Rules and regulations

AUSTRALIAN SALSA CLASSIC 2010 - RULES & REGULATIONS

Download this in .pdf format

PLEASE NOTE: The Rules, Regulations & Judging Criteria 'Weighting' for the ASC have been slightly amended from the World Salsa Championships Rules, Regulations & Judging Criteria Weighting. This has been done so to better suite the Australia Salsa Industry. Any couples qualifying or moving onto the World Salsa Championships will need to take this into account.

ASC OBJECTIVE: The objective of the Australian Salsa Classic is to select the best Salsa dancers in Australia in each of the divisions: Couples On1 & On2, Teams, Youth, Amateur & Cabaret to represent Australia at the ESPN World Salsa Championships.

The Australian Salsa Classic New Freestyle Component

Introduction

It is the aim of the Australian Salsa Championships, to ensure that beyond the abilities of competitors, to demonstrate their skill as polished dance performers, they must first demonstrate that they are knowledgeable within the genre of Salsa specifically.
In this way we aim to ensure that representatives from Australia are not only polished performers, but also genuine salsa dancers with in depth knowledge and experience of salsa, able to hold their own worldwide as respected Salsa dancers within the international community.

The Freestyle component of the Australian Salsa Championships will therefore be changed in the manner in which this part of the competition is run in order to be used as a qualifier. This will ensure that any competitor progressing forward to finals or National titles has already shown and proven at the qualifying level that they have in depth knowledge of salsa specifically as an independent art and dance form; this includes detailed knowledge of traditional salsa music and its structure. 

This new structure will only be applied at the State level’s & only for the following divisions; On1, On2, Cabaret, Amateur & Youth.

The Structure

1. Instead of freestyle being one component worth 10% of an overall score within the whole competition, Freestyle is to be a separate component worth a total of 100 points, with its own judging criteria as outlined later in this document.
2. State titles will all be judged and determined using this new Freestyle modality as well as Choreography.
3. After the initial introduction of competitors to the judges and the public, couples will be called back to the floor individually to compete; in much the same way as has been done for the choreography section to date.
4. Couples will be asked to demonstrate their skill within freestyle salsa for 2 min’s to a randomly pre selected medium to fast pace song choice. The Australian Salsa Championships will make these musical selections and competitors will not be aware of what piece is to be played.
5. Once the Freestyle section is over, couples will be asked one by one to perform their Choreography section for the remaining 100 points of the competition.
6. Couples will demonstrate the same courtesies and professionalism required for both sections of the championships.
   

CATEGORIES

PROFESSIONAL COUPLES ON1 DIVISION 
The emphasis being on the down beat (the 1st beat of the phrase) this rhythm must be maintained consistently throughout the performance. A Maximum of 3 Dips, Drops or Flares (all also known as assisted moves) or anything that requires the counter weight and balance assistance of your partner, are allowed in the Choreography heat. Basically if you cannot do it by yourself then that is considered an assisted move. You are allowed 3 such movements. For these skills, a minimum of 1 foot must remain on the floor at all times. Dips, Drops & Flares ARE permitted during the Freestyle section of the competition. Shines are permitted in the Choreography section although not more than 30% of the Choreography may consist of shines or side by sides. All Choreographies must be at least 80% recognizable salsa. All couples Choreographies must be a maximum of 2 minutes in length.

PROFESSIONAL COUPLES ON2 DIVISION 
The the emphasis is on the up beat (the 2nd beat of the phrase), this rhythm must be maintained consistently throughout the performance. A Maximum of 3 Dips, Drops or Flares (all also known as assisted moves) or anything that requires the counter weight and balance assistance of your partner, are allowed in the Choreography heat. Basically if you cannot do it by yourself then that is considered an assisted move. You are allowed 3 such movements. For these skills, a minimum of 1 foot must remain on the floor at all times. Dips, Drops & Flares ARE permitted during the freestyle heats. Shines are permitted although not more than 30% of the Choreography may consist of shines or side by sides. All Choreographies must be at least 80% recognizable salsa. All couples Choreographies must be a maximum of 2 minutes in length.

