(Updated: 2/26/25) Print the rules
Northeast Swing Classic (NSC’25) is open to all eligible contestants in every division. Every competitor must have purchased or been awarded a weekend pass to attend NSC’25. In addition, each contestant must sign the appropriate waiver form. No contestant will be permitted to compete without a signed waiver form. All contestants under the age of eighteen (18) must have a parent or guardian sign any required forms.
This is a Swing Dance Competition. Swing is an American Rhythm Dance based on a foundation of 6-beat and 8-beat patterns that incorporate a wide variety of rhythms built on 2-beat single, delayed, double, triple, and blank rhythm units. The 6-beat patterns include, but are not limited to, passes, underarm turns, push breaks, open-to-closed, and closed-to-open position patterns. The 8-beat patterns include, but are not limited to, whips, swing-outs, Lindy circles, and Shag pivots. Although they are not part of the foundation of the dance as stated above, 2-beat and 4-beat extension rhythm breaks may be incorporated to extend a pattern, to phrase the music, and/or to accent breaks.
All competition categories are gender neutral, with the intent being to follow and comply with all applicable World Swing Dance Council (WSDC) Rules & Guidelines.
Contestants must be 13 years of age at the time of the contest to be eligible to dance in any Jack & Jill Division. If a dancer who does not meet this age requirement wishes to compete, they must complete and submit a Petition Form per the process outlined later in these Rules (which must include a parent or guardian signing off on said Petition). It is our intent to allow any “experienced dancer” to compete in those competitions that an individual is eligible for and established in as is reasonably and logistically feasible.
There will be no Dancer’s Meeting for any competition or division. Competitors must be in the ballroom and ready to check in 15 minutes prior to their competition block. If a competitor is not present at the time of line up, they will be scratched. Please check the schedule - there will be no exceptions.
WSDC Rules and Guidelines will be followed as to “Tier Classifications”.
Each prelim heat will have a minimum of 3 songs, with each song approximately 1 1⁄2 to 2 minutes long.
All rules will be strictly enforced and the decision of the Chief Judge will be final.
There is no maximum limit to entries to any division. Deadlines for all divisions are as listed in the schedule.
The number of heats in prelims (when applicable) will be dependent on the number of entries. If a prelim is not necessary based on the number of entries, the Chief Judge may decide to hold a final without a prelim (“straight to finals”).
A minimum number of 5 entries are required to run a division for full prizes to be awarded. If 3-4 entries are registered, the division may run, but the prizes may be adjusted. In the event that there are fewer than three entries, NSC’25 reserves the right to combine or cancel that division. If the division is cancelled, entry fees will be refunded.
NSC’25 also reserves the right to have any and all lead/follow categories run in a heat format in lieu of prelims or spotlight format for time restraints.
It is the desire of the Organizers to encourage expressive and exciting dance performances without sacrificing quality of dancing and good taste. To encourage this balance, any action the judges believe would make them uncomfortable in a social dance setting (such as wearing inappropriate attire or showing disrespect toward one’s partner, other dancers, or the event) is prohibited. Competitors should check with the Chief Judge in advance if they have questions regarding the acceptability of their competition attire.
Planning Ahead: Competitors should check the weekend schedule in advance in order to meet registration deadlines and arrive on time for all check-ins and competitions. They should bring appropriate competition attire. Competitors are responsible for keeping themselves up-to-date with checking at the eveany changes to previously announced schedules. All schedule changes will be announced in the ballroom by the emcee (and posted on event social media pages and the event website if time allows).
Knowing the Rules: All competitors should read these rules carefully prior to competing. Competitors are responsible for adhering to these rules whether they have read them or not. Questions about the rules should be addressed in advance to the Event Directors or the Chief Judge, or to the registration team at the event, before the relevant registration deadline.
Being Prepared to Compete: Competitors should be present in the ballroom 15 minutes prior to the start of their competition. Any cancellation or “scratch” (missed check-in) by a competitor or couple will result in the loss of the entry fee.
Bib Numbers: Competitors are responsible for their bib numbers. All competitors must wear their assigned bib number during all contests (with the exception being that only the Leaders should be wearing their Bib Numbers during Strictly Swing Competitions). Leaders must wear their bib numbers on the upper back section (between their shoulders) and Followers must wear their bib numbers on their lower back section (at approximately hip level).
Demonstrating Good Sportsmanlike Conduct: Competitors must always demonstrate good sportsmanlike conduct, both on and off the competition floor, refraining from any behavior the judges deem inappropriate. Competitors are responsible for adhering to the Northeast Swing Classic Code of Conduct. Failure to adhere to this code of conduct may result in disqualification.
