Category Guidance
This page offers guidance for all dance categories in Go Hard or Go Home. It is designed to help teams understand each style and what is expected when preparing their routines. Whether you're choosing a familiar genre or exploring something new, this resource outlines the core characteristics of each category and provides choreographic direction to help you to stay within the style and give you an idea of what the judges expect. While innovation and creativity are encouraged, strong entries will reflect a solid understanding of the chosen style, appropriate movement vocabulary, and effective teamwork.
Ballet
Overview
Ballet is a classical dance form known for its precision, grace, and disciplined technique. Rooted in centuries of tradition, it emphasizes posture, turnout, line, and musical sensitivity. Ballet can range from traditional (e.g., Swan Lake) to more contemporary interpretations but always prioritizes control, elegance, and technical excellence.
Choreography Guidance
Ballet routines should demonstrate clear classical technique—turnout, clean port de bras, pointed feet, and controlled extensions. Choreography may include arabesques, pirouettes, tendus, jetés, and adagios, performed with softness and strength. Teams should focus on coordinated épaulement (use of head and shoulders) and seamless transitions across formations. Ensemble precision, musical timing, and unified quality of movement are crucial to a cohesive and artistically refined performance.
Ballet is a classical dance form known for its precision, grace, and disciplined technique. Rooted in centuries of tradition, it emphasizes posture, turnout, line, and musical sensitivity. Ballet can range from traditional (e.g., Swan Lake) to more contemporary interpretations but always prioritizes control, elegance, and technical excellence.
Choreography Guidance
Ballet routines should demonstrate clear classical technique—turnout, clean port de bras, pointed feet, and controlled extensions. Choreography may include arabesques, pirouettes, tendus, jetés, and adagios, performed with softness and strength. Teams should focus on coordinated épaulement (use of head and shoulders) and seamless transitions across formations. Ensemble precision, musical timing, and unified quality of movement are crucial to a cohesive and artistically refined performance.
Commercial
Overview
Commercial dance refers to the styles commonly seen in music videos, live stage performances, TV, and pop culture. It blends elements of hip hop, jazz, heels, and street styles, designed to be visually impactful and performance-driven. Commercial routines are bold, stylish, and designed to engage audiences with charisma and energy.
Choreography Guidance
Choreography should be clean, polished, and visually dynamic. Expect to use fast-paced footwork, stylized isolations, grooves, and theatrical flair. Transitions should be seamless and purposeful, allowing formations to complement the music. Commercial dance often emphasizes individuality within a tight group structure—teams should project confidence and musical sensitivity while maintaining unity and energy throughout the piece.
Commercial dance refers to the styles commonly seen in music videos, live stage performances, TV, and pop culture. It blends elements of hip hop, jazz, heels, and street styles, designed to be visually impactful and performance-driven. Commercial routines are bold, stylish, and designed to engage audiences with charisma and energy.
Choreography Guidance
Choreography should be clean, polished, and visually dynamic. Expect to use fast-paced footwork, stylized isolations, grooves, and theatrical flair. Transitions should be seamless and purposeful, allowing formations to complement the music. Commercial dance often emphasizes individuality within a tight group structure—teams should project confidence and musical sensitivity while maintaining unity and energy throughout the piece.
Contemporay
Overview
Contemporary is a fluid, expressive style that blends modern, ballet, and lyrical techniques. It prioritizes emotional connection, body awareness, and innovative use of space. Unlike lyrical, which follows music lyrics closely, contemporary often interprets the overall tone or abstract themes, encouraging creative freedom and exploration of movement textures.
Choreography Guidance
Contemporary choreography should be emotionally and physically expressive, using a mix of grounded and lifted movement. Techniques such as release, suspension, fall-and-recovery, floorwork, and weight sharing may be incorporated. Group work should reflect dynamics—contrast stillness with motion, unity with fragmentation, or softness with sharpness. Teams should pay close attention to breath, flow, and spatial awareness, using canon, counterpoint, and ensemble phrasing to build emotional and visual depth.
Contemporary is a fluid, expressive style that blends modern, ballet, and lyrical techniques. It prioritizes emotional connection, body awareness, and innovative use of space. Unlike lyrical, which follows music lyrics closely, contemporary often interprets the overall tone or abstract themes, encouraging creative freedom and exploration of movement textures.
