Set Routine Rules

SOLO SET ROUTINE RULES

At our events, dancers can usually enter up to 2 set routine dances from each style (please check event programme for confirmation on this). Dancers will learn these routines in lessons/ classes with their dance teacher and should pick an appropriate dance for their ability level.

The routines are designed to suit a range of ages and abilities. When choosing routines, please encourage progression through the levels. We would really like to keep the early levels for dancers that have little experience. Dancers that have had experience in the competitive ballroom scene at any level including medallist, should be entering levels 3 upwards unless the choreography is too difficult for them. It is understood that there will be a slight difference in interpretation of the routines but please try to match them as closely as possible to how your teacher shows them. 

All dances will be split into age categories based on the entries we receive for each dance. For example Dance 1- under 6/ under 8/ under 10/ under 12/ under 14/ under 16/ 16 & over.
Each set routine will have a category for all ages. Age splits will be confirmed for each dance around 1 week prior to the event. At the event, some sections that start with a high number of entries may be split into heats. Please note that set routine 1 in each style will only have categories for ages 11 years & under.

Our qualified scrutineer will use ‘the skating system’ to analyse the judges marks. Six dancers will be selected from preliminary rounds to make the final. Occasionally you may see between five to eight dancers in the final which is sometimes the outcome of using this system when the marks are close. All dancers making finals at our events will receive awards. There will also be awards for everyone taking part.

Judges will consider the following points when marking the solo set routines.  

• Technique of any Latin, Ballroom, Classical figures used
• Execution & movement quality of all steps & styles used
• Musicality & Timing
• Performance & Presentation

DUO SET ROUTINE RULES

There should be 2 dancers that make up a duo/pair.

Dancers can only be part of one duo partnership and must stay with this partner for all duo events entered on one competition day.

Dancers can enter a maximum of 1 duo set routine in each dance style ( x1 commercial latin duo, x 1 commercial ballroom duo, x 1 commercial classical duo). Please check competition programme for overall limit on the day of the event including solo events. 

The age category the duo is entered in should be based on the age the eldest dancer is on the day of the event.

E.g- Dancer 1 is age 7 on the day and dancer 2 is age 8 on the day means they should be entered in the under 10 category.

Our costume restrictions apply to all duo events. Dancers in a duo can wear matching or non- matching costumes.

Duo partnerships can be same sex or opposite sex partnerships

TEACHERS DANCING AT EVENTS
Our events are not really aimed at professional dancers or dance teachers. We understand however where there may be situations where schools have class helpers that are assisting at the studio unqualified or older students that may have taken a teaching qualification but are also still dancing for themselves. Also where some adults might teach fitness/ social dance or similar and still want to compete. We suggest that qualified experienced dance teachers that are actively teaching a lot of students, shouldn’t be entering the event at all. Newly qualified teachers should enter the highest dances out of the 3 styles. Studio owners should make a fair judgment on this when allowing any helper or teacher in their school to enter and should get in touch with us to discuss each individual case so that we can ensure everyone is entered fairly. 

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT NEEDS

We are delighted to offer categories for Additional Support Needs. This section is offered to those with physical, learning or mental health disability. To be eligible to compete in this section, dancers must be in receipt of an Educational Health & Care Plan (EHCP) and/or attend a SEN school. We usually suggest dancers that are additional support needs enter dance 1 or dance 2 however we can work with teachers on this and add categories on the higher dances if this works better for your student