Thurs 6/24 = Preliminaries at Excalibur Nightclub Sun 6/27 = Final at the Cubby Bear
Fees
Entry fee per couple: $75.00. Entry fee per team (minimum 3 couples): $200.00. Any additional couple is an additional $50.00 per couple. To register, contact our studios about filling out a registration form. You must register before May 31st.
Special rules that apply for the Chicago Qualifier only:
Regardless of the number of couples going to the finals per division in Chicago on June 27th, the judges of the World Salsa Championships reserve the right to qualify the competitors to the finals in December. Qualification is not guaranteed regardless of the amount of competitors in the event.
Audience participation will count as 1 judge, not as a portion of your score.
Rules
Cabaret:
Any move in which any part of either dancer is above the shoulders of their partner. (Includes lifts, cartwheels or any similar lift or tricks)
In The "On 1" & "On 2" Categories:
No Move Above The Shoulder will Be Allowed If ANY Part Of The Body Of Either Dancer Goes Above The Partners Shoulders, The Couple Will Be Disqualified With No Refund. They Will Also Not Be Allowed To Re-Enter Under This Or Any Other Division During This Particular Qualifying Contest. They Can Enter Another Qualifying Contest In The Near Future By Registering And Paying The Entry Fee For That Particular Event.
Warm-Up Rounds:
Preliminary Warm Up Rounds For "On 1", "On 2" & Cabaret are 1.5 Minutes And Contestants Will Dance To The DJ's Pre-Selected Music. Each Couple Will Then Perform A 2-Minute Routine That They Have Choreographed To a dance piece done from a pre-selected list of songs described below. The Routine Cannot Go Over 2 Minutes Including Their Entrance And Exit. If It Passes The 2 Minute Limit You May Be Disqualified And Lose Your Entrance Fee. The Judges Will Have The Final Decision. We Will Have A TimeKeeper For Each Routine. If Routine Is Longer Than 2 Minutes The Team Or Couples CD Will Be Stopped And The Judges Will Decide If They Are Disqualified With No Refund.
No Warm-Up Rounds:
The Team Division Will Not Have A Warm Up Period To DJ Music. They Will Be Expected To Be Prepared To Perform A 2 Minute Choreographed Team Routine.
Music
What to Bring:
All Dancers Of All Divisions Are Required To Bring Their Own 2 Minute Or Less Pre-Recorded Music On A CD Format.
Your Music:
Music Must Be At Least 80% Salsa. You Are Allowed To Mix No More Than 3 Different Songs In One Routine. The 20% Of Your Routine That You Are Allowed To Have Other Music Besides Salsa Can Be Any Music Of Your Choice. Reminder: A Maximum Of 3 Songs Per Routine Can Be Mixed Into Your Routine. All the music on your piece must be picked from the pre-selected list of approved songs.
Your CD's:
Prepare 2 CDs With Your Music For Each Routine. Example: Two Routines Equal 4 CDs. The CDs Should Be Ready To Be Played As Is. There Should Only Be Music For One Routine On Each CD. The DJ Will Not Slow Down Or Speed Up Your CD.
Pre-approved list of songs:
These are the only songs allowed to air on ESPN if you make it to the finals broadcast on Saturday.
( TBD )
Costumes & Dance Etiquette
Contestants Are Encouraged To Wear Costumes Or Matching Outfits. We Strongly Suggest That Jeans Are Not Used As Costumes And That Ladies Wearing Dresses Or Skirts Wear Nylons Or Fishnets. Contestants Will Show Etiquette During Contest By Refraining From Distracting Others While Competing Couple Is Dancing.
Judging guidelines:
Judges will decide their final scores following these guidelines:
You Will Be Judged By Your Overall Presentation. The Judges Will Be Looking At All Of The Categories In General In Which You are Being Judged On. They Will Also Be Watching Your Confidence On Stage.
10% Appearance
(Includes Costumes) No Jeans Allowed As Costumes. Points Will Be Deducted. We Strongly Suggest Tasteful, Colorful Professional Costumes. We Also Suggest That Ladies Wearing Skirts Or Dresses Also Wear Fish Nets Or Nylons.
10% Partnering
You Will Be Judged On How Well You And Your Partner Or Team Execute Your Routine And That You Are A Balanced Couple Or Team In The Showmanship Of Your Choreography. Leading And Following Is What This Category Is All About.
10% Styling
You Will Be Judged In Your Styling Technique And How It Blends With The Routine And Music. Hands, Movements, How Graceful And How Clean Certain Moves Are Done Will All Be Judged In This Category.
10% Choreography
You Will Be Judged ON Your Choreography And Its Interpretation with Your Routine And Music. We Will Judge The Originality Of Your Choreography. In This Category We Are Also Looking At Your Creativity And The Level Of Difficulty Of Your Choreography And How Clean It Is Presented.
10% Audience Reaction
The Judges Upon Their Own Discretion Can Decide To Give An Extra 1% - 10% to Their Overall Score Depending On If They Feel That The Audience Reaction Is Sincere.