Choreography Guidance
Contemporary choreography should be emotionally and physically expressive, using a mix of grounded and lifted movement. Techniques such as release, suspension, fall-and-recovery, floorwork, and weight sharing may be incorporated. Group work should reflect dynamics—contrast stillness with motion, unity with fragmentation, or softness with sharpness. Teams should pay close attention to breath, flow, and spatial awareness, using canon, counterpoint, and ensemble phrasing to build emotional and visual depth.
Cultural Dances
Overview
Cultural dances are rooted in the heritage, customs, and social practices of specific communities around the world. These styles are often passed down through generations and can be celebratory, ceremonial, spiritual, or social in nature. This category encompasses a broad range of regional traditions from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe, among others.
Each dance form carries its own unique rhythm, movement vocabulary, and cultural significance. Whether rooted in folk traditions, classical heritage, or social customs, these dances reflect the identity and values of their communities. Submissions in this category should prioritize cultural integrity and understanding over stylistic fusion or reinterpretation.
Choreography Guidance
Choreography should aim to preserve the integrity of the cultural style being presented. Movements, costuming, music, and formations must be informed by the dance’s cultural context. While adaptation for stage is acceptable, it should not compromise authenticity. Teams should work with traditional movement vocabularies—e.g., Bharatanatyam mudras, West African polyrhythmic footwork, or Indigenous circle formations—while maintaining respect and awareness. The performance should feel unified, rhythmically accurate, and culturally grounded.
Cultural Dances include (but not limited to):
Afro-Caribbean
Ballroom Formation
Belly Dance
Bhangra
Bollywood
Folk
Gaana
Greek
Hula
Irish Dance
Latin & Social/Street Latin Formation
Swing Formation
and more...
Cultural dances are rooted in the heritage, customs, and social practices of specific communities around the world. These styles are often passed down through generations and can be celebratory, ceremonial, spiritual, or social in nature. This category encompasses a broad range of regional traditions from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe, among others.
Each dance form carries its own unique rhythm, movement vocabulary, and cultural significance. Whether rooted in folk traditions, classical heritage, or social customs, these dances reflect the identity and values of their communities. Submissions in this category should prioritize cultural integrity and understanding over stylistic fusion or reinterpretation.
Choreography Guidance
Choreography should aim to preserve the integrity of the cultural style being presented. Movements, costuming, music, and formations must be informed by the dance’s cultural context. While adaptation for stage is acceptable, it should not compromise authenticity. Teams should work with traditional movement vocabularies—e.g., Bharatanatyam mudras, West African polyrhythmic footwork, or Indigenous circle formations—while maintaining respect and awareness. The performance should feel unified, rhythmically accurate, and culturally grounded.
Cultural Dances include (but not limited to):
Afro-Caribbean
Ballroom Formation
Belly Dance
Bhangra
Bollywood
Folk
Gaana
Greek
Hula
Irish Dance
Latin & Social/Street Latin Formation
Swing Formation
and more...
Heels
Overview
Heels dance is a confident, stylized genre performed in high-heeled shoes, blending jazz, street, and commercial influences. It focuses on balance, fluidity, strength, and presentation. Heels routines often project empowerment, elegance, and control, requiring a strong sense of body alignment and weight transfer.
Choreography Guidance
Heels choreography should highlight body lines, poise, and intentional transitions. Movements may include walk sequences, stylized turns, hip rolls, controlled floor work, and precise isolations. Choreography should balance technique and showmanship while ensuring safety and stability in movement. In a team setting, performers should match energy, polish, and style—especially in transitions, levels, and footwork. The group should move as one while maintaining the individual control required by the footwear.
Heels dance is a confident, stylized genre performed in high-heeled shoes, blending jazz, street, and commercial influences. It focuses on balance, fluidity, strength, and presentation. Heels routines often project empowerment, elegance, and control, requiring a strong sense of body alignment and weight transfer.
Choreography Guidance
Heels choreography should highlight body lines, poise, and intentional transitions. Movements may include walk sequences, stylized turns, hip rolls, controlled floor work, and precise isolations. Choreography should balance technique and showmanship while ensuring safety and stability in movement. In a team setting, performers should match energy, polish, and style—especially in transitions, levels, and footwork. The group should move as one while maintaining the individual control required by the footwear.
Jazz
Overview
Jazz is a high-energy, technically demanding style that combines sharp, clean movements with expressive performance. It draws from ballet foundations but introduces rhythmic complexity, isolations, and stylized flair. Jazz has many variants, from classic and Broadway to commercial and street-influenced jazz, each sharing a focus on dynamic movement and strong stage presence.
