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Competitors are responsible for adhering to event rules, regardless of whether they have read them or not. … SO PLEASE READ THE RULES.

All Competitions – Prizes will be awarded in all divisions that have at least 5 leaders and 5 followers. Should any significant changes in the schedule be required, these changes will be announced and clearly posted. The organizer may, at its discretion, cancel or combine any competition for which it feels insufficient entries have been received. In the event a competition is cancelled, all entrance fees will be refunded.

Pro-Am Competitions

Pro-Am competitions are designed to allow an amateur to compete with a professional. In a Pro-Am, only the amateur is evaluated.

Categories and Levels

• An amateur cannot compete in the same category & dance at two different levels (i.e. Novice WCS Leader & Intermediate WCS Leader)
• Amateurs can dance in only one level (Novice, Intermediate) per dance (WCS, Hustle), per category (leader, follower).
• Different pros may be chosen by the amateur when dancing a different dance or category.
• Levels work on an honor system. If you have won a novice Pro-Am at least twice at a prior event, we request that you compete at the open level.
• Those who do not teach the dance in which they are competing may compete as an amateur dancer in this competition.
• Maximum entries for pros/teachers are 5 students per division (that is a pro may have a maximum of 5 difference amateur partners per division). A division is defined as “Pro-Am Novice WCS”
• No lifts, drops or partner supported moves are allowed
• No choreographed entrances or exits
• Costumes and props are not allowed. Coordinating attire is acceptable
• Partners do not have to adhere to normal Male lead/Female follow roles

Jack & Jill Competitions

Jack & Jill competitions are designed to showcase a competitor's skills in spontaneous swing dancing and their ability to dance well with a variety of partners.  Competitors enter individually and are randomly assigned to several partners.

Preliminaries – Each dancer will be judged individually as a leader or a follower
Finals – You will be judged and scored as a couple

• All dancing in Jack & Jill competitions is to be Male Lead/Female Follow. Partner selection is luck of the draw.
• During the preliminaries, couples will be judged in heats and will rotate partners as many times as deemed necessary by the judges.
• Should there be an imbalance in the number of leaders and followers entered in the contest, some contestants may be required to dance in more than one heat.
• If semi-finals are required, an announcement will be made regarding the time and number of dancers chosen to advance. Couples will be judged in heats and will rotate partners as many times as deemed necessary by the judges.
• In the finals, dancers will be randomly paired with one partner. The dancers will not rotate and will be judged as a couple. All finals will be judged in heats.
• Contest music and the order in which it is played will be selected by the DJ's.

Jack & Jill Levels

This is a World Swing Dance Council Registry Event. We will be using the WSCD Jack & Jill Points Registry to determine your division. The registry provides the points resulting from participation in national swing dance competitions. Regardless of points earned, a competitor may option to remain in a lower division until he/she has taken a first place win.

• Newcomer ( 0-4 Newcomer points) - This division is intended for beginner and intermediate dancers with limited competition experience.
• Novice ( 0-19 Novice points) - This division is intended for intermediate dancers with some previous competition experience.
• Intermediate ( 0-24 Intermediate points) - This division is intended for intermediate dancers with significant competition experience.
• Advanced ( 0-39 Advanced points) - This division is intended for advanced dancers with extensive competition experience at the national level.
• Masters - This division is for competitors over the age of 50 at time of event. There are no points criteria for entry and the World swing dance council no longer tracks registry points in this division. You may enter Masters and another swing Jack & Jill contest at the skill level you are qualified for.

Strictly Swing Competitions

This will be an Open Strictly Swing – You pick your partner.  We pick the music.

• Competitors enter as a couple.
• All dancing in the Strictly Swing competitions is to be lead/follow.
• Contest music and the order in which it is played will be selected by the DJ’s.
• Costumes are prohibited, though coordinating attire is acceptable.
• All scheduled preliminary competitions may be run as finals if the head judge deems it appropriate.
• All rounds will be danced in heats.
• Partners do not have to adhere to normal Male lead/Female follow roles

Rising Star

This division includes routines which 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 3½ minutes.

• Routines must include at least 75% recognizable swing, or hustle 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.

Eligibility for Competitions

• Competitors must purchase a full weekend pass.
• Competitors must register for each competition by the entry deadline.
• Competitors must pay the required entry fees.
• Competitors must sign the appropriate waivers before competing.
• Competitors must attend all competitors meetings related to their event.
• Competitors must wear assigned numbers on their backs during all competitions. During the Strictly Swing contests and Jack & Jill finals, only leaders are required to wear numbers.
• There is no age restriction on the competitions.
• Competitors under eighteen years of age must have a parent or guardian sign a permission waiver and any other event forms that may be required.

Competitor's Responsibilities

• Competitors must demonstrate good sportsmanship, both on and off the competition floor.
• Competitors must attend all competitors meetings related to their event.
• Each competitor must sign the appropriate waiver before competing. No competitor will be permitted to compete without a signed waiver.
• Competitors should be in the ballroom at least 10 minutes prior to the start of a competition.
• Results will be posted for viewing after the awards ceremony.

Competition Rules

Lifts,  Breakaway, Routines are NOT permitted in Jack’N’Jill or Strictly Swing Competitions. Drops will be permitted ONLY in Intermediate, Advanced, and Open divisions.

·        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.

·        Lifts - Any move 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.

·        Routine - Any segment which, in the opinion of the judges, consists of prearranged choreography (to include symmetric or complementary movements or footwork)

·        Violation - An apparently intentional breach of the rules. Each violation shall be penalized by a drop of one or more positions in the final placement of the competition or disqualification from the event. Each violation shall be penalized at the discretion of the judge observing the violation. Examples of violations include, but are not limited to, a lift during a West Coast Swing Jack & Jill competition, the use of an apparent routine during the Strictly Swing competition, or breach of good sportsmanship.

·        Drop – Any move where one partner’s head drops below the waistline of the other partner.

·        Costumes – Attire which, in the opinion of the judges, are specifically designed or selected for couples competition and would not generally be worn for social dancing.

·        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.

·        Props - Throw away skirts, shirts, scarves, etc are considered props in this context and are not allowed. Anything other than what would be considered acceptable clothing.