1. Eligibility:
Amateur status. All participants must meet the eligibility requirements outlined in section 4.2 of the USA DanceSport Rulebook, which is available online here.

2. Dress Code:
Costumes are prohibited at the Newcomer and Bronze levels. Costumes may be worn at the Silver, Gold, and Open levels.

• Newcomer/Bronze Men - Dress pants and dress shirt (tie and/or vest optional) for Smooth/Standard. Dress pants and dress shirt or Latin style shirt for Rhythm/Latin dances. Tuxedos and tail suits are prohibited at the Newcomer and Bronze levels.
• All Men - Must wear their assigned number on their backs during the competition. Exchanging of numbers is not permitted.
• Newcomer/Bronze Women - Cocktail dresses, semi-formals, formals, leotards, or blouses with skirts or dress pants. Ballgowns are prohibited at the Newcomer and Bronze levels. No excessive rhinestone usage; acceptable uses include trim, accents, and jewelry.
• All Women - Must wear their assigned bracelets while competing.

Competitors not following the dress code will be asked to change. If the competitor does not comply with the request, they will be disqualified.

3. General Regulations:

1. While this is not a USA Dance sanctioned competition, USA Dance rules will be followed wherever possible.
2. Competitors may not dance in more than two consecutive levels in the Newcomer – Gold divisions in any one style. Any competitor dancing in a Bronze, Silver, or Gold division may also enter the open level multi-dance events.
3. Competitors wishing to dance in two consecutive levels of the same dance may do so with the same partner. Competitors entering the open level may dance with the same partner as one of their syllabus levels.
4. Competitors wishing to combine their open level multi-dance events into a 9-dance, 10-dance, or 19-dance championship must compete each set of events with the same partner.
5. Events may be combined or cancelled at the organizer’s discretion.

4. Age Requirements:

• Youth Category – Any person that is 17 years of age or under. The competitor cannot be enrolled in college.
• Collegiate Category – A competitor must be enrolled in at least 6 credits of college courses.
• Adult Category – Any person that is 18 years of age or above. If a collegiate competitor would like to also dance in the adult category, they must pay the adult registration fee instead of the collegiate registration fee.

5. Newcomer Category:
To compete in the Newcomer category, both dancers in a partnership must be in their first semester of competition. Couples of mixed experience must compete at the level of the more experienced dancer. Competition may use any steps found in a recognized Bronze syllabus.

6. Open Category:
There are four open events – American Smooth (W/T/F/VW), American Rhythm (C/R/Sw/B/M), International Standard (W/T/VW/F/Q), and International Latin (C/R/S/PD/J). Anyone dancing in any Bronze, Silver, or Gold events is eligible to compete in the open events. The open events cost an additional $5.00 per person/per event because they are scholarship events – the winning couple in each category will receive a $100 scholarship! Additionally, any couple entered in both American categories, both International categories, or all 4 categories will receive a combined score over those events for the chance at additional prizes. All open competitors will be competing together; there is NO age category for these events.

7. Honor Code:
All competitors must abide by the eligibility rules. Participating teams/studios should ensure the eligibility of all of their members.

8. Partnerships:
While we expect most partnerships will be male-female with men leading and women following, same gender couples will be permitted as long as the dress code is followed (males dress as males, females as females – no cross-dressing). We also expect, for obvious reasons, that only the person leading wear a number. Women who are leading will be given a number in their registration packet.

9. Listen to the Announcer:
Dancers are responsible for getting on the floor when their dances are called. Events will not be delayed for missing participants.

10. No Smoking:
Please refrain from smoking in the Memorial Union and Forker.

11. Guard Your Property:
We cannot be held responsible for lost or stolen property.

12. Private Lessons:
Private lessons with our judges are available, however time slots are limited & will be filled on a first requested, first scheduled basis. If you are interested in a lesson, please contact April Dunn CBC Private Lesson Coordinator at comp.team@isuballroom.org with your name, your partner’s name, which professional you would like your lesson with, & when you would like the lesson. Private lessons are $90.00 per 50 minute lesson.