The
Aloha 

General Eligibility

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Each competition is open to all competitors in good standing who:

• hold a full weekend package ticket

• register by the official entry deadline(s) (see the weekend schedule)

• pay the required entry fee(s) and complete any required entry forms, including signed waivers

• meet all other specific entry requirements as outlined in these rules

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Multiple Registrations

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Each eligible competitor may choose to enter one Jack & Jill skill level in their primary role, and a second Jack and Jill division (one level down) in their secondary role. Violations will result in the contestant being deemed disqualified for an incorrect competition.

Each eligible competitor may choose to enter one Strictly Swing skill level in their primary role, and a second Strictly Swing division (one level down) in their secondary role.

Violations will result in the contestant being deemed disqualified for an incorrect competition. 

Masters Jack & Jill dancers may also compete in the appropriate Jack & Jill skill level divisions(s) when offered. Masters Strictly Swing and Generational Strictly Swing dancers may also compete in the appropriate Strictly Swing skill level division(s).

Competitors who enter more than one Strictly Swing contest must compete with a different partner in each division.

Entry fees are due for each competition division that a competitor enters.

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Waiver Forms

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Each contestant must sign the appropriate waiver form. No contestant will be permitted to compete without a signed waiver form.

All contestants under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian sign any required forms. All dancers under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian in the ballroom with them at all times.

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Age Requirements

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Outlined in the specific qualification for each age based division.

Competitors under the age of 14 are not allowed to compete at this event.

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Appropriate Behavior and Dress Code

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It is the desire of the Organizer to encourage expressive and exciting dance performances without sacrificing quality of dancing and good taste. To encourage this balance, any action that the judges believe would make them uncomfortable in a social dance setting (such as wearing inappropriate attire or showing disrespect toward one’s partner, other dancers, or the event) is prohibited. Comedy routines and props are not allowed. Competitors should check with the Organizer or Chief Judge in advance if they have questions regarding the acceptability of their routine or competition attire.

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Responsibilities of Competitors

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1.    Planning Ahead. Competitors should check the weekend schedule in advance in order to arrive in time to meet registration deadlines. They should bring appropriate competition attire. They should also plan ahead so as to be on time for all meetings and competitions. Competitors are responsible for checking at the event for any changes to previously-announced schedules, which are always subject to change.

2.    Knowing the Rules. All competitors should read these rules carefully prior to competition. Competitors are responsible for adhering to these rules whether they have read them or not. Questions about the rules should be asked in advance to the Organizer or the Chief Judge.

3.    Being Prepared to Compete. Competitors should be present in the ballroom at least 15minutes prior to the start of their competition, so that they are ‘checked in’ and in que for the competition. Competitors are responsible for their bib numbers.  Any change in partnership for the couple’s competitions may require an additional entry fee as well as a new entry form and waiver. Any cancellation by a competitor or couple after the registration deadline will result in the loss of the entry fee.

4.    Demonstrating Good Sporting Conduct. Competitors must demonstrate good sporting conduct at all times, both on and off the competition floor. Competitors may not speak to judges regarding their placements or scores until after the awards have been given. It is bad sportsmanship to badger or argue with judges about placements and scores. Competitors must also refrain from any behavior that the judges deem inappropriate. Failure to adhere to this code of behavior may result in disqualification.

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Petitions for Reclassification

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All competitors shall be eligible for all skill level contests per the WSDC Advancement Chart. In the event that competitors feel uncomfortable with their assigned classification, they may petition for reclassification on their entry form by providing a brief, written explanation of the reason(s) for their request and completing a WSDC Petition Form.

Competitors must submit such petitions at the contest registration desk prior to the earliest registration deadline for the competition(s) in question.

Petitions for reclassification will be reviewed by the Chief Judge, and contestants will be notified as quickly as possible of the outcome. All decisions regarding petitions are final. The Organizer reserves the right to reclassify any contestant for any reason.

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Changes to These Rules

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The Organizer will make every effort to conduct all competitions in accordance with these rules. However, the Organizer reserves the right to make any changes in schedule or format deemed necessary for any competition.

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Definitions

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• “Points” means points listed in the World Swing Dance Council Competitors Registry.

·       “Swing” is an American Rhythm Dance based on a foundation of 6-beat and 8-beat patterns that incorporate a wide variety of rhythms built on 2-beat single, delayed, double, triple, and blank rhythm units. The 6-beat patterns include, but are not limited to, passes, underarm turns, push-breaks, open-to-closed, and closed-to-open position patterns. The 8-beat patterns include but are not limited to: whips, swingouts, Lindy circles, and Shag pivots. Although they are not part of the foundation of the dance as stated above, 2-beat and 4-beat extension rhythm breaks may be incorporated to extend a pattern, to phrase the music, and/or to accent breaks.

