THE NOIR INVITATIONAL · Judges + Talent
Phase 2+ product. Full judges panel + athlete curation happens in Phase 2 Year 2 alongside event production.
Judges panel Y1 target
3-5 judges per event, drawn from:
Elite pole and aerial
- Current or former IPSF (International Pole Sports Federation) championship medalists
- POSA (Pole Sports and Arts World Federation) elite competitors
- Cirque du Soleil pole and aerial talent
Choreography
- Trill’s professional dance network (Beyoncé, Latto, GloRilla, Doechii camps)
- Broadway or contemporary dance choreographers
- Editorial fashion choreographers
Media / broadcast
- One entertainment industry judge (dance-adjacent, e.g., film choreographer)
Judge honorarium: $2,500-$5,000 per event + travel + 3 nights hospitality.
Athlete curation
12-16 invited athletes per year. Selection criteria:
- Competitive pole and movement athletes at national or international level
- Elite technical vocabulary
- Broadcast-ready presence
- Willing to compete under STUDIO NOIR-branded event
Selected via: - IPSF and POSA competition results - Direct invitation from Head of Programming (Phase 2 hire) - Trill’s network scouting
Athletes receive: - Purse (finishers): $100K-$250K total pool, split across placings - Travel + 5 nights hospitality - Broadcast exposure - STUDIO NOIR Invitational apparel piece (limited)
Talent scouting (starts Phase 2 Year 1)
Head of Programming (Phase 2 hire) starts scouting athletes 12 months before event. Attends IPSF Southeast circuit, POSA championships, and major cirque productions to identify talent.
Full judges + talent curation playbook rebuilt in 2029.