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Rules & Regulations

General Rules

  1. ALL COMPETITORS AND SPECTATORS must have an admission ticket for the day. Entry fees (registration fees) are additional.

  2. No entry may be accepted that does not include any required entry fee. 

  3. All competitors need to check heat lists as soon as they are posted and email the registrar regarding any mistakes by the Monday of the week of the competition.

  4. All competitors must check in with the registrar at least 1 hour in advance of their scheduled time to dance.

  5. All competitors are required to be in the on-deck area at least 30 minutes in advance of their scheduled time to dance.

  6. No person may compete in an age classification lower than their own. A couple’s age classification eligibility is defined as the age of the older partner. However, this definition does not allow the younger member of the partnership to dance up two age levels. Specifics are listed below:

  7. NDCA rule X.C.8. will always apply, which does not allow any competitor to dance in three consecutive skill levels in the same age category, specifically Novice, Pre-Championship, and Championship.

 

Age Category Classifications

 

OPEN CATEGORIES

Age classifications will become effective on the individual’s actual birthday. On a year where a competitor is going to move from one classification to the next they may make this change anytime during a 60-day period that begins 30 days prior to their birthday and ends 30 days following their birthday.

  • Pre-Teen: 11th birthday or less

  • Junior: 12th through 15th birthday

    • Junior 1: 12th through 13th birthday

    • Junior 2: 14th through 15th birthday

  • Youth: 16th, 17th or 18th birthday

  • Adult: 19th birthday or greater

  • Senior: 35th birthday or greater

 

 

SYLLABUS CATEGORIES

The following designations will be used for the syllabus categories. The following categories will be used for competitors who are in the following grades this school year:

  • Elementary School: Grades K – 6

  • Junior High School: Grades 7 – 9

  • High School: Grades 10 – 12

  • Adult: Graduated high school

Youth competitors turning 19 years of age during the school year may still dance in the Youth or High School age categories until they have graduated from high school.

Elementary school competitors may not dance in the High School category even if partnered by a Junior High or High School competitor.

Junior High competitors may dance up one designation to the High School category, but only as defined in entry restrictions below.

 

Entry Restrictions

 

  1. Competitors who dance in a syllabus event may not dance in any open event of the same style, and vice versa.

  2. Competitors may dance up one age classification only in each competition style.

  3. A couple is defined in the traditional Ballroom Genre and in all dance genres included in championships, competitions, and events sanctioned by the National Dance Council of America, Inc. as a leader and follower without regard to the sex or gender of the dancer. This rule applies to all classifications of dancers, professional, amateur, pro/am student competitors, student/student, and mixed amateur.

  4. No couple is exempt from competing in any round. Any couple who fails to appear at the scheduled time for the first round of any event will be disqualified from the event.

  5. All international style syllabus competitions are restricted to the ISTD Bronze, Silver & Gold syllabus. Newcomer and American style syllabus events may use any syllabus from member organizations of the NDCA as well as the BYU or UBEA syllabus. Couples must dance within the framework of the accepted syllabi, including precedes and follows, and without embellishment. For ISTD syllabus events, all figures must be danced as defined in the ISTD technique book. Partial figures may not be utilized unless so specified in the “precedes and follows” sections. Couples dancing out of syllabus will first be given a warning, and will be disqualified if the issue is not solved. 

  6. A competitor is eligible to dance in the “Newcomer” event (Elementary, Junior High, High School) if the partnership has been together for less than one year.

  7. Any competitor who wears a costume deemed by the organizers to be unsuitable will be requested to change. If such request is not followed, the competitor will not be allowed to dance and their entry will be cancelled without a refund of fees. See below for specific costume rules.

INFRINGEMENTS OF THE RULES WILL BE GIVEN A WARNING AND ASKED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IF THE INFRINGEMENT IS NOT RESOLVED BY THE NEXT ROUND, ORGANIZERS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO DISQUALIFY A COMPETITOR.

 

Costume and Competition Attire

 

SYLLABUS EVENTS - ELEMENTARY, JUNIOR HIGH, & HIGH SCHOOL

Ladies
Skirt and top must be worn
Skirts:

  • Skirt must be black and at least knee length.

  • Plain or pleated with minimum 1 to maximum 3 half circles. One simple underskirt allowed which is no larger or longer than top layer.

  • No uneven hem lines, no use of boning, frills, splits, openings, fishing line or edging (including lettuce edging). Edging or trim of any kind, including ribbon, satin, lace, sequins, etc., is not allowed.

  • A simple hem is required.

Top

  • Must be black.

  • Necklines - Boat/scoop, high neck, v-neck, sweetheart, ‘peter pan’ collar, and regular collar are allowed.

  • Edging or trim of any kind including ribbon, satin, lace, sequins etc. is not allowed.

  • Sleeves (required) - Long, short, elbow length, cap, or puff are allowed. Cannot be replaced by trimmings, frills, or edging on the shoulder line. No “finger loops” allowed.

Materials

  • No glitter, metallic thread, or fabric creating ‘light or pattern effects’.

  • No use of feathers, fringes, bows, belts, frills or sequins.

Socks - White ankle socks or flesh colored pantyhose or fishnets must be worn.
Other

  • No use of arm bands, chokers or headbands.

  • No decoration is allowed on skirt or top.

  • A small head decoration, such as a flower or pin, IS allowed.

  • Small earrings allowed.

  • Basic makeup allowed.

  • Gathering or sheering on the bodice is not allowed.

Gentlemen
Trousers

  • Black or dark blue color only.

  • High waist optional.

  • Underfoot strap optional.

  • Satin stripes allowed.

Shirts

  • Plain white long sleeved collared shirt only.

  • No pleats or ribbing.

  • Sleeves to be worn at wrist length.

Materials

  • Fabrics must be plain, i.e.: cotton, polyester, cotton/polyester blend, wool blend.

  • No satin or shiny fabrics.

  • No rhinestones, glitter, metallic thread, patterns or sequins allowed.

Decorations – not allowed.
Tie - Black color only, may be either straight or bow.
Socks - Black or dark blue color only.
Shoes - No restrictions.
Makeup - Not allowed.
Hairstyle - Long hair must be worn in a ponytail.
Other

  • Sweaters and vest not allowed.

  • No earrings allowed.

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ADULT SYLLABUS

- Outfit must be appropriate to the style.

 

OPEN EVENTS - PRE-TEEN 1 & 2

Gentlemen: Same as Syllabus costume restrictions above, however, gentlemen may substitute a black shirt or dark blue pants or dark blue socks.

Ladies: Same as Syllabus costume restrictions above, plus the NDCA restrictions apply. Click on these links for the full NDCA Costume Restrictions (pages 38-40) and helpful examples. Must have block heel style not to exceed 1.5 inches in height. Either white socks or nudge colored pantyhose must be worn.

*Pre-Teen 2 competitors who dance up to Junior categories must remain in the approved Pre-Teen costumes.*

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No responsibility for loss or theft of articles left in Changing Rooms, Ballrooms or Event Center can be accepted by the Organizers, and neither can they be held liable for injury sustained by persons attending this event. Everyone attending does so at his or her own risk.

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