Run a Dance Studio Guest judge events and special judge nights

Dance Interactive has billed special guest appearances as part of the Awards experience. Around 2 September 2026 the studio posted a special guest appearance featuring Shannon Atkins — a named judge brought into the rotation for a specific night. This page tracks guest judge events as they ship, so the name does not disappear into a screenshot.

What a guest judge night is

A guest judge night is a themed Awards lobby where Dance Interactive bills a named person as a special judge alongside the standard scoring system. The studio posts the name on Instagram before the event, giving owners time to prepare a matching piece.

The guest judge is branding and marketing. Your scores still come from the in-game path the studio built. A Shannon Atkins night is not a hidden bonus multiplier — it is a themed show with a recognizable name attached.

Shannon Atkins (September 2026)

Shannon Atkins appeared as a billed special guest around 2 September 2026. The studio described it as a special guest appearance. Practical notes:

• Bring a piece that matches the category on the night — Contemporary Open was on the Awards graphic at that time.
• Costumes matter more when a guest judge is attached to the lobby. Presentation is part of the fantasy.
• Scores still come from the in-game judges. The guest name is a headline, not a separate scoring path.

How to prepare for a guest judge night

1. Watch @runadancestudio for the announcement.
2. Note the category or style the studio names in the graphic.
3. Confirm your soloist or group piece matches that category.
4. Dress the submitted bodies. Costumes are part of guest judge nights.
5. Submit a regular Nationals during the week so you are qualified when the lobby opens.

If the studio does not name a category, default to Contemporary Open or lyrical — both have shown up on Awards graphics.

Guest judges vs regular Awards

	Regular Awards	Guest Judge Night
Scoring	In-game judges	In-game judges
Reward	Entrant reward, Top 3 Gems, Champion	Same rewards
Guest name	Not billed	Special appearance billed
Preparation	Check category graphic	Check category graphic + guest name

The qualification rule does not change. You still need 1 Solo Nationals and 1 Group Nationals.

What guest judges are not

• Not a separate scoring path. Your points come from the same in-game judges.
• Not a pay-to-enter event. Roblox Awards are the weekly show; guest judge nights are the same event with a named headliner.
• Not a guaranteed win even if you bring the right piece. Cross-server scoring still applies.
• Not a reason to skip training. A guest judge in a leotard still reads stats.

Future guest judges

Dance Interactive has not published a schedule of upcoming guest appearances. When the studio posts a new name, this page will add a row. Until then, watch Instagram the same way you watch for Awards times on the schedule.

Guest judges and the tier lists

A guest judge billing does not change who the best dancer is. The dancer tier list ranks bodies by training and role, not by which night a guest judge attended. The routine styles page tracks which categories appear on the Awards graphic.

Guest judge nights are a reason to keep a spare piece warm and a reason to check Instagram before Saturday. They are not a reason to abandon a trained soloist for a rumored “guest favorite.”