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DIVISION RULES

JACK & JILL DIVISIONS

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The Jack & Jill competitions are designed to highlight social dance skills in spontaneous swing dancing and the ability to dance well with a variety of partners. A bit of “luck of the draw” comes into play as well.

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Format

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Competitors enter as individuals, are randomly assigned partners, and dance to music selected in advance by the Competition DJ. Depending on the number of entries, preliminary and semi-final rounds may be held and will be danced in a heated format. Competitors are judged individually in preliminary and semi-final rounds. 

Competitors are randomly paired with a dancer of the opposite role in the finals; and are judged as a couple. Finals may be danced in a heated format, a jam ‘with throw-out’ format, or spotlight format; as may be determined by the Organizer and Chief Judge at the event. Length of performances and number of songs, and number of Callbacks will be at discretion of the Chief Judge. 

Each division must have at least 5 leaders and 5 followers. There is no maximum number of competitors.

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General

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Competitors can register as leaders or followers, regardless of gender, sex, orientation, etc. Each competitor may enter one skill level Jack & Jill competition in their primary role (Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, All-Star, Champions) and, if desired, may enter in one skill level Jack & Jill competition in their secondary role (one level down). 

Competitors may not enter as a leader and as a follower in the same division. 

Competitors at least 50 years of age may also enter the Master’s Division when offered.

Couples must maintain physical contact except for spins, turns, short breakaways, and recoveries. Dancers must maintain their own physical contact with the floor during partner weight support moves, i.e. no lifts.

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Division Qualifications

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Our qualifications for entries promote fairness and competitor enjoyment by grouping dancers of similar abilities in the same division. Eligibility for skill level divisions shall be per the World Swing Dance Council Advancement Chart.  Should any information outlined below be in conflict with the WSDC, the WSDC Advancement Chart shall supersede.

If you are not comfortable dancing in the division where these qualifications place you and would like to dance up or down, please petition (see “Petitions”).

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Newcomer

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• Competitors who are new to competition, but who have a practical knowledge of basic patterns; and have no WSDC Registry Points. 

• Competitors with 1 Newcomer point (in either role) must compete in Novice.

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Novice

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• Competitors with less than 16 Novice points must dance in this division.

• Competitors with 16 to 29 Novice points may dance in this division.

• Competitors with 30 or more Novice points must dance in the Intermediate division.

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Intermediate

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• Competitors with 16 to 29 Novice points may dance in this division.

• Competitors with 30 or more Novice points must dance in the Intermediate division.

• Competitors with less than 30 Intermediate points must dance in this division.

• Competitors with 30 to 44 Intermediate points may dance in this division.

• Competitors with 45 or more Intermediate points must dance in the Advanced division.

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Advanced

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• Competitors with 30 to 44 Intermediate points may dance in this division.

• Competitors with 45 or more Intermediate points must dance in this division.

• Competitors with less than 60 Advanced points must dance in this division.

• Competitors with 60 to 89 Advanced points may dance in this division.

• Competitors with 90 or more Advanced points must dance in the All-Star division.

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All-Stars

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• Competitors with 60 to 89 Advanced points may dance in this division.

• Competitors with 90 or more Advanced points must dance in this division.

• Competitors with less than 150 All-Star points must dance in this division.

• Competitors with 150 to 299 All-Star points may dance in this division.

• Competitors with 300 or more All-Star points must dance in the Champion division (if offered).

• Competitors who have placed 1st-5th in a Champions or Invitational Jack & Jill or Strictly Swing held at a qualifying major event in the last 5 years (see definitions) must dance in a higher division.

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Champions

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Competitors with 150 to 299 All-Star points may dance in this division.

• Competitors with 300 or more All-Star points must dance in this division.

• Competitors with 10 or more Champions points are allowed to dance in this division.

• Competitors who have placed 1st-5th in a Champions or Invitational J&J or Strictly Swing held at qualifying major event (see definitions) must dance in this division.

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WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADD MORE DIVISIONS IN THE FUTURE 

(Most of the divisions below will not be offered at the 2024 Aloha Open)

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Masters

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• Competitors who are at least 50 years old by the end of the event are eligible for this division.

• Masters competitors may also dance in a Skill level(s) Jack & Jill.

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Kama'aina Strictly Swing

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• One single pool of leaders and one single pool of followers, each consisting of competitors of all skill levels.  Competitors may enter as a leader or a follower.

• Competitors are randomly paired with a partner.  The couples are judged as a couple and maintain that partnership through all levels of the contest / progress as a couple.

