Got questions?

Yes, in any category, as a pair that stays the same from entry to show. Both of you must qualify for the division on your own: if either of you would be Semi-Pro+, the pair enters Semi-Pro+. You'll give a name for the act plus your own stage names. Full rules: Categories & Judging

Yes, and plenty of people have made Dynasty their first ever competition. Just know that Amateur doesn't mean beginner. The Amateur night is anyone who's never been paid for pole, and that includes some seriously strong performers. It's not built as a first-show stepping stone. Beginners can absolutely place though, because most of the score is the show you put on, not the difficulty of your tricks; only the Tricks category weights difficulty. If you're on the fence, watch last year's videos and decide whether you'd be proud on that stage. Who's Amateur and who's Semi-Pro+

Because teaching is the line, not what level you teach. If you take a regular class for pay you're being paid for your pole skills, and that's what Semi-Pro+ means here. It's not a judgement on your tricks. Amateur night is for people who've never been paid for pole, so they're competing against each other, not against instructors. Same goes if you taught a while ago and stopped: a break doesn't make you an amateur again. Full rules: Categories & Judging

Semi-Pro+. Paid performing counts in any discipline. The stage experience comes with you, whatever you were performing. Full rules: Categories & Judging

Semi-Pro+. Club work is paid performing, and stage time is stage time. Full rules: Categories & Judging

If we find you entered Amateurs wrongly before judging starts, you're moved up. Once judging has started, it's a disqualification and no refund. Nobody is judged twice. We act on what we know and what we're told; if you think someone's in the wrong division, tell us who and why. Full rules: Categories & Judging

One take, no cuts, filmed in the last 12 months, you visible the whole time, under two minutes. Timing starts the moment we press play, so an intro, bio or title card eats into your two minutes. Same if you step out of frame. You can, but why would you. YouTube unlisted, Vimeo, or a Google Drive link set to anyone with the link. The portal checks the link plays before you pay. Full rules: Competition Info

Yes, from your dashboard, until entries close on 30 November or until a judge has scored it, whichever comes first. Full rules: Competition Info

You can withdraw at any time from your dashboard. The fee isn't refunded. If you were a finalist, your place goes to the next person. Full rules: Competition Info

Mid December, by email and on your dashboard: finalist, waitlist position, or not this year, with your scores and the judges' feedback. Finalists accept their place in the portal by the date in the email. Key dates

Amateurs 3:00 to 4:00, Semi-Pro+ 3:30 to 4:00. Time starts at your first movement or the music cue. Music is cut at exactly 4:00. Your track goes into the portal as an MP3 or M4A, cut to what you perform to, and the portal checks the length before it uploads. Full rules: Routine Requirements

No. Static pole stage right, spin pole stage left, for everyone. Full rules: Competition Info

Grip aids are fine on you, and grip gloves are fine. Nothing goes directly on the poles, and anything that leaves residue, like wax, is out. You may be asked to clean a pole. Full rules: Routine Requirements

Yes, declared on your competitor information form. Safe, no damage to venue or poles, quick to set and strike. Never: fire, lit candles (fake or unlit are fine), smoke or haze, pyro, small glitter, silly string. Confetti cannons, paint, slime, fake blood, oils, powders and liquids only with a clean-up plan you supply the gear for, a tarpaulin if we ask, and the stage back to clean within the changeover. We can say no on the night. Full rules: Routine Requirements

Yes, declared in advance. They can pose with or lean on a pole but can't perform any pole moves. They need a ticket and follow backstage rules. They're backstage only for their tech run and their category section; the rest of the time they're in the audience, not the dressing rooms. Full rules: Routine Requirements

Wear what the act needs. Dancewear, a bikini, a suit, whatever. You can lose layers as you go. The one rule is minimum coverage: pasties and a g-string, for every gender presentation, at every point in the routine. Less than that may get you disqualified, so tape well. Costume, music and choreography that we consider offensive or appropriative can be sent back for changes, so ask us early if you're unsure. Full rules: Routine Requirements

Four criteria per category, two out of 15 and two out of 10, total 50, the same criteria on the video and on the night. The full wording is on the Categories page. Ties on total are split by the two /15 criteria. The criteria

No. Dressing rooms are for competitors and crew. Declared human props come backstage for their tech run and their category section only. Family and friends watch from the theatre or the livestream. Full rules: Rules & Regulations

Yes, both nights, ticketed per night or all-access. One screen per ticket. Quality depends on venue internet, the platform and your hardware; we do our best, we can't guarantee it, and livestream tickets aren't refundable. Full rules: Livestream

Yes. By entering you consent to photography, filming, livestreaming, and promotional and commercial use. Dynasty keeps the rights to event media. No photos or filming in dressing areas. Full rules: Photography & Filming

In-person tickets are sold through The Globe Theatre's box office, and we'll link straight to them here closer to the time. Livestream and workshop tickets are sold here. Tickets