How do Highland Dance Cards Work?
Dancer registration cards are the key to unlocking the world of competitive Highland dance. When you apply for your dance card, you open the door for countless experiences and opportunities!
Whether it’s your first time applying for a dance card, or your tenth year in a row, it’s important to review how the application process works. For the provincial volunteer registrars who handle registrations, receiving incomplete applications is a frustrating experience.
Situate Yourself in the World of Highland Dance
If you haven’t checked out our Highland Dancer Blog before, we highly recommend catching up on some of our other introductory posts to give you some key context on dance cards.
Recommended Reading
How to Apply for a Dance Card
The process of applying for a dance card can be confusing at first. That’s why we’ve put together a guide to make life easier as you navigate the process!
Read the guide below, or watch it in video form below!
Note that this video and the text explanation below detail the process specifically for New Brunswick dancers. The application processes in different provinces may have some slight differences (which we attempt to note throughout), so remember to be diligent.
The Application Process
Why Dance Cards?
Any dancer who wishes to participate in competitions needs a dance card to register and to check in when you get to the competition. The unique card number and photo identification allow you to participate in RSOBHD-sanctioned events.
In addition to competitive dancers, all certified Highland instructors do a similar application process each year to be in good standing with ScotDance Canada and the Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dance (RSOBHD). You’ll notice that on your dancer application, there’s a spot where teachers must input their own registration number. This ensures that all registered dancers are working with a qualified instructor in good standing with the governing body.
There are several variations on dance card applications: new dancers, change of status, lost cards, annual renewals, and professional dancer applications. We’ll go through how each works!
Example: The 2023 New Brunswick Dancer Registration Form. Forms vary from province to province, and from year to year, so always be sure to seek out the latest form!
New Dancer Registration
- Access a dancer registration form, and print it.
These are typically sent out to dancers by their teachers, or may be accessible through your provincial affiliate’s website/social media.
2. Fill in your personal information (name, address, date of birth, phone number, etc.). If this is your first time registering for a dance card, the field “Current RSOBHD Registration Number” can be left blank.
3. For the Teacher’s section of the application, you can fill in your instructor’s name and any of the other fields you know. At our studio, standard practice is for instructors to only fill in the remaining fields and sign the form when dancers bring in all of the application components (more on these below). This may be different at your dance school!
4. The Annual Registration Fee may differ for each province, so review your application carefully to ensure you pay the correct amount. In the above photo of the NB 2023 application, you’ll see the fee displayed in blue. Note that there is a $20 fee for cheques that bounce.
5. The next section of the application is composed of several check boxes. If you’ve never had a dance card before, check off “New Registration” in the first row of boxes.
In the next rows of boxes, new dancers will either be checking the “Primary” box (dancers aged 4, 5, or 6), or “Beginner” (dancers over 7).
For new registrations, ignore the boxes “Professional Dance Membership #”, and “Lost Card”. Those can be left blank.
The New Brunswick application includes a check box for the option to sign up for newsletters which include information on upcoming events. We highly recommend opting in to get the first word from ScotDance NB!
Finally, you must check off the boxes ensuring that both dancer and parent have read the RSOBHD Code of Ethics.
6. Finally, fill in the dancer’s name in the blank at the bottom of the application, and sign the form. Leave the “For Office Use Only” section blank.
7. You’ll notice that the following pages of the registration package are for informational purposes only, and should not be mailed to the registrar. Here, you’ll find several helpful items, including the RSOBHD Code of Ethics, and a checklist to help you ensure that you include all of the necessary components in your application. For new dancers, this includes:
- A photocopy of the dancer’s birth certificate.
- A picture of the dancer (3 X4 cm) or (1 ½ X 1 ¼ in.). Make sure that your photo complies to these measurements! The photo should be in colour, and may be a passport photo, a school photo, or any other photo that clearly shows the dancer’s face.
- Cheque or Money Order for the required amount found on page one of the application. In New Brunswick, cash, E-Transfer, online payments, etc. are not accepted. If your province does accept forms of payment outside of cheque and money order, the details will be on your application.
- Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope. This allows the registrar to send you the dance card – so don’t forget it!
Dance cards have a standard two week processing time. Make sure that you time your application correctly if you’re looking to start competing right away!