Choreography Guidance
Jazz routines typically emphasize clean lines, precise timing, and powerful group formations. Choreography should feature classic elements like kicks, leaps, turns (e.g., pirouettes, chaine turns), isolations, and syncopated footwork. Contrast between sharp accents and smooth transitions adds richness. Teams should use spacing, cannon work, and levels to create visual texture. In a team setting, unity in execution and musicality is key—every dancer should match timing, energy, and performance quality to elevate the group impact.
Jazz is a high-energy, technically demanding style that combines sharp, clean movements with expressive performance. It draws from ballet foundations but introduces rhythmic complexity, isolations, and stylized flair. Jazz has many variants, from classic and Broadway to commercial and street-influenced jazz, each sharing a focus on dynamic movement and strong stage presence.
Choreography Guidance
Jazz routines typically emphasize clean lines, precise timing, and powerful group formations. Choreography should feature classic elements like kicks, leaps, turns (e.g., pirouettes, chaine turns), isolations, and syncopated footwork. Contrast between sharp accents and smooth transitions adds richness. Teams should use spacing, cannon work, and levels to create visual texture. In a team setting, unity in execution and musicality is key—every dancer should match timing, energy, and performance quality to elevate the group impact.
K-Pop
Overview
K-Pop dance originates from the Korean pop music industry and is recognized for its precise synchronization, high energy, and visually striking group formations. This style blends influences from hip hop, jazz funk, commercial, and street dance, creating polished and dynamic performances that emphasize unity and stage presence.
Choreography Guidance
Teams may present original choreography or a mix of at least two cover routines. The choreography should feature sharp, intentional movements and strong musicality. Clean and frequent formation changes are a hallmark of this style and should be executed cleanly. Facial expressions and performance quality add to the impact but should remain cohesive within the team. The routine should highlight group precision, rhythmic clarity, and a confident interpretation of the K-Pop aesthetic.
K-Pop dance originates from the Korean pop music industry and is recognized for its precise synchronization, high energy, and visually striking group formations. This style blends influences from hip hop, jazz funk, commercial, and street dance, creating polished and dynamic performances that emphasize unity and stage presence.
Choreography Guidance
Teams may present original choreography or a mix of at least two cover routines. The choreography should feature sharp, intentional movements and strong musicality. Clean and frequent formation changes are a hallmark of this style and should be executed cleanly. Facial expressions and performance quality add to the impact but should remain cohesive within the team. The routine should highlight group precision, rhythmic clarity, and a confident interpretation of the K-Pop aesthetic.
Lyrical
Overview
Lyrical dance blends the technique of ballet and jazz with expressive storytelling, closely tied to the lyrics and emotional content of a song. Unlike contemporary, which often explores abstract concepts or broader themes, lyrical dance directly interprets the narrative or emotion of the music, creating a visual representation of the song’s story or message.
Choreography Guidance
Choreography should align closely with the lyrics and mood of the chosen track. Movements are typically fluid and emotive, featuring extensions, turns, and lifts with seamless transitions and expressive gestures. Expect to use choreographic tools like breath, suspension, and musicality to mirror emotional shifts in the song. Teams should focus on uniformity of emotion and phrasing, ensuring that each dancer supports the story with clarity and connection. Cohesion in timing, sensitivity to the lyrics, and expressive interpretation are key to delivering a moving lyrical piece.
Lyrical dance blends the technique of ballet and jazz with expressive storytelling, closely tied to the lyrics and emotional content of a song. Unlike contemporary, which often explores abstract concepts or broader themes, lyrical dance directly interprets the narrative or emotion of the music, creating a visual representation of the song’s story or message.
Choreography Guidance
Choreography should align closely with the lyrics and mood of the chosen track. Movements are typically fluid and emotive, featuring extensions, turns, and lifts with seamless transitions and expressive gestures. Expect to use choreographic tools like breath, suspension, and musicality to mirror emotional shifts in the song. Teams should focus on uniformity of emotion and phrasing, ensuring that each dancer supports the story with clarity and connection. Cohesion in timing, sensitivity to the lyrics, and expressive interpretation are key to delivering a moving lyrical piece.