All Jack & Jill Divisions
NSC’25 will offer the following J\&J divisions: Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate, Sophisticated, Masters, Advanced, All Star, Pro/Am Newcomer/Novice Follow, Pro/Am Intermediate Follow, Pro/Am Advanced Follow, Pro/Am Newcomer/Novice Leader, Pro/Am Intermediate Leader, Pro/Am Advanced Leader, and “All-American” Tournament Style.
These competitions will be run in accordance with applicable WSDC Rules and Guidelines that are in effect at the time of the event. We have made every attempt to align these rules with said WSDC published Rules and Guidelines - if there are any discrepancies, we will default to WSDC standards to ensure compliance and Registry eligibility. Please contact the Event Management Team at northeastwcs\@gmail.com
with any questions. For reference, the complete WSDC rules and guidelines are available on their website at: https://www.worldsdc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-Registry-Event-Rules_v2024.2B.pdf
Check your WSDC points before signing up for Jack & Jill competitions to ensure you sign up for the correct level in each role. The link to the WSDC Competitor Points Registry is: https://www.worldsdc.com/registry-points/
Petitions must be submitted 4 weeks prior to the Event Date per the Petition Submission Process in accordance with the WSDC Petition Process and as outlined toward the end of these Competition Rules. ALL DECISIONS BY THE CHIEF JUDGE (IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMPETITION COMMITTEE PANEL) WILL BE FINAL.
Couples must maintain physical contact except for spins, turns, short break-a-ways, and recoveries. Dancers must maintain their own physical contact with the floor during partner weight support moves (one foot on the ground). Props are not allowed.
Competitors may not enter any one J\&J contest twice (even if they are permitted to dance the same level in both roles per WSDC).
NSC’25 Staff are required to contact the Event Director(s) prior to signing up to compete in a Jack & Jill Competition.
WSDC J\&Js
Competitors enter as individuals, are randomly assigned partners, and dance to music selected in advance by the event competition DJ. Depending on the number of entries, preliminary and semi-final rounds may be held and will be danced in a heated format.
Competitors may compete in a maximum of two (2) skill level WSDC Jack and Jill competitions, once in their primary role and once in their secondary role. Competitors may additionally compete in multiple age-based WSDC Jack and Jill competitions.
Competitors at least 35 years of age by the conclusion of the Event may enter the Sophisticated Division. Competitors at least 50 years of age by the conclusion of the Event may enter the Masters Division and the Sophisticated Division.
Pro-Am J\&Js
Competitors enter and are judged as individuals, are randomly assigned professional partners, and dance to music selected in advance by the event competition DJ.
Competitors may enter a maximum of two (2) Pro-Am J\&Js, one in each role.
Competitors in the WSDC leveled J\&J competitions must sign up for the same level in Pro-Am J\&J (for example, a leader who is qualified for Intermediate or Advanced and chooses to dance in the Advanced J\&J cannot sign up for the Intermediate Leader Pro-Am J\&J).
Prelims (if necessary) and finals will be held for this contest.
Professionals, for the purposes of this contest, are defined as a member of the teaching staff and/or All Star or Champion competitors.
All-American Tournament Style Jack & Jill
Competitors enter as individuals and will be paired randomly with one partner for Prelims. Competitors will be judged as a couple. Scoring will be based on solid swing content and technique. Musicality and showmanship will be used as tie-breakers at each judge’s discretion.
This competition is open to all levels (including Champions).
Couples will receive a raw score based on a consistent scale that all judges will abide by. All couples will be scored.
The top 16 couples will advance to the Finals. Each Leader and Follower will be randomly drawn into new partnerships for the Finals
In the event a dancer needs to dance in multiple Prelim heats and advances to the Finals with multiple partners, that dancer will only dance as a member of one couple in Finals. In this circumstance, the dancer(s) in the next qualifying placement(s) in that role will advance to the Finals.
The Tournament Finals format consists of multiple rounds. After each dance-off, the couples turn their backs to the judges and the judges vote which couple advances to the next round. The rounds are as follows:
16 couples – comprising 8 “Head-to-Head” dance-offs
8 couples – comprising 4 “Head-to-Head” dance-offs
4 couples – comprising 2 “Head-to-Head” dance-offs
3rd Place Placement Round – the couples who do not win in the previous round compete “Head-to-Head” for 3rd Place
1st & 2nd Place Placement Round – the 2 remaining couples dance against each other to determine the winners
Role Definitions:
Whichever role you have a higher level or more points in is your PRIMARY ROLE (PR). **Where you choose to dance in the J\&J (or where the Event Director or Chief Judge** places you) determines the lowest level you may dance in leveled Strictly Swings in your PR. You may choose to dance up in a higher division in leveled Strictly Swings. The division for the couple is determined by the highest PR level of the partnership. For example, if a couple consists of a PR Intermediate and a PR Novice, that couple must dance in the Intermediate Strictly.
