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EVENT: AYA CHICAGO - November 1-2, 2025

CONVENTION LOCATION: PRISCO CENTER, 150 W Illinois Ave. Aurora, IL (Ballrooms 102,103 and 104)

PARKING & VENUE ENTRANCE: Parking at the venue is free in the parking lot and is also available across the street from the venue. 

Please enter the venue through the SOUTH door and immediately turn left. Follow the signs to the Registration Check In area. 

REGISTRATION AND CHECK IN: In an effort to keep the foyer area secure and to prevent any significant wait times for registration packet pick up, check in times have been arranged for all studios and independent dancers. Please reference your registration email for your specific check in time.

PARENT OBSERVER BANDS: Parent observer bands that were ordered through a studio account will be in the studio's welcome packet and parents are advised to retrieve their band from their studio director. 

Parent observer bands that were ordered individually via the AYA website will be available for pick up at Registration starting at 10:30 AM. Wristband sales and pick up will pause at 10:40 AM and commence again at 11:00 AM after the Welcome Ceremony. 

Parent bands permit the bearer to observe all panels, convention classes and to record their dancer during class. The welcome ceremony and scholarship auditions are closed to parent observers and we thank you in advance for your cooperation. Please note, bands are not required to watch the Gala Competition on Saturday evening or closing ceremony on Sunday afternoon. 

IN YOUR WELCOME PACKET: In each welcome packet you will find the following: Dancer audition numbers, dancer wristbands color coded by level, A copy of your roster, Three complimentary Director/Teacher lanyards plus any additional ordered teacher lanyards, copy of the convention schedule, studio purchased parent bands and information from our award sponsors. 

WELCOME CEREMONY: Each AYA weekend begins with our welcome ceremony at the main stage. The ceremony is for registered dancers and their Teachers/Directors only. The Ceremony will feature a performance by our faculty and tribe, convention announcements and will conclude with the AYA Roll Call! This is a fun moment for each group to share a fun chant, yell or energetic 8 count to represent their studio and get the energy up for an awesome weekend of dance. Plan your chant in advance or make it up on the spot. We are so excited to celebrate your studio at the Welcome Ceremony! 

AUDITION CLASS: AYA CHICAGO I will feature a scholarship audition class for Pre Pro and Professional levels. Primary and Petite dancers are not required to participate in auditions and will be evaluated during class for any opportunities specific to their age and level. During scholarship auditions, dancers will have the opportunity to earn scholarships for up to 15 companies as well as invitations to the AYA Summer Intensive and Tribe Assistant Auditions. Dancers will still be eligible for AYA Scholarships in their regular convention classes if they opt to not participate in the audition class. 

Dancers should expect to learn up to two audition combinations and be prepared to improv in their preferred style for the audition. 

SCHOLARSHIPS: Scholarship winners will be announced during the closing show on Sunday 11/2. If a dancer is attending on Saturday only and will not be present for the closing ceremony, their scholarship will be sent to the email address used at the time of registration no less than one week following the event. 

CONCERT GALA COMPETITION: The AYA CHICAGO I Concert Gala will be on Saturday evening on the mainstage. Dressing rooms will open 40-45 minutes prior to the Gala and doors will open for the competition 10 minutes prior. Seating is available on a first come basis. The first row of labeled chairs are reserved for Directors and Teachers only. Dancers are welcome to sit on the floor but we kindly request that they appropriately distance themselves from the judges table. 

Any music for the Gala may be submitted via email by October 15th to activateyourartistry@gmail.com or uploaded via Dance Comp Genie. Please have your routine title in the file name for easy reference. 

The Gala will feature Overall awards, Artistic Component Awards, Faculty Choice Awards and The Absolute Artist, our highest award given at Activate Your Artistry.

Each placement in the Gala will receive a ribbon, banner or trophy along with a cash prize, award credit and/or scholarship opportunity. 

The mainstage as well as the step and repeat banner area will be open for 10 minutes following the Gala for photos. 

FACULTY Q & A: Join our faculty on Sunday morning for an open question and answer panel where they will discuss the dance industry, teaching, dance in higher education, choreography, personal dance experiences and more. The panel is open to all dancers, parents and teachers. Seating is first come, first served for the panel. 

CONVENTION SCHEDULES: The convention class schedule will be posted and available for download on October 15, 2025. Please visit the AYA CHICAGO I page of our website to access a pdf copy of the schedule. Please note, schedules are subject to change at the discretion of Activate Your Artistry. The Concert Gala schedule will be posted and available for download on October 22nd, 2025. Competing dancers and studios will be sent a draft competition schedule to proofread a few days prior to the final schedule being released online. 

LUNCH AND DINNER BREAKS:Dancers will have no less than 30 minutes for lunch during each convention day and no less than 45 minutes between classes and the Gala competition for dinner and costume changing. 

Please note, The Prisco Center may provide a lunch room for dancers to eat during their break in the event that ballrooms are occupied during the lunch break. We will reach out with any updates in regards to what areas the dancers will have access to on lunch breaks.

MERCHANDISE BOOTH: AYA is proud to offer ACTIVATED merch for purchase at each of our events. Please note that the merchandise booth will close at 12:30 PM on Sunday November 1st. Dancers who have items on hold or who would like to purchase attire are encouraged to do so prior to the 12:30 closing. 

DANCER CHECKLIST:
We know convention weekends can be hectic so we have assembled a quick checklist of things your dancer(s) might want to consider bringing with them for the weekend:

Dance Bag - Dream Duffels and Large luggages not permitted in the ballrooms
Water Bottle
Dance Shoes for Every Style
Change Of Clothes for the Gala
Any costume pieces if performing
Light Snacks
Sanity Items
Pen and Notebook for Q&A, Workshops and Improv class
Emergency Items - Hair ties, any sports wraps or braces they normally wear for technique class to prevent injury, extra face mask, phone charger, any medications they normally take during a full day, bobby pins

Activate Your Artistry will be providing water stations, first aid stations, sanitizing stations in each ballroom, dressing room spaces for gala competitors and any reasonable accommodation sent to our team in advance of the event. 

AYA'S POLICY ON RESPECT & NON-DISCRIMINATION:

Activate Your Artistry is dedicated to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind based on race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, status, or orientation. We are committed to celebrating the diversity of our dance community and ensuring all participants feel safe and respected while in attendance. By registering for Activate Your Artistry, all attendees, staff, and volunteers agree to abide by our anti-harassment and non-discrimination policy. Activate Your Artistry reserves the right to remove any participant who engages in discriminatory or harassing behavior toward others. Such actions may include, but are not limited to: verbal abuse, intimidation, unwelcome comments, or any other behavior that creates a hostile or unsafe environment for other participants. Violators may be expelled from the event without a refund.