Scoring Performances

This guide explains the full judging workflow from opening an event to submitting your final scores.

Accessing the Judging Interface

1. Log in with your judge account
2. From your Judge Dashboard, tap Open Event on the event you're judging
3. The judging session starts and automatically navigates you to the first unscored entry
4. If you've judged before and left the session, it resumes where you left off

The Scoring Interface

When scoring an entry, you'll see:

Entry Information:

Scoring Form:

Header Status Bar:

Navigation:

• Prev / Next buttons: Move between entries within the current section
• "Entry X of Y" text shows your position in the section
• Schedule drawer: Tap the menu button (bottom-right) to see all sections and your progress

Scoring Each Entry

1. Watch the performance or review the entry information
2. Enter a score for each criterion: tap the field and type your score (0 to the maximum)
3. Add comments if the scorecard allows them
4. Check nomination boxes if the entry deserves special recognition
5. Review your scores: check the auto-calculated total
6. Click Submit to save and advance to the next entry

Auto-Save Drafts

Your scores auto-save as drafts to your device as you type (with a short delay). This means:

• If you accidentally close the browser, your draft scores are preserved
• If you lose internet connection, your in-progress work is not lost
• The header shows "Saving..." then "Saved" to confirm your draft was saved
• Drafts are automatically loaded when you return to an entry
• Drafts are deleted after you successfully submit a score

Score Card Criteria

The criteria you see are set by the event organiser. Common examples:

• Technique: Technical skill, control, precision, and execution
• Choreography: Creative movement choices, structure, and originality
• Musicality: Rhythm, timing, dynamics, and music interpretation
• Presentation: Stage presence, expression, energy, and audience engagement

Each criterion has a maximum point value (e.g., 10). Your score for each criterion must be between 0 and the maximum.

Editing Scores

You can edit your scores for entries within the current section:

• Use the Prev/Next buttons to navigate back to any entry in the section
• The entry will show a "Previously Scored" badge
• Edit your scores and submit again. The new score replaces the old one

Important: Once you complete a section and move on, that section is locked and you can no longer edit scores for entries in it. You'll see a warning before leaving: "Once you continue, you will not be able to edit scores for this section."

Section Completion

When you've scored all entries in a section:

• A "Section Complete" screen appears with a green checkmark
• A table shows all entries with your scores
• Click "Continue to Next Section" to move on
• The section is then locked. You cannot go back to edit those scores

When all assigned judges have scored every entry, the section is automatically marked as completed and the schedule advances.

When a dancer is waiting on the Out of section list, the next section does not start by itself. You see a Between sections screen with the list and a Start next section button. Score any out of section dancer who comes on stage, then press Start next section. The section opens when every judge has pressed; until then you see "Waiting for other judges" with a Go back button in case you pressed by mistake. Nobody waiting: the next section opens as usual. The same applies when the next item is the Awards Ceremony: the screen reads "Next: Awards Ceremony", the ceremony does not start while a dancer is waiting, and it starts when every judge has pressed Start next section. The MC cannot start it for you.

Special Nominations

Some events allow judges to nominate entries for special awards. If enabled, you'll see checkboxes alongside the score card:

• Gala Nomination: Outstanding performances selected for a gala showcase
• Custom nominations: Configured by the organiser per event (e.g. Best Costume, Most Improved). The available options vary by event.

Tips for Effective Judging

• Be consistent: Use the same standards across all entries in a section
• Score the full range: Don't bunch all scores at the top; use the full scale
• Write meaningful comments: Specific feedback is more valuable than generic praise
• Stay focused: Judge each entry on its own merit, not relative to the previous one
• Keep pace: The schedule advances when all judges finish, so try to stay in sync with other judges

Judging an Online Competition

For online competitions the workflow above changes: there's no schedule, no live event day, and no section locking. Dancers submit performance videos, and you score them at your own pace during the event's judging window.

How it works:

1. Open the event from your dashboard. The Start Judging button activates when the window opens (a countdown shows the deadline)
2. You'll see a section browser listing every section with submitted entries, each with your progress (e.g., "12/15 scored"). If the organiser assigned you specific sections, only those appear
3. Pick any section, pick any entry. The video plays right next to the scoring form, and you score on the same scorecards as a live event
4. Move through entries in any order with Prev/Next or by returning to the section list

Key differences from live judging:

Video problems: if a video won't play for you (deleted, private, or blocked in your region), click "Report broken video". The organiser is notified by email. If an entry has no video at all, you can mark it "No Submission" so it's excluded from ranking and doesn't hold the section back.

When the window closes, your scores are frozen. You can still open the event to review them, but nothing can be changed. If the organiser extends the window, you are emailed the new deadline and can score again until then.