CABARET DIVISION: Lifts, cartwheels or any similar lifts or tricks are permitted. Lifts are defined as any assisted movement whereby any partner is lifted or elevated above the floor with both feet leaving the floor. Whether the feet are 2 inches off the floor or 10 feet, this type of assisted movement will still be considered a lift or trick. Shines are permitted although not more than 30% of the performance may consist of shines or side by sides. Routines must be at least 80% recognizable salsa, and although either On1 or On2 Style is permitted, the chosen rhythm must be maintained throughout the dance part of the performance. All Cabaret choreographies must be a maximum of 2 minutes in length. Salsa is expected in between transitions of lifts with a minimum of 3 lifts & a maximum of 10 lifts allowed.
Please note: Cabaret competitors are NOT allowed to execute lifts in the Freestyle section of the competition. The focus here will be purely dancing with two feet placed on the ground at all times. Cabaret division will ALSO be required to complete the Freestyle section AS WELL as the Choreography section of the Competition at the ASC National finals.

TEAM DIVISION: No less than 6 performers and no more than 10 performers. Lifts, cartwheels or any similar lifts or tricks are permitted. Lifts are defined as any assisted movement whereby any partner is lifted or elevated off the floor with both feet leaving the floor. Whether the feet are 2 inches off the floor or 10 feet, this type of movement will be considered a lift or trick. Shines are permitted although not more than 30% of the Choreography may consist of shines or side by sides. Choreographies must be at least 80% recognizable salsa and although either On1 or On2 Style is permitted, chosen rhythm must be maintained throughout the dance part of the Choreography. All Team Choreographies must be a maximum of 2 minutes in length.

AMATEUR DIVISION: The Amateur division will be open to any student or dancer who is a non-professional. You are considered an Amateur if you have not received any money from dancing Salsa or dance Salsa for a living. This division is considered an ‘open division’ meaning anything goes; lifts tricks or dips ARE permitted. Choreographies must be at least 80% recognizable salsa. All Amateur Choreographies must be a maximum of 2 minutes in length. Please don’t hesitate to contact the ASC directly for any questions or clarification regarding this & your eligibility for this division.

YOUTH DIVISION: The Youth division will be open to any Youth between the ages of 7-17. The Youth division does NOT need to qualify to compete at the Australian Salsa Classic. This division is considered an ‘open division’ meaning anything goes, lifts, tricks or dips. Choreographies must be at least 80% recognizable salsa. All Youth Choreographies must be a maximum of 2 minutes in length. 
Please note: Youth division will ALSO be required to complete the Freestyle section AS WELL AS the Choreography section of the Competition at the ASC National finals.

REGISTRATION

State Title Registration Cut Off Date - 1 week before
ASC Registration Cut Off Date - 2 weeks before  

Contestants can participate in only two categories as long as the second category is in the team division and they pay the entry fee for each division.
Please Note: Due to the increased administration costs, competitor registration fees have increased for 2010. Please see below
FEES (per division): $100 per couple    $40 per person per team

Couples & Amateur division competitors that qualify by coming 1st, 2nd & 3rd at their resident State Titles do NOT need to re-pay the registration fee at the ASC finals. Couples that come 4th place or below at the State Titles do not pre-qualify and will need to re-pay the registration fee to compete at the ASC Final Qualification Round.

Registration payments for the State Titles AND for the ASC Finals will need to be processed directly through the websites Pay Pal system on www.australiansalsaclassic.com.au . Please state your full names, contact details and division when making your payment.
 
The website will have all divisions as separate 'products', please ensure you select the correct division. When making your payment through Pay Pal, please ensure that the payer is the very same person that is registering to compete - if in the rare event that this is not possible please note competitors names in full in the notes section of the application.
 
For any questions regarding registrations please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

PRIZES

STATE TITLES
 
1st place - Couples & Amateur divisions WIN two full event passes per couple to the ASC.
2nd & 3rd place - Couples & Amateur qualify & DO NOT need to re pay the registration fee.
4th & below – Couples & Amateur divisions need to re-qualify at the ASC Final Qualification Round & re-pay the ASC registration fee. 

Overall highest score (across all divisions) - Win the airfares to the ASC Sydney finals.
 
AUSTRALIAN SALSA CLASSIC - NATIONAL FINALS

A total of $10,000AUD will be awarded in the ASC finals!!!

