Boston Open DanceSport

same-sex ballroom dancing

Competition

Competition Rules

The Boston Open DanceSport accepts and suffices the General Rules of NASSPDA. Membership in that organization is not required to participate in the competition, yet only the North American Championship has few restriction of garnering the titles. The competition is open to all. No restriction in age or sexual orientation. Participation, however, does not automatically create eligibility to garner a title. There is competition for same-sex couples, reverse role couples and Pro-Am couples*, where they will be judged separately.There are three dance divisions- Single Dance Division, Two Dances Division and 2014 North American Championship (for same-sex couples only). For the first time in Boston we are glad to have a Country Line Dance division, where any single dancer can compete.

* Pro-Am couples are: a) if one dancer is paying the other to dance with them during any part of the competition, and/or b) if a couple self identifies as Pro-Am couple by entering such a specified category during that competition. Pro-Am couples are judged separately and can not garner the Champion title.

Single Dance Division

There will be:

Salsa, Hustle, Argentine Tango, Country Waltz, Polka, West Coast Swing,Two Step in 3 levels (Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced) and 2 age categories (Adult and 45+).

The competitors register themselves in one of the following levels:

Beginner level: This level is intended for dancers with little to no competitive dance experience in their chosen dance style and could include couples with less than 2 years dance experience and/or less than 3 competitions. For couples who have competed in graded competitions before in their chosen style, this category includes those who would normally place in levels C, D, or E. Don't forget the most important is to have fun out there!

Intermediate level: This level is intended for dancers with a moderate amount of competitive dance experience in their chosen style and could include couples with less than 5 years dance experience who have competed in same-sex competitions, and are practicing regularly. For couples who have competed in graded competitions in their chosen style, this category includes those who would normally place in levels C or B in graded events.

Advanced level: This level is intended for dancers with an extensive amount of competitive dance experience in their chosen style and could include couples with more than 5 years dance experience who continuously compete and train. For couples who have competed in graded competitions in their chosen style, this category includes those who would normally place in levels B or A in graded events.

Two Dances Division There are two dances for every style per each level. The same levels as in Single dance division applying here as well.

Single Dance division and Two Dances division are unrestricted in syllabus- steps will not be restricted to a particular dance association or school syllabus in any of the events listed above.
Same-sex couples, Reverse role couples, Pro-Am couples are judged separately.
There are two age categories for the Single dance and Two dances divisions- Age group Adult (open to everybody,18+) and Age group 45+ (both partners are 45 years old and above at the time of the competition).
Age group 45+ category are allowed to compete against the Age group Adult. The meaning of creating those two different age categories is to offer a safe and loyal competition.
Couples, competing in Single dance and Two dances divisions are allowed to dance in their own level with additional dancing in one level up!

2014 north American same-sex ballroom dance championship

The Championship is a multi dance event. It will start with the required Grading Round. There are no pre-determined classes in same-sex competitions. Grading Rounds are therefore required before the competition rounds. The purpose of Grading Round is to group all couples of same level into the same Class. Although, each couple state their class preferences within each category at the point of their registration. Self-assessment of the couple serves the purpose of enabling organizers to create a rough timetable for the Graded round after registration, as well as to provide the judges with a guideline for the expected number of couples in each class. However, details of self-assessment shall never be shared with the adjudicators. There are no restricted syllabus material.

The following is a list of dances that will be used to do the Grading:

Standard: Waltz, Tango, Quickstep;
Latin: Cha-cha, Rumba, Jive;
Smooth: Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango;
Rhythm: Cha-cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing

* The Newcomers (Class E) can dance only the first two dances in their style and step out for the rest if is not prepared.

Once the couples have been graded, and placed into same Classes, the formal competition begins. The result will be announced to the competitors and the audience. The required dances for each Class are:

