2012 DFW proAMjam Contest Rules

RULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS NEEDED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHIEF JUDGE

& EVENT DIRECTOR AND WILL BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE IF CHANGED. TO AWARD FULL PRIZE MONEY, A DIVISION MUST HAVE A MINIMUM OF FIVE COUPLES. MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ENTRIES WILL BE THE DECISION OF THE PROMOTER. JUDGES DECISIONS ARE FINAL. IN THE UNLIKELY CASE OF TIES IN SCORES, THE CONTEST WILL BE DECIDED BY THE CHIEF JUDGE’S SCORE. DEDUCTIONS OR DEMOTIONS FOR VIOLATIONS OF RULES ARE APPLIED BY THE CHIEF JUDGE FROM INDICATIONS AND OBSERVATIONS OF THE JUDGES.

 

GENERAL:

1. DFW PROAM JAM competitions are open to all contestants who have purchased a weekend event ticket.

2. All categories are traditional male/female, lead/follow couples.

 3. Costumes are acceptable in routine and Swing Team divisions.

4. This is a Swing Dance Competition and all recognized swing styles are allowed, including Whip, Push, West Coast Swing, Shag, Lindy Hop, Imperial, Swing Out, Jitterbug, Steppers, Hand Dancing, and others.

 5. Dancers may not dance with the same partner in more than one Swing division. An individual is not permitted to dance twice within the same division (Divisions: Jack & Jill, Strictly Swing, Rising Star, Pro-Am). Exception: Pro dancers in the Pro-Am divisions.

 6. DFW proAM jam will provide music for the Jack & Jill and Strictly Swing Divisions. Music for all routine divisions must be provided by the contestant.

 7. Contestant Bib Numbers (you will have one number for the weekend) will be issued when you check in at will call if preregistered or at the time of onsite registration. In the Finals Round of Competition, only the Leader will be required to wear a Bib Number

 8. Music Time Limitations: All routine divisions, excluding Teams, have a music time limitation of no less than 2 minutes and no more than 3 minutes.

 9.  Qualification for Newcomer Dancers. You must have never danced above the lowest division offered at any Invitational Swing Dance Contest.  You may not have danced at MORE THAN 4 events as a Newcomer in any couples contest, in any style of dance.  You must have never placed 1^st more than 2 times in any Newcomer Contest at any Invitational Swing Dance Event.  You may never have made finals in any Novice Contest at any Invitational Swing Dance Contest. 

 10. Qualification for Novice Dancers: You must have never danced in an Intermediate, Open, or higher Class category in Classic, Showcase, Strictly Swing/Just Dance style, or equivalent categories or as a Pro in a Pro-Am, in any style of dance. This division is not open to all levels.

 11. Qualification for Intermediate Dancers: You must have never danced in an Open or higher Class category in Classic, Showcase, Strictly Swing/Just Dance style, or equivalent categories, or as a Pro in a Pro-Am, in any style of dance. This division is not open to all levels.

 12. Qualification for Advanced Dancers: All contestants may dance in this Class level except those who qualify as Professional Class dancers. Dancers must not have placed top 3 in a national competition in Classic, Showcase, Strictly Swing/Just Dance style, or any equivalent categories. This division is not open to all levels.

 13.  Qualification for All Star/Open Dancers: This category is open to all contestants who qualify as Advanced, All Star or Champion Dancers.  This division is

 14. Definition of a LIFT: That point when both feet are off the ground, and weight is not self supported.

 15. Definition of a DROP: The point at which the head goes below your partner’s waist and weight is not self supported.

 16. Definition of an AERIAL. The point at which both feet of one partner are off the ground due to the other partner and not maintaining contact with their partner.

Entry Fees & Requirements:

DFW proAMjam reserves the right to run any and all lead/follow categories in a heated format in lieu of prelims or spotlight format for time restraints, or to combine or cancel divisions with less than five (5) couples.  All competitors must purchase a weekend event pass in order to be eligible to enter competitions. 

An entry/waiver form must be accompanied by the appropriate fee.

Juniors: 18 years and younger may participate in the Juniors Division Pro Am Strictly. They are not excluded from entering other Strictly Swing or Jack & Jill contests.

Jack & Jill: Entry/Waiver form must be accompanied by a $21 per person entry fee.

Strictly Swing Divisions: Entry/Waiver form must be accompanied by a $40 per couple, entry fee.

Routine Divisions: Entry/Waiver form must be accompanied by a $40 per couple, entry fee. It is requested that Routine Division entries be made online in advance of the competition to help with scheduling, but we will not refuse entries made at the registration desk.  Order of dance will be determined by order of entry – first in dance last.

