CONTEST INFORMATION

16 FABULOUS CONTESTS!

For questions about rules, eligibility, or entries, please email us

CONTEST GUIDELINES

General

1. This is a swing dance event. “Swing” includes Push, Whip, West and East Coast Swing, Lindy, Carolina Shag, Jitterbug, Jamaica, Bop, and D.C. Hand Dancing.

2. Jack & Jills are limited to West Coast Swing/Push/Whip. All other divisions (except Cabaret) are open to all forms of swing.

3. Dancers must have a weekend ticket to compete in any division except Cabaret.

4. All divisions (except Swing Teams and Cabaret) are for male leaders and female followers.

5. Dancers may enter each division only once per contest.

6. Dancers may compete in multiple divisions. However, dancers may enter only one Jack & Jill division and only one Strictly Swing division, except dancers in Masters Strictly Swing may enter another Strictly Swing division with a different partner.

7. Except for Cabaret and Swing Teams, dancers must compete with a different partner in each division they enter.

8. To the extent they are appropriate for the music and may be performed safely, lifts and drops are allowed in any non-NASDE division.

Eligibility

9. Competitors should choose divisions appropriate to their skill levels and dance styles. In choosing attire, please remember there will be children in the audience. We reserve the right to move entries to more appropriate divisions or to reject entries inappropriate for any of our divisions. Competitors are encouraged to contact Terry Rippa in advance for guidance in particular situations. For questions prior to the event, email us.

10. The following are not eligible to compete in the Novice Traditional, Novice Jack & Jill, or Novice Strictly Swing divisions, or as the Am in a Pro/Am: Anyone who has (i) danced in “Open Class” competition at a multi-club association sponsored state or regional competition or equivalent (e.g., Texas State or Southwest Regionals), excluding invitational events,  (ii) danced as the “Pro” in any swing competition Pro/Am division, (iii) won any NASDE division at any NASDE competition, or (iv) won Masters (routines) at Dallas D.A.N.C.E.

11. A winner of Novice Strictly Swing, Novice Traditional, or a Pro/Am (as the Am) at a past Dallas D.A.N.C.E. may compete again in that division only with a different partner and is no longer eligible to compete in that division after having won it twice.

Entry Fees

12. The entry fee is $20 per person for all divisions, except Jack and Jills ($21 per entry) Cabaret ($50 per entry) and Swing Teams ($100 per team).

Mandatory Dancers’ Meetings and Deadlines for Waivers and Entry Fees

13. For the Friday competitions, contestants must submit waivers and entry fees in the Royal Room by the following times, when draws for dance positions will be conducted: 6:45 p.m. - Novice Traditional; 7:00 - Masters; 7:15 - Showcase.

14. There are two dancers’ meetings Saturday morning in the Venetian Room. The first, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, covers Saturday’s competitions (except the Jack & Jills). The second, starting at 10 45 a.m. Saturday, covers Sunday’s competitions. These dancers’ meetings are the final deadlines to submit waivers and entry fees, and dancers will draw for dance positions. Each meeting is mandatory for at least one representative of each entry competing on the day covered by that meeting unless specific arrangements have been made in advance with Judy Wooten.

15. Please remember that several divisions have limits on the number of entries permitted. Therefore, waivers/entry fees for these divisions should be submitted as soon as possible and will be accepted in the order received.

Age Limits

16. Dancers must be 18 years of age by the end of the event to dance in any NASDE division. Dancers must be 50 years of age by December 31, 2008 , to dance in Masters or Masters Strictly Swing. Dancers must be 10 years of age by December 31, 2008, to dance in any other division except Cabaret.

COMPETITIVE DIVISIONS
NASDE Divisions (Classic and Showcase)

17. These divisions are governed by NASDE’s rules, which are detailed at www.nasde.com. There are no limits on the number of entries.

Traditional Style Swing Divisions

18. Traditional style swing divisions (Novice Traditional, Male Pro/Am, Female Pro/Am) contemplate social dancing at a competition level.

19. There is a limit of 15 entries in Novice Traditional and 12 entries each in the Pro/Ams.

20. Apart dancing will be permitted only during the first 10 seconds, after which couples must maintain contact at all times except during free spins and within a single pattern.

21. Contestants provide their music and dance a minimum of two (maximum of three) minutes.  

Masters

22. Dancers may compete in both Masters and Masters Strictly Swing, but only with different partners.

23. For the Masters (Swing Routines), contestants provide their music and dance a minimum of two (maximum of three) minutes.

