Competitor Information

The final day for registration and payment is Thursday Feb 28th at 5pm ($10 late fee for payments received after this date). All divisions will be judged using the below criteria and guidelines. The judge’s decision will be final.

Eligibility: This competition is open to all dancers including non-Australian residents.

Registration Fee: $18 per dancer per event (except Solo Charleston and Jack ‘n’ Jill which are $15 each) which MUST be paid before the competition date. (There is a limit of 24 lead and 24 follow places for the Jack ‘n’ Jill, so register quickly)

Registration Fee Cap: There is a cap on the competition entry fee. This means as soon as your entry fee total hits $55 you pay no more. Technically, you can pay the cap amount and enter as many divisions as you like.

Comp Registration & Payment Deadline: Thursday 28th February, 2008. Registrations will not be accepted after this date. Payment for MLB is also due on this date and any late payments will incur a $10 late fee (no exceptions).

Swing Content: Each event must display a majority of recognizable swing content. This may include associated swing dances such as Balboa, Shag, Blues and 20’s Charleston. Aerials are allowed in all events.
Formats

The format for each division is explained within the division description. Should there be too few entries in any division to run heats, an instant final will be run. Should there be too many entrants in a division, then extra heats may be required on the night. All events with the phrase-by-phrase format will include a short un-judged all-skate before and after the phrase-by-phrase. The number of phrases and spotlights for each event may also vary… please read each event description carefully.

Prizes: Will be awarded for 3rd, 2nd and 1st in all divisions.
And finally…

Remember, dancing is about having fun…so have stacks of it!!!

Judging Criteria

Technique: The ability of the dancers to use core dance and movement technique to execute all of the above mentioned criteria.

Lead & Follow: The skill of clear leading and following techniques that enable the flow, individual expression, moves, musicality and execution of the dance.

Timing: How well the couple stays in time with the music and each other. Flow and connection.

Entertainment: The showmanship and entertainment value of the competitors. The dancer’s ability to engage the crowd.

Level of Difficulty: The complexity of the moves and interaction between the couple, lead and follow ability in the context of the moves and musicality. Innovation will also be considered under this criterion, being the ability of the couple to execute moves to the music that are clearly not scripted/choreographed moves (except the showcase division.)

Musicality: How the music is interpreted by a couple, suitable expression of the music, use of musical highlights. Interpretation and understanding of phrasings.

Definitions:

All Skate: Where all couples in an event dance on the floor at the same time.

Phase by phrase: A Jam format where each couple takes turns to perform solo for a set number of phrases and spotlights. Couples keep rotating through until they have all had the correct number of spotlights.
i.e. 1 phrase is equal to 4×8’s (Jazz phrasing) or 6×8’s (Blues Phrasing).
2 phrases are equal to 8×8’s (Jazz phrasing) or 12×8’s (Blues Phrasing).

Spotlight: Where one couple at a time takes the floor to dance on their own for a set time.

Swing: Any dance style that falls into the 30s/40s “swing era” ie. Balboa, Shag, 20s Charleston, Blues, Lindy Hop, Fast Lindy etc.