Swing Teams Division:  Entry/Waiver forms must be accompanied by a $125.00 per team entry fee. 

Contest Divisions & Rules

Strictly Swing Divisions (Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced or All Star/Open)

1. Any dancer that qualifies may enter this category. (See General Rules)

2. This is a Swing category and dance content must be 90% that style. It is a lead/follow category and no choreographed routines are allowed.

3. No lifts, drops or aerials and no planned entrances or exits allowed.

4. Couples will dance approximately two (2) minutes to music provided by PROAM JAM. The music will be selected at random and couples will be given no prior music information.

5. No Costumes Allowed.

All Star/Open (Routine Division)

1. This division is open to any All Star or Pro dancer.

2. This is a Swing category and dance content must be 60% that style.

3. Music Time Limitations: Not less than 2 minutes and not more than 3 minutes.

4. Judging and time of routines begin with first choreographed movement with or without music.

5. Lifts, weight supported moves and aerials are allowed.

6. Costumes are required.

Pro-Am Routine Division

1. Any dancer that qualifies as a Junior, Newcomer, Novice, or Intermediate may enter this category. (See General Rules)

2. Pros may dance with up to three (3) Ams (Maximum of 15 routines total for this division – 1st come, first served basis); however, each partner must have a different routine with different music – no generic routines permitted!!

3. This is a Swing category and dance content must be 80% that style.

4. There are no Lifts or Aerials allowed.

5. Music Time Limitations: No less than 2 minutes and no more than 3 minutes.

6. Costumes are required.

Pro-Am Strictly Swing: Male & Female

1. The Pro partner may dance with up to five (5) different Am partners.

2. The amateur partner must:

    Juniors: must be 18 years old or younger and should not have competed at the Advanced level or higher.

    Novice Level: must not qualify as an Intermediate, Advanced, or higher level dancer,

    Intermediate Level:  must not qualify as an Advanced or higher level dancer.

3. The Pro can qualify as either Advanced or All Star or Champion.

4. This is a Swing category and dance content must be 90% that style.

5. This is a lead/follow category and no choreographed routines are allowed.

6. Couples will dance approximately two (2) minutes to music provided by PROAM JAM. The    music will be selected at random and the couples will be given no prior music information.

7. No Costumes Allowed.

Swing Teams

This division is for couples dancing any genre of “synchronized swing”.  Teams must have a minimum of five couples. 

General:

1. The maximum number of entries in each division is at the event’s discretion. The minimum number of entries for this division is three.  If less than three teams enter the division, it is at the event director’s discretion as to apportionment of prize money paid. 

2. An individual is only allowed to compete on one team.

3. Props are not allowed.

Specifics:

1. Performance time is a minimum of 3 minutes and a maximum of 5 minutes.

3. Competitors select their own music.

4. Choreographed couples routines are required.

5. Teams may execute any number of formation changes, lifts, aerials, drops, slides, or switching of partners.  Freestyle dancing is allowed as long as swing content requirement is met. 

6. Costumes are required.

7. Choreographed entrances or exits are allowed. The clock begins when the performance starts as determined by the Chief Judge.

8. Team routines must contain 50% recognized Swing Content.  It is at the judges’ discretion to determine that the swing content requirement has been met.

JACK & JILL DIVISIONS 

The DFW proAMjam is a sanctioned WSDC event.  See WSDC rules below.

ALL Jack & Jill entry fees for individuals $20 + $1 (WSDC fee) = $21

Newcomer Jack & Jill

1.  New competitor – no points required.  (See #9 above for Newcomer Definition).

Novice Jack & Jill

1. A competitor must stay in Novice until they have earned at least 15 points in Novice.  In   addition, a competitor may stay in the Novice division until they have both 15 points and a first place win in Novice. To advance, the points must have been earned in the 3 previous years.

2. You must sign up in person. No proxies.

Intermediate Jack & Jill

1. A competitor must stay in Intermediate until they have earned at least 30 points. In addition, a competitor may stay in the Intermediate division until they have both 30 points and a first place win in Intermediate.  To advance, the points must have been earned in the 3 previous years.

2. You must sign up in person. No proxies.

Advanced Jack & Jill

1.A competitor must stay in Advanced until they have earned at least 45 points. In addition, a competitor may stay in the Advanced division until they have both 45 points and a first place win in Advanced.  To advance, the points must have been earned in the 3 previous years.

2. You must sign up in person. No proxies.

All Star/Open Jack & Jill

1.  You must have 45 advanced points to move to All Star. To advance, the points must have been earned in the 3 previous years.

2.  You must sign up in person.  No proxies.