One thing for Saorsa Studio dancers to note is that each year in January, we do one big application collection, where dancers may drop their completed applications off to their instructors, and all of the studio’s applications will be mailed in together.
If you’re completing an application outside of that January window, you’ll mail the application to the registrar yourself.
Annual Renewals
If you already have a dance card and you’re looking to renew, this section is for you. The key thing to remember is that your dance card must have a sticker on it with that year listed in order to be valid.
The renewal process for Pre-Premier and Premier dancers is slightly different, so read carefully. If you already have a green card (Primary), a blue card (Beginner), a yellow card (Novice), a pink card (Intermediate), or a white card (Premier) this is for you!
Process for Pre-Premier and Premier Renewals
- Steps 1-4 for renewals is the same as for new dancers (listed above), with one key difference: be sure to fill in your info for the box “Current RSOBHD Registration Number” with the number on your old card.
- Under the section with the checkboxes, check off “Annual Renewal”.
Then, check off the category you are registering for.
Next, you either leave the “Lost Card” blank, or check it if you lost your card. This is associated with a $10 fee.
Again, we highly recommend opting into the SDNB promotional newsletter box! You’ll get the first word for upcoming competitions, workshops, and other events.
Finally, be sure to read and check off that parent and dancer have read the RSOBHD Code of Ethics. - Fill in the dancer’s name in the blank at the bottom of the application, and sign the form. Leave the “For Office Use Only” section blank.
- You’ll notice that the following pages of the registration package are for informational purposes only, and should not be mailed to the registrar. Here, you’ll find several helpful items, including the RSOBHD Code of Ethics, and a checklist to help you ensure that you include all of the necessary components in your application. Collect each of the materials on the registration checklist (found in the application package). For Annual Renewals:
- Return your previous RSOBHD dancer registration card.
- Picture (3 X4cm) or (1½ X 1¼ in.). Unless you’re doing a Change of Status (more on this later), this is for Premier Dancers Only!
- Cheque or Money Order for the amount listed on your registration package. In New Brunswick, cash, E-Transfer, online payments, etc. are not accepted. If your province does accept forms of payment outside of cheque and money order, the details will be on your application.
- Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope. This allows the registrar to send you the dance card – so don’t forget it!
5. Finally, fill in the dancer’s name in the blank at the bottom of the application, and sign the form. Leave the “For Office Use Only” section blank.
One thing for Saorsa Studio dancers to note is that each year in January, we do one big application collection, where dancers may drop their completed applications off to their instructors, and all of the studio’s applications will be mailed in together.
If you’re completing an application outside of that January window, you’ll mail the application to the registrar yourself.
Dance cards have a standard two week processing time. Make sure that you time your application correctly if you’re looking to start competing right away!
Annual Renewal for Professional Dancer
A professional dancer is someone who is a certified Highland instructor while also competing. There are a few key distinctions between this and a regular annual renewal:
Follow the same steps as the Premier or Pre-Premier (depending on your competitive status) Annual Renewal (found above). In addition to the checklist items for annual renewals, include a copy of the email confirming your professional membership and your membership number.
For example, if you took your exam with the SDTA, you’ll have received an email confirming your membership and telling you your SDTA membership number. Include a copy of that email alongside your previous dance card, picture (Premier dancers only), and your self-addressed envelope.
Your provincial registrar will keep track of your professional dancer registration and your ScotDance Canada annual professional registration.
Change of Status
If you’re in Primary, Beginner, Novice, or Intermediate, and it’s time to move up to the next category, this section is for you.
To learn about how dancers move through the categories, read up on our previous posts!
- Steps 1-4 for renewals is the same as for new dancers (listed above), with one key difference: be sure to fill in your info for the box “Current RSOBHD Registration Number” with the number on your old card.
- Under the section with the checkboxes, check off “Change of Status”.
Then, check off the category you are moving into. If you’re a Primary dancer who is moving up into Beginner, check off Beginner.
Next, you either leave the “Lost Card” blank, or check it if you lost your card. This is associated with a $10 fee.
Again, we highly recommend opting into the SDNB promotional newsletter box! You’ll get the first word for upcoming competitions, workshops, and other events.
