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General
Rules
* Good sportsmanship must be exhibited at all times.
* Offensive or vulgar gestures, costumes or song lyrics are prohibited.
* You are responsible for reading, knowing and following all the contest rules.
* Competitors must be at least 16 years old (except in the youth Pro/Am
contest).
* All competitors must purchase a weekend pass (except team and cabaret).
* You must register and pay the entry fee prior to the entry deadlines.
* No video cameras allowed in any ballrooms during Friday's Strictly
Finals, Saturday Night & Sunday
* There are specific time scheduled for competitor floor trials. See
the
schedule
* Relative placement scoring will be used to
determine the winners.
* The chief judge will resolve all scoring disputes. Those decisions are final.
* All contestants and attendees must sign a liability release and consent to unrestricted use of their photos,
video and names which may appear in the event videos, website and
future promotions.
* If there are fewer than 5 entries in any contest, it may be cancelled or
prize payouts reduced.
Strictly Swing, Hustle and Hand Dance Divisions – Enter with your
partner. The contest Deejay picks the music. Different skill levels
are offered. Each skill level is a separate contest. You may only enter
one skill level for each type of dance. Couples dance in heats for 2 to
5 short
songs appropriate for their division with contrasting tempos and styles.
If more than 12 couples enter a division there may be a preliminary
contest followed by a final contest later the same evening. Judges will evaluate couples based on their
demonstration of good social dancing skills, timing, technique,
connection, lead and follow, presentation, showmanship and skill level.
* Costumes and props are not allowed.
* Coordinating attire is acceptable.
* Couples must remain in contact unless executing a spin.
* Dancers must maintain their own physical contact with the floor during partner weight support moves.
* The same partners may not dance together in a strictly contest and a
solo division for the same dance.
Example: A couple can not enter Classic hustle and
Strictly hustle together.
They can dance with other partners.
Strictly Swing Contests
4 Levels of Strictly West Coast Swing competitions are offered.
 Novice: For couples with limited or no competition experience that have
never placed 1st in a Strictly Swing division at a national competition before.
Intermediate: For couples with some previous competition experience
and success. If either partner has previously won or placed high in a
Strictly Swing contest at a national event you should move up to this
division.
Advanced: For couples with significant competition experience who are
not yet ready to compete in an open division against professionals for the
big money.
All-star/Pro: For experienced competitors and professionals with previous
competition success at advanced or higher levels. Competitors who
have placed previously in an open professional division at a national
competition must dance in this division. Cash prizes are offered.
3 Levels of Strictly Hustle competition are offered.
Novice: For couples who have limited or no competition experience who have
never placed 1st in a Strictly Hustle division at a national competition before.
Intermediate: For couples with some previous competition experience
and success. If either partner has previously won or placed well in a
Strictly Hustle contest at a national event you should move up to this
division.
Open
Advanced: For experienced competitors and professionals with previous
competition success at advanced or higher levels. Competitors who
have placed previously in an open professional division at a national
competition must dance in this division. Cash prizes are offered.
1
Level of Strictly Hand Dance is offered.
This contest is open to anyone. Cash prizes are offered.
Superstars Showcase
– This is a new feature for 2009. It's an amazing show featuring the
world's current and former top Swing & Hustle performers chosen by the
event organizers. The 2009 lineup will feature:
Jordan Frisbee & Tatiana Mollmann
Parker Dearborn & Jessica Cox
Billy Fajardo & Katie Marlow
Kelvin Roche & Lorianne Greenhouse
Classic
Swing & Classic Hustle Divisions – Bring your
partner, music,
costumes and
routine. These contests highlight skills in choreographed swing dancing. These divisions are open to amateurs or
professionals. Dance order will be chosen at random and posted prior to
the division start time. Music provided by each couple must be a single
track on a clearly labeled CD at least 2 minutes and no longer than 3˝ minutes. Routines
must exhibit at least 80% content recognizable as west coast swing, hustle
or hand dance. Drops, leans, circular movements and other partner weight support moves are allowed as long as both partners keep at least one foot on the floor.
