Rules & Regulations.....
These
rules are board certified by IHDA.
See IHDA Pro/Am Hustle Guidelines below.
Read carefully and use the appropriate definition where it applies.
Amateur:
Any competitive dancer who has never received financial compensation for
dance, whether in competition, as an instructor, or as a performer. Your
choice of Novice, Intermediate, or Advanced Levels are at your own discretion
and that of your coach.
Professional:
Any
competitive dancer who receives money for competition, teaching, or performing.
Silver
Division:
50
years or older.
Junior
Division:
(If
available) for competitors under 15.
General Rules......
- A competing couple consists of one (1) male and one (1) female dancer except in Bookends Hustle Division. An amateur dancer dancing with a Professional dancer in a Professional Division is considered to be a Professional couple.
- Competitors may not use any props in any division of Disco America.
- If there are fewer than three (3) entries in any division, Disco America reserves the right to cancel or combine that division.
- Absolutely no private filming, video cameras or photography will be allowed at any time. This includes: Workshops, Contests, and General Dancing. No selling of video or audio tapes will be allowed without written permission or without the Video Pass of the Disco America organizers.
- It is understood that all contestants and attendees consent to release the use of their photos, biographies and names that may appear on any television or in any videos for sale.
- The overseer judge and Disco America committee will have final say on all discrepancies. All questions and/or disputes should be brought to the attention of the overseer judge only and not to the individual judges or Disco America committee. Disco America committee does not wish to be the "heavy", so in all fairness to yourself and your fellow competitors, please adhere to these guideline. When in doubt, ask, or leave it out.
- MUSIC: The music is the sole responsibility of the contestants. All music must be on a "high bias" cassette tape or CD. music must be labeled with: your name, contest division, position dancing and correctly queued. Please have available a duplicate tape or CD. (No music required for Jack & Jill competitors).
- TIME LIMIT Each couple will be allotted three (3-1/2) minutes. No warning will be sounded at the three minute mark, so time your routine accordingly. There will be a one (1) position penalty for ending your routine less than three minutes (3), or for exceeding the three (3-1/2) minute lime. TIME LIMIT for Teams is 3-4 minutes. There will be a one (1) position penalty for ending your routine less than three (3) minutes. or for exceeding the four (4 minute limit).
- Levels of Divisions: Disco America does not wish to define your level of dance. The following are our definitions of levels in hopes of giving everyone a fair opportunity to compete against fellow dancers at the same level.
- A waiver is attached to this set of rules. This waiver must be signed by all members of each dance team, and returned with you Entry Form.
Definition
of Hustle Dancing
A
dance form using and combining the creative elements of circular rotation,
slotted movement, elliptical rotation, traveling movement, visual lead
and follow within the rhythm and timing of the Dance.
Divisions......
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To All competitiors: IHDA members and nonmembers will be judged by the rules below. If guidelines are not maintained, points will be removed from your score which will result in not placing in your category. Costumes are allowed but not mandatory. Please select the Level that best suits you: .................................................................................... Pro/Am Hustle Level One = Pre-Novice Description: This Level would be simple happy dancing, back and forth, stay in place, maintaining connection, much like you might find beginners doing at a wedding. Good for fast music. For beginners only, people would have to move on after 6 months or a year. Many students would skip this level. Guide: Rules: Any pattern can be used as long as the criteria from Level 1 is implemented. There will be no syncopations allowed. Maintain connection at all times. No traveling. One year Cut-off for competing in this division. Suggested patterns: Cross-Body Lead, Wheel, Hesitations, Underarm Turn Combination (You Go, I Go, You Go), Double Hand Hold Bridges. (Please note: This list are example patterns, you may use any pattern you like as long as the rules are maintained.) Music tempo for L1 will range from 104-109 bpm. *Song criteria below. .................................................................................... Pro/Am Hustle Level Two = Novice Description: This level adds one-and-a-half left turns and a little more room with NY Walks and a Grapevine, but still stays in place, with continuous connection. Guide: Rules: Any pattern can be used as long as the criteria from Level 2 is implemented. There will be no syncopations allowed. Maintain connection at all times unless during transitions (ex: sliding door). No traveling beyond a 6 count pattern. No consecutive 1-1/2 turns. Suggested patterns: Leader's Behind the Back Pass, Cross-Body Lead, Cross-Body Lead with Open Break to Return, Grapevine, Sliding Door, Cross Body Lead with Inside Turn, Shadow with Comb, Las Vegas, NY walks. (Please note: these are example patterns, you may use any pattern you like as long as the rules are maintained.) Music