COMPETITION RULES
Scoring of the Showcase Routines will be based upon the following criteria, and will be weighted in the scoring room in the following manner:
I. 20% Timing: Recognized Salsa Timing is designated for this competition as 1-2-3, 5-6-7. Competitors can choose to break ON 1 or ON 2, but must maintain consistency for the duration of the routine. The direction of the break step can be either to the front or the back, as long as the timing of the break is consistently maintained (either 1 and 5, or 2 and 6). The majority of the routine should show recognizable Salsa Timing.
II. 15% Musicality: Couples will demonstrate their ability to creatively work with the timing of their individual music. This can be done in a variety of ways, including patterns, footwork, “hits”, tricks, etc.
III. 15% Technique: Technique is reflected through balance, placement and line. This refers also to general technique for partner dance, where the movement is “grounded”, and there is clarity of proper weight changes from foot to foot. Technique and/or body styling that is specific to Salsa Dance. Movement should appear to be both clear and effortless.
IV. 15% Difficulty: Reflected by difficulty of patterns, turns, intricacy of shine movements, and level of tricks, dips, drops and flares.
Examples: The amount of turns done on both double and single foot. How intricate were the shines? In the cabaret division, what was the difficulty of the lift-work? Was it properly executed? How about jumps, kicks, extensions? Any movements requiring exceptional balance, flexibility or strength? In order to get credit for any of these things, the movement must be successfully executed.
V. 15% Partnering/Connection: This is reflected in the lead/follow aspect of the dance. Are partners truly connected, or are they merely executing choreography while holding hands? Synchronicity during side by sides or shines will also help determine the score in this category.
VI. 10% Choreography: The couple’s interpretation of the music. Good choreography should contain clever turn patterns and shines. All choreography should be musical, and couples should show a good usage of the space itself. Originality is a factor here.
VII. 10% Overall Presentation: You Will Be Judged By Your Overall Presentation. This includes costuming, showmanship, and also good sportsmanship.
CRITERIA
RULES
A. Partnerships in all Showcase Divisions will be designated as one male and one female partner unless specifically designated as a same gender division.
B. Time for Showcases: All Showcase Routines (ProAm, Amateur or Professional) should be no less than 1.5 minutes and no more than 2.5 minutes long. This includes optional entrance and/or exit music. These Time Limits apply for all Showcase routines in all Styles of Dance. Couples will have no more than 20 seconds to get into place for performance. Any choreography prior to the beginning of the music will be counted toward the overall timing of the performance. Likewise, dancers will have a maximum of 20 seconds at the conclusion of the performance to exit the floor.
C. Props are not allowed.
D. Salsa Cabaret or Bachata Cabaret Division: Tricks are allowed. Couples can choose to dance either On1 or On2, but must maintain consistent to that timing for the duration of the routine. Recognized timing for this competiton is 1-2-3, 5-6-7. Routines must be 50% recognizable salsa. The remaining 50% can be made up of tricks, flares, dips and side by sides (shines). Note: If the word “Classic” is not designated in the title of the Showcase division, it means the Couple or Team can elect to include lifts and tricks in the routine, but it is not a requirement.
E. "On1" , "On2" and Classic Bachata Showcase Divisions: One foot must remain on the floor at all times even during tricks. If both feet of either partner leave the floor via the assistance of the other partner, it will be considered a lift and there will be a 10% deduction from the final score. A maximum of 3 tricks/dips or flares are permitted for the routine. A maximum of 8 bars/32 Beats/4 counts of 8 are allowed for continuous turns. More than this will result in a penalty of 10% off off the final score. All Music for Classic style divisions must be a minimum of 80% recognizable music for that style of dance. Note: If the word “Classic” is not designated in the title of the Showcase division, it means the Couple or Team can elect to include lifts and tricks in the routine, but it is not a requirement.
F. Team Divisions: May utilize actual lifts and overheads. The same rules apply to this division as the Cabaret Division. Routines must be 50% Salsa Dancing. Amateur Teams must consist of All Amateur/Student Dancers. Pro Am Teams can have a maximum of 50% Professionals.
G. Music Format: Music for all Showcase Performances to be supplied in CD format. Music will be submitted and competition line up order to be drawn at the competitors meeting. Please see our Information page regarding music by clicking on Music CD Guidelines as written above.