Swing Teams

24. Each team must have a minimum of 5 couples. If there are two or more teams, prize money will increase $500 per team to be awarded first to third: 50%, 30%, 20%. If only one team enters, it will dance in Cabaret. Limit of 10 team entries.

25. Each team must dance at least 2 ½ minutes of swing, and each team is allotted a maximum of 5 minutes from the time it is introduced until it must be totally off the dance floor.

Cabaret

26. This division is intended for any style of dance performed by an individual, a couple, a group, or a team, except a typical male/female couple dancing swing either as a single entry or as a showcased couple within a group or team. Any routine that does include swing dancing by a typical male/female couple must be comprised of at least 80% non-swing. For this purpose, lifts, drops, dips, and aerials do not count as swing content.

27. Each entry must dance at least 2 ½ minutes, and each entry is allotted a maximum of 5 minutes from the time it is introduced until it must be totally off the dance floor. There is a limit of 12 entries.

Strictly Swing Divisions

28. There are no limits to the number of entries. The Intermediate/Advanced Strictly Swing division is for all above Novice Strictly Swing level who do not wish to compete in the Champions Strictly Swing.

29. If required by the number of entries (and announced at the dancer’s meeting), there will be preliminaries in the Novice, Intermediate/Advanced, and/or Masters Strictly Swing divisions beginning Saturday afternoon at 1:45 p.m. and/or in the Champions Strictly Swing division beginning Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m. Preliminaries will be danced in heats to sets of songs of varying tempos and styles.

30. Approximately 5 Masters couples, 8 each Novice and Intermediate/Advanced, and 10 Champions Strictly Swing couples  will be called back for the finals where each will dance spotlight.

Jack & Jill Divisions (Other Than Invitational)

31. There are no limits to the number of entries. Dancers will sign up at the table outside the Regency Ballroom from 12 to 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

32. Competitors will dance West Coast Swing/Push/Whip as male leaders and female followers in preliminary (and, if necessary, semifinal) heats, each dancer rotating among partners and being judged as individuals.

33. Approximately 8 to 10 each of leaders and followers will be called back for the final round in each division, where they will draw for partners, dance spotlight, and be judged as couples.

34. To assist dancers in deciding which J & J division they wish to enter, please use the following guidelines.

Jack & Jill Divisional Eligibility Guidelines

            These Guidelines (which are  based on the World Swing Dance Council's ("WSDC") registry of points) are meant to help you decide which Jack & Jill division is most appropriate for you.  They are intended to help--not to dictate--and also will be available for review at the Jack & Jill sign-up table at the event. 

            You may request an exception to these Guidelines if you believe they will place you in an inappropriate division.   Such requests should be made as soon as possible, and in no event later than 2:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon at the event. Prior to the event, you may submit questions concerning these Guidelines to  email us. During the event, you should contact the contest coordinators (usually in the Royal Room). 

            We reserve the right (on our own initiative) to assign a dancer to a different division than the one suggested by these  Guidelines in order to avoid an inappropriate assignment. 

Novice Division—  

           Generally, this division will be appropriate for you if:  

            (1) you are proficient in the basics of West Coast Swing/Push/Whip dancing, and

            (2) you do not normally compete in Intermediate or higher level Jack & Jill divisions at events reporting points in the WSDC registry, and  you have not earned Intermediate or higher level WSDC points.

Generally, you may continue to compete in this Novice division until you have both  won a WSDC Novice Jack & Jill division and earned 20 or more WSDC Novice points at events reporting points in the WSDC registry.    

Intermediate Division--  

            Generally, this division will be appropriate for you if:  

            (1) you do not typically compete in Advanced or higher level Jack & Jill divisions at events reporting points in the WSDC registry and have not earned Advanced or higher level WSDC points, and

            (2) you have earned 20 or more Novice WSDC points and are ready to compete at this level or you have earned Intermediate level WSDC points and typically compete at the Intermediate Jack & Jill level at events reporting points in the WSDC registry.

            Generally, you may continue to compete in this Intermediate division until  you have both won an Intermediate Jack & Jill division at an event reporting points in the WSDC registry  and earned 20 or more Intermediate level WSDC points.

 Advanced Division--

             Generally, this division will be appropriate for you if you typically compete in Advanced or higher level Jack & Jill divisions at events reporting points in the WSDC registry, and you have earned Advanced or higher level WSDC points. You may compete in this division if you have accumulated 20 or more Intermediate division WSDC points and are ready to compete at this level.

MUSIC

35. All contestants (except those in Strictly Swings and Jack & Jills) must provide a CD with the location of their music clearly labeled.

NOTE - we may cancel (or reduce the prize fund in) any division for which fewer than three entries are received

Any Questions? Email Us