Competition Rules

General Competition Rules

Eligibility requirements

To compete at our event, you must:

  • Have a pass eligible for comps
  • Register for each competition by the official entry deadline. (See the weekend schedule.)
  • Pick up your bib number during comp registration and wear it (unless asked otherwise by the event)
  • Pay any required entry fees.
  • Meet all other specific entry requirements outlined in these rules.

Multiple registrations

Multiple registrations are allowed. You may choose to enter any competitions for which you meet the specific entry requirements. However, if you enter more than one couples competition (Strictly Swing, Open Routine), you must dance with a different partner each time. It is possible to compete in one skill level division and additionally in any open/age-based divisions. For WSDC Jack & Jill competitions, it is possible to compete in 2 skill level division under some circumstances. Please refer to the official WSDC rules for details.

Dancing in a non-traditional role

You are allowed to enter any competition in any role if possible by competition rules. You can dance in different competitions in different roles. You cannot dance the same competition in both roles.

Submitting a petition

If you want to enter a competition for which you do not meet the entry requirements, or want to change divisions, you should submit a petition. When you register, request a petition form. Fill out the form and submit it before the registration deadline. Include contact information (such as your cell phone number) so staff may reach you during the event.

The chief judge will review your petition and approve or deny your request. Our competition staff will notify you as soon as possible of the decision.

If you are requesting to change divisions, you should be prepared to compete in the original division if your petition is denied. If you qualify for a higher division, but the points are not listed in the registry database yet, please fill out a petition and include the event, placement and tier of the competition as well as a contact for the event so we are able to verify.

Appropriate Behaviour and Dress Code

Any action that the judges believe would make them uncomfortable in a social dance setting (such as wearing inappropriate attire, showing disrespect toward one’s partner, other dancers, or the event) is prohibited. Competitors should check with the organizer(s) or chief judge in advance if they have any questions.

Responsibilities of Competitors

  • Competitors should check the weekend schedule in advance in order to arrive in time to meet registration deadlines. They should bring appropriate competition attire. They should also plan ahead so as to be on-time for all marshaling and competitions. Competitors are responsible for checking at the event for any changes to previously announced schedules, which are always subject to change.
  • All competitors should read these rules carefully prior to attending the contestant meeting for their competition. Competitors are responsible for adhering to these rules whether they have read them or not. Questions about the rules should be addressed to the organizer(s) or the chief judge.
  • Competitors should be present in the ballroom or in the marshaling area at least 15 minutes prior to the start of their competition marshalling. Failure to arrive at your scheduled marshalling times may lead to disqualification.
  • Any cancellation or disqualification by a competitor or couple after the registration deadline will result in the loss of the entry fee.
  • Competitors must demonstrate good sporting conduct at all times, both on and off the dance floor. Competitors may not speak to judges regarding their placements or scores until after the awards have been given. It is bad sportsmanship to badger or argue with judges about placements and scores. Competitors must also refrain from any behavior that the judges deem inappropriate. Failure to adhere to this code of behavior may result in disqualification.

Our verification of your eligibility

We will verify that you are eligible for the competitions you enter by checking the World Swing Dance Council (WSDC) Points Registry and other sources of information, if applicable. In some cases (for example, if you submit a petition or do not have the required WSDC points), we may reassign you to a different division. (See WSDC for details about points.) If you have concerns that other contestants are entered in an incorrect division or are ineligible, please inform our chief judge privately, as soon as possible. We will investigate and take appropriate action, if necessary.

If we determine before or during a competition that you have registered for the wrong division or are not eligible, we will reassign you to the correct division (if possible) or allow you to withdraw. If we discover your error after the finals, we may drop you (and your partner) out of awards. If we made the error and assigned you incorrectly, no penalty will be applied.

