How much does a dance solo cost to compete?

Solo entry fees typically run $60–$225 per routine (median around $170), based on the brands we track. But the entry fee is only part of it — budget for choreography, private lessons to set and clean the routine, a costume, and music editing. A single competitive solo commonly runs several hundred to over a thousand dollars across a season once all costs are counted.

What age can you start competing solos?

There's no universal minimum, but many dancers perform their first competitive solo around age seven or eight, once they have enough training to carry a routine on their own. Competitions group soloists into age divisions — commonly Mini (often ages 5-8), Petite, Junior, Teen, and Senior (typically through about 18-19) — with the exact age usually set by how old the dancer is on January 1 of the competition season.

How long is a competition solo?

Most competition solos run between about two-and-a-half and three minutes — common limits are 2:30, 2:45, or 3:00 depending on the event. Time limits vary by competition and sometimes by age division, and going over usually means a small point deduction or an overtime fee, so dancers edit their music carefully to fit.

How many solos can one dancer compete at a competition?

It depends on the competition's rules and often on the dancer's level. Many events cap newer or novice-level soloists at a single solo per competition while allowing more advanced or competitive-level dancers to enter two, and when a dancer performs multiple solos, usually only their highest-scoring routine is eligible for the overall high-score awards.

Competing Solo

Solo Dance Competitions

A solo is a competition entry in which a single dancer performs one choreographed routine, judged entirely on their own rather than as part of a group. For many competitive dancers it's a rite of passage — the first time the spotlight, and the score, belong to them alone. Solos are performed across every genre, from jazz, lyrical, and contemporary to tap, ballet, hip-hop, and musical theater.

Find competitions near you Competitions that accept independents

$60–$225

Typical solo entry fee

median ~$170

2:30–3:00

Typical routine length

minutes

39+

Independent-friendly brands

accept unaffiliated soloists

How solo dance competitions work

Each solo is entered as its own routine and competes within a division defined by the dancer's age, skill level, and style — most competitions set the age division by how old the dancer is on January 1 and use tiers such as Mini, Petite, Junior, Teen, and Senior. Routines typically run about two-and-a-half to three minutes, and every entry receives a score, a placement (Platinum, High Gold, Gold, and similar tiers), and written or audio judge critiques. The highest-scoring soloists earn overall high-score awards within their age and level division, and many events add title competitions where dancers introduce themselves on stage and compete for a season crown.

Soloists are grouped into age divisions — commonly Mini, Petite, Junior, Teen, and Senior — and by skill level, so dancers compete against true peers.

What judges look for in a solo

On a solo there is nowhere to hide — every step, transition, and moment of stillness belongs to one dancer, so judges scrutinize individual technique (alignment, control, clean lines, and extension) far more closely than in a group number. They also reward mature performance quality: genuine musicality, emotional commitment, and the confidence to command the stage and hold an audience alone. The routines that place highest usually pair solid technique with real presence — a dancer who is fully invested in the piece rather than simply executing memorized steps.

Most competitions score on a 100- or 300-point scale weighted toward technique and execution, then performance/showmanship, with smaller allocations for choreography and costume. Each brand publishes its own rubric — check the individual competition’s tour page for details.

What a competition solo costs

Across the 23 competitions we have solo pricing for, entry fees run $60–$225 per routine (median around $170). But the entry fee is only the start.

Choreography — a custom solo from a choreographer
Private lessons — to set, clean, and rehearse the routine
Costume — often custom or heavily embellished
Music editing — a cut, mixed track
Multiple competitions — most solos are competed across several events in a season

All in, a single competitive solo commonly runs from several hundred to well over a thousand dollars across a season.

Can independent dancers compete a solo?

Whether a dancer can compete a solo on their own depends entirely on the competition. Many major events require every entry to be submitted through an affiliated studio or teacher and do not accept independent registrations, while others do welcome independent or unaffiliated soloists — sometimes for an added independent-entry fee, and some brands run virtual or online divisions specifically for them. Because these policies vary so widely, always check a competition's registration rules before assuming you can enter without a studio.

We’ve verified 39+ brands that welcome independent/unaffiliated dancers. See which competitions accept independent entries →

Preparing a competitive solo

A competitive solo usually begins with custom choreography built around an individual dancer's strengths, set over a series of private lessons and then refined through weeks — often months — of cleaning and rehearsal. Along the way, families arrange edited music, a costume, and ongoing coaching to sharpen technique and polish the performance. It's a meaningful commitment of both time and money on top of a dancer's regular class schedule, which is part of why competing a solo is considered a serious step up in a competitive dancer's journey.

Solo dance competition FAQ

How much does a dance solo cost to compete?: Solo entry fees typically run $60–$225 per routine (median around $170), based on the brands we track. But the entry fee is only part of it — budget for choreography, private lessons to set and clean the routine, a costume, and music editing. A single competitive solo commonly runs several hundred to over a thousand dollars across a season once all costs are counted.
What age can you start competing solos?: There's no universal minimum, but many dancers perform their first competitive solo around age seven or eight, once they have enough training to carry a routine on their own. Competitions group soloists into age divisions — commonly Mini (often ages 5-8), Petite, Junior, Teen, and Senior (typically through about 18-19) — with the exact age usually set by how old the dancer is on January 1 of the competition season.
How long is a competition solo?: Most competition solos run between about two-and-a-half and three minutes — common limits are 2:30, 2:45, or 3:00 depending on the event. Time limits vary by competition and sometimes by age division, and going over usually means a small point deduction or an overtime fee, so dancers edit their music carefully to fit.
How many solos can one dancer compete at a competition?: It depends on the competition's rules and often on the dancer's level. Many events cap newer or novice-level soloists at a single solo per competition while allowing more advanced or competitive-level dancers to enter two, and when a dancer performs multiple solos, usually only their highest-scoring routine is eligible for the overall high-score awards.

Ready to compete a solo?

Browse all dance competitions near you — every event offers solo entries across styles.
Competitions that accept independent dancers — compete a solo without a studio.

Solo rules, fees, age divisions, and eligibility vary by competition. Always verify the current rules and pricing directly with the competition before entering.