Competition rules

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Competition Organizer

Final decision on any matter pertaining to these competitions rests solely with the organizer(s) of Next Level Swing.

General Competition Requirements:

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

1. Hold an Event Pass (Workshop Pass, Party Pass, All Star Pass) and pay all associated registrations fees;

2. Register by the official entry deadlines(s) as outlined in the weekend schedule;

3. Pay the required entry fee(s) and complete any required entry forms.

4. Meet all other specific entry requirements as outlined in these rules.

Contest Requirements:

1. Entries: All contests must have a minimum of five (5) entries to be a valid contest.

2. Judges: There will be a minimum of four (4) Judges per role for all prelims competitions and a minimum of five (5) Judges for all finals competitions; seven (7) for tier 5-6 contests.

3. Scoring System: Contests are scored using computerized software and relative placement. Scoring.dance is the scoring system used at Next Level Swing.

4. Contestants will be judged in the preliminaries, quarter-finals and/or semi-finals as an individual in Jack & Jill competitions and as a couple in any finals.

Role/Gender Requirements:

Persons of any gender can choose to dance either lead or follow, as they prefer. We encourage you to register in whichever role you would like when dancing.

Appropriate Behavior and Dress Code:

Any action that the judges believe would make them uncomfortable in a social dance setting (such as wearing inappropriate attire, showing disrespect toward one’s partner, other dancers, or the event) is prohibited. Competitors should check with the Organizer or Chief Judge in advance if they have any questions.

Competitors are encouraged not to wear jeans or “too casual” attire for competitions. Please dress in appropriate attire; if you have a clothing issue, please contact the chief judge for prior approval.

Changes to These Rules

The Organizer reserves the right to make any changes in schedule/format deemed necessary for any competition.

Responsibilities of Competitors

1. 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 marshaling and competitions. Competitors are responsible for checking at the event for any changes to previously announced schedules, which are always subject to change.

2. All competitors should read these rules carefully prior to attending the contestant meeting for their competition. Competitors are responsible for adhering to these rules whether they have read them or not. Questions about the rules should be addressed to the Organizer or the Chief Judge.

3. Competitors should be present in the ballroom or in the marshaling area at least 10 minutes prior to the start of their competition marshalling. Failure to arrive at your scheduled marshalling times may lead to disqualification.

4. Any cancellation or disqualification by a competitor or couple after the registration deadline will result in the loss of the entry fee.

5. Competitors must demonstrate good sporting conduct at all times, both on and off the dance 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.

Competitors: Skill Levels and Points Registry

1. Competitors are responsible for following the WSDC Registry Rules. Competitors will not receive WSDC points for placement if they fail to follow the WSDC Points Registry Rules.

2. Competitors have one (1) unique WSDC Competitor ID number for the Points Registry.

a. Competitors are responsible for using their WSDC Competitor ID number when registering for Jack and Jill competitions at WSDC Registry Events.

b. Competitors are responsible for correcting their WSDC Competitor ID number errors, either at the event or with the WSDC directly (email points@worldsdc.com).

c. Competitors will be assigned a WSDC Competitor ID number only after they receive a point.

3. Competitors may compete in a maximum of two (2) skill level WSDC Jack and Jill competitions, once in their primary role and once in their secondary role. Competitors may compete in multiple age-based WSDC 

Jack and Jill competitions.

a. Competitors must maintain their role, either as a Leader or Follower, throughout the contest.

4. Competitors may compete in either their primary or secondary role in other contests.

5. Competitors must use the Points Registry, this rules document, and the WSDC Skill Level Jack and Jill Advancement Chart (www.worldsdc.com) to determine the skill level for their primary role.

a. Competitors may submit petitions to dance one level “up” or “down” for their primary role only. Competitors may not submit petitions for their secondary role. Petitions must be approved or the competitor will not receive points for placement.

6. Competitors will be awarded points as either a Leader or Follower. Those points are tracked separately in the Points Registry. 7. Competitors may dance one (1) or two (2) levels down in their secondary role as indicated on the Points Registry, with the following clarifications:

a. Competitors with points in both their primary and secondary roles at the same skill level must select only one (1) role to compete in (either their primary or secondary role) for that event’s skill level Jack and Jill contest (e.g., competitor with 5 Advanced points as a Leader and 10 Advanced points as a Follower must decide whether to compete as either Leader or Follower in Advanced). b. New! The division a competitor selects for their primary role at the Event determines what level they may compete at for their secondary role. WSDC recommends competitors dance one (1) level down, but based on their skills, competitors may dance two (2) levels down from their primary role unless they are required to move up based on the WSDC Skill Level Jack and Jill Advancement Chart for their secondary role (i.e., based on their points in their secondary role). Petitions are not allowed for secondary roles. (E.g., a competitor with 63 Advanced points as a Leader is allowed to dance in Advanced or All-Star as a Leader in their primary role. If they choose to dance in Advanced as a Leader, they may dance in Novice or Intermediate as a Follower; if they choose to dance in All Star as a Leader, they may dance in Intermediate or Advanced as a Follower. Page

However, if they have 1+ Intermediate points, they must dance in Intermediate as a Follower, even if they choose to dance in Advanced as a Leader.) i. Exception: To maintain the intent of the Newcomer division, competitors competing in Intermediate in their primary role may not compete in Newcomer (i.e., Intermediate competitors may only dance one level down in their secondary role).