Large cash prizes are offered.
* Costumes are allowed and encouraged.
* No props are allowed
* Choreographed entrances will be counted towards time limits.
* Breakaways are limited to 32 beats of music.
* Couples must maintain physical contact except
during spins, turns or short break-a-ways, and recoveries.
*
Dancers must maintain their own physical contact with the floor during partner weight support moves.
* A maximum of 5 partner weight support moves are permitted.
Masters
-
This single division
includes all styles of Swing: West Coast Swing, Lindy
Hop, Hustle, Shag
and Hand Dance or any other style of popular swing dance.
Both partners must be 50 years of age or older. Routines are danced in a solo format. Dance order is chosen at
random and posted prior to the division start time. Music provided by each
couple must be a single track on a clearly labeled CD at least 2 minutes and no longer
than 3˝ minutes. *NOTE Part of the prize money has been contributed by Bob
& Bevery Budzynski's
"Masters Tour"
* Routines must include at least 75% recognizable swing content.
* Costumes are allowed and encouraged. No props are allowed.
* Choreographed entrances will be counted towards time limits.
* Lifts, drops, tricks and stunts are allowed but not required.
The Masters National Swing Dance
Championship tour has contributed to the prize money offered for this
division. In addition winners at each tour event are awarded points that
count towards additional prizes for the overall tour winners presented in
November at the US Open swing dance championships.
Sophisticated
-
This single division
includes all styles of Swing: West Coast Swing, Lindy
Hop, Hustle, Shag
and Hand Dance or any other style of popular swing dance.
Both partners must be 35 years of age or older. Routines
are danced in a solo format. Dance order is chosen at random and posted
prior to the division start time. Music provided by each couple must be
a single track on a clearly labeled CD at least 2 minutes and no longer
than 3˝ minutes.
* Routines must include at least 75% recognizable swing content.
* Costumes are allowed and encouraged. No props are allowed.
* Choreographed entrances will be counted towards time limits.
* Lifts, drops, tricks and stunts are allowed but not required.
Rising
Star
-
This single division
includes all styles of Swing: West Coast Swing, Lindy
Hop, Hustle, Shag
and Hand Dance or any other style of popular swing dance. It is
for couples that have limited experience with choreography and do not want to
compete against professionals
in the open classic divisions. Routines are danced in a solo format. Dance order is chosen at
random and posted prior to the division start time. Music provided by each
couple must be a single track on a clearly labeled CD at least 2 minutes and no longer
than 3˝ minutes.
If either partner has previously placed 5th or higher at a N.A.S.D.E. Classic or Showcase event
they are no longer eligible to compete in Rising Star. If a couple has a
total of 3 wins together in Rising Star division at MADjam or elsewhere, they must move up
to the open classic or showcase division.
* Routines must include at least 75% recognizable swing content.
* Costumes are allowed and encouraged. No props are allowed.
* Choreographed entrances will be counted towards time limits.
* Lifts, drops, tricks and stunts are allowed but not required.
Open
Showcase
- This single division
includes all styles of Swing: West Coast Swing, Lindy
Hop, Hustle, Shag
and Hand Dance or any other style of popular swing dance. Costumes, lifts,
drops, tricks and stunts are encouraged and a minimum number are required
(see below). Routines are danced in solo format. Dance order is chosen at
random and posted prior to the division start time. Music provided by each
couple must be a single track on a clearly labeled CD at least 2 minutes and no longer
than 3 ˝ minutes.
* Routines must include at least 75% recognizable swing content.
* Costumes are encouraged. No props are allowed.
* Choreographed entrances will be counted towards time limits.
* At least 3 partner weight support moves required at knee level or above.
* At least 1 partner weight support move required with the partner above
the waist.
* There is no limit on partner-supported moves, as long as 75% swing
content is met.
