The Believe Experience

2027 Nationals | Championships & Special Events

Believe Nationals is where an incredible season comes together!

From The Championships and Golden Buzzer celebrations to special events and opportunities for dancers, teachers, and families, Nationals is a chance to celebrate everything that makes Believe special.

With three family-friendly destinations, exciting Championship events, and experiences throughout the week, The Believe Experience is about more than competition. It’s about the people, the performances, and the memories made along the way.

The Championships

The Believe Championships bring the highest-scoring qualifying group routines back to the stage for one final performance and the opportunity to become National Champions!

With enhanced lighting, music, live commentary, backstage interviews, and special production elements, The Championships bring a whole new level of excitement to Nationals.

Believe offers two Championship events:

The Championships: Premier Edition — Competitive Level, Day 4
The Championships: Advanced Edition — Elite Level, Day 5

Qualifying routines are selected throughout Nationals based on their scores, age divisions, and group sizes. Studios may have multiple routines qualify throughout the week, but only their highest-scoring routine within each Championship category may advance.

Championship invitations are limited based on the number of qualifying routines and available entries. While we make every effort to include as many studios as possible, Championship invitations are not guaranteed.

The Championships: Premier Edition

Competitive Level | Day 4

The Premier Championships feature the highest-scoring qualifying Competitive Level routines from our 11 & Under and 12 & Over divisions. Qualifying dancers return to the stage for another opportunity to perform, compete, and celebrate their accomplishments at Nationals.

Category	11 & Under	12 & Over
Small Groups	5 routines	5 routines
Large Groups	5 routines	5 routines
Lines	5 routines	5 routines

For Small Groups, Large Groups, and Lines, 11 & Under combines ages 8 & Under and 9–11. 12 & Over combines ages 12–14 and 15–19.

Showcase performance: The highest-scoring Showcase routine in each of the two divisions also returns to perform. Showcase performances are not scored or placed.

Premier Championship Awards

Two Premier Cups recognize the highest-scoring routines in their respective divisions:

11 & Under Premier Cup
12 & Over Premier Cup

The Championships: Advanced Edition

Elite Level | Day 5

The Advanced Championships are the grand finale of Believe Nationals!

The highest-scoring qualifying Elite Level routines return to the stage for one final round of competition, bringing together some of the most memorable performances of the week.

The Championships begin with a special Dance Force opening number, featuring choreography by well-known guest choreographers from the dance industry. Following the opening performance, qualifying routines compete within their respective Championship divisions.

Age division	Qualifying routines
8 & Under	5 Small Groups, 5 Large Groups, and 5 Lines
9–11	5 Small Groups, 5 Large Groups, and 5 Lines
12–14	5 Small Groups, 5 Large Groups, and 5 Lines
15–19	5 Small Groups, 5 Large Groups, and 5 Lines
11 & Under Grand Lines	5 Grand Lines
12 & Over Grand Lines	5 Grand Lines

Advanced Championship Awards

Six Victory Cups are awarded to the highest-scoring routines in the following divisions:

8 & Under Victory Cup
9–11 Victory Cup
12–14 Victory Cup
15–19 Victory Cup
11 & Under Grand Line Victory Cup
12 & Over Grand Line Victory Cup

Championship Judging & Scoring

During regular competition, routines are evaluated by a panel of five judges. For The Championships, two to three judges are replaced with adjudicators who have not previously seen the routines, bringing a fresh perspective to the final round.

All qualifying routines begin with a clean slate. Scores from regular competition determine Championship invitations but do not carry over. Championship results are determined through a combination of scoring and ranking by the judging panel.

Believe Title Showdown

The Believe Title Showdown gives both Competitive and Elite Level soloists the opportunity to compete for one of the highest individual honors at Nationals!

Title contestants return to the stage for a special performance experience celebrating their technique, artistry, stage presence, and individuality. Dancers may register for Title before Nationals or on-site during the event.

Elite Title Contestants

Elite Title contestants will pre-record a personal introduction, which will be edited and featured during the Title Showdown. These introductions give dancers an opportunity to share their personalities, recognize those who have supported them, and introduce themselves to the audience before taking the stage.

