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Rules and Regulations
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The United States DanceSport Championships® are conducted under the rules and regulations governing competitions and championships recognized by the National Dance Council of America, Inc. Some of the NDCA rules that directly apply to amateur competitors, along with additional rules applied by the organizer follow:
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Formation Teams
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Rules
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The rules listed below come directly from the NDCA rule book with the exception of #11.d and #13 which apply specifically to this event.
1. DEFINITION OF COMPETITIVE STYLES
Formation dancing shall be in the following styles:
a. Standard/Smooth
b. Latin American/Rhythm
2. DANCES ALLOWED IN EACH STYLE
Formation teams may base their routines on the following dances for each style:
a. Teams in the Standard/Smooth Style may base their routines on the International Style Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, and Quickstep; and/or the American Style Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, and Viennese Waltz. No dances other than the ones listed will be allowed except for Adult teams.
b. Teams in the Latin American/Rhythm Style may base their routines on the International Style Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, and Jive; and/or the American Style Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Mambo, Bolero, Swing, and West Coast Swing. No dances other than the ones listed will be allowed except for Adult teams.
3. ELIGIBILITY & PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
a. In formation competitions the make-up of each formation team will be allowed as follows:
i. Pre-Teen Teams: Confined to Pre-Teens with the following exception: up to two Juniors may participate on a Pre-Teen formation team (one boy and/or one girl).
ii. Junior Teams: Confined to Juniors with the following exceptions: (a) any number of Pre-Teens may participate on a Junior team, and (b) up to two Youths may participate on a Junior formation team (one boy and/or one girl).
iii. Youth Teams: Confined to Youths with the following exception: any number of Juniors may participate on a Youth team.
iv. All age categories: All competitors may dance one time only in each style at any tournament.
v. Coaches may replace team members with reserves for any round in the contest. Substitutions may not occur during the actual time the team is on the floor competing.
b. Coaches of formation teams are required to submit a roster with the name and social security number of each competitor on their team, including reserves, at least 30 days prior to the competition.
4. SIZE OF FORMATION TEAMS
Teams of four, five, six, seven, or eight couples may compete in each formation style. A couple is one boy and one girl.
5. TIME RESTRICTIONS
a. Pre-Teen Formation Teams shall be limited to two minutes of music for their routine. Up to an additional thirty seconds will be allowed for their entrance and exit combined. This adds up to two and one-half minutes total on and off the floor.
b. Junior Formation Teams shall be limited to three minutes of music for their routine. Up to an additional thirty seconds will be allowed for their entrance and exit combined. This adds up to three and one-half minutes total on and off the floor.
c. Youth Formation Teams shall dance for a minimum of three minutes, but shall be limited to a maximum of four and one-half minutes of music for their routine. Up to an additional one minute will be allowed for their entrance and exit combined. This adds up to a maximum of five and one-half minutes total on and off the floor.
d. The timing of the formation team routine begins when the first person sets foot onto the dance floor. The timing ends when the last person on the team steps off the dance floor.
6. NUMBER OF DANCES
a. Pre-Teen formation teams shall be limited to one or two dances from the approved list for each style.
b. Junior formation teams shall be limited to one, two or three dances from the approved list for each style.
c. Youth formation teams must perform a minimum of three dances and up to a maximum of five dances from the approved list for each style.
d. Adult formation teams must perform a minimum of three dances and up to a maximum of five dances from the approved list for each style. Sixteen bars of one additional dance may be performed. This additional dance need not be one on the approved list for each style.
7. ENTRANCES AND EXITS
a. Pre-Teen and Junior formation teams are not allowed to use music for their entrance and exit. The team must remain motionless for a period of at least two seconds before the start of the music and then again at the end of the dance before they start their exit.
b. Youth formation teams are allowed to use music for their entrance and exit if desired. When music is used for the entrance and/or exit there must be either a "gong" sound or a complete break in the music for a space of at least two seconds that separates the entrance/exit from the routine music proper. The formation team must remain motionless during this break both before and after the routine proper.
8. LIFTS AND PROPERTIES
a. Lifts are not allowed at any time in any competitive age category for Pre-Teen, Junior, and Youth formation
teams. This includes the team's entrance and exit.
b. No properties (props) are allowed at any time in any competitive age category for formation teams. This
includes the team's entrance and exit.
c. A prop is defined as any item that is not part of the regular costume worn by the dancers, and that is not
attached to the dancer or their costume for the full duration of time that the dancers are on the floor.
d. A hat will be considered a prop if it is removed at any time from the dancer's head, including entrance and exit.
9. SOLO (OPEN) WORK - STANDARD/SMOOTH CATEGORIES
a. Solo (open) work is defined as when any couple in the formation team is not in the traditional competitive ballroom hold (which includes the lady's left hand being placed on the man's right shoulder).
b. In all age divisions (Pre-Teen, Junior, Youth, and Adult) the formation team may dance up to 50% of their bars of music as solo (open) work. At least 50% of their bars of music must be danced completely in the traditional competitive ballroom hold.
c. The coach of the formation team should be prepared to present a breakdown of the phrasing of the music, indicating which measures are open, to the Chairman of Judges at the team's rehearsal in the tournament facility.