Pro/Am
-
Students enter with their teacher. For this contest, amateurs are defined as someone who
does not teach dancing on a regular, ongoing basis or makes a significant
amount of income from teaching. A professional is defined as
someone who makes a significant amount of income teaching or performing dance. Anyone who has previously
competed in open or professional level competition will be considered a
Pro for this purpose. Couples entering the Pro am divisions must have a prior student/teacher
relationship. In Pro/Am divisions only the amateur is evaluated.
Placements through 5th in each division will be recognized with an award.
Scores will be available through the event website following the
event weekend. Each teacher is limited
to a maximum of 5 students per division. Competitors under 16 must enter
Youth Division. Couples dance in heats with multiple couples on the floor at once. The
DJ picks the music. Couples dance to about 1˝ minutes of a song
appropriate for their division.
* Costumes and props are not allowed. Coordinating attire is acceptable
* Couples must remain in contact unless executing a spin.
* No lifts, drops or partner supported moves allowed.
* No choreographed entrances or exits
 Pro/Am
Music tempo range:
West Coast Swing (100-120bpm), Hustle (100-115bpm)
The following Pro/Am divisions
will be offered:
Pro/Am, West Coast Swing, Youth (15 and under)
Pro/Am, West Coast Swing, Newcomer Male amateur
Pro/Am, West Coast Swing,
Newcomer, Female amateur
Pro/Am, West Coast Swing,
Novice, Male amateur
Pro/Am, West Coast Swing,
Novice, Female amateur
Pro/Am, West Coast Swing,
Intermediate, Male amateur
Pro/Am, West Coast Swing,
Intermediate, Female amateur
Pro/Am, West Coast Swing,
Advanced, Male amateur
Pro/Am, West Coast Swing,
Advanced, Female amateur
Pro/Am, Hustle, Youth (15 and under)
Pro/Am, Hustle, Newcomer, Male amateur
Pro/Am, Hustle, Newcomer, Female amateur
Pro/Am, Hustle, Novice, Male amateur
Pro/Am, Hustle, Novice, Female amateur
Pro/Am, Hustle, Intermediate, Male amateur
Pro/Am, Hustle, Intermediate, Female amateur
Pro/Am, Hustle, Advanced, Male amateur
Pro/Am, Hustle, Advanced, Female amateur
Youth
- For students under 16 years old regardless of previous dance or
competition experience.
Newcomer
- This is an entry level division for students with very little or no previous
competition experience. It is limited to students competing less than 1
year in that dance. Students who have previously won a contest against 3
or more entries should move up to novice or intermediate. Newcomer
competitors should exhibit traditional basic figures only. Judges will be
looking for good basic technique, connection, timing and confidence.
Complex variations and elaborate patterns are not acceptable in newcomer
divisions.
Novice
- This division is for
students with less than 3 years total dance experience and limited
previous competition experience. Students are expected to perform solid
basics. Limited variations are allowed but not required. No leans, drops,
or breakaways are allowed. All material should be recognizable as
familiar, common “leadable” social patterns.
Intermediate
- This division is for
students with significant prior competition and or dance experience.
Students are expected to perform clean basics with variations and
musicality. Judges will consider musical interpretation, showmanship and
creativity. If you want to show off, you should enter this division.
Advanced
– This division is for
seasoned competitors who want to get in front of the audience and judges
with their teacher. The just dance division rules apply and judges will
consider everything including but not limited to:
variations, musicality, teamwork, showmanship and creativity.
Pro/Am
Spotlight Division - This
division combines Pro/Am couples dancing choreographed Swing, Lindy,
Hustle and Hand Dance routines with their teachers into one contest. There
are separate divisions and awards for male amateurs and female amateurs. Couples dance in
a solo
format. Both the teacher and amateur's performance is considered by the
judges. Dance order will be chosen at random and posted prior to the
division start time. Music provided by the competitors must be a single
track on a clearly labeled CD at least 1˝ minutes long and no longer than 3˝ minutes.
Each teacher is limited to a maximum of 1 entries in this division. Each division is
limited to the 1st 10 entries received.
* Costumes are encouraged, but not required.
