2008 MIT Open Ballroom Dance Competition
Rules
Registration Rules
You are allowed to register for up to four "blocks" for one fee: $30 per student,$45 per adult.
A given "block" allows you to enter up to the five (four in Smooth) dances within that style. For example, if you use one of the allowed four blocks for Intermediate Standard, you may dance any subset of waltz, tango, viennese waltz, foxtrot, and quickstep at any elegible level. A given block may actually span different levels — for instance if you've placed out of Silver Waltz you could use one block to dance Advanced Waltz/Quickstep and Intermediate Tango, Foxtrot, and Viennese Waltz.
If you have placed out of three dances in a style at a given level, we would strongly encourage you to consider yourself placed out of that style-level for the remaining dances as well — especially if the remaining dances aren't normally offered at the other competitions you have attended.
You may allocate your blocks as you see fit. You may enter two levels of all dances within a given style as long as at least one of the two levels is at the open (non-syllabus) level. This means that syllabus dancers may register for a syllabus level and an open level, and open dancers may register for 2 levels of open (International only, as American has only 1 open level), but syllabus dancers cannot register for 2 levels of syllabus. The only restrictions for double registrations are eligibility and a limit of two consecutive levels per dance. (So if you're eligibility is "mixed" in a given style, your events in that style could end up splanning three levels.)
Newcomers: If you are dancing only the Newcomer events, you may register using the "Newcomer" package for $10 per person.
Level Eligibility
Newcomer
Newcomers must have started competitive dancing after January 1, 2008.
Beginner
To dance in the Beginner level, both of the competitors who are dancing as a couple must have less than 3 full semesters (or half year equivalents for non-students) of dancing experience. A full semester (or half year equivalent) of dancing includes participating in a competition during that semester or training regularly during that semester. Newcomer placements will be counted as Bronze placements. To dance an event in Beginner you must be eligible to dance that event under YCN-points using the combined Newcomer and Bronze results.
Intermediate, Advanced, Pre-Championship
Event registrations in Intermediate, Advanced, and Pre-championship must be eligible under YCN Rules for Silver, Gold, and Pre-Championship, respectively.
Championship
Everyone is eligible to dance at this level.
Eligibility Enforcement
If you notice any registration where you beleive the couple is ineligible for the level entered, please email the Competition Registrar with as many details/ results as you know. If you have links to published results lists, it will assist in our investigation. You will receive an email response after we investigate. We will be pro-active in reviewing registrations, as well, but extra pairs of eyes always helps!
Costume and Syllabus Restrictions
Newcomer
No costumes allowed. ISTD Bronze for International Style. USISTD Bronze for American style — No Continuity Style.
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Costumes are allowed. ISTD Gold and below for all levels in International Style. Gold and below from USISTD, DVIDA, FADS, AMDS syllabi or similar for all levels in American Style.
Pre-Championship and Championship
Costumes allowed. Open choreography allowed. No lifts.
FAQ
You can register and simply list your partner's name as “TBA” (To Be Announced). As soon as you find a partner, please update your registration. All TBAs must be cleared before your registration is considered complete and you are allowed to dance. The latest deadline is 45 minutes before your event, but it's best to do it before the registration deadline. After that, the update will be treated as a late add for your partner, incurring a late fee for him/her.
If you cannot find a partner and need to drop that event, please let us know as soon as possible (no late fees for drops).
I'm a follower, but have been learning to lead. Can I dance Intermediate as a follower and Beginner as a leader?
Yes, it is possible this year, as long as you meet the requirements. In particular, you must be eligible to dance the levels, and you must count these two levels as TWO out of your allowed FOUR blocks. You do not get another set of “registration blocks” by switching roles.
Also, please note that your eligibility level in your non-normal role is the same as in your normal role. You are not allowed to dance down because you changed roles.
Yes.