Option A: Whichever role is not your Primary Role is your NON-PRIMARY ROLE (N-PR). For
Northeast Swing Classic 2025, eligibility to dance in a Division in a N-PR will be determined in accordance with current WSDC Rules (two divisions down for all divisions except Newcomer is allowed unless earned points say otherwise). For dancers who qualify for two divisions in their N-PR, their N-PR will be based on the level they choose to compete in the J\&J divisions. For example, a PR leader who qualifies for Advanced and All-Star may qualify for Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced in their N-PR according to WSDC rules. If they compete in All-Star J\&J as a leader, they may not compete in Novice Strictly as a follower.
General Strictly Rules:
NSC’25 will offer the following Strictly Swing contests: Newcomer/Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, All Star, Invitational, Sophisticated, Masters, Switch Role - Limited Division, Switch Role - Open Division, and Generation Gap.
All Strictly Swing competitions require a couple to sign up together: one leader and one follower per couple. If you chose to dance in multiple Strictly Swing competitions, you must have a different partner for each competition, regardless of role.
Dancers can compete in no more than two (2) leveled Strictly Swing Competitions, once in each role. In addition, if eligible, a dancer can also compete in the age-based Divisions (Sophisticated and Masters) in the role of their choice, as well as in the Generation Gap Division (1 entry in the role of their choice), and one Switch-Role division (one entry).
Competitors are only allowed one entry per Strictly Swing competition, and may not sign up with multiple partners, even if they qualify for a division if both roles.
Each dancer must stay in the role they signed up as (no switching roles mid-competition). This rule does not apply to the Switch Role contests.
Swing Content MUST be 90% swing. Any style of swing is allowed, but the music will be geared toward the West Coast Swing genre in that it will be in 4/4 time with a BPM range of 80 to 135. No lifts or aerials and no planned entrances or exits allowed. Drops are allowed as long as each partner is maintaining their own weight. No costumes allowed, but matching outfits are acceptable.
Sophisticated Strictly Swing – all Strictly Swing Rules apply, with the following changes, additions and modifications:
Both partners must be at least 35 years old at the time of the contest
At NSC’25, only 1 member of a Sophisticated Strictly Swing couple can be a “Champion level dancer” – as defined by the WSDC Points Registry!
Masters Strictly Swing – all Strictly Swing Rules apply, with the following changes, additions and modifications:
Both partners must be at least 50 years old at the time of the contest
At NSC’25, only 1 member of a Masters Strictly Swing couple can be a “Champion level dancer” – as defined by the WSDC Points Registry!
Generation Gap Strictly Swing – all Strictly Swing Rules apply, with the following changes, additions and modifications:
Any dancer who qualifies may enter this contest – EXCEPT CHAMPIONS (as defined per the WSDC Points Registry) competing in their PR.
For each Couple entered, the following applies:
The partners must have at least 20 years age difference between them
Only 1 partner can be Advanced or All-Star in the role they choose for this contest (PR or N-PR)
Any exceptions to the rules for dancing in this Generational Strictly Swing competition must be approved by the Event Director(s) as well as the Chief Judge by submitting a written request to the Event Director(s).
Switch-Role Strictly Swing – all Strictly Swing Rules apply, with the following additional considerations: Couples will be judged on their role switching skills within the partnership, and will be expected to exhibit the ability and skills to both lead and follow by alternating between both roles during the course of each song/dance. This division is intended to be about good dancing and not comedic or inappropriate behavior.
Limited Division: All participants must be Intermediate or below in both their PR and N-PR roles. This contest will be limited to 20 entries.
Open Division: This contest is open to all dancers, regardless of their level. This contest will be limited to 40 entries.
Invitational Strictly Swing
This Strictly contest is open to couples with at least one Champion level dancer as defined by the WSDC Points Registry. In addition, couples containing at least one member of the teaching staff for NSC’25 may enter this division.
It is the Organizer’s goal to encourage all competitors to assign themselves to a fair and appropriate classification using the honor system (and in accordance with the WSDC Points Registry System). In the event that a competitor feels uncomfortable with their classification they may petition to be reclassified one skill level up or down by following the Petition Process outlined in the WSDC Rules. Petitions are only accepted for a competitor’s Primary Role.
Dancing in the wrong division (or a competition requiring a Petition being submitted) without a successfully approved petition may incur disqualification. See https://www.worldsdc.com/rules/ for complete details about the petition process. The Chief Judge will present all petitions to a committee of 3 judges selected prior to the event for review and consideration. Upon a decision being reached, contestants will be notified as quickly as possible of the outcome. The
Organizer reserves the right to reclassify any contestant for any reason. The decision of the committee is final. Submission of a petition or any questions about the process should be directed to northeastwcs@gmail.com northeastwcs@gmail.com (include the topic “Petition”) no later than 4 weeks before NSC’25.
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