* Lifts, drops, tricks and stunts are allowed but not required.
* Choreographed entrances will count towards time limits.
* No props are allowed
* Routines must include at least 75% recognizable swing content.
Jack
& Jill Divisions
- There are Jack & Jill contests for many levels of dancers in West
Coast Swing, Hustle & Hand Dance. Consult the registration forms to see
what levels are offered this year. Registration for all Jack & Jill
divisions ends at 1pm Saturday - NO EXCEPTIONS! Jack & Jill
contests allow individuals to enter without a partner and demonstrate
skills in spontaneous dancing with a variety of partners. There is an
inherent “luck of the draw” factor also. Leaders and followers are
randomly paired. There will be several partner changes during the preliminary
and semi final rounds. Competitors are scored individually on timing, technique and
teamwork in the preliminary heats. Those scoring the highest will be
called back later to dance in a final round. In the final, individuals are
randomly paired, then scored as a couple. The deejay picks the music. Tempo
and style will vary. All songs will be appropriate for the dance division
entered. There are significant cash prizes awarded to the winners. The
amounts are based on the number of entries in each division.
* You may only enter 1 level of Jack & Jill per dance (except
sophisticated).
* You may enter different levels for different dances.
* Male competitors must enter as a leader, female competitors must enter as
a
follower.
The World Swing Dance Council Points Registry system is used to determine
eligibility for the West Coast Swing Jack & Jill divisions. Current
WSDC points information will be available for competitors to look up which
division they qualify to enter. Competitors are expected to honor the
entry requirements of this system. You may petition the chief judge or or event director no less than 24 hours in advance if you wish
to dance in a different division.
More info about the points registry can be found at http://www.swingdancecouncil.com/
Newcomer Level Jack & Jill - This division is for
first time competitors and those who have never made finals or placed in any
contest.
To
enter this division, you must be competent with the basics of social
dancing.
• Competitors with no points should dance in this division.
• Competitors with less than 10 newcomer or novice points may continue to dance in this division.
• Competitors with 10 or more newcomer points OR a 1st place win must dance in a higher division.
Novice Level Jack & Jill - This division is for
dancers with little experience or success at the national level. If you
are new to competition you should enter newcomer division instead of
novice.
To
enter this division, you should be comfortable and confident with basic social dancing
and have some prior competition experience.
• Competitors with fewer than 20 novice points should dance in this division.
• Competitors with 20 or more novice points may continue to dance in this division until they have a first place win
and 20 points in novice.
• Competitors with 20 or more novice points AND a first place win in novice must dance in a higher division.
Intermediate Level Jack & Jill - This division is
requires previous competition experience and success at the
national level.
• Competitors with 20 or more novice points, but fewer than 25 intermediate points should dance in this division.
• Competitors with 25 or more Intermediate points may continue to dance in this division until they have a first place win in intermediate.
• Competitors with 25 or more intermediate points AND a win in intermediate must dance in a higher division.
• Competitors with fewer than 20 novice points who have any intermediate points may, but are not required to, dance in this division.
Advanced
Level Jack & Jill - This division is for dancers
with significant competition success at the national level.
• Competitors with 25 or more intermediate points should dance in this division.
• Competitors with fewer than 25 intermediate points who have any advanced points may, but are not required to, dance in this division.
• Competitors who have placed 1st - 5th in a Champions, Invitational or
professional level
contest must dance in a higher division.
All-star
Level Jack & Jill - You must have 40 or more
Advanced level or higher points to enter All-star level.
Sophisticated Jack & Jill (West Coast Swing Only) –
This division is for competitors over the age of 40. World swing dance
council now tracks registry points in this division.
Invitational
Jack & Jill (West Coast Swing & Hustle Only) This contest
includes members of the professional event staff chosen by the event
organizers and contest coordinators. It is danced in solo format.
Competitors judge one another placing themselves last. 2008 Invitational
Jack & Jill contest criteria:
*Placed top 3 in NASDE Classic or Showcase against 5 or more couples, in
the last 36 months.