PRO COUPLES ON1

1st – Trophy + $1500 + Qualification to the 2010 World Salsa Championships!
2nd – Trophy

3rd – Trophy

PRO COUPLES ON2

1st – Trophy + $1500 + Qualification to the 2010 World Salsa Championships! 

2nd – Trophy

3rd – Trophy

CABARET

1st – Trophy + $1500 + Qualifications to the 2010 World Salsa Championships!
2nd – Trophy

3rd – Trophy

TEAMS

1st - Trophy + $3000 + Qualifications to the 2010 World Salsa Championships!
2nd – Trophy

3rd – Trophy

AMATEUR

1st – Trophy + $1000

2nd – Trophy
 + $700
3rd – Trophy + $300

YOUTH

1st – Trophy + $500

2nd – Trophy 

3rd – Trophy

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS - Highest Overall Score across ALL divisions

PRIZE: Perpetual Shield
 

RESULT TALLYING

A computer program has been developed for the specific purpose of adding & tallying the results of the ASC. Mr. Karl Brudel (sydneysalsascene.com) Mr. Alexis Meza (vivamagazine.com.au) & Ms. Branka Zeljic (artistafamosaevents.com.au) have each been selected to monitor, calculate & cross check the results ensuring that as much care & precision has taken place. One member is responsible for the reading out the scores, one member is responsible for overseeing the reading and entering of the scores & one member is responsible for the entering the scores. All State Titles & Australian Salsa Classic results are FINAL. Once the results have been announced, that will be considered final. Each individual judges scores for the top 6 competitors will be placed on the ASC website with the relevant judges names for public viewing 1 week after the event.

MUSIC & CD: Music must be at least 90% salsa. You are allowed to mix no more than 3 different songs in one routine. The 10% of your routine that you are allowed to have other music besides salsa can be any music of your choice as long it is of Latin origin.
IMPORTANT: Prepare at least 2 CDs on different CD brands with the music for each routine. Example: Two routines equal 4 CDs. The CDs should be ready to be played as is. There should only be music for one routine on each CD. The DJ will not slow down or speed up your CD. Please protect your CD’s by having covers for each one. Also please identify your CD by putting your name & division on each CD. Please test that each CD works on at least 2 CD players. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
COSTUMES: Contestants are encouraged to wear costumes or matching outfits. Casual clothes are not to be used as costumes. Ladies wearing dresses or skirts should wear nylons or fishnets. Choose costumes that enhance your natural assets Avoid costumes fraught with the possibility of wardrobe malfunction. Avoid costumes that draw attention away from your dancing and towards a distraction
DANCE ETIQUETTE: Contestants will: Conduct themselves at all times with professionalism and grace. Refrain from distracting others while they are competing. Promptly respond to the directions of the stage management. Exit the stage swiftly and quickly. Refrain from all uncontrolled emotional outbursts. Refrain from any loud behavior until back into the changing room area.
JUDGES: There will be 9 Judges plus 1 Head Judge on the judging panel from various States and Schools. Please see Judges link.
JUDGING GUIDELINES: Dancers will be judged in the following categories relating to their division in the Freestyle and/or Choreography section: Timing, Technique, Difficulty, Connection, Partnering Skills, Choreography, Musicality, Execution, Synchronicity, Appearance & Showmanship. Judges will decide their final scores following these guidelines: Please see relevant Judging Criteria’s for more info.
JUDGING CRITERIA: Choreographed routines will be judged by the following criteria:

INFRACTIONS

JUDGES
ALL JUDGES will be individually responsible for the following infractions:
Timing error - 2 points for Couples, Teams & Cabaret (each time)
Timing error - 1 point for Amateur & Youth (each time)
 
HEAD JUDGE
The HEAD JUDGE will be responsible for the following infractions:

Minor balance error - 1-3 points off (each time)
Minor miss-connect - 1-3 points off (each time)
Major fall - 5 points off (each time)
Major misconnect 3-5 points off (each time)
Team synchronicity loss 1-5 points off (each time)
Lifts in the Couples Division - 5 points off (each time)
Excessive Dips/Tricks/Flares for Couples division Choreography Heat - 5 points off (each time)

A lack off lifts for Cabaret division (under 3) - 5 points
Excessive lifts for Cabaret division (over 10) - 5 points off (each time)

FAIRNESS CLAUSES
The following points have been put in to ensure that the competition is fair and devoid of bias.

