The rules

There are preliminary rounds for all competitions. For all other contests there will be a preliminary round to decide which competitors go to the finals. For preliminaries, all the competitors will be divided into heats, to have a fair number of dancers on the dancefloor at any one time. All the preliminary heats for one given contest division will be run back-to-back. During your heat you will dance in an all-skate format. For the Solo Charleston contest, the finalists will be decided on the spot (you will be tapped on the shoulder if you are in) and the finals will follow shortly after.

There are two levels for the competitions: open and advanced. Open level is usually reserved to all the competitors that normally are in Improvers and Intermediate level’s class. The advanced divisions are for advanced dancers, that normally are in Intermediate/Advanced and Advanced classes. All the dancers are welcome. Check it out your level to be sure in which division you can register.

If you enjoy social dancing, enter a Jack and Jill. No partner needed!If dancing alone is your thing, then enter the Solo Charleston contest.

The Judges will be looking at a range of criteria: how well you improvise and respond to the music, how you work as a partnership, your repertoire, your creativity, your connection, if you can recognise phrasing in the music, and how the audience responds. The value placed on each of these criteria is at discretion of individual judge. The judges decisions are final. Swing dancing is about having fun social dancing, connecting with your partner and engaging with the music and judges will be looking for couples that embody these values.

The only rules are to dance safely and to respect the Judges and other competitors. There are no rules about “Swing Contents” and there will be no disqualifications.

There is no requirement for costumes. For the appreciation of the judges and audience, we encourage you to dress you in a vintage style (1920s to 1940s) but it is not mandatory. We just ask you to be neatly and appropriately dressed.

Schedule

The Organiser will determine the date, time and location for each competition, and will announce this information prior to the event. The Organiser reserves the right to cancel a division if the number of competitors is below the minimum of two (2) couples or six (6) dancers, and to rearrange the schedule if necessary. Cancellation of a division would result in the refund of any applicable competitor entry fees. Any schedule or location changes will be noted on the website (torinoswingfestival.com) if they occur prior to the event. If the changes occur during the event, they will be publicly announced and/or posted on noticeboards at the event.

Awards

The Organiser will determine and award all the prizes during the awards ceremony.

Posting of scores

The results of the competitions will be posted for review after the Awards Ceremony, at the event and on the webiste (www.torinoswingfestival.com)

Competition Format

The Organiser reserves the right to determine the format of each competition division, including whether it consists of preliminary heats and/or finals, and whether the competition is danced in all-skate, phrase-battle or spotlight formats. These decisions will be communicated on the website before the event, and any changes will be announced as soon as possible on the website or though announcements at the event.

Competitors must at least be  14 years old to compete in all categories except for the category Solo Charleston, where the minimum age should be 18 years. The age above shall be achieved by midnight of November 18, 2016, the starting date of the festival. Competitors under 18 years of age must have a parent or a licensed guide who can sign the tender form, before having access to competitions.

The competitions are open to dancers of all nationalities and from all over the world. A “couple” must be formed by a “lead” and a “follow”. Lead and Follow can be of the same sex. In order to compete, all competitors must have all the following requirements:

1. Hold one of the festival passes
2. Have signed a Competition Waiver form. No Competitor will be allowed to compete without a signed Waiver and every member of a Team must sign the Competition Waiver
3. Competitors under 18-years of age must have a parent or guardian sign their Waiver and any other required forms. Competition Waivers forms will be available at the registration desk when you arrive at the event, and also at the daily Competitor Meetings
4. Meet the entry requirements of each individual competition division (eg: as regards to dance level, length of routine, etc.)
5. Meet all the specific requirements outlined in these rules

Rules

All Competitors are responsible for reading and understanding the rules prior to the competitions. Competitors are responsible for adhering to these rules whether or not they have been read.

Behavior

All Competitors must demonstrate safe, respectful and courteous behavior at all time at the event, both on and off the competition floor. Failure to adhere to these standards, could cause disciplinary action by the Organiser, or penalties from the Judges.

Punctuality

Competitors are required to be in attendance at the competition venue, and ready to compete, 15 minutes before the scheduled start time of each competition division. Competitors must check-in with the competition staff for each competition division, and failure to do so may result in disqualification from competing in that division, without a refund of entry fee.

Deadlines

Failure to comply with deadlines and attendance at mandatory meetings may result in disqualification from competing in the event without a refund of entry fee. These decisions will be made solely at the discretion on the Organizer.

Costumes are not mandatory, however tasteful, neat and appropriate clothing and safe footwear is required. For the appreciation of the audience and judges, we encourage you to dress in a vintage (from 20s to 40s) style, or in colorful or dramatic dance attire, but this is not compulsory.

Music played during all competition divisions (except for showcase divisions), will be selected by the official Competition Dj, appointed by the event Organisers. Music will be swinging jazz music, predominantly from the 20s, 30s and 40s, in a variety of tempos. Musical phrasing may be 32-bar swing phrasing or 12-bar blues phrasing.

The judges will be looking at a range of criteria:

1. How well you improvise and respond to the music
2. How you work as a partnership
3. Repertoire
4. Creativity and connection
5. If you can recognize phrasing in the music
6. How the audience responds

The value placed on each of these criteria is at the discretion if individual judges. The judges decision are final. Swing dancing is about having fun social dancing, connecting with your partner and engaging with the music, and our judges will be looking for couples that embody these values.

Entry fees will only be refunded to a competitor who withdraws, if a replacement competitor registers in that competition division. If no replacement competitor registers in that competition division, then you will receive the amount of your entry fees as a credit towards the following year’s TSF, but no refund will be given.