3^RD Annual New England Salsa Competition Rules

General Information

• The competition is open to anyone who dances Salsa in New England on a regular basis.  Exceptions will be made only on a case-by-case basis.
• The competition will be in Salsa “street dance”.  Any style is permitted.
• The competition is open to amateurs only.  Amateur dancers are defined as those people who have never made money from teaching or performing Salsa or similar Latin dances.  Both members of a couple must be amateurs.
• Preliminary rounds will take place at various nightclubs throughout the metropolitan Boston area and in select cities in New England as indicated on the schedule.
• All competitors will be required to check in and have completed registration on the night of each competition.  There is no entry fee but pre-registration through SalsaBoston.com will entitle couples to reduced admission to the preliminary rounds.  The semi-final and final rounds will be free for competitors only.

Preliminary Rounds

• All couples will warm up simultaneously for a 2-minute dance, or if space does not permit, in smaller groups at the discretion of the round organizers.
• Following the warm up, each couple will dance alone for a 2-minute song. Order will be determined by random lottery.
• The song will be different for each couple, and no couple will know which song will be played.  Music will be selected by the round organizers.
• After each couple has danced, there will be a follow-up dance lasting 1-minute.  All couples will dance simultaneously, or if space does not permit, in smaller groups at the discretion of the round organizers.
• Winners will be determined by audience response.
• The number of couples that will advance to the semi-finals from a preliminary round depends on the number of couples competing in that round.  If 1-3 couples compete in a division, 1 couple will advance to the semi-finals.  If 4-6 couples compete in a division, 2 couples will advance to the semi-finals.
• In order to advance to the semi-finals, couples only need to attend and qualify in one of the preliminary rounds.  However, if competitors do not qualify for the semi-finals the first time, they may try again in any of the following preliminary rounds.  Changing partners is permitted at this point.  However, once qualified for the semi-finals, couples may not change competition partners except by withdrawing and re-qualifying together in a preliminary round.

Semi-Final Round

• The semi-finalist couples will compete in the semi-finals on the scheduled date only (Saturday, August 2, 2003).
• All couples competing in the semi-final round must have qualified in a preliminary round.
• All couples will warm up simultaneously for a 2-minute dance, or if space does not permit, in smaller groups at the discretion of the competition committee.
• Following the warm up, each couple will dance alone for a 2-minute song. Order will be determined by random lottery.
• The song will be different for each couple, and no couple will know which song will be played.  Music will be selected by the competition committee.
• Six couples will be chosen to go on to the finals by a panel of no less than three judges.  Placement will not be announced, only which couples advance.
• Judges will be chosen by an impartial committee and will be persons experienced in dance and competition judging.  Judges will be instructed to judge the competition according to the judging criteria below.

Final Round

• The six finalist couples will compete on the scheduled date only (Saturday, August 16, 2003).
• All couples will warm up simultaneously for a 2-minute dance, or if space does not permit, in smaller groups at the discretion of the competition committee.  Music will be selected by the competition committee.
• Following the warm up, each couple will dance alone for a 2-minute song. Order will be determined by random lottery.
• Couples are permitted to mix and bring music of their choice on a standard CD.  Music will be stopped at 2 minutes by the DJ.
• If competitors choose to submit music in CD format to the DJ, this must be done in a timely manner prior to the start of the competition.  Proper CD format, length of music, sound quality, and recording level will be the sole responsibility of the competitors.  The competition management highly recommends that music submissions be made to the DJ prior to the day of the competition so that the DJ has ample time to insure that submitted music is playable, since the DJ will not be able to do this once the nightclub has opened on competition nights.
• Prizes will be presented to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place couples.
• A panel of no less than three judges will determine winners.
• Judges will be chosen by an impartial committee and will be persons experienced in dance and competition judging.  Judges will be instructed to judge the competition according to the judging criteria below.

