Competition Rules
Professional
- This category applies to any individual who earns a living solely from the Dance trade.
- The word `Dance` refers to all dance subjects, not only Salsa.
- Examples of the word `individual: Teacher, Performer, Promoter etc.
- If you are competing as a Professional, please include on your Championship application form brief details of work you have undertaken.
Semi – Professional
- This Category applies to any individual taking part in the Championships who have full time jobs totally separate from paid part time work taken up in the Dance trade.
- Examples of paid part time work: Teaching, Performing, promoting etc
- The word `Dance` refers to all dance subjects, not only Salsa.
If you are competing as a Semi - Professional, please include on your Championship application form brief details of work you have undertaken.
Amateur
This category applies to any individual that enjoys any forms of dance as a `hobby` and does not earn a living or works part time in the dance industry. You cannot be classed as an Amateur if you have been paid for performing or teaching in the past but have chosen now to treat dancing just as a hobby.
Under 18yrs,
You are required to provide details of proof of age i.e. Birth cert, ID card etc. If you are under 16yrs, please provide written consent from parents allowing you to enter the Championships. Depending on level of applicants, heats maybe conducted on the day.
COMPETITION RULES
Professional, Amateur, Semi Professional & Under 18yrs
WHAT THE JUDGES LOOK FOR:
- Timing & Rhythm: “On 1” or “On 2”; Musicality & Consistency with the beat – Strict Tempo.
- Partnering: Lead & follow; unity / synchronisation between partners.
- Dance ability & Music Interpretation: Style, control and execution of the dance or choreography.
- Appearance/ Stage presence: Costumes, confidence and presentation.
(Contestants will be awarded a maximum of 5 points in each of those 4 categories)
PRELIMINARY ROUNDS:
- Depending on the level of applicants, there will be preliminary rounds at selected venues throughout the South East. (Venues to be confirmed at a later date)
- The competitors will be asked to dance to a track chosen by the resident DJ of each venue, the track will last no longer than 2 minutes.
- The competitors can take part in more than 1 preliminary round if they did not go through the first time.
- Each contestant must sign up in person and show a photo ID. For each of the rounds, contestants will be asked to register at the venue at a specific time. (Time will be disclosed nearer the date)
- The number of couples selected by judges at each of the preliminary rounds will depend on the numbers of competitors (i.e. if the number of couples for one round is 10 then 2 couples will be selected, if the number is 20 then 4 couples will be selected etc…). Those selected couples will then advance to the final round on December 3rd 2005.
PLEASE NOTE: Prelims will only be conducted if level of applicants is high. Please refer to salsachamps website for any updates.
Final round. Saturday December 9th at the Leas Cliff hall, Folkestone.
CHOSEN MUSIC & ROUTINE
- For the final round each couple must dance to their own music which must be provided on a readable CD (no minidisk or cassette tape will be accepted) of between 2.5 – 3 minutes in length. The chosen Cd must be submitted to salsachamps no later than 7pm on the day of the Salsachamps event. (Please note that the track you have chosen to dance to cannot be any less than 2.5mns or any more than 3mns. Any competitors who do not comply with the maximum stated timescale will have their music automatically stopped at 3mins).
- Couples do not necessarily have to choreograph their routine; they can freestyle to their chosen track if they wish to.
N.B: The timescale of 3mns has been selected to enable you to encompass each of the “4 points” the judges will be looking for. (See “What the judges look for” above). Remember that if you choose a track that is considerably less than 3mns, you may hinder your chances to allow the judges time to assess you fully.
RULES:
- Each couple must consist of one male and one female.
- The number of Competitors at each of the preliminary heats is strictly limited. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
- If no prelims, deadline for entry to the actual final will be Saturday 3rd December.
- After the preliminary rounds are over, contestants eligible for the Final round must not change partners.
- The judges will appreciate the diversity of salsa dancing; therefore any style of salsa will be permitted i.e. Cuban, LA, New York, on1 or on2 etc.
- Competitors must show proper etiquette during all stages of the contest by refraining from distracting behaviour as other competitors are dancing.
- Judges decisions are FINAL.
- Salsachamps reserve the right for any Photography or filming to be permitted on the Final day. Which is held at the Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone.·
- For safety measure, Airsteps (please see “Definitions” above for accuracy of terms) will not be allowed in the preliminary rounds.· During the final round Airsteps (please see “Definitions” above for accuracy of terms) will be allowed. Please note that no penalty points will occur if contestants do not execute AirSteps.
- Dips, Drop and/ or Leans (please see “Definitions” above for accuracy of terms) of any kind will be permitted with no limitation in both the preliminary rounds and the final round.
- S.S.C reserves the right to change the programme and competition if necessary without consultation.
- The event will be recorded by film, video and photograph; these may be used for S.S.C promotional purposes without any obligation.
- S.S.C will not accept responsibility for loss or injury to persons or possessions in relation to this event.
- There will be no refund for couples who pull out of this event after 3rd December 2006.
PANEL OF JUDGES:
During the final round, the panel will consist of 5 judges. The judges will be aware of all judging criteria for each category (see “What the judges look for” above). To maintain fair judgement, if there is a big difference in allocation of points from one judge compared to the other four, then that judge will be asked to explain his/ her decision to the other judges, this is to avoid a judge being “biased” towards some competitors. A “scrutiniser” will also be present to ensure fairness is executed at all times.