Boston Open DanceSport
ballroom dancing
competitions Rules
This year we have two great events. We are hosting the 2015 US Championship on the first day and the Provincetown Dance Trophy on the second. We accept and suffices the General Rules of North American Same-Sex Partner Dance Association. Membership in that organization is not required to participate in the competitions, although The US Championship has few restriction of garnering the titles*.
The Provincetown Dance Trophy is open to everybody and has no restrictions. It welcomes same-sex couples, reverse role couples and Pro-Am couples*, where all those groups willl be judged separately.
* 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.
* To garner a National title: (a) at least one partner (half the members of a formation team) shall be a resident of that country/nation; (b) within that calendar year this couple/team may not represent the country/nation of the other partner (half the members of a formation team) in order to garner a National title from that other country; (c) at least one of the parties (or half of the formation team) need to be an active NASSPDA members (d) Pro-Am couples are not eligible to gain the title.
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.
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 US 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.
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.
Includes a single dances event and multi-dance events for same-sex and reverse role couples with separated events for Pro-Am couples. The multi-dance events will start with the traditional Grading round. Same-sex couples, Reverse role couples and Pro-Am couples will compete separately. There are no restrictions for the participating couples. It is open to the world event and we are inviting same-sex couples from around the Globe.
September 18th, 2015
2015 United States Championship
September 19th, 2015
PROVINCETOWN Dance trophy
September 18th, 2015 - US Championship
September 19th, 2015 - Ptown Dance Trophy
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