1. All judges will begin scoring with the same average score equal to half of the value of the original category weighting e.g. Category = 10% Average = 5
2. The highest and lowest scores of each competitor will be eliminated.
3. Once the judges have marked your scores, the papers will be taken away from them. Judges will not be able to go back and adjust the scores.
4. Judges will each use a new scaling table to compare competitors to ensure the marking & ranking of each competitor remains just & relevant across the board (a scaling table is a tool for each judge to compare his or her own notes) PLEASE NOTE: this system is accredited & currently used by the World Salsa Championships.
5. Results will be open to viewing by the competitors after the results have taken place.
6. Judges will be not communicate with other competitors during the judging of the competition.
7. Judges will not to communicate with other judges during the judging of the competition.
8. An odd amount of judges have been allocated to reduce the likelihood of a draw.
9. Competitors will be allowed to question judges regarding their scores after the results have taken place. Please note: Competitors approaching judges should do so in a courteous & respectable manner. Although the ASC monitors & regulates the judging as much as possible, each judge will ultimately have his or her own consistent method & style of judging which may not necessarily be comparable to the next judge.
10. The top 6 results of each competitor will be placed on the ASC website with the relevant judges names for public viewing.

IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE:

1. To compete at the ASC 2010 competitors must be Australian Residents.
2. A minimum of 3 couples is required for NATIONAL categories to proceed. Less then 3 entries in any category will result in the cancellation of that category at the ASC.
3. You must have competed in your Resident State Title (and come 4th or below) to be eligible to re compete at the Final Qualification round at the ASC Nationals.
4. No dancers can change divisions half way. The division that you qualify in at the State Titles is the division that you must compete in at the ASC Finals.
5. You are allowed to enter the Couple division and one Teams division as long as you have paid the registration for both divisions. No one is allowed to compete in a division more than once. Example: you cannot be in 2 teams competing in the Teams division.
6. Once you qualify you cannot change partners.
7. The previous year winners of each division AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY for the ASC Finals, including the Champion of Champions, so long as in the Couples & Amateur divisions, the couples are of the same partnership (reminder that Cabaret, Youth & Team divisions automatically pre qualify)
8. Couples division & Amateur division competitors ARE required to pre qualify at their resident State Titles.
9. Youth, Cabaret & Teams competitors are NOT required to pre qualify & may enter the ASC Finals directly.
10. Youth & Cabaret WILL however be required to complete the Freestyle section as well as the Choreography section of the competition at the ASC National Finals. The Freestyle section will most likely be scheduled in the early afternoon with the Choreography section scheduled in the evening. Details to be confirmed soon.
    

NEW TIPS

1. When choreographing do not waste time on introductions, such as Rumba, walk-ins & theatrics. Get straight to the point and remember time is of the essence!
2. Don’t waste time dancing other rhythms or styles such as Cha Cha or Reggae-ton in your performance piece. Remember it’s a SALSA competition!
3. Be mindful when designing or buying costumes to suite your bodies shape & size.
4. Do not wear colored shoes if you do not have good foot technique. Basically the rule of thumb is: do not draw attention to anything that you don’t want the judges to see. Skin colored shoes are much more presentable and professional & create a longer line for your leg.
5. You will be judged from the moment you walk in to the moment you walk off. Keep that in mind and choreograph your entrances and exits. Gentlemen, place the lady in her starting position. Pick her up if she’s on the floor. Exit with her on your arm. Bring attention to her in the bow. Do not celebrate on stage. Walk off and celebrate at the appropriate place and time.
6. We recommend that kids in the youth division under the age of 16 do not dress too provocatively. In this case, a 1 piece would be more suitable & appropriate than a 2 piece.
7. When dancing On1, make sure you are constantly stepping on the breaking steps 1 & 5 (NOT 4 & 8) When dancing On2, make sure you are constantly stepping on the breaking steps 2 & 6 (NOT 1 & 5 or 3 & 7) These are the most common errors made which result in loss of points. If the music is fast or the approaching step is difficult, DO NOT get a head start by stepping off the breaking count, instead simplify the choreography.
   
8. For rules & regulation clarifications please email your questions with a direct contact number and available times to contact you on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  
   

Thank you & Good Luck!

Oliver Pineda
On behalf of the ASC 2010 Team