Event Rules for „Spring Time Swing“

At Spring Time Swing, we’re more than just a dance event; we’re a family united by our love for West Coast Swing.

Here you can find our event rules and the Code of Conduct

If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact us:

Event director, Joshua Schubert
josh.j.schubert@gmail.com

Chief Judge, Vanessa Bachmann
vanessa@managing-motion.com

Code of Conduct

Event Rules

General Guidelines for All Participants:

• Adherence to Code of Conduct: All participants must comply with the DJP code of conduct, both on and off the dance floor.
• Health and Safety: It is mandatory for all attendees to adhere to the current health and safety policies in place.
• Supervision: Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a chaperone who is 21 years of age or older. The designated chaperone will be responsible for the supervision of the minor throughout the event.
• Disclaimer: The event organizers reserve the right to remove or disqualify any individual(s) from the event or competitions if they pose a potential threat, danger, or disruption to themselves or others.
• Wristband Policy: Your wristband ticket must be worn at all times and should not be removed during the event.
• Seating and Standing Areas: Seating and standing areas are open to all attendees. There are no fixed or reserved tables/chairs in the ballroom. The gallery may also be utilized for spectating purposes. It is essential to keep escape routes and exits clear at all times.
• Front Row Seating: Attendees desiring front-row seating during performances are encouraged to sit at the edge of the dance floor. Chairs may also be moved to the front for shows and competitions, ensuring space is left for judges and the film crew.
• Video Recording and Photography: Recording and photography are permitted throughout the event, except during routines and spotlight performances. Tripods and extension cords are not allowed in the ballroom. Prior consent must be obtained before publishing identifiable videos of others, in line with good internet etiquette.
• Prohibited Items: Beverages (except water in your bottles) and pets are not permitted within the event premises, as per the guidelines of the ballroom.
• Contest Refunds: Entry withdrawals and refunds are allowed up to 1 hour prior to the session entry deadline. No refunds will be issued for withdrawals or scratches made after this deadline.
• Footwear Policy: Bare feet are not allowed on the dance floor. Additionally, the use of wax, powder, or any other foreign substance on dance shoes or floors is prohibited.
• Sales and Solicitations: Any sales or solicitations of products or services within the event premises require prior permission from event management.

General Contest Rules All participants agree to:

• Familiarize Yourself: It is essential for all participants to thoroughly read, understand, and adhere to all event rules. If there are any uncertainties, feel free to ask questions beforehand.
• Registration and Fees: Prior to the designated deadlines, participants must complete registration procedures and settle the required entry fees.
• Competitor Number Collection: Before the specified entry deadline for your initial contest division, ensure to collect your competitor number (during time of competition registration, please see the schedule for details).
• Respect: Show respect towards event staff, your dance partner, fellow competitors, and the audience throughout the event.
• Sportsmanship: Exhibit good sportsmanship at all times during the event.
• Appropriate Behavior: Avoid the use of vulgar or offensive gestures, costumes, or song lyrics.
• Choreography Competitors: If you are participating in choreography competitions, understand that contest staff may temporarily remove your wristband before your performance in the ballroom. Do not attempt to remove it yourself.
• Mandatory Check-In: Prior to the commencement of each round of every contest, all participants must check in with the competitor coordinators in the staging area at least 15 minutes beforehand. Failure to do so will result in disqualification and forfeiture of entry fees.
• Age Requirement: Participants must be at least 15 years old to compete.
• Single Entry per Contest: Individuals are not permitted to enter the same contest more than once.
• Contest Cancellations: Contests with fewer than 5 entries may be subject to cancellation or a reduction in prize money, at the discretion of the organizers. Entry fees for cancelled contests will be refunded.
• Consent for Media Use: By entering a contest, participants consent to the unrestricted use of their name and likeness in photographs and videos for future promotional purposes on the internet.
• Access to Scores: Comprehensive scores from all contest rounds will be accessible through the event website following the conclusion of the competition.
• Jack & Jill Competitions: Participation in „Jack & Jill“ competitions is contingent upon purchasing a workshop pass/event pass or the choreo camp (for the choreo camp, only with a box office ticket for Saturday). Additionally, participation in the Switch Jack & Jill is possible with the purchase of a box office ticket for Sunday.

