Competitors

This is a USA Dance Sanctioned National Qualifying Event

The USA Dance Rulebook will be Strictly Enforced  Click Here to download the USA Dance Rulebook
All Competitors must be USA Dance Competitive members.

Please bring your USA Dance membership card on the day of the competition. If you are not yet a member or need to renew,please register online at www.usadance.org.


Competitors under 18 years of age MUST have this release signed by a parent or legal guardian. Please bring a signed release form with you at registration, or be accompanied by your legal guardian who may sign it at registration.

All entrants will be required to sign the following release upon pick up of registration packages.

Click Here for Form

Eligibility

Every competitor must be an amateur.  Every adult competitor, with the exception of Newcomer (see below), must be a currently registered DanceSport Athlete member of USA Dance or other member organization of the IDSF in good standing.  Every preteen, junior, youth competitor must be a registered Student member of USA Dance in good standing.

Newcomers are defined as couples in which neither member has ever danced as an amateur couple in a ballroom competition.  They are restricted to the first five steps of the Bronze level. Newcomers may choose to dance both the Newcomer events and the Bronze syllabus events.  Competitors who sign up for Bronze events must be registered as Athlete members.  Otherwise, Newcomers need only be registered USA Dance members in good standing of any type (Social member, Ballroom Dancer or Athlete).

Dancers need not dance with the same partner for all events; however they may dance with only one partner per event.  Dancers may compete in as many events as they are eligible to enter, but must abide by the rules of each event.  For instance, Gold steps are not allowed in Silver or Bronze.  Entry into multiple age and skill levels may result in shorter than normal break times between heats.  They may not compete in any classification below the minimum proficiency level for which they are eligible.

The current USA DanceSport Rulebook sets the guidelines for this competition and is available for viewing and/or printing on the USA DANCE web site at: www.usadance.org. 

(Click Competition Dancing then USA Dance Dancesport Rulebook.)

This is a national qualifying event.

As such, athletes can earn proficiency points and are subject to anti-doping controls.  Both partners must be eligible for each event they enter and shall not compete in any classification below the minimum proficiency level for which they are eligible (see Rulebook, Rule 4.6).  Competitors are responsible for verifying their proficiency points, so please check your accumulated proficiency points before registering.

Age Categories

Pre-Teen:  The elder partner is 11 years old or younger.
Junior:       The elder partner is 12 to 15 years old.
Youth:       The elder partner is 16 to 18 years old.
Adult:        The elder partner is 19 years old or older.
Senior I:     Both partners must be 35 years old or older.
Senior II:     Both partners must be 45 years old or older.
Senior III:   Both partners must be 55 years old or older.
Senior IV:   Both partners must be 65 years old or older.
Theater Arts/Cabaret: Both partners must be 16 years old or older.

Eligible athletes may only compete in two consecutive age categories held at a given competition in any given style and proficiency level.

Prior written approval of a parent or legal guardian is required for all athletes under the age of 18.

TO REGISTER FOR ACTUAL EVENTS, PLEASE FOLLOW THE WDSF RULES AND ENTER THE AGE CATEGORY THAT CORRESPONDS TO YOUR BIRTH YEAR, NOT YOUR ACTUAL BIRTH DATE.

Awards and Scholarships

Medals will be presented to the top three couples in each event. Ribbons will be presented through 6th place and to couples in noncompetitive heats.  Winners of the Nine and Ten Dance and other Championship level winners will receive special recognition. Scholarships will be awarded to winners of selected events.  Awards ceremonies will be held following final heats throughout the competition. 

General Format and Entry Divisions

Events consist of one, two, three, four or five dances in succession without leaving the dance floor.  Nine and ten dance events will also be offered, but the dances are divided between Smooth/Standard and Rhythm/Latin and not danced consecutively. The best combined score for all dances in each event will determine places in that event.  The scoring system used is the skating system.  For all multi-dance events, couples must dance each dance in the event.  Events may be separated into two or more heats at the discretion of the Chairman of Judges. Depending upon the number of couples entered, some age groups may dance at the same time as others, even though each group is being judged as a separate event.  The competition chairperson reserves the right to combine or cancel events for which there are an insufficient number of entries. 

The on-deck system will be used for all events.  Competitors must be in the ballroom and ready to dance 30 minutes prior to the scheduled time for the event in which they are competing.  They must report to the Deck Captain two heats prior to their event.  Any competitor who does not take the floor by the time the music begins will be disqualified from that event.

Syllabus Events are restricted to the approved syllabus of the DanceSport Council, located in the Appendix of the current Rulebook.  Competitors must limit their figures to those of the approved syllabus and ability classifications.  The Invigilator will report any violations in restricted syllabus events to the Chairman of Judges.  The couple involved will be given a verbal warning if the violation occurs in a round prior to the final round or reduced to last place in that dance in a final round

As a general rule, athletes may participate in a maximum of two proficiency levels and they must be consecutive.  Since there are some complexities in this rule, competitors are encouraged to read the rulebook regarding proficiency levels.

NOTE:  Events offered in the Senior IV age group are not sanctioned events. Newcomer, Nine Dance and Ten Dance are also not sanctioned Events.

ENTRIES ARE NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT PAYMENT!

AFTER September 5, 2012, a $20 late fee will be added to your account.

DEADLINE FOR NAME LISTING IN PROGRAM: September 10, 2012

ENTRY FEES INCLUDE ADMISSION INTO BALLROOM for all sessions in which your event is being run. If you wish to watch any other sessions, you must buy the appropriate Spectator Tickets Here

CANCELLATION POLICY: Competitors, please email the Registar if you need to cancel.

Competitors who cancel by September 5, 2012 will receive a 90% refund;
After September 5, with acceptable medical documentation of inability to compete, 85% refund;
After Septmber 5, without medical documentation, 75% refund;

We will not refund “per event” entry fees for scratched events, nor will we refund any late fees. Please allow us 30 days after the end of the event to process and forward your refund.

After midnight (EST) on September 10, 2012, entries will only be taken via email. You will need to email Denise Martine, our Registar, and the entries will be accepted only if the entry will not add an additional round. Your name WILL NOT be in the program!