GENERAL 

• For all contests, a Weekend Pass is required

• Register by the official entry deadline(s) as outlined in the schedule

• Pay the required entry fee(s) and complete entry forms and event waivers

• All contests must have a minimum of (5) entries to be a valid contest. Event Director/Chief Judge can combine divisions at their discretion.

• Contests are scored by computer.  Contestants will be judged individually in preliminary and/or semi-final divisions, and as a couple in any finals.

• We support persons of any gender dancing either lead or follow as they prefer. 

• It is the desire of the Organizer to encourage expressive and exciting dance performances without sacrificing the quality of dancing and good taste. Competitors are expected to avoid wearing torn, ripped, or blue denim pants on the competitive floor. Inappropriate attire may result in disqualification at the discretion of the chief judge.

 

JACK & JILL CONTESTS

(WSDC divisions - Newcomer, Novice, Masters, Sophisticated, Intermediate, Advanced, All Star)

 

All WSDC Jack & Jill Divisions, will be run according to the World Swing Dance Council Registry rules for competitors (See the WSDC Registry Event Rules.) Competitors are responsible for following the WSDC Registry Rules and registering accordingly. Competitors will not receive WSDC points for placement if they fail to follow the WSDC Points Registry Rules.

 

AGE: All contestants must be at least 14 years old by Friday of the event to enter any Jack & Jill contest or have a petition and release of liability approved by the Chief Judge.
 

NOTE REGARDING NEWCOMER QUALIFICATION: In accordance with WSDC rules: “After successfully making finals and earning any points in either Newcomer or Novice, you will be required to move up to Novice for future contests in that role. You can choose to dance in Newcomer again in the other role where it is offered until you earn a point in that role.”

 

AGE BASED CONTESTS:  Masters contests are reserved for participants aged 50+.  Sophisticated contests are reserved for participants aged 35+.  Competitors may dance in an age based, as well as skill based contests. 

 

PRIMARY & SECONDARY ROLES: Contestants may dance in both their primary and secondary roles as defined by WSDC. But a dancer may compete only once in a single contest. Example: a qualified Intermediate Follower can follow in Intermediate as the primary roll, and lead in Novice (if qualified), OR lead in Intermediate, but not follow in Novice. 

 

DANCING UP IN STRICTLY SWING: All contestants must meet the WSDC minimum point requirement for the WSDC JJ contest they enter.  Dancing UP, or having danced up, a level in Strictly Swing does NOT qualify a dancer to compete at that same level in Jack & Jill.

 

POINTS: Awarded points are defined by WSDC (see Section 3.3.1 “Point Tier Awards”)

 

PETITION: Dancers may petition to the Head Judge (prior to the contest registration cut-off) to dance up or down a level.  If in doubt about the correct level, competitors should consult the Head judge prior to cut-off. Registration in the inappropriate division could result in not dancing in any contest, or disqualification.  Please utilize this form.

 

SWING CONTENT: Recognizable Lead/Follow Swing must be present throughout the dance.

 

RESTRICTIONS: No Lifts or Aerials allowed. Weight-supported moves ARE allowed.

 

FORMAT: All prelims will be run in Heats.  Finals may be Heated or Spotlight at the discretion of the Head Judge or Event Director.

 

CHOREOGRAPHY: Spontaneous choreography is expected. Obvious pre-arranged choreography will be penalized at the discretion of the judges in swing divisions.

 

TIME/MUSIC: Dancers will dance a time length determined by the Head Judge to music provided by the contest DJ.

 

All American Jack & Jill: For all level dancers. Dancers are randomly matched, regardless of level. (Exception: Pro-staff and All Stars will not dance with each other.)

 

Meet Me Winners Jack and Jill Battle:  The winners from Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Sophisticated and Masters JJ will be put into a Jack and Jill with a Prol. This runs later on Sunday. If participants have left early, we will go to second place, then third as needed.

 

Please note, the event reserves the right to combine divisions, based on registrations, at the discretion of Event Director and/or Head Judge.