H. Tricks, Dips, Drops, Leverage Moves and Flares: A trick is defined as any movement that requires the support of the other partner to maintain. This is regardless of whether the feet remain on the floor or not.
I. Continuous/Multiple Turns: Contestants are allowed a maximum of 8 Bars/32 Beats/4 Counts of 8 are allowed for continuous turns. More than this will result in a penalty of 10% off the final score.
J. Costumes: Costumes are not required, but are highly recommended. All costumes should be in good taste with all private parts covered by non-transparent material.
DEFINITION
Professional
Once a dancer competes as a Professional, they can no longer compete as an amateur. Professional dancers may compete with an amateur in the Pro-Am divisions.
Rising Star Professional
Rising Star is an entry level professional division. Once a dancer competes as a Rising Star Professional, they can no longer compete as an amateur. Rising Star Professional dancers may partner an amateur in the Pro-Am divisions. Rising Star Professionals may also compete in the Professional division.
Should a Rising Star professional win 3 competitions in a dance style with a minimum for 3 competitors, and/or make the final with a minimum of 8 competitors, they will not be permitted to compete in Rising Star in that style in the future. If a dancer wins Rising Star at an event in a style with a minimum of 3 competitors, they may not compete in Rising Star again at the specific event, in that specific style.
Amateur
Amateurs may not compete in Rising Star Professional, or Professional level competition, or as the Professional in a Pro-Am competition. Amateur level dancers may teach, and receive payment for teaching or performing.
Amateur Intermediate Showcase
Amateur Intermediate Showcase is an entry level amateur division. Should a dancer win Amateur Intermediate Showcase 3 times in a dance style with a minimum of 3 competitors, they will no longer be permitted to compete in Amateur Intermediate Showcase in that style in the future. Intermediate dancers can challenge Amateur Advanced Showcase as many times as they want, but if an Amateur Intermediate dancer wins the Amateur Advanced division with a minimum of 3 competitors, and/or makes the final with a minimum of 8 couples, they will no longer be permitted to compete in Amateur Intermediate Showcase in that style.
Amateur Advanced Showcase
An advanced amateur level of showcase competition. There are no limits to how many times a dancer can win Amateur Advanced Showcase.
Pro-Am Ladies
A professional dancer dancing with an amateur lady.
Pro-Am Men
A professional dancer dancing with an amateur man.
Showcase Divisions
Defined as a category where the partnership, the solo dancer or the team showcases their choreography and dances to the music of their choice.
Heated (Just Dance) Divisions
A category where all partners or couples dance together on the stage or floor to music that is selected by the organization or DJ. Heats generally last 1- 1.5 minutes. This is a lead/follow division, rather than choreographed and is designed to show the ability to connect with one's partner and display timing, musicality and creativity to whatever music is played. No lifts, tricks, flares or drops are permitted.
Professional Showcase & Heated Divisions
A couple is defined as one male and one female dancer.
Amateur Showcase Divisions
A couple is defined as one male and one female dancer.
Amateur and Pro Am Heated Divisions
A couple is defined as one lead and one follow.
Open Division
A competition division which is open to all levels (professional, rising star, amateur or a mix of all three), all ages and all styles unless the style is otherwise specified in the division title.
Team Division
A team must consist of a minimum of 3 dancers. No maximum number of dancers.
Pro-Am Team Showcase Divisions
A team must consist of a minimum of 3 dancers. No maximum number of dancers. At least one dancer must be a professional. At least one dancer must be an amateur.
Pro-Am Over 40 Divisions
Amateur partner must be 40 years of age or older on the day of the competition. A couple is defined as one lead and one follow (ie. a female instructor can lead a female student).
Pro-Am Over 50 Divisions
Amateur partner must be 50 years of age or older on the day of the competition. A couple is defined as one lead and one follow.
Amateur Over 40 Divisions
Defined as an amateur couple whose partners are BOTH 40 years of age or older on the day of the competition. A couple is defined as one male and one female.
Amateur Over 50 Divisions
Defined as an amateur couple whose partners are BOTH 50 years of age or older on the day of the competition. A couple is defined as one male and one female.
8 & Under
Dancers must 8 years of age or younger on the day of the competition to compete in this division.
12 & Under
Dancers must be 12 years of age or younger on the day of the competition to compete in this division.
17 & Under
Dancers must be 17 years of age or younger on the day of the competition to compete in this division.
Shines Showcase
A shines categories may include tricks but may not include lead and follow patterns.
