Rules

Midnight Madness Contest Rules

General Rules For All Participants

• Everyone must always abide by the Midnight Madness code of conduct including in performance.

• Health & Safety All participants agree to follow the current policy requirements.

• Supervision A chaperone (age 21 or older) is required to attend with each participant under the age of 18. The chaperone will be responsible for supervising the participant(s) throughout the event, on and off site.

• Disclaimer The event staff reserves the right to remove from the event or disqualify from competition any person (or persons) who present(s) potential harm, danger or disruption to themselves or anyone around them.

• Your wristband ticket must be worn at all times. Do not remove it.

• Seating is open and shared for everyone. You may not sit on the carpet or stand anywhere that blocks the view of others seated behind you. You may not “hold” shared seating by parking your stuff there. Anyone who wants a front row seat is invited to sit on the edge of the dance floor during performances.

“Sit in a chair or sit on the dance floor - Not on the carpet and don’t block the doors”

• Video recording and photography is welcome during all contests. Video recording is only restricted during routines and spotlight performances. No tripods or extension cords allowed in the ballroom. Good internet etiquette requires that you get permission before publishing identifiable videos of others.

• Outside food, beverages and pets are not allowed in the meeting rooms per hotel policy.

• Contest Refunds – Midnight Madness has a no refund policy. If you are unable to attend the event due to unforeseen circumstances, please contact the Registrar.

• No bare feet. Wax, powder, or any other foreign substance may not be used on dance shoes or dance floors.

• Soliciting or sales of any product or service within the event areas requires advance permission of the event management.

General Contest Rules

All participants agree to:

• Read, know and follow all contest rules. Ask questions in advance.

• Register and pay the contest entry fee prior to the published deadlines.

• Pick up your competitor number prior to the scheduled entry deadline your first contest division.

• Respect contest staff, your partner, fellow competitors, and the audience.

• Exhibit good sportsmanship.

• Refrain from using vulgar or offensive gestures, costumes, orsong lyrics.

• Choreography competitors may have their wristband temporarily removed prior to a performance by the contest staff in the ballroom ONLY. Do not remove it yourself.

• You must check in with the competitor coordinators in the staging area 15 minutes prior to the start of each round of each contest. If you do not check in you will be scratched and forfeit your entry fee.

• All contestants must be at least 15 years old.

• An individual may not enter the same contest twice.

• Contests with fewer than 5 entries may be cancelled, or the prize money reduced at the organizers’ discretion. Entry fees for cancelled contests will be refunded.

• Entering a contest indicates consent to unrestricted use of your name and likeness in photos and videos to appear in future promotions on the internet.

• Complete scores from all contest rounds are available through the event website after the last day of the competition.

*Not all divisions in these rules are offered at every competition.

Strictly Swing Contests 

Sign up with your partner. We pick the music. Different skill levels are offered. Each is a separate contest. Couples will dance in heats for several short songs. If more than 15 couples enter a division there will be a preliminary contest followed by a final round. Judges will evaluate the couples based on their demonstration of good social dancing skills, timing, technique, connection, lead and follow, presentation and showmanship.

• Matching costumes and props are not allowed. Coordinating attire is acceptable.

• Strictly Swing partners may not dance together in more than one Strictly Swing contest or in any choreography contest.

• You may enter one or multiple Strictly Swing contests with different partners in each contest by:

- Entering the same level as your JJ and

- Entering Sophisticated, Masters, Bridge the Gap or Switch

- Dancing up with partner(s) who qualify for higher level(s)

- Dancing down one level in your secondary role, as WSDC rules allow for JJ

- Dancing down two levels in your secondary role (as WSDC allows upon petition) only if you have no WSDC points and no significant previous competitive placements in this role at any level.

Strictly Swing divisions

• Skill divisions [Newcomer-Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Allstar]: A couple’s Strictly Swing skill division is determined by their WSDC Jack & Jill levels. If partners in this contest qualify for different WSDC Jack & Jill levels, the couple must enter Strictly Swing at the higher skill level.

• Age divisions [Sophisticated, Masters]: These contests have an age requirement rather than a skill level requirement. Sophisticated (35+): Both partners must be 35 years of age or older. Masters (50+): Both partners must be 50 years of age or older.

• Bridge The Gap: In this division, dancers must be at least 20 years apart in age. Advanced, All-Stars and Champions may not compete together as a couple in this division but may enter with a partner from a lower division. For this division only: there is no minimum age to enter, and role switching within the dance is allowed.

• Switch (non-leveled) - Lead, Follow, Switch. Couples must show role switching skills within the partnership. Anyone with lead, follow, and role-switching skills can enter, from Newcomer to Champions.

Choreography Contests 

Bring your partner, your costumes, your music, and your dance routine. It’s all about the show! Routines are danced in a solo format. Dance order is chosen at random before the floor trial.

• Performance time is a minimum of 2 minutes and maximum of 3 minutes. The clock begins and judging starts at the first dance movement of the performance, with or without music.

• You must provide your music to the contest DJ at the floor trial for your event. It must be a single file, clearly labeled on a USB thumb drive. If you need your music’s tempo altered, started in the middle of the track or an early fade out you must make those edits in advance.

