Stepping Out For Education 2020, Virtual Edition Rules & Regulations

The Polk Education Foundation (PEF) invites you to be part of our
2020 Stepping Out for Education – Virtual Community Edition!


Due to the pandemic, we are not able to solicit “community members” to have dance lessons and who would perform live in front of a crowd later this year.  However, we can solicit YOU, to be a part of our first virtual competition!  Rules and regulations are below, but a few basic components are that:

  1. You like to dance and have fun!
  2. You’d be willing to make a video showing your / your team’s dance moves!
  3. You’d be willing to solicit dollar votes for your video to support the Polk Education Foundation (PEF) and possibly win the “People’s Choice Award!

If you can say yes to those three things, then keep reading, we want to see you in 2020’s Stepping Out for Education – Virtual Community Edition!

GENERAL RULES FOR PARTICIPATION

Criteria for making videos and participating:

  1. Any type of dance can be done, make your own choreography or “borrow” some
  2. Videos are meant to be fun and casual, so can be taped in your home, outdoors, in a studio – wherever!
  3. Videos must be 30 seconds to 1 minute in length – no longer.
  4. Any type of music may be used, however no profanity at all can be in the music used for your video.
  5. Appropriate clothing must be worn and costumes are not required
  6. Props are not necessary, but can be used.
  7. No music can be used, clothing worn, or gestures shown that are related to, or promote, drugs, alcohol, violence, racial or political views.
  8. The PEF retains the right to refuse any submission.
  • Contestants may participate only once in a category, but, can participate in multiple categories.  The categories are:
    • Individuals
    • Couples
    • Groups (designed for teams, businesses, civic groups etc.)
    • Families
    • Youth grades kindergarten – 5th
    • Youth grades 6th – 12th
    • Cupid Shuffle – all participants use the same music and same choreography (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJH6Ce588Mc for choreography if you are not familiar) and put your own spin and personality on the performance.  Creativity will count in judging!
  • We will accept most common desktop and mobile device video file types, see  
    directions in timeline below for submission details.
  • Dance Competition Registration Forms (found on the last page of this package) must be signed by everyone included in the video, for video to be posted for public consumption as part of the competition.
  • Participants in this contest are doing so at their own risk, the PEF cannot be responsible for any injury caused by a dance related activity for this contest.
  • Videos submitted become property of the PEF.  The videos or any pictures from the video may be used for PEF marketing or PR purposes, outside the competition.
  • “Votes” cost one dollar.  You will direct friends, family, colleagues, etc. to the Stepping Out for Education page to vote for you with as many votes as they like!  All funds raised support the programs and services of the PEF!  Learn about PEF here.
  • While soliciting votes, participants are asked not to take cash, please direct those voting for you to send checks, with your name in the memo line, made to the Polk Education Foundation, at 1530 Shumate Drive, Bartow, FL 33830.  Alternatively, they can go online and vote at polkeducationfoundaiton.org on the Stepping Out for Education page (see timeline below for further details).
  • One winner will be selected per category, and, the person / team that raises the most money will also be recognized.

Timeline with detailed directions

  1. Sept. 21 – Oct. 4  Awareness Campaign, public starts thinking about how they can participate.
  2. Oct. 5 – Nov. 8  Site open for dance video submissions. Contestants need to complete the online Dance Competition Registration form based on the category they select. Participants under the age of 18 are required to complete and sign the Dance Competition Consent Form and return it to evon.richards@polk-fl.net.
  3. Then, upload their dance video to steppingoutforeducationpolk.com.  An email will be sent back letting each submission know if they have been approved to be a part of the contest so you can start fundraising!
  4. Once approved, contestants would start soliciting $1 votes for their video, having them ready to vote once the site opens.  Participants can even solicit business sponsors who can have their logo added to the dance site, and, on the PEF website after the event (see sponsor sheet enclosed in this package). 
  5. Nov. 16 – Dec. 4  Site open for judging by the public.  Supporters can go to steppingoutforeducationpolk.com to use as many $1 votes as they want to vote for their favorite video.  The video that receives the most $1 votes will be the People’s Choice Award winner!
    All funds go to support programs and services of the Polk Education Foundation.  Learn more at polkeducationfoundation.org.
  6. At the same time off-line, a committee of judges will be working to select a dance video winner in each category.
  7. The week of Dec. 7, a Facebook Live event will be held to announce the People’s Choice Award winner and the winners of each category!

2020 Stepping Out for Education – Virtual Event
Sponsor levels

$10,000 Platinum

  • Company representative to act as emcee at Facebook live event where all winners are announced (will be taped for posting later as well)
  • Noted on voting site as sponsor of People’s Choice Award, will make that winning announcement as well
  • Logo on competition directions page
  • Logo on video voting page
  • Noted for one year as event sponsor on PEF’s Stepping Out webpage
  • Social media recognition as event top level sponsor prior to and after event
  • Recognition on PEF marque

$5,000 Gold

  • Company representative to announce winner in categories at Facebook live awards event (will be taped for posting later as well)
  • Noted on voting site as sponsor of at least one of the 7 categories of the competition
  • Logo on competition directions page
  • Logo on video voting page
  • Noted for one year as event sponsor on PEF’s Stepping Out webpage
  • Social media recognition as event sponsor prior and after event
  • Recognition on PEF marque

$2,500 Silver

  • If categories from above remain, may be noted on voting site as co-sponsor of one of the 7 categories of the competition
  • Logo on competition directions page
  • Logo on video voting page
  • Noted for one year as event sponsor on PEF’s Stepping Out webpage
  • Social media recognition as event sponsor after event
  • Recognition on PEF marque

$1,000 Bronze

  • Company name on competition directions page
  • Company name on video voting page
  • Noted for one year as event sponsor on PEF’s Stepping Out webpage
  • Social media recognition as event sponsor after event

Please contact the Polk Education Foundation at 863-534-0519 if you have any questions, or,
would like to support our programs and services!
polkeducationfoundation.org