Saturday - Sunday, March 24-25
Dorton Arena, State Fairgrounds, Raleigh, NC

Stage Program Guidelines

The Stage Program Guidelines
For several years, over 1,000 performers have shared the stage during the festival. Nuv Yug has formulated these guidelines to help us consistently apply these rules to all performers. Based on our experience, these rules take into account most common situations. However, the Stage Program Committee reserves the right to modify these rules at any time at its sole discretion.

To manage a large number of participants, India Fest stage performance is online. Please follow the process below. You may read more about the online process here.

The Registration Steps

1. Register yourself: The team's teacher or manager/coordinator creates a Nuv Yug ID for herself or himself. If you already have one, go to the next step.
2. Register your performance: Login and go to Dashboard -> Select "I'm a Choreographer" -> Register a new Stage Peformance.
3. Add performance details: On the Register a new Stage Performance page -> and provide a description and other details.
4. Register performers: Ask all performers to register and create a Nuv Yug ID at our website. All minor students will need their parents to register as well. Parents should not give their Nuv Yug ID to you unless they are performing. Parents will also need to sign waivers before giving you the ID's.
5. Sign waivers: Ask all performers and their parents to sign the electronic waiver. Only adults can sign electronic waiver. All minor children are included in a parent's waiver.
6. Gather info: Gather Nuv Yug ID of all participants created in the previous step. You may add Performers, Choreographers, Managers / Coordinators, or Teachers for your group. You need to add yourself too in the appropriate role. Only a limited number of non-performers (all roles other than performers) are permitted for each team. If all group members are choreographers, please do not add any non-performer.
7. Add performers: Login and go to the Dashboard -> Select "I'm a Choreographer" -> Participants. Add all performers, teachers, choreographers, managers/coordinators using their Nuv Yug IDs gathered in the previous step.
8. Submit for Review: After you have added all participants, login and go to Dashboard -> Select "I'm a Choreographer" -> "Edit" -> scroll down -> check YES to submit it for the Committee Review -> Preview -> Submit. At this point your item's status will change from "Incomplete" to "Under Review" or "Wait Listed."
9. You are done! The committee will contact you with further details as needed.

Auditions - Saturday, February 11, 2012
To ensure that all items meet certain artistic merit, auditions will be held at the Holshouser Building, State Fairgrounds, Raleigh.

1. All invited groups will be required to attend an in-person audition at the Holshouser Building, State Fairgrounds, Raleigh. All groups will receive their timeslot assignment a week before the audition. Due to a large number of groups attending the audition, we are not able to entertain schedule change requests. Please keep your entire day available for the audition.
2. Each group must be ready to showcase at least 2 minutes of their performance. If performing a medley, please showcase at least 45 seconds of the subsequent song i.e the song immediately after the 1st song.
3. The committee expects majority of your group participants to be present for the auditions. Groups with missing performers may be assigned lower priority.
4. You must bring your sample performance costume or a picture of the actual costume to the audition to show it to the committee. No exceptions please.
5. Performers and groups coming to Raleigh from a distance of 30 miles or more are welcome to submit a video clip of their performance. The clip must be at least for 2 minutes and must cover all participants. One of the participants must wear the costume too. If the committee is not satisfied with the video they will contact you with further steps.
6. Participation in the audition does not guarantee the selection of your group to perform at India Fest .

The Selection Process

• Each performance will be evaluated on costumes, choreography, performance quality, technical merit and relevance to the theme of India Fest .
• The Stage Program Committee is the final authority in this process.
• All invited groups must attend an audition in order to be selected.
• The timeslot assigned to each group will be communicated to each group separately.
  
• It is your responsibility to inform the Stage Program Committee of any significant changes in your item after it has been auditioned. If you fail to notify the committee of significant changes in your item, it may be disqualified from participating at India Fest .

Stage Description
Size at least 40’ wide x 48’ deep
The stage will be 4’ high and will have a black backdrop. There will be one entrance from each side of the stage via 4-5 steps. The stage will be open from three sides.

Stage Performance Types, Age, Group Size and Time Limits

The following performance types are invited. Your performance must comply with group restrictions and time limits. Items that do not comply with these rules must be approved by the committee in advance. Please contact a committee member, if you have questions.

