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EVENT: AYA COLUMBUS - FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 1, 2026

CONVENTION LOCATION: THE PLAZA HOTEL COLUMBUS AT CAPITOL SQUARE, 75 EAST STATE STREET, COLUMBUS, OH (GOVERNORS, LEGISLATIVE AND CONGRESSIONAL BALLROOMS)

PARKING & VENUE ENTRANCE: 

Street parking is available surrounding the hotel and in adjacent parking garages listed below. Convention attendees have been directed to ask the front desk for assistance with parking options. 

When you enter the hotel, please ask to be directed to the Governor's Ballroom foyer to check in for the convention.

• Underground Parking Garage: Located off 3rd Street just past the Sheraton.
• Columbus Commons Underground Garage (191 S 3rd St): A nearby, often cheaper alternative.
• Ohio Statehouse Garage: Located on State Street or 3rd Street, offering 24/7 security.
• Valet: Available through the hotel. 
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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 request your check in time from your studio or company director.

Once you have your registration materials, please enter any open ballroom to assist your dancers with putting on their scholarship numbers and wristbands. 

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 9:35 AM. Wristband sales and pick up will pause at 10:15 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. Please note, bands are not required to watch the Gala Competition or scholarship awards.

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 convention begins with our welcome ceremony in the main ballroom. 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 creative 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! 

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: 

The AYA COLUMBUS  convention schedule will feature specific classes  for scholarship consideration. During these classes, dancers will have the opportunity to earn scholarships for up to 17 competition and convention 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 outside of these observed classes. Dancers should be prepared to learn up to two combinations and to improv in their preferred style of dance during the audition process. 

Petite level dancers are not required to participate in the scholarship audition class. All petite dancers will be observed in their regular classes for scholarship consideration. 

SCHOLARSHIPS:

Scholarship winners will be announced during the afternoon scholarship ceremony on Sunday at 1:30 PM. If a dancer 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 COLUMBUS Concert Gala will be on Saturday evening in the GOVERNOR'S BALLROOM. Dressing rooms will open 40-45 minutes prior to the Gala and doors to be seated 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 changes to Gala Competition entries should be entered into Dance Comp Genie by February 18, 2026.

Any music for the Gala may be uploaded via Dance Comp Genie or emailed by February 21, 2026 to activateyourartistry@gmail.com. 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, the 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 main stage as well as the step and repeat banner area will be open for 10 minutes following the Gala for photos. 

Score sheets for Gala competitors will be sent via email no later than 72 hours following the convention weekend. 

FACULTY Q & A: 

Join our faculty 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 online on February 18, 2026. Please visit the AYA COLUMBUS page of our website to access a pdf copy of the schedule once it has been made available. 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 February 21, 2026. 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 45 minutes - 1 hour for lunch during each convention day and no less than 45 minutes between classes and the Gala competition for dinner and costume changing. 

The Plaza hotel on-site restaurant and Starbucks will be open during varying times.

Please view the following link for local fare and restaurant options. LOCAL RESTAURANT LIST

MERCHANDISE BOOTH:

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

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 Duffel bags and Large luggage bags are not permitted in the ballrooms

Water Bottle

Dance Shoes for Every Style

Change Of Clothes or costume 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.