tempo for L2 will range from 104 - 112 bpm. *Song criteria below. .................................................................................... Pro/Am Hustle Level Three = Pre-Intermediate Description: This Level adds rhythmic diversity with swivels. Also double right turns, consecutive one-and-a-half turns, and syncopations used for example in Las Vegas. Guide: Rules: Any pattern can be used as long as the criteria from Level 3 is implemented. There will be no syncopated turns with (+12+3+4) (Ex: no 4-count turn, no continuous turns). Connection is not mandatory. No traveling beyond a 6 count pattern. No blind leads. No free spins. Both feet on floor (Ex: no rondes). No poses and/or holding a beat. Suggested patterns: Swivels and Variations of Such, Diva Walks, Wrap Turn Variations, Free New York Walk. (Please note: these are example patterns, you may use any pattern you like as long as the rules are maintained.) Music tempo for L3 will range from 104 - 115 bpm. *Song criteria below. .................................................................................... Pro/Am Hustle Level Four = Intermediate Description: This level adds free spins, posing, traveling in a straight line and everything that most dancers at a party are doing. This level is normal, good, social hustle. Guide: Rules: Two (2) songs slow and fast will be implemented. Any pattern can be used as long as the criteria from Level 4 is implemented. Connection is not mandatory. There is no limit for traveling. Both feet primarily on the floor except for flicks and rondes. No one-legged spins. Suggested patterns: Progressive Circular Basics (ex. T-Turns, Back to Back Turns), Double Outside Turn and All Variations (5 or 6 beats, including Double Illusion Turns, etc.), Free Spins to the Left (start on 2), Free Spins to the Right (start on 3), Diamonds, Wrap Turn Variations, 4 Count Right Turns, Double Syncopated Elements. (Please note: these are example patterns, you may use any pattern you like as long as the rules are maintained.) Music tempo for L4 will range from 104 - 118 bpm. *Song criteria below. .................................................................................... Pro/Am Hustle Level Five = Advance Description: This level is for the seriously competitive, where an Am would need to place in level 4 a certain number of times before entering level 5. Entry in all other levels would be based on the material an Am is working on. This would contain whatever moves are beyond good dancers, and would also contain a musical component- dancing to very fast, and very slow music, both of which develop very different skills. Guide: Rules: This division is to better showcase technique, timing, and styling. NO routines, entrances or exits, lifts, aerials, drops, dips or acrobatic moves permitted. All patterns MUST be lead and follow. Suggested patterns: Fred and Ginger/Pivots, Rondes, Capes, Samba Turns, Timing Variations, Pop, Snap, Syncopated Timing Variations, Waltz and any pattern from levels 1-4. All patterns MUST be lead and follow. (Please note: these are example patterns, you may use any pattern you like as long as the rules are maintained.) Patterns that will be penalized: One Leg Turns, Horse and Cart Variations, Side by Side Combinations, Any TRICK Pattern. Music tempo for L5 will range from 104 - 121 bpm. *Song criteria below. .................................................................................... Pro/Am Hustle Level 6 = Open Division The open division is a just dance division and may contain any Hustle pattern. One foot must remain on the floor at all times. Basic tricks are permitted, however, lifts and drops are not. A couple may choose to dance a pre-determined amalgamation. Music tempo for the Open Division will range from 104-121bpm. *Song criteria below. |
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Note for pro/am levels above:
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IHDA
Pro/Am Hustle Guidelines:Pro-Am
Salsa:
One
competitor must qualify as an Amateur level competitor as defined in the
Rules & Regs. Partnering (adapting to each partner's styles), lead
and follow, dance ability, technique, floor craft and versatility are
important for scoring. We pick the music, you pick the partner. Dancers
will dance two (2) minutes. Costumes are permitted but not mandatory.
NO routines, entrances or exits, lifts, aerials, drops,
dips or acrobatic moves permitted. For this division Amateur will retain
amateur status.
Pro/Am
Open Showcase Division:
We invite Professionals with Amateurs to compete in this division in any partner
dance form including Hustle, Salsa or Swing. Costumes, lifts, drops and aerials
are allowed. Music supplied by the competitor. Routine shall be no longer than
(3 1/2) three and one half minutes and a minimum of (3) minutes including an
entrance and an exit with or without music.
Just
Hustle/Salsa:
Partnering (adapting to each partner's styles), lead
and follow, dance ability, technique, floor craft and versatility are important
for scoring. Costumes are permitted but not mandatory. No routines,
entrances, or exits are allowed. No lifts, aerials, or drops permitted.
Disco America will supply music. All competitors
will share the dance floor for two minutes.
Professional
Dance-off Championship
Routine
must be recognizable Hustle, however lifts, dips, drops, side by sides
are allowed. Spotlight routine can be no shorter than 2½ minutes
and no longer than 3½ minutes. Costumes are recommended. Music
supplied by the competitor.
