2011 CONTEST INFORMATION

18 FABULOUS CONTESTS!

NASDE Classic NASDE Showcase Champions Strictly Swing Masters Strictly Swing
Novice Strictly Swing Intermediate Strictly Swing Advanced Strictly Swing Advanced J & J
Intermediate J & J Novice J & J Female Pro/Am Male Pro/Am
Novice Traditional Masters (Routines) Swing Teams Cabaret
AllStar J & J Invitational J & J

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, Hand Dancing, Steppin' and Swing Out.

  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 not prohibited in any non-NASDE division.

Eligibility

  1. 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 Judy Wooten in advance for guidance in particular situations.

  2. 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 (a) danced in “Open Class” competition at a multi-club association sponsored state or regional competition or equivalent, excluding invitational events,  (b) danced as the “Pro” in any swing competition Pro/Am division, (c) won any NASDE division at any NASDE competition, or (d) won Masters (routines) at Dallas D.A.N.C.E.

  3. 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

  1. 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).

Online Registration / Dancers Meetings / Deadlines for Waivers and Entry Fees

Online Registration is available for all competitions... first in/last dance (except Strictly Swing and Jack & Jill Divisions. Entry fees must be paid online to complete registration, otherwise, sign up at the event.

If you are pre-registered for your contests you DO NOT have to attend the dancers meeting. :)

Pre-Register at www.swingdirector.com 

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

  2. There is a SINGLE dancers’ meeting for both days (Saturday and Sunday) comps on Saturday morning in the Venetian Room.  Starting at 10 a.m. SHARP!

  3. 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

  1. 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, 2011 , to dance in Masters or Masters Strictly Swing. Dancers must be 10 years of age by December 31, 2011, to dance in any other division except Cabaret.

COMPETITIVE DIVISIONS
 NASDE Divisions (Classic and Showcase)

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

Traditional Style Swing Divisions

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

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

  3. 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.

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

Masters

  1. Dancers may compete in both Masters (Routines)  and Masters Strictly Swing, but only with different partners.

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

Swing Teams

  1. Each swing 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.

  2. Each team must dance at least 2½ 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.

    3. Cabaret

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

    5. Strictly Swing Divisions

    Novice Strictly Swing:
    1. Any dancer that qualifies may enter this category.
    2. This is a Swing category and dance content must be 90% that style.
    3. This is a lead/follow category and no choreographed routines are allowed.
    4. No lifts, drops or aerials and no planned entrances or exits allowed.
    5. Couples will dance approximately two (2) minutes to music provided by  Dallas D.A.N.C.E.. The music will be selected at random and the couples will be given no prior music information.
    6. No Costumes Allowed.

    Intermediate Strictly Swing:
    1. Any dancer that qualifies may enter this category.
    2. This is a Swing category and dance content must be 90% that style.
    3. This is a lead/follow category and no choreographed routines are allowed.
    4. No lifts, drops or aerials and no planned entrances or exits allowed.
    5. Couples will dance approximately two (2) minutes to music provided by  Dallas D.A.N.C.E.. The music will be selected at random and the couples will be given no prior music information.
    6. No Costumes Allowed.

    Advanced Strictly Swing:
    1. Any dancer that qualifies may enter this category.
    2. This is a Swing category and dance content must be 90% that style.
    3. This is a lead/follow category and no choreographed routines are allowed.
    4. No lifts, drops or aerials and no planned entrances or exits allowed.
    5. Couples will dance approximately two (2) minutes to music provided by Dallas D.A.N.C.E.  Music will be selected at random and the couples will be given no prior music information.
    6. No Costumes Allowed.

  5. There are no limits to the number of entries. Four distinct contests Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, and Champions.

  6. 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 5:30 p.m. Preliminaries will be danced in heats to sets of songs of varying tempos and styles.

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

      

    8. Jack & Jill Divisions (Other Than Invitational)

  8. TThere are no limits to the number of entries. Pre-register @ www.swingdirector.com.   Late entrants can sign up at Ticket Sales outside the Regency Ballroom until 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

  9. Competitors will dance as male leaders and female followers in preliminary (and, if necessary, semifinal) heats, each dancer rotating among partners and being judged as individuals.

  10. 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.

  11. All Star - TThis division is for dancers and teachers with significant competition experience and will earn both WSDC and NASDE Jack & Jill points.To assist dancers in deciding which J & J division they wish to enter, guidelines based on the WSDC's registry of points is available for review at www.swingdancecouncil.com and at the registration table. Jack & Jill sign-up is available online.  www.SwingDirector.com

    MUSIC

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

    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.

     

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

    CONTEST

    Limited

    Entries

    Prelims

    No. in

    Finals

    Prizes

    Trophies

    Classic

    NO

    NO

    N/A

    1200/600/300
    200/100

    1st -5th

    Showcase

    NO

    NO

    N/A

    1200/600/300
    200/100

    1st – 5th

    Champions Strictly Swing

    NO

    ?