Requesting a restart

This only applies to Spotlighted dances. You may request a restart only in certain cases, such as:

  • You break a shoe or lose a vital piece of clothing.
  • The DJ plays the wrong music for your routine.
  • The sound system fails during your dance. You may not request a restart simply because you are dissatisfied with your performance, partner, or music, or because you fail to remember part of your routine. You must request a restart prior to your departure from the floor, and our chief judge must approve your request.
  • The chief judge may also call for a restart at any time.

Changes to These Rules

The Organizer reserves the right to make any changes in schedule/format deemed necessary for any competition.

Jack & Jill

Jack & Jill competitions are designed to highlight skills in spontaneous West Coast Swing dancing with a variety of partners and music. A bit of “luck of the draw” comes into play as well. Competitors enter as individuals, are randomly assigned partners, and dance to music selected by our competition DJ.

Eligibility

To enter, you must be at least 13 years old. If you are under 18, you must have the consent of your parent or guardian to compete, and you should be comfortable social dancing with adults on a regular basis. You may choose to enter as either a “leader” or “follower.” There are no gender restrictions for your chosen role as long as you meet the following criteria:

  • You may enter only one Jack & Jill skill level division (Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Allstar, Champions) per role. You must remain in that same role throughout the competition (prelims, semifinals, and finals).
  • You may enter only Jack & Jill age division (Juniors, Sophisticated, Masters) you qualify for by your age at the time of the competition. You must choose which role you dance and you must remain in that same role throughout the competition (prelims, semifinals, and finals).
  • In most cases, you should enter the highest division for which you qualify in your chosen role.
    • If you want to enter a division for which you do not meet the entry requirements, or want to change divisions, or believe you qualify for a higher division, you should submit a petition. For example, if previous placements are not recorded in the WSDC Points Registry, list them in your petition.
    • If you are unclear about which division is right for you, check with our chief judge before you register.

Jack & Jill WSDC divisions

WSDC Jack & Jill follow the official WSDC rules. If event rules and WSDC rules should be incompatible, WSDC rules supersede the event rules.

Skill level divisions

  • Newcomer: no WSDC points at all / no WSDC points in that role for dual-dancers.
  • Novice: max. 30 Novice points
  • Intermediate: at least 16 Novice and max. 45 Intermediate points
  • Advanced: at least 30 Intermediate points and max. 90 Advanced points
  • All-Stars: at least 60 Advanced points and max. 225 All-Stars points
  • Champions: at least 150 All-Stars points or at least 1 Champions point

Age divisions

  • Juniors: younger than 18 years at the time of the competition
  • Sophisticated: older than 35 years at the time of the competition
  • Masters: older than 50 years at the time of the competition

Format

  • All dancing in our Jack & Jill competitions must be lead/follow. Pre-choreographed routines are not allowed.
  • Our judges will expect to see at least 90 percent recognizable swing content. For our Jack & Jill divisions, a majority of the swing content must be West Coast Swing.
  • You and your partner must maintain physical contact except for spins, turns, short breakaways, and recoveries.
  • Support moves must be lead/follow social dance patterns that take the safety of your partner and other couples into consideration. Any moves that our judges deem unsafe may earn a violation penalty. When in doubt, leave it out.
  • Costumes are not allowed. However, competition outfits suitable for social dancing are acceptable. Appropriate attire is required.
  • During the preliminary and semifinal rounds, you will dance in heats with several partners selected randomly. Although you will be judged individually on a callback basis, you must demonstrate good teamwork with all your partners to advance to the next round.
  • If there is an imbalance in the number of leaders and followers, some contestants will dance twice. However, even if your name is not called, you should remain in the ballroom throughout the competition, in case any additional competitors are needed at the last minute to dance again.
  • Our chief judge will determine the exact number of finalists after our scorer has tallied the results of the callbacks.
  • In the finals, we will use a random drawing (or some other random method) to determine your partner. No redraws will be permitted for any reason – it’s luck of the draw. Finalists will be judged as couples.
  • Additional all-skate dances in finals can be requested by the judges.
  • Eligible finalists in all divisions will earn WSDC points according to current WSDC rules.