Class A (Top Level)
Standard: Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, Quickstep
Latin: Cha-cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, Jive
Smooth: Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot
Rhythm: Cha-cha, Rumba, Bolero, East Coast Swing, Mambo
Class B (Advanced Level)
Standard: Waltz, Tango, Slow Foxtrot, Quickstep
Latin: Cha-cha, Samba, Rumba, Jive
Smooth: Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot
Rhythm: Cha-cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Mambo
Class C (Intermediate Level)
Standard: Waltz, Tango, Quickstep
Latin: Cha Cha, Rumba, Jive
Smooth: Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot
Rhythm: Cha-cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing
Class D (Beginner Level)
Standard: Waltz, Tango, Quickstep
Latin: Cha-cha, Rumba, Jive
Smooth: Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot
Rhythm: Cha-cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing
Class E (Newcomer Level, can only be entered one time)
Standard: Waltz, Tango
Latin: Cha-cha, Rumba
Smooth: Waltz, Foxtrot
Rhythm: Cha-cha, Rumba

Different categories may be danced with different partners. However, all dances in a particular multi-dance category must be danced with the same partner regardless of grade classification.
Couples will consist of two women or two men dancing together (regardless of sexual orientation). A transgender person should dance in the category appropriate to the gender that he or she uses to live his or her life and should dance with a partner of the appropriate sex for the chosen category;
The choice of the role of leader and/or follower in same-sex couples is not pre-determined. It can be the same in all dances or vary from dance to dance or change within a dance any number of times
Dancers must wear functional and festive attire

The winners in following events will be awarded as 2014 North American Champions:

International Standard, International Latin, International 10-dance (it will be combined result only)

American Smooth, American Rhythm, American 9-dance (it will be combined result only)

Formation teams, Showdance

*To garner a North American Champion Title both partners of a couple or all members of a team shall be resident of a North American Country. At least one partner of a couple shall be an active NASSPDA member and the full Formation team is required to have an active NASSPDA membership. The Championship titles in any graded multi dance category will be awarded to the highest ranking eligible couple of Class "A".

In the Showdance category, a Championship title will be awarded to the highest placed same-sex couple.

Formation teams

1. Routine must have a minimum of 3 couples or 6 individuals. Formation team competition may include 2 types of routines:
a. Open Dance Routine: Teams desiring to perform routines primarily for entertainment with significant dance content.
b. Couple Dance Routine: Any routine that is performed as couples dancing together in a joined configuration throughout the routine except for: entrance, exit, transition, separation where partner changes are made, or a movement is executed where the perception of partnership is maintained. There is no further distinction of levels in regards to proficiency and/or age.
2. A “Couple Dance Routine” must be primarily partner dancing.
3. The majority (at least 60%) of the time spent couple-dancing must be either same-sex or reverse role.
4. This category allows lifts;
5. Routine must be at least 3 minutes long but no more than 5 minutes, including entering and exiting the dance floor. Routine may include changes in rhythm, but such changes are not mandatory. Routine must include at least (2) changes in formation.

Showdance

There is no distinction of levels in regards to proficiency, type of performance, choice of dance and/or age. The Show dance category allows the incorporation of lifts. Length- no more then 4 minutes.

For the first time this year, we are including the Country Western Line dancing division in the general dance competition section.

This division is sanctioned by the International Association of Gays/Lesbians Country Western Dance Clubs (IAGLCWDC). It is open to everybody. The songs are chosen by Boston's Gays For Patsy's board and approved by IAGLCWDC. Step by step description can be find here. The dances are:

Beginner level- d. h. s. s. (video can be seeing here)

Intermediate level - Hideaway Cha (Video can be seeing here)

Advanced Level- Chill Factor (video can be seeing here)

Beginner International Cha-Cha and Rumba

Intermediate International Rumba and Jive

Advanced International Samba and Paso Doble

Beginner International Waltz and Tango

Intermediate International Waltz and Quickstep

Advanced International Foxtrot and Tango

Beginner American Rumba and East Coast Swing

Intermediate American Cha-Cha and Rumba

Advanced American Bolero and Mambo

Beginner American Foxtrot and Waltz

Intermediate American Foxtrot and Tango

Advanced American Tango and V.Waltz

October 11th 2014

Hynes Convention Center

900 Boylston Street, Boston MA

rooms 302-304

Adjudicators:

Benjamin Soencksen - Chairman

Eddie Alba

Lee Fox

Christine Harvey

Nancy Norman

Luc Richer

Ken Lo

visit our vendors online & at the competition

Teddy Shoes

548 Massachusetts Ave

Cambridge, MA 02139

http://teddyshoes.com/

Euro Glam - Ballroom outfits for man and woman by Galina

(781) 801-3658

Gtsybikova@comcast.net

http://www.designsbygalina.com/