    ~10

    750/350/200
    150/100

    1st – 5th

    Male Pro/Am

    12

    NO

    N/A

    500/250/100

    1st – 5th

    Female Pro/Am

    12

    NO

    N/A

    500/250/100

    1st – 5th

    Novice Traditional

    15

    NO

    N/A

    400/200/100

    1st – 5th

    Masters

    10

    NO

    N/A

    500/250/100

    1st -- 5th

    Cabaret

    12

    NO

    N/A

    1000/500/250
    150/100

    1st – 5th

    Swing Teams

    10

    NO

    N/A

    500-5000

    (See #24)

    Novice Strictly

    NO

    YES

    ~8

    300/150/100

    1st – 5th

    Intermediate Strictly

    NO

    YES

    ~8

    325/165/100

    1st – 5th

    Advanced Strictly

    NO

    YES

    ~8

    350/175/100

    1st – 5th

    Masters Strictly

    NO

    YES

    ~5

    400/200/100

    1st – 5th

    Novice J & J

    NO

    YES

    ~8

    300/150/100

    1st – 5th

    Intermediate J & J

    NO

    YES

    ~8

    350/175/100

    1st – 5th

    Advanced J & J

    NO

    YES

    ~8

    400/200/125

    1st – 5th

    All-Star J & J

    NO

    ?

    ~8

    500/250/150

    1st – 5th

    Inv. J & J

    NO

    NO

    N/A

    1000/500/250
    150/100

    1st – 5th

     

    Judging  

  13. Judging panels will be selected from a cross-section of experienced judges and accom-plished dancers. Scoring for all contests (except preliminaries) will utilize the Relative Placement System. Scores will be posted after the awards ceremonies.

  14. Best wins.  Judges will have the freedom to judge the overall performance of the dancers based upon the following criteria:

    PRESENTATION AND MUSICAL INTERPRETATION:  Dancing with confidence and charisma, creating interest in the performance, regardless of the style. Responding to the music by taking the dance beyond a mere combination of patterns.

    TEAMWORK/CONNECTION: An appropriate and confident lead combined with response without fault or hesitation; the attractive give-and-take of a couple dancing as a balanced partnership.

    TECHNIQUE:  The command of the fundamental elements of dance; the eveident ease and clean execution of the performance (especially of more difficult elements).

    TIMING/RHYTHM:  The appropriate matching of body motions and footwork to the meters and rhythms of the music.

    MISCELLANEOUS

    Video Tapes

  15. A form to order VHS or DVDs of Dallas D.A.N.C.E. 2011 will be available in the pro-gram. All filming will be done by the Dallas Push Club only. Dallas D.A.N.C.E. 1987-2011 (except 2003 & 2004) tapes/DVDs may be ordered from Michael Myatt at the video booth at the event or at (817) 307-2924. Dallas D.A.N.C.E. 2003, 2004 tapes/DVDs are available from Thumbs-Up Video, www.thumbsupvideo.com. Note that individual division tapes also are available.

    Still Photographer

  16. Various Photographers will be making their photo's available after Dallas D.A.N.C.E. weekend via facebook and other persona websites. See the Dallas D.A.N.C.E. website for links.

    Contact

  17. Mail any/all of the following to Terry Rippa (502 Lakeside, Mesquite, TX 75149. Tele-phone (214) 526-8889:

    A. All Entry/Waiver Forms for contestants except online registration at    www.SwingDirector.com

    B. All checks for Pre-Sale Weekend Tickets with return address.

    C. All spectator ticket requests.


    Make all checks payable to Dallas Push Club. Credit cards accepted.
    NO cash accepted by mail.           

    Fairmont Hotel

  18. All events, possibly excepting those on Thursday evening, will be held in the Regency Ballroom. BRING YOUR FAVORITE CLUB JACKET: the ballroom will be cool.

    DALLAS D.A.N.C.E. Committee

  19. All preparations and operations will be made by the Dallas D.A.N.C.E. Committee.
    All decisions made by the directors are final.

    Private Lessons

  20. All workshop instructors will be available throughout Labor Day Weekend to teach private lessons. Contact the instructor of your choice at the hotel or, by email, using the links on the “Workshops and Private Lessons” page at www.DallasDANCE.com.

    Hospitality Room

  21. Coffee, Tropical Fruit Salad and Donut Holes will be available in the Pavilion Room - South Tower (Terrace Level) Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m.     (FOOD & DRINKS CONFINED TO HOSPITALITY ROOM ONLY)

    Dallas Push Club Members

  22. Pick up your ticket in the lobby at the Will Call/Ticket Sales table.

  23. The “Will Call” list will be available for review beginning approximately August 1st and will be updated periodically thereafter at www.DallasDANCE.com

    24. Any Questions? Email Us

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    hotel info judging info schedule N.A.S.D.E. dance links  
    entry/waiver form miscellaneous info winners page