Salsa
All styles of Salsa are accepted. Couples can choose to dance either On1 or On2 but must maintain consistent to that timing for the duration of the routine or heat. Recognized timing for this competition is 1-2-3/5-6-7.
HEATED DIVISIONS
A heated division is a lead/follow division, rather than a choreographed routine. Several couples dance on the floor at the same time. Contestants may dance up to two levels (their own level, plus one level up). No entrances or exits, lifts or tricks. A panel of judges will assign a score to each couple.
RULES :
Rhythm of dance must be maintained consistently throughout the performance.
No dips, lifts or tricks allowed.
Shines are permitted although not more than 20% of the performance may consist of shines or side by sides.
Must be recognizable Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha, Merengue, Hustle or West Coast Swing dancing according to the division.
Professionals in the Pro Am division may enter a maximum of 5 students in the exact same category and division (e.g.5 female students in Pro-Am Ladies Just Salsa On1 Novice).
Callbacks: If there are fewer than 12 entries in a division, there will likely be no callbacks (ie couples dance just one time). If there are 13-20 entries in a division, then between 6 and 10 couples will be called back to dance one more time to determine final placing. If there are more than 20 entries in a division, then competitors could be called back once or twice to determine final placing. Note: This is subject to change and is up to the discretion of the head judge and the competition managers and may be modified due to time constraints.
Music: In the Pro Am and Amateur Heated Divisions, the competitors will dance to music selected by the DJ. One song will be played in each heat for 1:00-1:30 minutes. For beginner divisions, music will be a bit slower and easier to hear the beats. Music will be mid-tempo for Pre-Intermediate and Intermediate levels and fast music will be played for Pre-Advanced and Advanced divisions.
In the Professional Just Salsa, Just Hustle, Just Cha Cha, Just Bachata and Just Merengue heated divisions, 2 songs will be played, each for 1:00 - 1:30 seconds with a short pause in between the two songs.
Lifts: A lift is defined as any movement during which one of the dancers has both feet off the floor at the same time with the assistance or support of their partner. Whether the feet are 2 inches off the floor or 10 feet off the floor, this type of assisted movement will still be considered a lift or trick. In all heated divisions, no move in which both feet leave the ground at the same time with the assistance or support of their partner will be permitted. If both feet of either dancer leave the ground, points will be deducted. If any part of the body of either dancer is lifted above the partners’ shoulders, the couple will be disqualified with no refund.
Heated Divisions:
Beginner Level
This Beginner level supports good basic dancing and is designed for the beginner dancer/competitor. This level is comprised of basic foundation elements. Must maintain connection at all times (ie. no shines), no traveling across the room. Single and 1 ½ left turns allowed (ie Cross Body Lead) No double turns or multiple spins allowed. No consecutive 1 1/2 turns.
Guideline: will usually be students who have been dancing for less than a year and/or have never competed in a heated competition before.
Pre-Intermediate Level
The Pre-Intermediate level is for those dancers who are advanced beginners or taking Intermediate level classes and newer to competition. This level shows more rhythmic diversity and dancers can add more elements than just the basic foundations. Single and 1 1/2 turns allowed. Can include consecutive 1 1/2 turns (ie cross body lead). No multiple spins.
Guideline: will usually be students who have been dancing for at least a year and may or may not have competed before.
Intermediate Level
This level adds free spins, double turns, traveling in a straight line and everything that most dancers at a nightclub are doing. This level is good, social hustle or salsa or bachata. The Intermediate level adds rhythmic diversity with syncopations and more body movement and styling. Intermediate level patterns allowed including double turns, syncopations and shines. Multiple spins not allowed (ie more than a double).
Guideline: will usually be students who have been dancing at least 1-2 years, may or may not have competed before.
Pre-Advanced Level & Advanced Level
The Pre-Advanced and Advanced levels are for the more serious competitor. A dancer should be proficient in intermediate level material before advancing to the advanced level. The advanced level goes beyond good social dancing and is designed for dancers with strong technical skills, timing, musical interpretation and partnering skills. Anything goes – partnerwork, multiple spins, traveling, shines, intricate hand changes in patterns, multiple touch and go spot turns, etc. Must still be lead follow but styling and musicality can be incorporated. No dips, lifts or tricks allowed.
Guideline: will usually be students who have been dancing at least 2 years or may have competed before or been on a student performance team or amateur team.