*Won an invitational J&J contest at a NASDE event in the last 36 months.
*Won Classic or Showcase division at the US open in the previous 10
years.
*Be invited by
the event organizers.
All invited candidates will vote anonymously to determine a smaller number of couples
who will actually dance in the Invitational West Coast Swing Jack & Jill
contest.
Team
Contest - At
least 4 couples performing a choreographed routine together.
*Routines must be at least 3 minutes and no longer than 5 minutes.
*Costumes are allowed and encouraged
*No props are allowed
*Routine must contain at least 50% of recognizable swing content.
*Entrances and exits count towards the time limits
Cabaret
Division - For
non-swing, hustle or hand dance routines by individuals, couples or
groups.
*Competitors provide their own music.
*Routines must be at least 2 minutes and no longer than 5 minutes.
*Costumes are allowed
*Props, tricks, lifts and drops are allowed
*Entrances and exits count towards time limits
Competitor
Responsibilities
1. Plan ahead. Know the event schedule in advance and arrive in time
to meet our contest registration deadlines. Bring appropriate competition
attire. Be sure to check when you arrive for any last-minute changes to
our schedule.
2. Know the rules. Read the competition rules carefully prior to
the contest. You are responsible for following our rules whether you have
read them or not. If you have questions, you should contact our
Competition Coordinator ahead of time.
3. Turn in your music to the DJ at least 1 hour prior to your division.
Music for routines must be a single track on a CD and clearly labeled. If
you need your music’s tempo altered, started in the middle of the track
or an early fade out, please have someone edit your music in advance.
4. Be prepared to compete. Be in the ballroom at least 15 minutes prior
to the start of your competition. Remember to bring your bib number
(we will charge you a replacement fee of $10 if you lose it). If you miss
the competition or withdraw after the registration deadline you forfeit
your entry fee. Check in with the competitor coordinator and make sure
your name and bib numbers are correctly listed on the appropriate
competitor heat sheets.
5. Be a good sport. You must demonstrate good sporting conduct both
on and off the competition floor. This includes treating partners, other
competitors, competition officials, spectators, and the event itself with
respect. Demonstrating a poor attitude by behaving in ways that the judges
deem inappropriate will result in your disqualification. Use only
appropriate channels to communicate your concerns. If you have questions
or concerns about our competitions, use appropriate channels to share your
concerns such as a private discussion with our competition coordinator,
chief judge, or contestant representative. You are not allowed to
pressure, challenge, or argue with the judges. If you harass or verbally
abuse a judge or other competition official, we will disqualify you and
may also ban you from competing at this event in the future.
Definitions
Acrobatic Movement - Any move where either partner independently or in
partnership passes his/her foot, leg or torso above and across the
vertical plane of either partner's head, or passes their head through the
legs of the standing partner even if contact with the floor is maintained.
Aerial - A
movement where one partner is lifted by an assisting partner and the waist of
the lifted partner is above the shoulders of the other partner.
Breakaway - A set of symmetric or complementary movements or footwork
executed by a couple who intentionally break contact (except for spins and
turns), which is not a clearly leadable derivative of a recognizable swing
pattern.
Costumes - Attire which, in the opinion of the judges, is
specifically designed or selected for couples competition and would not
generally be worn for social dancing.
Drop – Movement in which either partner’s head and torso
go below knee level of the other partner.
Entrance - Pre-choreographed segment of a performance, where
competitors formally enter the floor and prepare to dance. Acknowledging
your partner, the judges, or the audience is not considered an entrance.
Exit - Pre-choreographed segment of a performance,
where competitors leave the floor. Acknowledging your partner, the judges,
or the audience is not considered an exit.
Lifts - Any movement lasting longer than a full beat of music
where the feet of one partner are clearly off the floor and the other
partner supports the lifted partner's weight.
Props - Throw away skirts, shirts, scarfs, etc are
considered props in this context and are not allowed. Anything other than
what would be considered acceptable clothing.