 

STRICTLY SWING CONTESTS

(Newcomer/Novice, Masters, Intermediate, Adv, AllStar, Pro)

 

QUALIFICATIONS: Competitors are responsible for following all Rules and registering accordingly. Non-qualified contestants will be disqualified, without reimbursement.

 

MULTIPLE STRICTLY SWING ENTRIES: Dancers may compete in multiple Strictly Swing contests as long as dancers meet the requirements for each entered division and register with unique partners* for each contest.
 

You may dance Strictly Swing in one or more of the following:

1)  In your primary JJ skilled level/role, as defined by WSDC.

2) Down two levels in your secondary JJ level/role, as defined by WSDC.

3) Up one level from your primary JJ level/role, with a partner who qualifies for that level.

4) In any age-defined contests, such as Sophisticated Swing or Masters.

5) In Pro-Am Strictly Swing in your primary level/role, as defined by WSDC.

6) In Pro-Am Strictly Swing in your secondary role/level, as defined by WSDC.

* Dancing up (having competed or placed) a level in Strictly Swing does NOT penalize a dancer for Jack and Jill qualification, nor qualify a dancer to compete at a higher Jack and Jill

PARTNER EXCEPTIONS: 1) Ams may compete with their Pro in both routines and Strictly Swing. 

 

SWING CONTENT: Recognizable Lead/Follow Swing must be present throughout the dance.

 

RESTRICTIONS: No Lifts or Aerials allowed (weight-supported moves ARE allowed).

 

FORMAT: All prelims will be run in Heats.  Finals may be Heated or Spotlight at the discretion of the Head Judge or Event Director.

 

COSTUMES: Costumes are not allowed, but matching colors and complimentary attire are encouraged.

 

CHOREOGRAPHY: Spontaneous choreography is expected. Obvious pre-arranged choreography will be penalized at the discretion of the judges in swing divisions.

 

TIME/MUSIC: Dancers will dance a time length determined by the Head Judge to music provided by the contest DJ.

Newcomer/Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, All Star SS – For these divisions a couple must enter the highest level either partner qualifies for based on the WSDC points they have earned and the WSDC level criteria for Jack & Jill. 

 

Masters SS – All dancers must be a minimum age of 50 years by the first day of the event. 

 

Pro SS –  This contest is considered as the highest level of SS, and may include Advanced, All Star and Professional dancers.
 

PRO-AM STRICTLY SWING

 

Pro-Am Leader Newcomer

Pro-Am Follower Newcomer

Pro-Am Leader Novice

Pro-Am Follower Novice

Pro-Am Leader Intermediate

Pro-Am Follower Intermediate

PRO– A “Pro” is considered to be an Advanced or Professional level dancer. A pro may dance with a total of 15 ams, and may be spread across all three divisions (example: 2 newcomer, 6 novice, 6 intermediate.) 

 

AM – An “Am” in the Pro-Am contests must qualify in the Newcomer, Novice or Intermediate class according the WSDC Guidelines (See “Jack & Jill Contests”). Ams may dance in both primary and secondary levels/roles, as defined by WSDC. 

 

Judging: The judging emphasis is placed on the Am’s execution of the judging criteria.

 

PRO-AM ROUTINE

Divisions: Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate

 

This division is designed to highlight a performance between a professional and an amateur. 

1. The time limit must be a minimum of 1 ½ minutes and a maximum of 2 ½ minutes.

2. Swing content: 50% is present throughout the performance.

4. Costumes are encouraged but not required.

5. Choreographed routines are required. Competitors select their own music

6. To qualify for a partnership in our Pro-Am, an instructor/student relationship must exist.

7. Amateurs are defined as anyone who does not receive any compensation for helping/teach Swing dance.

8. A Professional is defined as someone who earns a significant amount of income teaching or performing Swing.

 

Please note, the event reserves the right to combine divisions, based on registrations, at the discretion of Event Director and/or Head Judge.