8. Competitors who are Novice in their primary role may choose to compete in their secondary role in the Newcomer division, if they have no points in their secondary role (see Chart 3: WSDC Skill Level Jack and Jill Advancement Chart), or the Novice division. They may not compete twice in the same skill level Jack and Jill contest.

9. Points are recorded only for those who place in WSDC Jack and Jill finals (see Chart 4: Points Awarded per Tier). a. WSDC Jack and Jill competitions must have a minimum of five (5) unique Leaders and five (5) unique Followers in finals for points to be awarded and the results to be included in the Points Registry.

10. If a competitor places twice in a division, the competitor is only awarded points for the higher placement (e.g., contest goes straight to finals with uneven numbers; competitor places 2nd and 5th; competitor is awarded points for 2nd place).

Petitions for Division Reclassification

The (WSDC) World Swing Dance Council Points Registry is used to determine eligibility for the West Coast Swing Jack & Jill skill levels. Current WSDC points information is available online at www.worldsdc.com for anyone to look up which division they have qualified for.

1. Registry Events must offer a petition process for competitors who wish to dance in a different skill division: a. Petitions can be submitted for one skill level up or one skill level down only. Competitors may submit petitions for their primary role only. Competitors may not submit petitions for their secondary role.

b. Petitions shall not be approved at the Event for the purpose of making a Tier (i.e., to meet the minimum number of required competitors for a Tier).

c. All petitions must be submitted to the WSDC with the WSDC Event Reporting form.

d. For petitions down only (primary role only):

i. The Chief Judge, or qualified individual(s)/committee designated by the Chief Judge, may approve or deny the petition after reviewing the competitor's Points Registry record.

ii. Petitions are event-specific and not transferable. Competitors must submit a petition at their next event. e. For petitions up only:

i. Petitions must be submitted to the WSDC Chief Judges Committee (“CJC”) at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the event, along with two (2) videos of the competitor’s dancing. Petitions and videos must be submitted via this link: worldsdc.com/level-up-petition. The CJC may approve or deny the petition after reviewing the competitor’s Points Registry record and videos.

ii. Petitions will be approved for six (6) months and are transferable to other events. Competitors who obtain a point in the higher division will remain in the higher division.

DIVISION RULES

JACK & JILL DIVISIONS

Competitors enter as an individual and dance with a randomly chosen partner. The DJ picks the music. Leaders and followers are randomly paired and there will be several partner changes during the preliminary, quarter-final, or semi-final rounds. Competitors are scored individually on timing, technique and teamwork in the preliminary heats. Those scoring the highest will be called back later to dance in a final round. In the final, individuals are randomly paired, then scored as a couple. The DJ picks the music. Music tempo and style will vary. All songs will be appropriate for the dance division entered. Eligibility

Our Jack & Jill competitions are open to anyone who knows the basic West Coast Swing (WCS) patterns, such as: • Starter step

• Sugar push • Underarm turn

• Left side pass • Right side pass

• Tuck • Whip

WSDC Jack & Jill contests offered (WSDC):

1. Newcomers

2. Novice

3. Intermediate

4. Sophisticated

5. Masters

6. Advanced (Only if Enough Registrations)

7. All-Stars (Only if Enough Registrations)

Division Qualifications:

The World Swing Dance Council (WSDC) Points Registry determines eligibility for these leveled West Coast Swing Jack & Jill contests. Look up your level here: www.worldsdc.com.

Competitors are responsible for entering only contests they qualify for. If you haven’t earned any WSDC points you can choose to start in Newcomer or Novice.

Notes:

The points required for moving up (or down) is based on the points in either the dancer’s primary or secondary role, not their combined points.

SPECIFIC RULES FOR JACK & JILLS DIVISIONS:

1. Contestants must be at least sixteen (16) years or older by the end of the event to participate.

2. Music will be selected by our DJ staff; length of music and number of songs per heat is at the promoter’s discretion.

3. This division will be danced in heats for preliminaries, quarter-finals, and semi-finals (if needed).

4. Lifts, aerials, and acrobatic moves are NOT allowed. Support moves, such as drops, slides, and splits are allowed (but not required) to the degree that they would be considered safe and appropriate on a social dance floor.

5. You may not enter 2 levels dancing the same role.

6. You may not enter the same level dancing both roles.

7. You may not change roles during the Jack & Jill contest for more than eight (8) beats of music. 

WSDC OFFICIAL RULES:  Microsoft Word - 2025-Registry-Event-Rules_v5.1_clean.docx