Each category is judged by 5 judges.
Judges evaluate each routine using points from 1 - worst to 10 - best in the following parameters:
- TECHNIQUE (balance, poise, smoothness of movement, agility, body control, body stretch, body strength, power, use of shape and lines)
- MUSIC, RHYTHM (musical timing, musical phrasing, appropriate music, diversity of rhythm)
- INTERPRETATION (presentation, personality, emotional execution, energy, charisma, self-assuredness, interaction between dancers)
- CHOREOGRAPHY (creativity, originality, use of space/dimensions/levels, theatrical and visual effects, synchronization)
- OVERALL IMPRESSION (appropriate costume and make up, grooming, ability to capture the audience, crowd appearance, would you like to see it again)
The final result is the arithmetic mean of the scores that have been assigned by all the judges, where the best and worst scores for each evaluated parameter have been discarded.
The winner in each category is the routine that has been evaluated with the highest number of points. If two or more routines reach the same number of points, the winner is the routine that has the highest number of points in the technique parameter. If it is not possible to determine the winner even after that, the deciding factor become the highest number of points in parameter music, rhythm, then interpretation, choreography and lastly also overall impresion. If after the mentioned order of parameters it is still not possible to determine a winner, best routines share the first place.
Judges can also provide comments for each routine. Comments are anonymously presented at FestIS web application after each festival. Dance club/school can see only comments for their routines.
EXCEPTIONS
HIP HOP OPEN SOLO BATTLE: The competitors dance to the music of the Organizer’s choice. In the Preliminary rounds dancers dance in groups, formed in a circle, and take turns dancing in the middle of the circle. Judges then select top 16 dancers and award them cards that guarantee the dancers qualify for one on one battles. The Preliminary rounds are complete when Judges award all 16 cards. After the completion of Preliminary rounds, the chosen 16 dancers will be randomly paired together for one on one battles. Each dancer in the pair will have two rounds - lasting a maximum of 1 minute each - to dance, the dancer starting both rounds is randomly selected at the beginning of the battle. The Competition starts with eighth-finals. In semi-finals the remaining 2 pairs of dancers compete in one on one battles. The losers of semi-finals then compete against each other in a one on one battle for the 3rd place and the winners of semi-finals compete against each other in a one on one battle for the 1st place.