Make Your Mark 2012: FAQ!
Let the dancing begin! On June 29th, 2012, the Make Your Mark: Shake It Up Dance Off will begin accepting online video auditions for its 2012 competition.
Promotional image for Disney Channel's Make Your Mark: Shake It Up Dance Off, image copyright Disney
Last year’s Make Your Mark inspired thousands of aspiring dancers to upload more than 28,000 audition videos. Disney Channel fans invited to watch the videos online and vote for their favorite dancers. Six semi-finalists were selected to compete in a televised event where the competitors were watched – and voted for – by millions. The four talented dancers of AKsquared were declared the winners and were featured as spotlight dancers on an episode of Disney Channel’s Shake It Up.
Make Your Mark: Shake It Up Dance Off – 2012 FAQ Please visit the official Make Your Mark website for more information. Be sure to read the competition’s DOs and DON’Ts before submitting an audition video. Parents and kids who want to read the Audition Procedures, here they are!
When can I submit my audition video?
You can submit your 45-second audition video beginning on JUNE 29th, 2012. The last day that videos will be accepted is AUGUST 6th, 2012. So you have FIVE WEEKS to submit!I’m 8 years old. Can I make a video?
Audition videos will be accepted from any dancers who are between 8 and 16 years old, with your parent’s permission. So, YES! If you’re 8 years old, you can submit an audition. If you’re 16, you can submit one too! Just make sure your parents say it’s okay.Can I dance to any music that I want?
Unfortunately, NO. The only songs that you can dance to are the official 30-second Shake It Up songs featured on the Make Your Mark website. They are “TTYLXOX” by Bella Thorne, “Something to Dance For” by Zendaya, “Whodunit” by Adam Hicks and CoCo Jones, and “Don’t Push Me” by CoCo Jones. If your video features any other music, it will NOT be accepted.Click here to download the official songs! The songs are all 30-seconds long and are in an mp3 format which should play on iTunes, Windows Media Player, and other audio players.
I don’t want to audition by myself. Can I dance with my friends?
Audition videos will be accepted that feature one dancer as a solo performer or up to FIVE dancers as a team. If you don’t want to dance alone, you can dance with one, two, three, or four of your friends. But NO MORE THAN FIVE dancers total! All dancers must meet the age requirements (no younger than 8, and no older than 16) and have permission from their parents.How long should my video be?
Your audition video should be between 30- and 45-seconds long. The songs are 30 seconds long, so you can use the other 15 seconds to introduce yourself and the other dancers on your team. Do NOT make a video that is more than 45 seconds long! Audition videos that are too long will not be accepted.What can I use to record my audition video?
Whatever you have that can shoot video! You can use a video camera, web camera, or phone. Make sure you use plenty of lighting and focus on the dancing – you won’t win if no one can see your moves!How many dancers will be chosen as semi-finalists?
This year, Disney Channel Producers will be selecting UP TO 10 diverse dancers and dance groups. They may select fewer than 10 dance acts.I live in Canada. Can I submit an audition video?
Unfortunately, NO. To participate in Make Your Mark, you must be a legal resident and physically residing in one of the 50 states of America or the District of Columbia.I have a lot of dance moves to show off. Can I submit more than one video?
YES! You can submit up to 20 (twenty!) audition videos, but each video must be original and feature unique choreography. Don’t upload the same video more than once, and don’t repeat all of the same dance moves.OTHER RULES: 1.) If you want to introduce yourself, DO NOT say your last name, your home town, your address, your phone number, or the name of your school. Protect your privacy and say your first name(s) and home state ONLY!
2.) DO NOT wear clothing that has any logos, and make sure your audition video doesn’t feature any brand names or images that you didn’t make yourself.