Jack & Jill Contests

Jack & Jill contests offer individuals the opportunity to participate without a predetermined partner, showcasing their spontaneous dancing skills with various partners. There is an inherent element of chance involved as leaders and followers are paired randomly. Throughout the preliminary and semi-final rounds, there will be multiple partner changes. Competitors will be individually evaluated on timing, technique, and teamwork during the preliminary heats. Those achieving the highest scores will progress to the next round. In the final round, individuals will be randomly paired and assessed as a couple. The selection of music will be at the discretion of the DJ, featuring varying tempos and styles, all appropriate for the respective dance divisions. Divisions are categorized based on different skill levels (WSDC), age requirements, and open divisions. It’s essential to adhere to strict entry deadlines. Substantial prizes await winners in Novice and above, with amounts determined by the total number of entries.

Requirements:

• Participants must be at least 15 years old.
• Competitors are responsible for entering contests appropriate to their WSDC Skill Level.

Skill Level Divisions:

Skill level divisions are determined by previous WSDC competition results, following the guidelines outlined in Chart 3 at https://www.worldsdc.com/wsdc-points-registry-rules/. Competitors may enter one skill level as a leader and an adjacent skill level as a follower. For first-time Jack & Jill competitors or those lacking previous WSDC JJ competition experience, beginning in the Newcomer division is advised. To participate in the Newcomer Jack and Jill category, competency in the basics of social dancing is required. Exceptions may be considered through a formal petition for a level change, which must be submitted no less than 24 hours before the competition commences. Failure to compete in the correct division without a successful prior petition may result in disqualification. Further details can be found at worldsdc.com/rules.

For inquiries, please contact info@springtimeswing.com.

Additional Divisions:

In addition to the standard skill level divisions, Spring Time Swing offers the following divisions:

Sophisticated WSDC (35+): Open to competitors aged 35 and over, ranging from Newcomer to Champion.

Masters Divisions: Reserved for competitors aged 50 and over, spanning from Newcomer to Champion.

Switch Jack & Jill: A leveled JnJ open to all competitors. Participants should be familiar with „switching“ roles and possess at least basic proficiency as both a leader and follower. Judging will be based on the quality of switches, individual technique, and partner work.

Our Responsibilities as Organizers

Selecting Competition Officials: We’ll choose judges, a chief judge, scorer, MCs, and competition DJs. Their names will be shared on our website/social media before the event.

Allowing Mock Judges: The chief judge can permit mock judges during the competition, but their scores won’t affect final results.

Registering Contestants and Checking Eligibility: We’ll gather entries from eligible competitors in advance and at the event. Each participant’s eligibility for a competition will be verified, and we’ll assign a bib number for each pair.

Holding or Modifying Competitions: We’ll strive to conduct all competitions as planned. If necessary, we may extend registration deadlines or adjust eligibility criteria (e.g., by combining divisions) due to insufficient entries. If we cancel a competition, we’ll refund entry fees.

Scoring Results: Callbacks (yes, no, alt) will be used for preliminary heats, and relative placement for finals.

Announcing Results and Awarding: Results for all competitions will be announced during our awards ceremony. Scores will be made public by our scorer at the end of the event for examination.

Requesting a Restart

This guideline is specifically for spotlighted dances. You can ask for a restart only under certain circumstances, such as our sound system malfunctions during your performance.

You cannot request a restart simply because you are unhappy with your performance, partner, or music.

You must request a restart before leaving the dance floor, and our head judge must approve your request. The head judge also has the authority to call for a restart at any time.

Attire and Behavior

For all competitions, offensive attire is prohibited (including political, religious, violent, or sexually suggestive clothing). If you have any questions about the appropriateness of your competition attire, please consult with our head judge beforehand.

Please remember:

• People of all ages, including young dancers, will be attending our event.
• Your performance might be live-streamed online and recorded.
• We aim to promote expressive and captivating dance performances while maintaining standards of quality and decency. To strike this balance, we encourage you to entertain the audience (including using humor when appropriate) while also demonstrating solid dance fundamentals.
• Any behavior that our judges deem inappropriate for social dancing (such as unwanted touching or suggestive gestures) may result in penalties or disqualification.

We follow the official WSDC rules which can be found here:
https://www.worldsdc.com/wsdc-points-registry-rules/

These rules are established to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all participants and attendees at „Spring Time Swing.“ Thank you for your cooperation.