Although Troma themselves are notorious for their violent low-budget horror films, TromaDance showcases both shorts and features of varying genres and formats, including comedy, drama, documentary, animation and experimental film, though horror, fantasy and sci-fi usually make up a significant portion of the entries.

Troma also sponsors fan-organized events called TromaPaloozas, music festivals that serve as fundraisers for TromaDance.

Feeling that Sundance had become too "Hollywood" by charging high entry fees, showing multimillion-dollar "independent" movies and practicing an elitist structure and film selection process, Parker urged Kaufman to create his own film festival that was the direct independent opposite of Sundance, one that was completely free and focused on independently produced film that was made without the Hollywood system in order to give first-time filmmakers a chance at getting their work seen.

Troma has released five volumes of "The Best of TromaDance", DVDs of selected shorts each from two years worth of the festival.

The press conference for the 2005 festival held in October 2004 featured the introduction of the official TromaDance Theme Song by longtime Troma character Count Smokula.