Judging Criteria

• For the semi-final and final rounds, couples will be judged in five areas, each weighted equally from 1 to 15 points.
• Both the lowest and the highest scoring areas from each judge will be eliminated and the total score added up.
• The five areas of judging are as follows (15 points each per judge):

1. Partnering (couple dynamics): ability of the couple to dance well together.

2. Dance: grace, balance, and execution of choreography to reflect the variation in the music.

3. Rhythm and Timing: ability to stay on the beat.  Dancing on 1,2,3, or 4 is permitted, but couples must break on the same beat throughout the number.

4. Choreography: originality and appeal.  Scores in this area will not be affected by the style of Salsa selected.  Unreasonably dangerous choreography will not be judged favorably.

5. Appearance:  attire, presentation, exposure, and projection.  This score will reflect how well the couple’s performance reaches into the audience.

2003 Competition Schedule

• Preliminary rounds in metropolitan Boston area:

Friday, June 13— El Bembe at the Jorge Hernandez Cultural Center

Wednesday, June 25—Salsa Night at Sophia’s

Ryles

Cache

Wepa Salsa Sunday

Brookline Community Center for the Arts

Karoun

Brazilian Cultural Center of New England

Punto Final

Copa

• Preliminary rounds throughout New England:

Connecticut:

Maine:

New Hampshire:

Rhode Island:  Platforms

Western Massachusetts:

Worcester:  Liquid Sky

• Semi-final Round: Saturday, August 2 at Brookline Community Center for the Arts (BCCA)
• Final Round:  Saturday, August 16 at the Brookline Community Center for the Arts (BCCA)

Prizes

· Prizes will be awarded in cash at the finals.

• Prizes are at least the following:  1^st prize-- $500, 2^nd prize-- $300, 3^rd prize-- $200
• Non-cash prizes to be awarded:  event passes to the 2003 New England Salsa Congreso, passes to Boston area nightclubs
• Other non-cash prizes TBA at each preliminary round.
• Taxes are the responsibility of the winners.

· The competition committee reserves the right to reduce the size or number of cash prizes in a category if fewer than five couples compete in that category.

Sportsmanship

(Note:  The following two rules were put in place to address some particular issues with professional self-promotion that is sometimes found to follow these competitions in other cities.  This sort of situation can undermine the purpose of the competition, which is to make New England a better place to dance Salsa for everyone.)

• Salsaboston.com and the competition committee recognize that dance competition can provide exciting entertainment for the audience, the thrill of competition for the participants, and in general, can increase the level of Salsa awareness and dance skill in the region.  By entering the competition, all participants agree that the event is for the enjoyment of all and agree to act in a manner which is both sportsmanlike and reflects the intent of the competition at all times, before, during, and after the competition, particularly in regards to professional or other self-promotion.  Any participants deemed by the competition committee or SalsaBoston.com as behaving outside of this guideline may be stripped of any awards and banned from entry into future competition and featured events.

• Furthermore, by entering the competition all competitors recognize that final placement in the competition standings reflect only how well a couple danced in the competition, not their skill as dancers in general or their instructional ability.  SalsaBoston.com and the competition committee exclusively reserve the right to limit the mention or use of the competition standings by participants or any other parties.

General Commentary, Suggestions, and Disclaimers

• The competition committee reserves the right to make exceptions to the rules in cases of extreme circumstance or in the case that the rules are interpreted in a way not intended by the competition committee (i.e. “loopholes”).
• Competitors will be required to sign a waiver of liability.  Participation in the event is entirely at the dancers’ own risk.  Performance of dangerous choreography is not endorsed by the competition committee and will not be reflected favorably in the scoring.
• Dancers are strongly encouraged to dance on the competition’s dance floor prior to the event to familiarize them with the floor’s feel and to anticipate the lighting.
• All competitors consent to release the use of their photographs, biographies, and names with regard to promotion of the event to the competition committee and SalsaBoston.com.
• Have fun competing before anything else!
• All decisions made by the competition committee are final.