Victorian Salsa State Titles: RULES
Competition is held in 4 divisions:
"On 1" Division
"On 2" Division
Cabaret Division: 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
Team Division: Need To Have 3 Couples Or More
IN ADDITION, there is an AMATEUR category.
Preliminary 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 Routine No Longer Than Two Minutes That They Have Choreographed To Their Own Music. The Routine Cannot Go Over Two Minutes Including Their Entrance And Exit. If It Passes The Two Minute Limit We Will Have A Time Keeper For Each Routine. If Routine Is Longer Than 2 Minutes The Team Or Couples Will Be Deducted Percentage Points For Each Second Over Two Minutes.
The Team Division Will Not Have A Warm Up Period To DJ Music. They Will Be Expected To Be Prepared To Perform A Choreographed Team Routine Of Two Minutes Or Less.
All Dancers Of All Divisions Are Required To Bring Their Own 2 Minute Or Less Pre-Recorded Music On A CD Format. Only Music Of One Performance Is Allowed On Each CD.
Music & CD's
Music Must Be At Least 80% Salsa. You Are Allowed To Mix No More Than 3 Different Songs In One Routine.
Reminder: A Maximum Of 3 Songs Per Routine Can Be Mixed Into Your Routine.
We Encourage You To Prepare More Than One Choreographed Routine For The Various Qualifying Rounds In Case You Qualify.
IMPORTANT
Prepare 2 CDs With The 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.
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.
Suggestion: Gentlemen Wear Socks With Your Costumes When Wearing Long Pants.
Contestants Will Show Etiquette During Contest By Refraining From Distracting Others While Competing Couple Is Performing.
Judging Scores: Breakdown
Dancers Will Be Judged In The Following Categories: Timing, Overall Presentation, Appearance, Partnering, Style, Choreography & Audience Reaction.
Judges Will Decide Their Final Scores Following These Guidelines:
40% Timing
As You Can Notice By The Guidelines, The Judges Will Be Looking Closely To The Timing Of The Contestants. This Criteria Alone Represents 40% Of The Overall Score. Contestants Will Be Judged From The Moment They Are On The Dance Floor Whether It Be The Warm Up Period Or The Choreographed Routine.
We, The Committee Have Decided Not To Deduct Points If You Are Dancing "On 1" And Return By Breaking "On 5". The Same If You Are Dancing On “2” And Return By Breaking On “6” . If You Were To Return On Any Other Beat Than Those Mentioned You Will Be Deducted Points. The Amount Of Points Will Be Determined By Each Judge Depending How Many Times The Infraction Occurs In the Routine.
Be Aware That You May Look Great And Do Some Great Steps And Even Do Moves That The Crowd Will Love, But If Your Timing Is Not Consistent To Your Selected Division, You Will Be Deducted Between 10% - 40% Of Your Score.
10% Overall Presentation
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. Suggestion: Gentlemen Wear Socks With Your Costumes When Wearing Long Pants.
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.
Plus...
In The "On 1" & "On 2" Categories, No Move In Which Both Feet Leave The Ground At The Same Time Will Be Permitted Including Any Move Above The Shoulder Will Not Be Allowed. If At Any Time Either Dancers, Both Feet Leave
The Ground, Points Will Be Deducted. 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 Future By Registering And Paying The Entry Fee For That Particular Event.
These are the rules and guidelines put forward by the Salsa 7 committee for the ESPN World Salsa Championships; see www.worldsalsachampionships.com