Basic Information

Am I an ACDA Member? How do I become an ACDA Member
You can check a list of current ACDA Members here. If you need to renew your Membership please email the ACDA National Office at info@acda.dance.

How do ACDA members in Alaska and Hawaii register for conferences?
ACDA members in Alaska and Hawaii are considered pan-region for conference registration. They can register for any conference nationwide during the in-region priority registration period.

Who receives the registration passcodes?
The registration passcodes will be sent to all email addresses listed in your institution’s membership profile in our new membership management system. To check the contacts listed in your institution’s profile log in here or contact the ACDA National Office at info@acda.dance. If you are an ACDA member or in the process of becoming an ACDA member and have not received a password at least two days before registration opens, contact the ACDA National Office at info@acda.dance.

How does ACDA conference registration work?
ACDA handles registration in waves:

1. Super-Region Registration: Schools can register for any conference within their super region.
2. All-Member Registration: Schools can register for any conference across the country, regardless of region or super region.
3. Student Registration Caps Lifted: Schools can register additional students, space permitting.
4. Non-Member Registration: Registration opens for non-members.

How do I register for a Conference?
Check out How & When to Register.

What is a Super Region?
Super Regions are combined groups of individual regions within ACDA, created specifically for conference registration purposes. Individual, in-region priority registration allows member institutions to register for their regional conference before out-of-region members. Following this, all institutions within the same Super Region have in-super-region priority registration for any conference within their boundaries. You can register for conferences outside your Super Region only after the Individual Region Priority Registration and the Super Region Priority Registration periods. List of ACDA regions can be found here.

Super Region 1 – Baja, High-Desert, Northwest
Super Region 2 – Central, North-Central, South-Central
Super Region 3 – East-Central, New England, Northeast
Super Region 4 – Mid-Atlantic, Southeast

What if the conference reaches capacity before or during my registration?
If a conference reaches capacity before you are able to register, email your Conference Coordinator to have the additional group members added to the waitlist.

Why is there a student cap?
A student cap is a limit set on the number of students an institution can register for a conference to ensure broad participation. After student cap limits are lifted additional students may be added if space permits. However, once the student cap is met, additional students cannot be registered under different types such as Individual, Faculty, or Musician.

What should I do if I need to cancel participants or adjudication slots?
To remove a person or item from your registration, complete the cancellation request form.

When is the 2027 ACDA National College Dance Festival?
The 2027 ACDA National College Dance Festival will be held at University of Utah & Kingsbury Hall in Salt Lake City, Utah from June 3-5, 2027. Learn more about the National College Dance Festival here. 

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Class, Workshops, & Presentations Proposals

Who can propose classes, workshops, and presentations?
Faculty and recommended graduate students can propose classes, workshops, research presentations, panels, and roundtables. Undergraduate students can propose research presentations.

Can I propose a team-taught class?
Yes, you can propose a team-taught class. Enter the name of the co-teacher. Both teachers should enter identical information on their own registration.

What opportunities are available for faculty?
Peer Response Feedback & Faculty-Only Classes 

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Adjudication

How many dances can ACDA Institutional Members submit for adjudication?
ACDA Institutional Members may submit up to two (2) dances for adjudication.

What are the guidelines for adjudication slots?
Refer to the Adjudication Policies for Participating Schools.

How do I reserve adjudication slots?
Institutions must officially register student(s). Any adjudication registration without corresponding school registration of student(s) will be canceled. Your adjudication slot is not secured until payment has been received.

What should I do if the adjudication slot cap is reached?
Add yourself to the waitlist via your registration or in your Attendee Portal.

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Copyright Permissions for Adjudication & the National College Dance Festival

Do I need to obtain copyright permission for the sound/music used for my adjudication dance?
You asked and ACDA listened. In an effort to expand equitable access to copyrighted music for all ACDA members, regardless of program size or budget, ACDA has worked closely with multiple music copyright attorneys to identify solutions that meet the diverse needs of our membership while also protecting the Association.

Click here to read about ACDA’s 2026-2027 copyright process for the National College Dance Festival.

Why do I need to submit copyright permissions to participate in the National Festival?
There is a distinction between regional conferences and the National Festival. Regional conferences take place in an academic setting, where the National Festival takes place in a public performing arts venue with tickets advertised and sold to the public. ACDA is considered a “presenter” and is not an educational institution.

What happens if my school does not have correct copyright permissions?
Schools without correct permissions will be eligible for adjudication and Gala consideration at the conference but will be removed from the National Festival selection pool.

Can my institution’s blanket copyright coverage be used for the National Festival?
No, your institution’s blanket copyright coverage cannot be used for the National Festival. ACDA is not classified as an institute of higher education, so the “educational use” coverage does not extend to the National Festival.

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Policies

Registration Policies
You must be an ACDA institutional member in good standing to participate in the adjudication process and to receive the discounted member registration fee.  If you are not currently an ACDA member but plan to become a new member or renew your membership. If using a credit card, your membership will be processed immediately. If planning to pay by check, inform the ACDA National Office by emailing info@acda.dance. You will then receive the registration password enabling you to register as a member.  Your membership dues must be sent to the ACDA National Office as soon as possible.

• To participate in the adjudication process, a faculty member must be registered and attend the conference.
  
• Once the student cap is met by a registering institution, additional students may not be added as a different registrant type (e.g., Individual, Faculty, Musician, etc.). 
  
• With advanced notice, the ACDA National Office may cancel a registration that fails to comply with stated registration rules including but not limited to valid membership and adherence to student registration caps.

Cancellation Deadline

It is important for all regional conferences that registration numbers are accurate. Prior to payment, fees will be assessed on each participant or adjudication spot cancellation. There are no refunds on cancellation for paid registrations.

Registration modifications (including removing participants, meals, or other items) must be made no later than 4 weeks prior to the start of the conference. The stated deadline will be clearly listed on the conference website, in registration, and in the confirmation email. There are no refunds on paid registrations.

Before the 4-Week Cancellation Deadline: ​

Cancellation of unpaid registrations​:​

• $25 cancellation fee per person​
• $75 cancellation fee per adjudication dance​
• Meals ​and additional items may be canceled at no cost
• The $10 processing fee is non-refundable in all cases.

Cancellation of paid​ registrations:

• There are no refunds on paid registrations.
• The $10 processing fee is non-refundable in all cases.​

After the 4-Week Deadline​:

• All registrations are considered final.
• ​The National Office will not remove people, adjudication dance(s), or items from registrations.
• Full payment is required for all registered participants, adjudication entries, and items, regardless of attendance or payment status.

4 Week Submission Deadline for All Conference Attendee Information Policy

All attendee-related materials must be submitted no later than 4 weeks prior to the start of the conference, unless otherwise stated by the Conference Coordinator. 

This Includes:

• Teaching Proposals
• Program Information (Adjudication & Works in Motion)
• Music/Sound Files
• Production Information
• Technical Cue Sheets & Other Forms
• Names and Contact Information for All Group Participants

Late submissions will not be accepted.

Does ACDA have any other policies I should be aware of?
Yes, ACDA has several policies that you should read before registering for a conference or participating in adjudication. It is important to familiarize yourself with these policies to ensure a smooth and informed experience at the conference.

ACDA Conference Policies for Participants
ACDA Conference Policies in a National Festival Year
ACDA Adjudication Policies for Participating Schools
ACDA Statement of Empowerment
ACDA National College Dance Festival Policies for Participants