OPUS
Artist of the Year
Claire Monge

ELIGIBILITY

Dancers qualify to compete for Artist of the Year at OPUS by being named a Class Audition Scholarship Winner or Runner-up at a Press Play or RYZE regional event during the 2026–2027 season.

Artist of the Year titles are awarded in Mini, Junior, Teen, and Senior divisions, with separate Male and Female titles in each age division. Qualified dancers may compete in only one OPUS location: Las Vegas or Orlando.

NEW THIS YEAR: The Artist of the Year title is a yearlong honor that comes with special opportunities, appearances and responsibilities throughout the 2027–2028 season. To ensure that each Artist of the Year winner can fully represent OPUS and avoid conflicting commitments between organizations, Artist of the Year winners may not simultaneously hold a National Title from another dance competition or convention.

Any dancer competing for Artist of the Year 2027 may not hold or accept a 2027 National Title from another dance competition or convention organization for the 2027–2028 regional season. Dancers who have already received another organization's 2027 National Title are not eligible to compete for Artist of the Year at OPUS Nationals.

SCHEDULE

Dancers competing for the Artist of the Year title should plan to participate in activities throughout the full week in Las Vegas or Orlando. Please schedule travel accordingly. Tentative schedules are available on each Location page in the main menu above. Detailed schedules will be provided approximately two weeks before the event.

FEE

All Regional Scholarship Winners & Runners-up selected through the Audition Class at Press Play & RYZE receive complimentary Workshop tuition to OPUS Nationals. This benefit applies specifically to Regional Scholarship recipients from the Audition Class and does not include Spotlight Scholarship recipients. If an eligible dancer wishes to compete for Artist of the Year at OPUS, an additional fee applies. This fee covers:

  • Solo entry in the AOTY Solo Competition
  • Participation in the Class Audition
  • Participation in the AOTY Dance-Off (if selected Top 10)
  • Custom AOTY jacket
  • Exclusive AOTY gift bag
  • Teen and Senior Artist of the Year competitors will have the opportunity to work with world-renowned director and choreographer Mandy Moore, rehearsing and performing in the opening or closing number of the Closing Night Gala.
  • Mini and Junior Artist of the Year competitors will participate in two exclusive classes designed specifically for AOTY dancers.

FINE PRINT

General

  • Age Divisions:
    • Mini (8-10) - PeeWees (4-7) may "age-up" into Mini
    • Junior (11-12)
    • Teen (13-15)
    • Senior (16-19)
  • All ages are calculated as of January 1, 2027.
  • Dancers vying for an Artist of the Year title are also eligible to compete for a Best Artist Title.
  • To compete for the Artist of the Year title, dancers must be registered for the full Nationals Workshop.
  • Finalists must compete on behalf of the same studio where they qualified at regionals. Dancers may not switch to Independent status.
  • Independent dancers are not eligible to compete for the Artist of the Year title.
  • Finalists do not need a registered teacher present to compete but must have permission from their qualifying studio.

Solos

  • The Artist of the Year solo may be in any style and must not exceed 3 minutes.
  • The Artist of the Year solo must be different from any solo performed in the Finals Solo Competition.
  • All Top 3 (or 4) Artist of the Year Finalists advancing to the Dance-Off are required to perform the same solo they competed with in the Artist of the Year Solo Competition.

Etiquette & Participation

  • Workshop class attendance and etiquette are observed by faculty and directors throughout the week. Although not formally scored, behavior in class and rehearsals will be considered by the Directors, and points may be deducted at their discretion.
  • Before the AOTY Dance-Off, all participating dancers will be required to attend an Orientation covering the rules, expectations, and etiquette for the Dance-Off.
  • Artists of the Year serve as ambassadors of OPUS and are held to the highest standards. All competitors must adhere to a code of conduct. OPUS reserves the right to disqualify or revoke the title at any time if these standards are not upheld.

Recognition

  • At the AOTY Dance-Off, the Top 25 Male and Female Finalists from each age division will be recognized.
  • At the Gala, the Top 10 Male and Female Finalists from each age division will be recognized on stage. The Top 3 (or 4) will then be announced live, followed by the naming of the Artist of the Year Winners and Runners-Up.
  • Senior Winners will re-perform their solos during the Gala.

Additional Policies

  • In the event of a tie, placements will stand. (i.e., ties will not be broken, and more than 10 dancers may be recognized.)
  • Artist of the Year Winners (excluding Top 10 and Runner-Ups) are eligible to compete again only after moving into the next age division and completing a one-year waiting period.
  • Dancers who win the Artist of the Year title may not switch studios (without permission of original studio) or go Independent for one full year. Doing so will result in forfeiture of the scholarship and all Artist of the Year privileges.
  • All Artist of the Year honors and associated awards are granted at the discretion of the studio the dancer qualified with.
  • Auditions are closed to parents. Only registered teachers and studio owners are permitted to observe.
  • Eligible dancers may compete in the Male or Female Artist of the Year category based on their gender identity (male-identifying or female-identifying).
  • Tickets are required for all guests attending the closing night Gala. Artist of the Year competitors who wish to watch any portion of the Gala from the audience must also purchase a ticket, including those performing in the show.