Street
Overview
Street dance refers to styles that originated outside of studio settings, often rooted in community, freestyle, and social dance culture. This includes hip hop, locking, popping, breaking, house, krump, waacking, and more. Each style has its own groove, vocabulary, and history, but they share foundations in rhythm, individuality, and musicality.
Choreography Guidance
Street-based routines should be grounded in authentic technique and groove. Teams may focus on a single style (e.g., locking or breaking) or blend multiple street styles, as long as transitions and musicality are coherent. Expect to incorporate footwork, isolations, hits, flow, or freestyle-inspired movement with strong rhythmic execution. Group dynamics are key—formations, layering, and levels should highlight individuality while keeping team unity. Precision, swagger, and a clear relationship to the music are central to strong street choreography.
Street Dance styles include (but not limited to):
Afro
Breaking
Dancehall
Hip-Hop
House
Krump
Litefeet
Locking
New Style
Passinho
Popping
Voguing
Waaking
and more...
Street dance refers to styles that originated outside of studio settings, often rooted in community, freestyle, and social dance culture. This includes hip hop, locking, popping, breaking, house, krump, waacking, and more. Each style has its own groove, vocabulary, and history, but they share foundations in rhythm, individuality, and musicality.
Choreography Guidance
Street-based routines should be grounded in authentic technique and groove. Teams may focus on a single style (e.g., locking or breaking) or blend multiple street styles, as long as transitions and musicality are coherent. Expect to incorporate footwork, isolations, hits, flow, or freestyle-inspired movement with strong rhythmic execution. Group dynamics are key—formations, layering, and levels should highlight individuality while keeping team unity. Precision, swagger, and a clear relationship to the music are central to strong street choreography.
Street Dance styles include (but not limited to):
Afro
Breaking
Dancehall
Hip-Hop
House
Krump
Litefeet
Locking
New Style
Passinho
Popping
Voguing
Waaking
and more...
Tap
Overview
Tap dance is a percussive form where dancers create rhythms and musical textures using metal plates on the shoes. It draws from jazz, musical theatre, and rhythm tap traditions and can range from upbeat Broadway style to intricate, music-driven compositions.
Choreography Guidance
Tap choreography should emphasize clarity of sound, syncopation, and tight rhythmic phrasing. Sequences might include time steps, shuffles, wings, pullbacks, and traveling combinations. In a team routine, uniform sound quality, timing, and weight placement are essential—every step contributes to the collective musical experience. Visual elements (formations, dynamics, facings) should enhance, not distract from, the rhythmic composition. Teams should aim for both musical precision and stage presence, allowing the tap sound to drive the performance.
Tap dance is a percussive form where dancers create rhythms and musical textures using metal plates on the shoes. It draws from jazz, musical theatre, and rhythm tap traditions and can range from upbeat Broadway style to intricate, music-driven compositions.
Choreography Guidance
Tap choreography should emphasize clarity of sound, syncopation, and tight rhythmic phrasing. Sequences might include time steps, shuffles, wings, pullbacks, and traveling combinations. In a team routine, uniform sound quality, timing, and weight placement are essential—every step contributes to the collective musical experience. Visual elements (formations, dynamics, facings) should enhance, not distract from, the rhythmic composition. Teams should aim for both musical precision and stage presence, allowing the tap sound to drive the performance.
Wildcard
Overview
Wildcard is an open category for performances that do not clearly fit into any other listed style. This includes creative fusions, acro-dance, theatre-based movement, or any unconventional or experimental choreography.
Choreography Guidance
Choreography should be bold, intentional, and well-defined. Whether blending genres or pushing creative boundaries, the routine must demonstrate stylistic clarity, control, and purpose. Teams are encouraged to use unexpected structures, props, or themes—but cohesion, execution, and teamwork remain essential. While creativity is at the forefront, the performance should be accessible and readable to an audience, with thoughtful staging and strong ensemble coordination.
Wildcard is an open category for performances that do not clearly fit into any other listed style. This includes creative fusions, acro-dance, theatre-based movement, or any unconventional or experimental choreography.
Choreography Guidance
Choreography should be bold, intentional, and well-defined. Whether blending genres or pushing creative boundaries, the routine must demonstrate stylistic clarity, control, and purpose. Teams are encouraged to use unexpected structures, props, or themes—but cohesion, execution, and teamwork remain essential. While creativity is at the forefront, the performance should be accessible and readable to an audience, with thoughtful staging and strong ensemble coordination.