• Restarts will only be allowed in cases of:

- Music malfunction/Technical problem.

- Wardrobe/Costume malfunction.

- Head Judge stops the performance.

Rising Star (NASDE) 

This single division is for couples that have limited experience with choreography competition and do not yet want to compete against professionals. You may not enter Rising Star and Classic or Showcase at the same event. Additional NASDE tour rules apply: https://nasde.net/nasde-rules/

ProAm Spotlight 

Students enter with their teacher and perform a choreographed routine to music they choose.

ProAm Strictly 

Students enter with their teacher. Only the amateur is evaluated. Couples dance in heats with multiple couples on the floor for two songs of about 1.5 minutes each. Students will be assessed on skills within the role they entered.

• All patterns should be lead/follow. No choreographed sequences. No lifts.

• Each pro is limited to a maximum of 5 entries per ProAm Strictly division.

• Students may enter ProAm Strictly at their WSDC JJ level or follow guidance of their teacher.

• Students may enter in their secondary role at the same level or one level down.

Jack & Jill 

Contests allow individuals to enter without a partner and demonstrate skills in spontaneous dancing with a variety of partners. There is an inherent “luck of the draw” factor involved. Leaders and followers are randomly paired. There will be several partner changes during the preliminary and semi-final rounds. Competitors are scored individually on timing, technique and teamwork in preliminary heats. Those scoring the highest will be called back to dance in the next round. In the final round, individuals are randomly paired, then scored together as a couple. The DJ picks the music. Tempo and style will vary. All songs will be appropriate for the dance division entered. There are divisions for different skill levels (WSDC), divisions with age requirements and divisions open to all. Onsite registration for all Jack & Jills is limited. There are strict entry deadlines. Significant cash prizes are awarded to winners in Novice and above in amounts based on the total of entries.

• You must be at least 15 years old.

• You may enter more than one skill level if you dance different roles.

• Competitors are responsible for entering only contests they qualify for 

WSDC Skill Level Divisions are based on previous WSDC competition results, and follow the guidelines listed on chart 3 at https://www.worldsdc.com/wsdc-points-registry-rules/

If you have previously made finals in a WSDC JJ, you can look up your WSDC competitor number, how many points you have, and what level you are eligible to enter on this site: https://www.worldsdc.com/registry-points/.

First time Jack & Jill competitors and those with no previous WSDC JJ competition experience should start in Newcomer. To enter Newcomer Jack and Jill you must be competent with the basics of social dancing.

A competitor with exceptional circumstances may submit a formal petition for a level change. Petitions must be submitted no less than 48 hours before the competition begins. Dancing in the wrong division without a successful prior petition may incur disqualification. See worldsdc.com/rules.

Additional Divisions. (These are not always offered, please check the registration site annually.)

• Sophisticated (35+) - This division is for competitors age 35 and over.

• Masters WSDC (50+) - This division is for competitors aged 50 and over.

ProAm Jack & Jill

Enter as an individual. Dance with at least three randomly chosen professional or Allstar partners. The DJ picks the music. Jack & Jill contests allow individuals to enter without a partner and demonstrate skills in spontaneous dancing.

(2) West Coast Swing ProAm Jack & Jill contest levels are offered. Students should use WSDC JJ rules (see above) to determine which level to enter. Students may choose to enter a second ProAm JJ in their nondominant role at the same level or one level down. Contestants will be assessed on skills within the role they entered

• Newcomer/Novice

• Intermediate

Definitions

• Breakaway - A set of symmetric or complementary movements or footwork executed by a couple who intentionally break contact (except for spins and turns), which is not a clearly leadable derivative of a recognizable swing pattern.

• Costumes - Attire that in the opinion of the judges is specifically designed or selected for couples’ competition and would not generally be worn for social dancing.

• Drop - Movement in which either partner’s head and torso go below knee level of the other partner.

• Entrance - Pre-choreographed segment of a performance, where competitors formally enter the floor and prepare to dance. Acknowledging your partner, the judges, or the audience is not considered an entrance.

• Exit - Pre-choreographed segment of a performance, where competitors leave the floor. Acknowledging your partner, the judges, or the audience is not considered an exit.

• Lifts - Any movement lasting longer than a full beat of music where the feet of one partner are clearly off the floor and the other partner supports the lifted partner's weight.

• Props - Throw away skirts, shirts, scarfs, etc. are considered props in this context and are not allowed. Anything other than what would be considered acceptable clothing.

• Routine - Any segment, which, in the opinion of the judges, consists of prearranged choreography including symmetric or complementary movements or footwork.

• Swing Content - Recognizable West Coast Swing elements.

Relative Placement Scoring 

This system used to determine winners in final rounds. It was adapted from the figure skating system and is now widely used at major dance competitions. It minimizes the impact of a rogue judge's mark and recognizes the most consistently scored entry. An equal numerical value is assigned to each Judge's raw scores, so that each Judge has an equal vote in the final outcome.

Note: This has been adapted from the rules overview developed by Kay Newhouse and Dave Moldover/ Dance Jam Productions.