• *NEW! Please note that the time allowed for an item has been reduced from before. Please make sure that your item complies with the new duration limits stated above.
• Only a limited number of items will be accommodated in each category at sole discretion of the Stage Program Committee.
• We recommend that for groups with performers of age 14 and younger, the age difference with the youngest performer and the oldest performer is not more than 4 years. For example, you can have groups ages 5-9, 7-11 or 9-13. If you have question, please contact a Committee member.

• A participant/performer can perform in at most 3 performances in total on both days.
• While registering your performance, dance school/ group name is accepted in the the "Title" section only if it is a non-profit dance school/group.
• Dance numbers should be elaborately choreographed and well rehearsed.
• Several different songs or dances can be combined to form a medley, but the audio transition must be smooth and the total time for the performance may not exceed the specified limit.
• The performance should move smoothly such that one segment flows into another.
• Please make sure that all choreography is age appropriate.
• Dancers should face all sections of the audience during the presentation.
  IMPORTANT! Keep spacing even and utilize all dancers in the group equally.
• There are no curtains on the stage so the dance should be choreographed to include onstage beginning and end or entrance and exit should be incorporated into the performance. This is a very important aspect of the performance!!
• Display spirit, enthusiasm, and awareness of audience during the presentation.
• Smile!

Vocal Performance Guidelines

• Vocal groups with participants younger than 18 must have at least six in their group.
• Solo/Duet vocal performance are invited only from adults who have accomplished significant vocal training and have sucessfully given public performances at large venues before.

• Appropriate costume should be worn for dance performance. It should reflect the dance category.
• Any costume that is body revealing will not be allowed.
  
• Costumes should be selected in accordance to the performance.
  
• The committee makes the final decision regarding appropriateness of costumes.
  
• Emphasis should be on costumes, accessories, footwear and props as applicable.
• Each group must show their costumes on the audition day to be approved by the committee.

Music Submission Process

• We do not accept CD's. We accept only mp3 format files which must be submitted online.
• Most mp3 files can be successfully uploaded to our website using the registration upload facility. However, files larger than 5 MB may not upload successfully.
• Please make every effort to convert your music file to mp3 format which usually fits within the 5 MB upload file size limit for our website.
• If you experience repeated problems with uploading your file, please send your music file to the following email id:
  
• To ensure the quality of sound, digitally recorded music is preferred as it provides better quality sound in the arena.
  
• If a sound quality is not acceptable, a new soundtrack will be needed before your group can be scheduled for performance. No performances will be scheduled until the Committee has approved a satisfactory soundtrack. Please make sure that there is no violation of copy righted material.

Announcement Script Guidelines

• Qualified MCs will introduce your item using the announcement script you provide. Please do not present exact duplication of any copyrighted material.

Rehearsal

• All performing groups are required to attend the full dress rehearsal on their assigned day, which will be on one of the following evenings: Thursday or Friday March 22 or 23 at the Dorton Arena, State Fairgrounds, Raleigh.

• Please be aware of the traffic congestion near Fairgrounds on weekends! Plan to arrive 60 minutes before your scheduled time on the day of the performance and 30 minutes before your scheduled time on the audition day.
  
• Performers should meet gather near Nuv Yug's booth before their performance.
  
• Each group must check-in with the item coordinator 30 minutes before the performance time.
  
• Please keep your performers in this area between check-in and performance time.
  
• All performers are expected to be backstage and ready to perform 15 minutes before the scheduled performance time.
• Performers and their choreographers receive FREE admission on the day of their performance.

Please Remember!

• The music must be submitted by Sunday before the Audition Day. The announcement script will need to be submitted via web at a later date.
  
• The online registration system keeps track of performers participating in multiple items. However due to a large number of participants, it may not be possible to accommodate schedule change requests from groups which have performers in multiple items.
• No confetti, gulal powder or other articles should be used on the stage, which cannot be picked up by the participants as they exit. Please ensure that the stage is ready to be used for the next performance upon your group's exit and that no articles are left behind.
  
• Regardless of how harmless they may be, no articles should be thrown at the audience.
  
• Performers are encouraged to bow to the audience before exiting the stage.
  
• Remember your first and foremost objective is to have fun! Please let the committee know, if we can help you in any way!!

Stage Program Committee
The Stage Program Committee is responsible for selecting items and ensuring compliance with our guidelines. The committee is present to provide any assistance and guidance as required. If you have questions, please contact any committee member.

Return to Stage Performance Registration Page