THE PROTÉGÉ EXPERIENCE
OVERVIEW
All 2025-2026 RADIX regional Protégés (Winners & Finalists) are invited to compete for the title of Elite Protégé 2026.
LEVEL 1: Multi-Genre Audition & Protégé Solo
In this level of competition, Protégés will perform their Protégé Solo on stage in front of a panel of judges, which will account for 25% of their total score. Protégés will also take part in a multi-genre audition, featuring jazz, ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, and tap, which will account for the remaining 75%. LEVEL 1 will determine the top 30 Protégés in each age division who will advance to THE CHALLENGE!
LEVEL 2: THE CHALLENGE
During THE CHALLENGE, the top 20 Protégés in each age level will perform in a live audition on the main stage, where their performance will account for 100% of their score. The live audition results will determine the top 8 Protégés in each level who will move on to THE FINAL CUT.
LEVEL 3: THE FINAL CUT
The top 8 Protégés in each level will take the stage one at a time for an interview led by the judges and perform an improvisation dance to a song they’ve never heard. The panel of judges, consisting of RADIX artists, will score the Protégés.
To determine the 4 Elite Protégés in each age division, the results will be a culmination of the entire Protégé Experience:
- 10% Protégé Solo Score
- 10% THE FINAL CUT Score (Interview & Improv)
- 40% Multi Genre Audition Score
- 40% THE CHALLENGE Score (Live On-Stage Audition)
The top 4 Elite Protégés will be announced during THE ONE Nationals GALA.
PLACEMENT AWARDS
| AGE DIVISION | PLACEMENT | PRIZE |
|---|---|---|
| Mini Elite Protégé | 1st Place | $200 |
| Mini Elite Protégé | 2nd Place | $150 |
| Mini Elite Protégé | 3rd Place | $100 |
| Mini Elite Protégé | 4th Place | $50 |
| Junior Elite Protégé | 1st Place | $400 |
| Junior Elite Protégé | 2nd Place | $300 |
| Junior Elite Protégé | 3rd Place | $200 |
| Junior Elite Protégé | 4th Place | $100 |
| Teen Elite Protégé | 1st Place | $800 |
| Teen Elite Protégé | 2nd Place | $600 |
| Teen Elite Protégé | 3rd Place | $400 |
| Teen Elite Protégé | 4th Place | $200 |
| Senior Elite Protégé | 1st Place | $1000 |
| Senior Elite Protégé | 2nd Place | $750 |
| Senior Elite Protégé | 3rd Place | $500 |
| Senior Elite Protégé | 4th Place | $250 |
ELITE PROTÉGÉ WINNERS ALSO RECEIVE
- The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place Elite Protégés will have the opportunity to perform a 1 min. 30 sec. exhibition style solo during the 2026-2027 RADIX regional season. (1st place Elite Protégé (Mini, Junior, Teen & Senior) will have the opportunity to perform 5 times throughout the 2025-2026 regional season.) (2nd, 3rd, 4th place Elite Protégé (Mini, Junior, Teen & Senior) will have the opportunity to perform 3 times throughout the 2025-2026 regional season.)
- The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place Elite Protégés will be invited to perform as special guests at The Challenge 2027.
- The 1st and 2nd place Elite Protégés will receive the Lifetime Workshop Scholarship to RADIX Regionals and THE ONE Nationals.
- The 3rd and 4th place Elite Protégés will receive a Tour Scholarship to RADIX Regionals 2026-2027.
- All Elite Protégés (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place) will be invited to participate in the Elite Protégé Experience in Los Angeles, Fall 2026 (exact dates TBD). This exclusive event will feature specialized classes and training designed to prepare dancers to assist, demonstrate, and perform at RADIX weekends. Additionally, the Elite Protégé Experience includes a professional photo shoot, seminars, and other exciting opportunities. Participation in the Elite Protégé Experience is free of charge; however, one parent or guardian is required to accompany each dancer. Please note that all travel and accommodation costs are the sole responsibility of the dancer's family.
- All Elite Protégés (1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th place), from each age division, will be invited to attend all RADIX regional tour dates for the 2026-2027 season, where they will represent RADIX as Elite Protégés.
- Free tuition to DancerPalooza Intensive, Summer 2027.
PROTÉGÉ FINALISTS
MINI, JUNIOR, TEEN & SENIOR Protégés must be in San Diego by 8:00 AM for Orientation on Saturday, June 13th.
All Protégé Finalists will be performing in THE ONE Nationals GALA on June 20th. These routines will be choreographed by THE ONE Nationals artists and/or Special Guest Choreographers.