3.) DON’T use fancy editing or camera angles that distract from the dancing. Let the talent speak for itself! Press record, and show off your moves.
can you guys please vote for me lexy i think so because last year it was by the time halloween was comin up so i think so and i will vote for you lexy
hello, i can’t make a video because it has an erro on that page
Hi when the semi finalists are announced September 14 and you fly to California is the trip going to be during the week while we are in school?. just curious
Hi, I tried to upload a video and it said it would send a verification email and I have my account, I have received an email to verify my account so I know the email is correct. It has been a few days since I sent the video. Is it ok if I try to send in the same video again. My group really wants to win but I can’t get it to upload
PLEASE HELP!!
hi disney blogger how do u kno u are one of the 6 finalist
how do you know you are one of the 6 finalist
i just uploaded my video and i cant see it on the website
i can’t seem to upload my video . i know how to upolad it but it just doesnt work. i need help ASAP! thank you
Hi Dede,
I believe that if the semi-finalists live more than 250 miles away from Los Angeles, Make Your Mark will cover the cost of the transportation (they will buy the plane ticket for you). Disney hasn’t updated the language for this year’s Audition Procedures, but here’s what it says about last year’s competition:
TRAVEL AND LODGING: Organizer will provide travel arrangements for a trip for each Dancer plus one (1) Parent per Dancer (“Group”) to the Los Angeles, California (the “City”) at Organizer-selected time to be determined but currently scheduled for September or October, 2011 consisting of the following elements for the Group (“Trip”): [1] Organizer-selected lodging accommodations of a size appropriate for the Group; [2] ground transportation for activities related to the TV Dance-Off Contest and Shake it Up; [3] if Finalist Submitter resides more than two hundred fifty (250) miles from the City, round-trip coach air transportation on a Organizer-selected carrier between a Organizer-selected major metropolitan airport near Finalist’s residence (“Airport of Origin”) and a Organizer-selected major airport in or near the City, and [4] airport/hotel transfers. All expenses not specifically mentioned herein are not included and are solely the Finalist’s responsibility, including but not limited to: transportation to the City if a Finalist Submitter resides two hundred fifty (250) miles or less from the City, round trip transportation between the Finalist’s residence and any airport of origin, beverages, fax, food, gratuities and tips, insurance, laundry service, merchandise, parking, room service, service charges, souvenirs and telephone calls. Airline carrier and hotel regulations and conditions apply. Travel and lodging are subject to availability, certain restrictions, blackout dates and Organizer’s selection of travel dates. The Group must travel together on the same itinerary; and a Minor may not participate in the Trip unless accompanied by his/her Parent as a member of the Group. As a condition of eligibility, all members of the Group will be required to execute and return a Release of Liability prior to ticketing. All members of the Group are solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary travel documents (valid photo I.D., etc.) before departure.
The Audition Procedures can be viewed here: http://makeyourmark.disney.go.com/get-started
when they say fly to las vegas do we have to buy our own ticket or disney will buy it for us?
Hi my name is Sydney and i really love to dance without danceing its like no breathing……. Ive had lots of dance experience 6 days a week for at least 4 hours to 5 hours please vote for me…….PLEASE and also i take jazz tap ballet ballroom and of course hip hop:)THANK YOU!!!!!I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<3<3<3and i have 1 more question…..i submited my audition video but i havent got the e-mail telling me that its online????so what should i do?????<3
how do i see my viedo i cant find it on the website because i want to know if i made it
Hi Disney,
Yes, you need to create an online account with Disney.com to upload your audition video. It’s totally free to sign up, you just need an email address that can be verified.
Dalis,
Those shirts should be fine.
We want to wear a shirt that says lol, omg, and BFF Is that ok???
do i need a disney acount to send a video?
Do I need a disney accont to send a video?
can we use some of shake it up s moves and add a twist in the video??
Hi Miracle,
You can use the same song in more than one audition videos as long as your choreography is unique in each video.
Hi Kenia,
The semi-finalists will be announced on September 14th.
how long will it take to tell me if i made it or not?
If I do one or more video can I do the same song or it has to be different
Hi Lexy,
Wearing a shirt with words on it is fine, but you should avoid wearing clothes with prominent brand logos. “Hi”/”Bye” shouldn’t be a problem!
i dont now how to dance
i want to do it but i dont now how to dance.
hi i have a question about what to wear. can i wear a shirt that says hi on the front and bye on the back? or will my video be automatically rejected?
hey im very excited and i love to dance but i have a question about what to wear. will my video be rejected if it has words on it like hi on the front and bye on the back?