Routine - Any segment, which, in the opinion of the
judges, consists of prearranged choreography including symmetric or
complementary movements or footwork.
Swing
Content
- includes West Coast, Hustle, Hand Dance. Lindy hop and Shag.
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Relative Placement Scoring
This is the system used to determine
winners.
It was adapted from the
figure skating system and is now widely used at major dance competitions.
It minimizes the impact of a rouge judge's mark and recognizes the most
consistently scored entry. An equal numerical value is assigned to each
Judge's raw scores, so that each Judge has an equal vote in the final
outcome.
A. Number of Judges Needed
- A minimum of 5 Judges is required for Relative Placement, but the
use of 7 or 9 Judges is recommended.
- An even or odd number of Judges may be used for call-backs in the
preliminary and semi-final rounds. In Jack & Jill’s, half of the
Judges may judge leaders and half may judge followers.
- An odd number of Judges are used in the finals to minimize the
possibility of ties.
B. Preliminary and Semifinal Rounds
- In the preliminary and semi-final rounds, a call‑back system
is used. In this system, each Judge selects individuals (in Jack &
Jill’s) or couples (in Strictly Swing, Classic, Showcase) for
call‑back to the next round, but does not rank them in any
particular order.
- The Scorer converts each Judge's selections into ordinals: 1 for all
those selected, 2 for any alternates, and 3 for all those not
selected. Contestants are then ranked according to the total number of
1s, 2s, and 3s received from the judges.
- The Chief Judge then determines how many individuals or couples will
be promoted to the next round. The decision is based on returning
close to a predetermined percent of the contestants and/or where the
natural break in the rank occurs.
- The Chief Judge's scores are used only to break any ties.
C. Tallying the Final Placements
- In the finals, each Judge must place every couple in rank order (1st
place, 2nd place, 3rd place, etc.). In finals, with a large field of
couples, the Judges will concentrate on placing the top twelve
couples.
- Raw scores (9.5, 8.9, 7.6, etc.) are used only to determine a
Judge's order of placements. If a Judge submits only raw scores, the
Scorer will convert them into ordinals, (1, 2, 3, etc.) for Relative
Placement.
- Duplicate placements are not permitted. If a Judge mistakenly
provides duplicate placements, the Scorer will alert the Chief Judge,
who will request that the Judge in question provide unique placements
for each couple.
- A couple must have a majority of Judges' votes to be awarded a final
placement.
- If no couple has a majority of votes, then the next placement is
added to the previous placements (1st through 2nd, 1st through 3rd,
etc.) until a majority is reached.
- If two or more couples have an equal majority, then the numerical
value of the ordinals for each couple is added. The couple with the
lowest sum gets the higher position. If the sums for two or more
couples are identical, then the next placement is added to the
previous placements for those tied couples only.
- The Chief Judge's scores are used only to break any remaining ties.
D. Example of Relative Placement
- In the example above, there are 6 couples competing. Because 5
judges are providing placements, a majority of at least 3 Judges is
needed to award any couple a final placement
- Here, no couple has a majority of 1st place votes from the Judging
panel. Adding the next placement and counting 1st through 2nd place
votes, only couple #1 has a majority of at least 3 votes. Therefore,
couple #1 is awarded 1st place.
- Counting 1st through 3rd place votes, only couple #6 has a majority
of at least 3 votes. Therefore, couple #6 is awarded 2nd place.
- Counting 1st through 4th place votes, three couples have an equal
majority of 3 votes. When the numerical value of the ordinals making
up those votes is added, couples #2 and #3 both have the lower sum of
7, whereas couple #5 has the higher sum of 9. Couple #5 is therefore
awarded the lowest final placement of the three couples, in this case
5th place.
- To break the tie between couples #2 and #3, it is necessary to count
1st through 5th place votes, Couple #3 has 5 votes, one more than
couple #2. Couple #3 therefore is awarded 3rd place, and couple #2 is
awarded 4th place.
- Couple #4, the only remaining couple, is awarded 6th place.
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