Finally, be sure to read and check off that parent and dancer have read the RSOBHD Code of Ethics. - You’ll notice that the following pages of the registration package are for informational purposes only, and should not be mailed to the registrar. Here, you’ll find several helpful items, including the RSOBHD Code of Ethics, and a checklist to help you ensure that you include all of the necessary components in your application. Collect each of the materials on the registration checklist (found in the application package). For Change of Status:
– Return your previous RSOBHD dancer registration card.
– Picture (3 X4cm) or (1½ X 1¼ in.). Make sure that your photo complies to these measurements! The photo should be in colour, and may be a passport photo, a school photo, or any other photo that clearly shows the dancer’s face.
– If you’re doing a Change of Status within the same year that you’ve already paid, you don’t need to pay. If you’re doing a change of status and an annual renewal at the same time, you do need to pay. For example, if in January 2023, I filled in an annual renewal as a Beginner dancer, and by June 2023, I had all of my stamps and wanted to move up to Novice. If I filled in a Change of Status in June, I wouldn’t pay again.
– Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope. This allows the registrar to send you the dance card – so don’t forget it!
– Return temporary card (if applicable). Sometimes, if you receive your final stamp at a competition, the competition organizer will issue you a temporary card that can be used at competitions until you get your new one. The temporary card stands in for the next category up, so if you finish Beginner and receive a temporary card, any stamps you get on that card will count toward your Novice stamps. If you received one, it should be returned in your application. That way, the registrar can transfer your temporary card stamps to your new card. - Finally, fill in the dancer’s name in the blank at the bottom of the application, and sign the form. Leave the “For Office Use Only” section blank.
All of the checklist items, along with your completed application should be mailed (not in that self-addressed envelope; get another one!) to the registrar’s address found on the application. Again, at our dance studio, you should bring your application package to your instructor, who will sign it after ensuring it is complete. Then, you can send it to the registrar!
One thing for Saorsa Studio dancers to note is that each year in January, we do one big application collection, where dancers may drop their completed applications off to their instructors, and all of the studio’s applications will be mailed in together.
If you’re completing an application outside of that January window, you’ll mail the application to the registrar yourself.
Dance cards have a standard two week processing time. Make sure that you time your application correctly if you’re looking to start competing right away!
Lost Cards
If you ever misplace your dance card, it’s important to file a Lost Card application, as dance cards are essential for competitions.
- Steps 1-4 for renewals is the same as for new dancers (listed above).
- Under the section with the checkboxes, check off “Lost Card “.
Then, check off the category you lost your card in.
Check off “Lost Card”. Note that this is associated with a $10 fee.
Again, we highly recommend opting into the SDNB promotional newsletter box! You’ll get the first word for upcoming competitions, workshops, and other events.
Finally, be sure to read and check off that parent and dancer have read the RSOBHD Code of Ethics. - You’ll notice that the following pages of the registration package are for informational purposes only, and should not be mailed to the registrar. Here, you’ll find several helpful items, including the RSOBHD Code of Ethics, and a checklist to help you ensure that you include all of the necessary components in your application. Collect each of the materials on the registration checklist (found in the application package). For Lost Cards:
- Picture (3 X4cm) or (1½ X 1¼ in.). Make sure that your photo complies to these measurements! The photo should be in colour, and may be a passport photo, a school photo, or any other photo that clearly shows the dancer’s face.
- Cheque or Money Order for $10. In New Brunswick, cash, E-Transfer, online payments, etc. are not accepted. If your province does accept forms of payment outside of cheque and money order, the details will be on your application.
- Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope. This allows the registrar to send you the dance card – so don’t forget it!
Finally, fill in the dancer’s name in the blank at the bottom of the application, and sign the form. Leave the “For Office Use Only” section blank.
All of the checklist items, along with your completed application should be mailed (not in that self-addressed envelope; get another one!) to the registrar’s address found on the application. Again, at our dance studio, you should bring your application package to your instructor, who will sign it after ensuring it is complete. Then, you can send it to the registrar!
And That's A Wrap!
If you have questions about the dancer registration process, your best resource is your instructor! All instructors not only have to do their own professional or professional dancer applications, but they’ve likely completed years and years’ worth of dancer registration applications themselves.
Happy dancing!💖