Competitive Title Contestants

Competitive Title contestants will participate in backstage interviews during The Championships. These interviews give dancers an opportunity to share their Nationals experience, celebrate their accomplishments, and give special shoutouts to their studios, teachers, and families.

At the conclusion of the Title Showdown, Believe’s newest Title winners will be announced and crowned!

More at The Believe Experience

Every Believe Nationals brings its own special moments, with experiences throughout the week designed for dancers, teachers, studio owners, and families.

The Golden Buzzer

One of Believe’s most recognizable traditions, the Golden Buzzer celebrates performances that leave a lasting impression on our judges!

Each judge awards one Golden Buzzer during the competition. Once all five judges have awarded their first Golden Buzzer, each has the opportunity to award a second.

When a judge hits the Golden Buzzer, the lights and music kick in, turning the moment into a celebration! The judge joins the dancers onstage to share why their performance earned the Golden Buzzer. Dancers receive a special Golden Buzzer banner, take a photo with their judge, and celebrate together onstage.

It’s one of those moments that dancers, teachers, and families will remember long after Nationals.

LiveWire Improv Competition

LiveWire gives dancers the chance to show off their creativity, musicality, and ability to think on their feet! Dancers take the floor without prepared choreography, relying on their instincts and individual style as they improvise to the music.

LiveWire features two age divisions: 11 & Under and 12 & Over. Registration is available on-site at the Believe Boutique.

Complimentary Master Classes

Believe offers complimentary master classes throughout the week, giving dancers the chance to train with experienced professionals from our staff and judging panel.

From learning new choreography to exploring different styles, these classes give dancers another opportunity to grow and connect with others outside their home studios. Class schedules and instructors will be announced closer to Nationals.

Championship Interview Booth & Live Broadcast

Our Championship interview booth gives dancers and studios an opportunity to be featured during the live broadcast. With approximately one group interviewed per studio, dancers can share their Nationals experience, celebrate their accomplishments, and give shoutouts to the people who have supported them throughout the season.

Combined with backstage coverage and live commentary, these interviews bring even more personality to the Championship experience.

Nationals TikTok Challenge

The fun starts before you even arrive! Leading up to Nationals, studios are invited to participate in our Believe TikTok Challenge for a chance to win a pizza party for their studio!

Get your dancers together, show off your creativity, and bring your studio personality to life. Challenge details and participation guidelines will be announced through Believe’s social media.

Spirit Day

Show us your studio spirit! Spirit Day is an opportunity for dancers, teachers, and families to get creative, dress up, and have some fun together throughout Nationals. Each year features a special theme, which will be announced leading up to the event.

Senior Recognition

For our graduating seniors, Nationals marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. Believe takes time to recognize these dancers and celebrate the years of dedication, hard work, and memories that have brought them to this moment.

It’s a special opportunity for seniors to share the stage with the dance community that has been part of their journey.

Teacher Recognition

We know how much goes into getting dancers to the stage, and we want to recognize the people who make it possible! Throughout Nationals, Believe celebrates the teachers and studio leaders who dedicate so much of their time and energy to their dancers.

Boost Boxes

A little pick-me-up for our studio owners and teachers! At each Nationals event, Believe provides Boost Boxes stocked with coffee, snacks, and refreshments to help keep our studio leaders going throughout the week. It’s our way of saying thank you for everything you do!

Three Nationals Destinations

Make Nationals part of your summer vacation! Believe offers three family-friendly destinations where studios can enjoy an exciting week of competition while making memories together outside the ballroom.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Sunshine, beautiful beaches, and plenty of activities for the whole family make Fort Lauderdale a great place to celebrate Nationals.

Ocean City, Maryland

From the beach and boardwalk to family attractions and entertainment, Ocean City offers a classic summer getaway alongside a full week of dance.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

With miles of beaches, entertainment, shopping, and family-friendly attractions, Myrtle Beach gives studios plenty to enjoy when they’re not onstage.

The Believe Experience

From the excitement of The Championships to Golden Buzzer celebrations, studio spirit, and time spent together, Believe Nationals is about more than what happens onstage. It’s about the dancers, teachers, studios, and families who make every season special.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you at The Believe Experience 2027!