Frequently Asked Questions
Because of the large size of the program, we are limited to where we can host FDF. Food, facility rental costs, service fees, AV and video production, staging, etc. add up. The package price is determined by the total expenses we have to keep the program running. Natural economic costs also increase each year, and what FDF cost 10 years ago is not what equivalent to today’s environment. Considering what families pay to attend FDF weekend is very important to the FDF Board of Trustees and Leadership. We try very hard to work closely with our vendors to make sure we are getting the lowest possible price for the highest quality services.
No, you do not need ID or your confirmation email. Keep your ID available and have your confirmation email handy, but it's not necessary to print.
To order professional photos, contact:
Brian McConville / GM Photography
Phone: 800.507.1899 • 310.390.8725
email: studio12606@gmail.com
Address:
GM Photography
P.O. Box 66578
Los Angeles, CA 90066
During the participant registration process, you must first pay for participants registered within your account. Once the payment is processed, you will then be presented the option to book one hotel room for each eligible registrant on the registration confirmation page.
- If you choose to register multiple people in your family under the same account and pay for everyone at once, you will see one “Book Hotel Room Now” button for each eligible package purchased.
- You can register eligible participants for just the number of rooms that you need at the moment. If you need two rooms for seven people, for example, you could also register two people with eligible registration packages now to reserve two hotel rooms, and then register everyone else online closer to our early bird pricing deadline.
- You may also register one person at a time and book the hotel for each person before going back and adding additional registrants to your account.
On site registration times during FDF weekend include:
- Thursday: 12pm to 6pm, 9pm-11pm
- Friday: 7:30am to 10pm
- Saturday: 7:30am to 10pm
- Sunday: 12pm to 4pm
Signs will direct participants to the Registration Room at the FDF venue.
Join our email list to receive emails regarding updates and additional information about FDF. Follow our Facebook and Instagram accounts!
Please review the FDF Registration Cancelation Policy:
- During Online Registration Period: Cancellation and modification requests are permitted during the online registration period. A mandatory $50 refund/cancellation fee per registrant will be assessed if the cancellation request is made during the online registration period. To request a cancellation or other modification, please email registration@yourfdf.org. All modification and cancellation requests are subject to review and approval by the FDF Management Team and/or Board of Trustees.
- HOTEL RESERVATION DISCLAIMER: If you cancel or otherwise modify an eligible Full or Division III Package that has been used to book a hotel room, your hotel room reservation is also subject to cancellation (and you will be solely responsible for the one-night, non-refundable deposit).
- After Online Registration Ends: Once the online registration period ends, there will be NO refunds or exchanges. However, full or partial credits of the amount paid for the package may be issued for the following year’s FDF events based on review and approval by the FDF Management Team and/or Board of Trustees. To request a credit for the following year’s FDF events, please email registration@yourfdf.org. NO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED IF REQUEST IS MADE AFTER THE START OF THIS YEAR’S EVENT.
In an effort to give full-time dancers, directors, and parents access to FDF venues, participants registering for a Full Package With Meals, Full Package Without Meals, or Division III With Meals (children 8 years old and younger) will be the first to be given access to reserve a room upon registering for FDF.
The FDF opening ceremony usually runs for 1-1.5 hours. Please aim to stay for the entire duration of the event.
The FDF schedule is built around the schedules of individual musicians and the amount of dance groups within each parish to ensure that shared musicians and groups from the same parish do not perform at the same time. This is why accuracy on Group Roster Forms and Performance Forms, and immediate notice of any changes are essential.
No, live music in a performance does not impact a performance score.
Division III performs on Saturday of FDF weekend.
Yes, you can register for FDF on site. On site registration hours include:
- Registration opens Thursday at Noon on FDF weekend. Registration will close during the Opening Ceremony, and re-open after following the Opening Ceremony. Registration will be open Friday-Sunday during FDF weekend.