A rehearsal schedule for Protégés will be given out during the Orientation on June 13th. Each dancer will need to bring the following items:
- Black and nude dance shorts
- Black and nude bra/half top
- Black leggings
- Black dress pants
- Black t-shirts
- White t-shirts
- Black tank tops
- White tank tops
- Black dress socks
- Black belts
- Knee pads
FINE PRINT
- Age Divisions: Senior (16-19), Teen (13-15), Junior (11-12), Mini (8-10)
- The Protégé Experience is a separate competition and title from The All Star Cast Experiences and ONE of ONE. A dancer may compete and win all.
- To participate in The Protégé Experience, you must be registered for the entire THE ONE Nationals Workshop.
- Participation, etiquette, and attendance in workshop classes, K.O.R.classes, FOCUS classes and rehearsals will be monitored throughout the event. Points may be deducted at the discretion of the Event Directors.
- PLEASE NOTE: Protégé Finalists who opt in for the “jacket only” option will only receive the Protégé jacket and not the custom Protégé goody-bag.
- The multi-genre audition combo will include Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop & Tap.
- The Protégé solo can be in any style and no longer than 2:45 minutes. The Protégé solo may NOT be the same solo a dancer competes in the Finals Competition, The All Star Experience, and ONE of ONE.
- Protégé Finalists must compete a “new” solo that has not previously competed for Protégé or Top Soloist during a past RADIX Nationals event.
- During THE CHALLENGE on June 18th, the Top 30 Protégés will be announced from each age division and narrowed down to the Top 20 to compete in The CHALLENGE. The Top 8 dancers from each age division will then be announced and move on to THE FINAL CUT.
- The Top 20 in each age division are required to be present at THE ONE Nationals GALA on June 20th for the official announcement of the 2026 Elite Protégé - Top 4 in each age division.
- Protégé Finalists do not need to have a registered teacher with them to compete in The Protégé Experience; however, they MUST get permission from the studio they qualified with at regionals. For example, a dancer is not able to qualify at regionals under "Miss Becky's School of Dance" and then register at THE ONE Nationals under "Susie’s Dance Centre".
- Independent dancers ARE NOT allowed to participate in The Protégé Experience.
- Elite Protégés (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place) are not allowed to compete for the Elite Protégé Title again until they are in the next age division AND must wait at least one year after winning.
- All Protégé Finalists are asked to provide a 2” x 2” headshot photo for the souvenir program. These photos must be uploaded during the online registration process on Dance360.com. Headshots are due Friday, May 23rd.
- Observers are not permitted to observe the Multi-Genre Audition. Registered Teachers and Studio Owners are permitted.
- Registered Observers, Teachers and Studio Owners are not permitted during any Closed Rehearsal.
- If attending THE ONE Nationals with their studio, a Protégé does not need to submit a separate Protégé registration. Studios can submit all their Protégé information online at the same time that they complete their studio's registration.
- THE ONE Nationals will most likely sell out! Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
- If you win the Elite Protégé title with your studio, you may not switch studios or go “independent” for one full year following the award. If you do, your Elite Protégé award and tour privileges will be revoked. RADIX strongly believes that a dancer’s studio training should never be interrupted or replaced by conventions or national titles.The only exceptions to this policy are:(1)If the studio where the title was earned is no longer in business, or (2) If the dancer has relocated out of the region where the studio is located at the time the title was won. In either case, written consent from the original studio must be submitted to the RADIX Director, confirming that the studio formally releases the title and scholarship due to one of the above conditions.
- Protégé Finalists can choose to perform in THE ONE Nationals GALA performance without competing in The Protégé Experience, but they will still be responsible for the full Protégé Experience registration fee.
- REMINDER: Everyone will need a ticket to THE ONE Nationals GALA. Protégés performing in THE GALA will also need to purchase tickets if they would like to watch THE GALA from the audience any time before or after they are on stage.
- Protégé Finalists must use a DIFFERENT solo if also competing for The All Star Experience, FINALS competition and ONE of ONE.
- ONE of ONE (Finals Competition) solos cannot be switched with a Protégé Experience solo within three (3) weeks of the event.
- There will be four (4) Elite Protégés per age division (Mini, Junior, Teen, Senior) ranked as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place. The Elite Protégé Titles are not gender specific.
- The Elite Protégés in each age division (Mini, Junior, Teen, Senior), ranked 1st through 4th, will receive their prize money earned at the 2026 THE ONE Nationals in San Diego by December 2026.
- Elite Protégé Alumni Lifetime Scholarship: Once you have graduated and are no longer competing at RADIX, your Lifetime Scholarship will go into effect and you will be considered an Elite Protégé Alumni. Lifetime Scholarships can only be activated for dancers 18+.