• Due to an anticipated uneven number of leaders and followers, some competitors of the lesser quantity role may dance / be partnered more than one.  Since each partnership is its own competition entity, those competitors dancing in more than one partnership can advance to the finals and possibly place more than once.  Should this situation occur, the finals contest will consist of two heats.

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Switch It Up

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• Competitors who are competent in performing both leader and follower roles are eligible.

• Competitors enter as individuals, are randomly assigned partners, and dance to music selected in advance by the Competition DJ. Depending on the number of entries, preliminary and semi-final rounds may be held and will be danced in a heated format. Competitors are judged individually in preliminary and semi-final rounds; and as a couple in the finals. 

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STRICTLY SWING DIVISIONS

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Swing dancing that encourages lead and follow partner dancing at its best. Although swing includes amalgamations and patterns that are familiar to many dancers, the essence of lead and follow must be maintained in and out of these patterns. Strictly Swing division is not meant for long and extended pre-choreographed phrases. Choreography "on the fly" is the objective.

Drops, leans, circular movements and other partner weight support moves are allowed as long as both partners keep at least one foot on the floor.  Couples must maintain physical contact except for spins, turns, short break-a-ways, and recoveries. At most, 5 partner weight support moves are permitted. 

Pre-choreographed routines are not allowed.

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Format

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Competitors enter as couples and dance to random music selected in advance by the Competition DJ.  Couples maintain their partnership, and are judged as a couple, throughout the competition rounds.

Depending on the number of entries, preliminary and semi-final rounds may be held and will be danced in a heated format. Finals will be may be danced in a heated format, a jam ‘with throw-out’ format, or spotlight format; as may be determined by the Organizer and Chief Judge at the event. Length of performances and number of songs, and number of Callbacks will be at discretion of the Chief Judge. 

Each division must have at least 5 leaders and 5 followers. There is no maximum number of competitors.

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Specific

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1.    Costumes are not allowed. However, matching or complementary outfits suitable for social dancing are acceptable.

2.    The “lead” and “follow” roles are not gender specific.

 

General

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Guidelines for expected swing content are 90% in Strictly Swing. It is at the judge’s discretion to determine that the swing content requirement has been met and will reflect any deductions in their score.

Competitors can register as leaders or followers, regardless of gender, sex, orientation, etc.  Each competitor may enter one skill level Strictly Swing  competition in their primary role (Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, All-Star / Champions) and, if desired, may enter in one skill level Strictly Swing competition in their secondary role (one level down).  Competitors may not enter as a leader and as a follower in the same division. Competitors may not enter more than one skill level division dancing in the same role (even with different partners).

Each competitor at least 50 years of age may enter the Master’s Division (in addition to a skill level division(s) but must do so with a different partner(s).  

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Division Qualifications

Skill Level Strictly Swing Divisions

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Our qualifications for entries promote fairness and competitor enjoyment by grouping dancers of similar abilities in the same division. Our rules are based on the World Swing Dance Council Advancement Chart (see division definitions under Jack & Jill Qualifications).  

Competitors must dance in any Strictly Swing skill level division(s) as the same skill level(a) they are participating in as a Jack & Jill competitor in that role.

If a couple’s partnership consists of competitors of different skill levels, the couple must compete in the higher skill level division.

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Generational Strictly Swing

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Partners must have at least 20 years age difference between them at the end of the event. Because this is an age requirement rather than a skill level requirement, competitors may also enter Skill level Strictly Swing contest(s) at the appropriate skill level(s) if desired (but must be performed with a different partner(s).

Competitors may only enter one Generation Strictly Swing partnership (as either a leader or follower).

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Novice Strictly Swing

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 Open to all Novice competitors (per the WSDC Skill Level Advancement Chart (no competitors of a higher skill level).

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Intermediate Strictly Swing

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 Open to all Intermediate competitors (per the WSDC Skill Level Advancement Chart (no competitors of a higher skill level).

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Advanced Strictly Swing

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 Open to all Advanced competitors (per the WSDC Skill Level Advancement Chart (no competitors of a higher skill level).

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All-Star / Champions Strictly Swing

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 Open to all All-Star and Champion competitors (per the WSDC Skill Level Advancement Chart. Any competitor competing in a role the All-Stars or Champion Jack and Jill divisions, may not compete in that role in a lower level Strictly Swing division.

• Competitors who have placed 1st-5th in a Champions or Invitational Jack & Jill held at qualifying major event (see definitions) must dance in this division.

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Masters (50+)

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Both partners must be 50 years of age or older at the end of the even. Because this is an age requirement rather than a skill level requirement, competitors may also enter Skill level Strictly Swing contest(s) at the appropriate skill level(s) if desired (but must be performed with a different partner(s).