- Registration packages can be purchased on site. However, it is highly recommended to pre-register during the online registration period, as preferred seating at the Sunday Awards Ceremony cannot be accommodated after online registration ends.
- All registration wristbands must be properly and securely fastened at all times. In order to receive a replacement band, participants must return their original broken/damaged band. The FDF Management Team reserves the right to remove participants from the event if found misusing the wristband privilege.
- Save money by registering during the “Early Bird” pricing period, which features lower prices for most packages.
- A spot at the Sunday Night Awards Ceremony. While all packages may be purchased on site, it is highly recommended that dancers and their families register online to have the ability to choose Parish and Group affiliation, which allows our team to reserve sections large enough to accommodate large sections at the Sunday Awards Ceremony. Preferred seating at the Sunday Awards Ceremony cannot be accommodated after online registration closes.
Yes. However, the hotel will charge a one night, non-refundable deposit for each hotel room booked by our participants. If you are not sure if you need a room, you may want to wait until you know for sure.
Participants must attend a workshop with their dance group, please inquire with your community or dance instructors. It is strongly encouraged to participate in the Diakonia Project on Thursday and to attend Divine Liturgy on Sunday.
No, you do not need your wristband to attend the Opening Ceremony that happens Thursday evening. Wristbands are presented to participants when they check in to register at FDF. You must be wearing a wristband to enter any of the FDF events starting Friday.
After registering for an eligible FDF package, you will have the opportunity to book your hotel, based on availability. Hotel bookings will be available on your registration confirmation page after payment is processed. If you registered and paid for an eligible package, you will see a “Book Hotel Room Now” button on your registration confirmation page.
Yes. All Management Team members to be at least 21 years of age. But we always welcome volunteers and we encourage younger members to be part of our youth mentor program. For more information please email us at: info@yourfdf.org
The Diakonia Project focuses on service and giving back to those in need. FDF partners with Philioptochos to host a Diakonia Project during FDF weekend. If you’re attending FDF, please join us in our Diakonia Project. Learn about the FDF Diakonia Project.
Yes. The FDF ministry works very hard to create a program that helps fund additional educational opportunities, cultural and arts initiatives through the FDF Endowment Fund. If you would like to donate to FDF, you can donate to the FDF Endowment Fund today.
Learn more about educational and dance director scholarship programs.
No. The Friday and Saturday passes are day/night combined packages. However, Sunday competition and awards show bands are purchased separately. View registration packages and prices.
Children who are not participating with a dance or choral group, and are 4 years old and under are not required to register.
Only dancers participating in the Division III Category (8 years old and younger) may register for a Division III Package (either with or without meals). Division III Dancers may choose to register for the “No Meals” package for FREE.
View the FDF Registration Package Price List.
Hotel rooms at special FDF rates can be viewed on the Hotel Reservations page.
- You can register from Noon to the start of the Opening Ceremony. Registration will reopen at the end of the Ceremony.
- Participate in the FDF Diakonia Project! Diakonia means “ministry, service or help.” It is FDF’s service project to give back to our local communities in an impactful way.
- Dancers should check to see they know where to meet their groups before the Opening Ceremony.
- When the opening ceremony ends, you can register at the registration booth.
FDF participants who have registered for event packages with meals will have access to:
- Brunch
- Dinner
- Friday, Saturday, Sunday
- All fully registered participants and individuals with awards show wristbands also have access to sunday dinner
Hotel rooms in the FDF blocks are initially only available to book by those who register online for FDF full weekend packages:
- Full Package With Meals
- Full Package No Meals
- Division III Package With Meals - IMPORTANT: This package is only for children 8 years old and younger who are registering for a Division III Package With Meals.
After registering for an eligible FDF package, you will have the opportunity to book your hotel, based on availability. Hotel bookings will be available on your registration confirmation page after payment is processed.
The hotel will charge a one-night, non-refundable deposit at the time of booking.