Salsa:
Breaking
on one, two, three or four is permitted, however proper salsa/mambo rhythm
must be maintained.
Amateur
Classic Hustle:
This
routine must consist of a minimum fifty percent (50%) Hustle Dancing
and the balance of a combination of side-by-side, leaps, jumps and drops.
NO
LIFTS OR AERIALS are allowed. During a drop, one foot of both dancers
must remain on the floor at all times. Leaps and jumps are allowed as
long as
they are not assisted by a partner. Music supplied by the competitor.
Costumes are recommended. Routine shall be no longer than (3 1/2) three
and one half minutes and a minimum
of (3) minutes including an entrance and an exit with or without music.
Amateur
Strictly/Pure Hustle:
This
routine must consist of a minimum ninety (90%) choreographed Hustle floor
dancing (variations and/or syncopations allowed). Combination side-by-side
allowed. Leaps and jumps are permitted as long as they are not assisted
by a partner. NO ASSISTED LIFTS, DROPS, OR AERIALS of any kind are permitted.
Music supplied by the competitor. Costumes are permitted but not mandatory.
Routine shall be no longer than (3 1/2) three and one half minutes and
a minimum of (3) minutes including an
entrance and an exit with or without music.
Professional
Salsa/Swing:
Costumes
and routines are not required, but are recommended. Music is to be supplied
by the competitor. Routines shall be 2½ minutes and no longer
than 3½ minutes.
This is an anything goes competion. Lifts, dips, drops and side by sides
are not required but are permitted. Routines must be 50 percent recognizable
salsa.
Theater
Arts Hustle:
Anything
goes within the framework of the definition of Hustle Dancing. Music
supplied by the competitor. Costumes are recommended. Routine shall be
no longer than (3 1/2) three and one half minutes and a minimum of (3)
minutes including an entrance
and an exit with or without music.
Rising
Star Hustle
Participants
must have not placed in the top three finalists in Professional Classic
or Theatre arts hustle at any sanctioned dance event. If you win Rising
Star you are no longer eligible to win again in this category. Music
suppplied by the competitor. Routines shall be 2½ minutes and
no longer than 3½ minutes. including an
entrance and an exit with or without music.
Jack
and Jill Hustle/Salsa:
These
are "Just Dance" Competitions. Dancers draw for partners. No
costumes, routines, aerials, lifts, or drops. All couples will share
the dance floor for 2 minutes. Note: Bookends' division denotes same
sex couples.
Open
Team Division:
A
team shall consist of 4 or more dancers. This division is open to any
number of dancers in any configuration of genders. Any dance style accepted
including Hustle, Swing and Latin. Costumes or similar attire is required.
Music supplied by the competitor. Routine shall be no longer than (4)
four minutes and a minimum of (3 1/2) three and one half minutes including
an entrance and an exit with or without music.
Just
Hustle Division:
Strictly
lead and follow competition. Costumes are permitted but not mandatory.
NO routines, entrances or exits, lifts, aerials, drops, dips
or
acrobatic moves permitted. Partnering
(adapting to each partner's styles), lead and follow, dance ability,
technique, floor craft and versatility are important for scoring. We
pick the music, you pick the partner. Dancers will dance for two (2)
minutes.
Bookends:
Girl/Gil
and/or Boy/Boy competition. Bookends will be judged by a professional judging
panel with a spotlight final.
There will be a preliminary heat
to determine
the finalists who will advance to a spotlight dance and, depending
on the organizers time allotment for this category, there will be a
minimum
of three couples with a maximum of six couple in the FINAL spotlight
dance to determine 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place. Music will be chosen
by the Event which will consist of one fast and one slow song for a
minimum
duration of 1:30 at each speed. Competitors will be judged as couples
and all lifts, dips, and side-by-sides are allowed (This means Anything
goes!!!!). This will be an open division for both professionals and amateurs.
Cabaret:
We
invite one, two or three dancers to compete in this division in any style
dance form EXCEPT Hustle Dancing. Costumes, lifts, drops and aerials
are allowed. Music supplied by the competitor. Routine shall be no longer
than (3 1/2) three and one half minutes and a minimum of (3) minutes
including an entrance and an exit with or without music.
Philly
Freeze:
Like musical chairs, if you are on the dance floor and SUDDENLY the music stops,
that
is your partner for the
competition. We
pick the music and competitors will be judged as couples
and all lifts, dips, and side-by-sides are allowed (This means Anything
goes!!!!). This will be an open division for both professionals and amateurs.
For more information, please call Donna Boyle at (215) 233-5507, or please e-mail her by clicking here: Donnaboyledisco@aol.com