2024 MIT Open Eligibility and Rules
On this page: [ Eligibility | Role Changes | Double Registration | Syllabus Restrictions | Costumes | Heel Covers | Event Capping ]Eligibility
The MIT Open is open to dancers of all ages. It is a competition for amateur dancers only and professional dancers are not permitted to compete.
The single-ladder YCN points system will be used at all levels. Please pay close attention to the YCN rules to determine your eligibility for Novice and Pre-Championship at the 2024 MIT Open. If you have any questions about your eligibility to dance at a certain level, please feel free to contact the Competition Coordinator at mitbdt-comp-coord@mit.edu.
We will be strictly enforcing eligibility rules. Any dancer dancing down will be disqualified, even after the event.
Newcomer
Competitors are eligible to dance in the Newcomer level only if both dancers in the partnership had not started their competitive training and/or competed in a ballroom competition before January 1, 2024. Dancers who are eligible to dance as a Newcomer also may not have accumulated 7 or more YCN points in the individual dance(s) they will be registering for at the MIT Open.
Beginner
Amateur competitors are eligible to dance in the Beginner level only if both of the competitors in the partnership have less than 3 full semesters (or half-year equivalents for non-students) of competitive ballroom dancing experience. A full semester (or half-year equivalent) of competitive ballroom experience includes participation in one or more competitions and/or competitive training during that semester.
Any dancer competing in the Beginner level may not have accumulated 7 or more YCN points in Bronze in the individual dance(s) they will be registering for at the MIT Open.
Intermediate, Advanced
The Intermediate and Advanced levels are open to amateur dancers who have accumulated fewer than 7 YCN points in Silver or Gold, respectively.
Eligibility will be based on results for individual dances. For instance, if someone has 7 points in Silver Bolero, but fewer points in the other Rhythm dances, they will need to compete in Advanced for Bolero but may still compete in Intermediate for the other dances.
There are no time restrictions for dancing experience in these levels.
Novice, Pre-Championship
The Novice and Pre-Championship levels are open to amateur dancers who have accumulated fewer than 7 YCN points in Novice or Pre-Championship, respectively, according to the single-ladder YCN point system.
Eligibility will be based on results for individual dances. There are no time restrictions for dancing experience in these levels.
Championship
All amateur competitors are eligible to dance at this level.
Eligibility and Points Earned During the MIT Open
Your eligibility for a particular event cannot change during the MIT Open. For instance, if you are eligible for Advanced Latin at the beginning of the MIT Open, and you double-register and place in the final of Novice Latin, the points you earn from Novice Latin will not be counted toward your eligibility for Advanced Latin the next day.
Eligibility Enforcement
If you have any questions about your eligibility to dance at a certain level, please feel free to contact the Competition Coordinator at mitbdt-comp-coord@mit.edu.
In the spirit of fairness, we will be doing our best to enforce the eligibility rules. We urge all team captains to try to make sure their team members are registered appropriately.
If you believe a couple may have registered for an inappropriate level, please email the Competition Coordinator at mitbdt-comp-coord@mit.edu and we will look into it.
Role Changes
Eligibility rules are independent of role. If a competitor is considered ineligible for an event as a leader, they are also considered ineligible as a follower and vice versa.
Double Registration
Double registering is allowed only between the Advanced, Novice, Pre-Championship, and Championship levels. Double registering for events at two syllabus levels is not permitted, i.e., each competitor may compete in each of the 19 dances only once at the syllabus level (Newcomer, Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced). Double registering in Advanced and any of the Open levels is permitted, but we reserve the right to revoke this on the day of the competition for any reason.
Syllabus Restrictions
Newcomer
Permissible figures are restricted to the ISTD Bronze syllabus for International-style dances and USISTD, NDCA, DVIDA, FADS, AMDS, or similar Bronze syllabi for the American-style dances.
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
For all three levels, we allow any figure that is Gold or below in the ISTD syllabus for the International-style events and the USISTD, NDCA, DVIDA, FADS, or AMDS syllabi or similar for the American-style events
Novice, Pre-Championship and Championship
Open choreography is permitted. No lifts are allowed.
Costumes
No costumes are permitted at the Newcomer level. Costumes are permitted but not required for all other levels.
Although there are no formal restrictions on costumes, please make sure they are appropriate. We reserve the right to restrict dancers from competing if a costume is deemed to be inappropriate by the Chairman of Judges.
Heel Covers
Heel covers are required on all ladies' high-heeled shoes. Lack of heel covers can result in disqualification and removal from venue. Suede stars will be available at the information desk. Additionally, our vendors may have heel covers for sale.
Event Capping
The MIT Open reserves the right to cap the number of registrants for any individual event. Individuals wishing to register for an event that is full may email the registrar at mitbdt-registrar@mit.edu to be placed on a waitlist.
Questions? Email mitbdt-comp-coord@mit.edu.