. [Rules] / After your studio registers you for the convention (or you register yourself as an independent) you are ready to go! [FAQ, convention section]”
View source ↗Website ↗Verified 2026-04-19
- 27upcoming
Their exact wordingVerbatim policy · verified 2026-04-19
“Jump defines independent dancers as dancers not associated with a physical dance studio and not taking consistent classes in a structured program. Independent dancers are not eligible to compete in Jump's Competition. All competition routines must be entered under a studio name. Jump does not accept entries independently of a studio. This includes solos.”
View source ↗Website ↗Verified 2026-04-19
- 22upcoming
Their exact wordingVerbatim policy · verified 2026-04-19
“Independent entries will be accepted only if you are not on a team with a dance studio. [Connected/Virtual] / Each studio can enter a maximum of 15 soloists, independent soloist not accepted. [Convention solos]”
View source ↗Website ↗Verified 2026-04-19
- 21upcoming
Their exact wordingVerbatim policy · verified 2026-04-20
“Independent Dancers are defined as dancer/s attending without a Registered Teacher. Independent Dancers must be registered by a Studio Owner/Teacher with a valid Studio Account.”
View source ↗Website ↗Verified 2026-04-20
- 17upcoming
Their exact wordingVerbatim policy · verified 2026-04-20
“Independent students are welcome to perform solos as exhibition. However, exhibition solos are not eligible for any other award including but not limited to overall awards, cash prizes, special awards, MP Finalist and/or Magic Honors.”
View source ↗Website ↗Verified 2026-04-20
- 7upcoming
Their exact wordingVerbatim policy · verified 2026-10-18
“Independent dancers are welcome”
View source ↗Website ↗Verified 2026-10-18
Other states with independent-friendly competitions
Florida (23)Illinois (21)Ohio (18)California (17)Pennsylvania (17)New Jersey (17)North Carolina (16)New York (16)Arizona (15)Michigan (14)Indiana (13)Colorado (13)
Browse the full national listFrequently asked questions
What counts as an independent dance competition entry?The definition, and the three ways competitions handle it.
An independent entry is a solo, duo, or small-group routine registered by a dancer (or dancer's family) without a studio submitting the registration. Requirements vary by competition — some welcome independents outright, some require a studio owner to approve the registration, and some require full studio affiliation with multiple routines.
Can I compete in a dance competition without a studio?Which brands say yes outright, and where to check the rest.
It depends on the competition. Some dance competitions like Nexus Dance Conventions, Fluid Dance Conventions, and Full Out Dance Production explicitly welcome independent registrations. Others require studio submission. DanceFinder has classified every major North American competition — see the YES and SOMETIMES lists on this page.
What if my studio doesn't attend a competition I want to enter?The Star Dance Alliance rule, and when it does not apply.
Some competitions (including the Star Dance Alliance family — Starpower, Nexstar, Revolution, and others) let you enter as an independent when your studio is NOT registered at that event. If your studio IS competing, you generally must compete under your studio's banner. Always check the specific competition's current rules.
Do independent dancers pay different fees than studio-affiliated dancers?Entry premiums, and which awards can be studio-only.
Some competitions charge the same fees for independents; others add a small independent-entry premium. A few reserve certain awards, scholarships, or overall titles for studio-affiliated dancers only. Check the specific competition's rules for fee structure and award eligibility.
How recent is this independent-entries data?When each classification was verified and how to re-check it.
All classifications were verified in April 2026 with verbatim quotes from each competition's own rules or FAQ page. Source URLs are recorded so you can re-check before registering. DanceFinder re-verifies policies periodically, but always confirm directly with the competition before entering.
Are duets, trios, and small groups eligible as independent entries?Which routine formats independents can usually enter.
Most competitions that accept independents allow solos, duos, and trios. Small groups and larger formats often require studio registration. The verbatim quote in each provider card explains the specific eligibility at each competition.
Why are some competitions marked 'Contact Directly' (unclear)?Why ~136 brands could not be classified from a public page.
About 136 competitions do not publish their independent-entry policy on a publicly accessible web page — their rules are behind studio-owner login portals or in registration-only PDFs. We excluded these from the featured list and recommend emailing the competition organizers directly.
Always verify before registering. Competition rules change between seasons. DanceFinder records the verbatim quote and source URL we verified on the date shown — always confirm directly with the competition before registering or paying any fees.