- Every attendee must register in order to take part in the weekend festivities.
- ALL Dancers, Choral Participants, Directors and Musicians MUST register for a Full Package (either with or without meals), no exceptions.
- ONLY Dancers participating in the Division III Category (8 years old and younger) may register for a Division III Package (either with or without meals). Division III Dancers may choose to register for the “No Meals” package for FREE.
- Children who are not participating with a dance or choral group, and are 4 years old and under are not required to register.
- ALL Chaperones MUST register for a Full Package with meals, no exceptions. There must be at least one (1) Chaperone for every seven (7) participants under the age of 18 from each parish.
More information can be viewed on the FDF Participation Registration page and the FDF Registration Price List.
Online registration is available on the FDF Participation Registration and Hotel Reservations pages. Once online registration closes, participants are able to register for FDF on site during FDF weekend at the main venue. Signs will direct participants to the Registration room on site. View FDF Participant Registration packages and prices.
Yes, Lost and Found is located at the FDF Registration desk on site.
- Groups and directors will first meet early near their respective signage.
- Then dance and choral groups will be directed by FDF Management Team members to walk across the the stage at the start of the Opening Ceremony and then take a seat. The ceremony will then have opening remarks from His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros and His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos and blessing of the waters, a speaker
- Wristbands are not needed to attend the Opening Ceremony, however all participants will need their wristband to attend or participate in any FDF event, starting Friday.
The FDF Competition Schedule can be found on the Competition Category page when available. On site at FDF, printed schedules will be available in the Registration Room and schedules will also be displayed on signs and QR codes throughout the venue.
All groups begin with dancing on stage with His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos. Once this has ended, each group will go one by one per the schedule to perform.
We welcome and appreciate volunteers. If you are interested in helping out during the FDF weekend, please email us at: info@yourfdf.org
FDF’s policy on registration cancellation and modification requests is provided below. Requesting a cancellation or modification does not guarantee it will be approved, as all requests are subject to review by the FDF Management Team and/or Board of Trustees. If you cancel or otherwise modify an eligible Full or Division III Package which has been used to book a hotel room, your hotel room reservation is also subject to cancellation (and you will be solely responsible for the one-night, non-refundable deposit). Please read the Terms and Conditions on the Payment page prior to submitting your registration.
- During Online Registration Period: Cancellation and modification requests are permitted during the online registration period. A mandatory $50 refund/cancellation fee per registrant will be assessed if the cancellation request is made during the online registration period. To request a cancellation or other modification, please email registration@yourfdf.org. All modification and cancellation requests are subject to review and approval by the FDF Management Team and/or Board of Trustees.
HOTEL RESERVATION DISCLAIMER: If you cancel or otherwise modify an eligible Full or Division III Package that has been used to book a hotel room, your hotel room reservation is also subject to cancellation (and you will be solely responsible for the one-night, non-refundable deposit). - After Online Registration Ends: Once the online registration period ends, there will be NO refunds or exchanges. However, full or partial credits of the amount paid for the package may be issued for the following year’s FDF events based on review and approval by the FDF Management Team and/or Board of Trustees. To request a credit for the following year’s FDF events, please email registration@yourfdf.org. NO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED IF REQUEST IS MADE AFTER THE START OF THIS YEAR’S EVENT.
- Save money by registering during the “Early Bird” pricing period, which features lower prices for most packages.
- A spot at the Sunday Night Awards Ceremony. While all packages may be purchased on site, it is highly recommended that dancers and their families register online to have the ability to choose Parish and Group affiliation, which allows our team to reserve sections large enough to accommodate large sections at the Sunday Awards Ceremony. Preferred seating at the Sunday Awards Ceremony cannot be accommodated after online registration closes.
For FDF 2026, practice rooms will be located on the 3rd floor where the competition rooms are. Directors can sign up for the practice rooms using the forms posted outside of the rooms. There will be signage that will direct you which way to go.