Hi Majestic,
You need to go to the official Make Your Mark website (http://makeyourmark.disney.go.com/) to sign up. If you don’t already have a Disney.com account, you will need to set one up. It doesn’t cost anything – you will just need to sign up with your name, age, email address, and you will need to make a password. Here’s the sign in link: http://makeyourmark.disney.go.com/disneylogin.do?redirectUrl=http://makeyourmark.disney.go.com/video-submit
How do I sign up
Hi Katelynn,
To submit a video, you need something to record your audition (video camera, phone, webcam, etc.) and a computer so you can upload the video to the Make Your Mark website. You are allowed to dance in any style that you want, just make sure you dance to one of the approved songs which can be downloaded here: http://makeyourmark.disney.go.com/download-song
Hi Fiona,
It’s not too late to submit your video! Audition videos can be submitted through August 6th, 2012.
ive been in dancing for 6 years and i am in my dance schools compition team and its my first time competing in make your mark.I will be dancing with my bff but she says that it is too late to send in a video.how long do we have to submit our video
hey this is my first time doing this i just hope they choose my video my auntie jamie is also in the video i just want to give a shout out to my friend imani, kosi, and tiara for being there for me and hope to see u on t.v. bye
HI everyone im doing this for the first time and me and my cousin are really nervious but really EXCITED i have been dancikng for 5 YEARS n i love to DANCE!!! i just hope me and my cousin win so please vote for us and i also wanna say i love u bella and zendaya i watched all of your episods and loved them. hope to see u soon 🙂
omg me and my cousin are really EXCITED to do this i have been dancing for 5 YEARS! and me and her have always watch shake it up and WISH we were u guys (bella and zendaya) i just wanna say good luck and me and my cousin are HOPING that our video is selected as 1 of the 10! cant wait to find out if we won! 🙂 maybe c u soon! 😀
bella and zendaya I REALLY REALLY REALY REALY REALY LOVE UUUUU
vote for me this is my deam is dance zendaya you are pretty and bella I LOVE YOU VERY VERY VERY VERY MUCH BOTH OF YOU BYEEEEEEEEEE LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUU
But how do we know if we are in the finlist bella and zendaya do we go to home page of make your mark shake it up and see augest 19 to see if we are in the finlist is that bella and zendaya thats all i got to say
i im going to do a mark mark me and my cuzin jayla
i want to win because i don’t have any friends at home in IL
hello i’m karleigh and this is brooke my cousin. we will be auditioning for make your mark. we thank you disney and shake it up for giving us another chance and if we don’t win we hope that the other competitors win . HINT: IT’S OUR LIFE GOAL DREAMS TO BE ON T.V . WE SHOWED OUR CHURCH OUR DANCE EVER SINCE I WAS 2 AND SHE WAS 4 . SO GOOD LUCK TO EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i really hope i win me and m freind worked so hard we started at 9 and finally did the video at 12 in the morning it was so fun we really reALLY LOVE shake it up and it would be un honer to be on the show so pretty please vote for MORCELLIA fome CA and im 10 and she is 9 thank u so much for the oppertunty!!!!!!! THANK U
How do you make a video and send it to make your mark and if you were to win how would you know that you won? Also dose it matter what kind of dance you do?If i were to do ballet would it be aloud? Also what if you are not aloud to do ballet and you were not good at any other kind of dance would you still be aloud to enter in the dance off ? Because if i don’t i will be very sad because i have been in ballet for over a year now. And i really do like to do allot of ballet at home.I can also do allot of other kinds of dances to.
If your dancing with a group do you have to have a group name for the audition video?
hi i love shake it up and i love to dance!
Pleaseeeee vote for me. I love shake it up and I love to dance! <3
im hailey please vote fore me im under tracey though pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease
Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Jooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrddddddddddddeeeeeeeen
remember me your X
this so cool!
can we lip sing during it
Hi Jordan,
You should probably cut the video down to no more than 45 seconds, just to be safe. Make Your Mark may automatically reject videos over 45 seconds during the upload process.
What if my video is something like 49 seconds? Can I still submit it?