10. REHEARSAL IN THE TOURNAMENT FACILITY
Each formation team will be allowed an equal amount of rehearsal time in the tournament facility. At the commencement of this rehearsal they must dance their routine with music and perform their entrance and exit one time for the Chairman of Judges, or his designated representative.
11. DRESS
a. Pre-Teen formation teams shall be allowed to wear the following for both competitive categories:
i. Boys - dark trousers, plain, undecorated shirts; optional tie, cummerbund, and/or vest. No jackets (including tail suits). No sequins, rhinestones, fringe, or other similar decorations are allowed. Black shoes (no “cuban” heels for pre-teen boys are allowed
ii. Girls - a party dress or a simple costume provided it does not have any sequins, rhinestones, feathers, fringe, or other similar decorations. Any dress shoe is allowed ( heel height for pre-teens girls must not exceed one and one half inches) (Please read #11.d. for additional rules)
b. Junior formation teams shall be allowed to wear the dress approved for Pre-Teen formation teams in addition to the following for both competitive categories:
i. Boys - may wear a simple costume, provided it does not have any sequins, rhinestones, fringe, or other similar decorations. No jackets (including tail suits) will be allowed.(Please read #11.d. for additional rules)
ii. Girls - a party dress or a simple costume provided it does not have any sequins, rhinestones, feathers, fringe, or other similar decorations.(Please read #11.d. for additional rules)
c. Youth formation teams shall be allowed to wear the dress approved for Junior formation teams in addition to the following:
i. Boys may wear jackets in either division, including tail suits for the Standard/Smooth category. Costumes are allowed, including decorations. If tail suits are worn they must be black in color (Please read #11.d. for additional rules).
ii. Girls may wear costumes in either division, including decorations.(Please read #11.d. for additional rules)
d. The organizer of a formation competition may establish additional dress guidelines if so desired.
In addition to these NDCA rules The 2006 U.S. National Formation Championships will also implement the following rules for Pre-teen, Junior, and Youth girls and boys:
MEN: Costumes appropriate to the style.
1. Latin shirts may be open to a point eight inches down from the Supra Sternal Notch (Jugular Notch)
2. Sheer fabric may only be worn on the arm. No sleeveless shirts.
3. No earrings allowed.
WOMEN: Costumes appropriate to the style.
1. Regular cut dance trunks and fishnet hose must be worn.
2. Straps over both shoulders of at least one inch in width are required.If multiple straps go over a
shoulder at least one strap must be the required one inch from front to back. Halter tops or designs that resemble them are not permitted.
3. Lower backs must be covered from a point five (5) inches above the waist line.
4. Skirts may be broken or slitted from the trunk line down, but must cover the legs to mid-thigh when not in motion. 5. Cutouts, nude or sheer fabrics are not allowed.
6. Skin from the front to a point several inches behind the sides (axilla-line) must be covered.
7. Unitards are not allowed
e. No change of clothing/costume is permitted once the competition begins.
12. DISQUALIFICATION
A non-voting Chairman of the Board of Adjudicators must be appointed. He, or his designated representative, must attend the official rehearsal that is held in the tournament facility and warn any team infringing the rules. If the rules are infringed during the contest he will have the right to disqualify formation teams that infringe upon these rules, after consultation with the adjudicators and organizer.
13. QUALIFICATION FOR DIVISION I & II FOR JUNIOR AND YOUTH FORMATION TEAMS
Both the Youth Standard and Youth Latin Formation Team Championships will commence with a qualifying round that will be danced during the Thursday daytime session. The top teams in each division will advance to the Division I category, and their final rounds will be held on Friday evening (Standard) and Saturday evening (Latin). The remaining teams will dance in the Division II championships - both the Standard and Latin finals for Division II will be held on Thursday evening. If an uneven number of teams compete in either division then one-half of the number of teams, plus one additional team, will advance to the Division I championship. Team members who advance to the Division I finals will need to purchase admission tickets for the day that they dance their final, in addition to Thursday admission tickets.
The same rule will apply to the Junior Formation Team Championships if necessary, with the Junior Latin Formation qualifying round and Division II Final taking place Friday afternoon and the Division I final taking place Friday evening. The same scenario will apply if necessary to the Junior Standard Formation Championship on Saturday.
*Should any point arise which is not covered in the NDCA rule book or in these additional rules, it will be referred to the NDCA Ballroom Department whose decision will be final. All requests for exceptions to any rules must be submitted in writing to the NDCA Ballroom Director, but will not be considered for this event if not received by the closing date for entries.
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Youth and Junior Division I and II
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Youth Standard and Latin as well as Junior Standard and Junior Latin Formation Team Championships will commence with a qualifying round that will be danced during the a designated daytime session. The top teams in each division will advance to the Division I category, and their final rounds will be held on Friday evening (Standard) and Saturday evening (Latin). The remaining teams will dance in the Division II championships - both the Standard and Latin finals for Division II will be held on Thursday evening. If an uneven number of teams compete in either division then one-half of the number of teams, plus one additional team, will advance to the Division I championship. Team members who advance to the Division I finals will need to purchase admission tickets for the day that they dance their final, in addition to Thursday admission tickets.
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Dance Network