Bandit Blitz Competition Rules 2009
1. A linedance is a set of step patterns that are repeated with all dancers moving on the same foot, at the same time, in the same direction.
2. Competitors must use appropriate choreography, as defined above.
3. A choreographed routine requires that the step pattern must repeat at least once…this means that two step patterns must be completed.
4. Entries must be received by Friday September 18th, 2009.
Entries are to be submitted via e-mail: bandits.entries@hotmail.com or by posting to 5 Nara Place, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650. The total fee will be calculated and invoice sent to competitors via e-mail on Monday September 21st .
Entry fees, quoting invoice number, must be paid by 5.00pm Friday 25th September 2009 via direct deposit. Account details will be provided upon receipt of entries.
5. Entry fee for dance competitors is $7 per competitor per section - $6 for LDAA members.
6. A copy of competitors music must accompany all entries along with a list of songs being used for each section.
7. All competitors and their supporters are to conduct themselves in a professional and appropriate manner throughout the Championships. Failure to do so will result in disqualification and in extreme cases removal from the venue.
8. It is the competitors’ responsibility to know the rules and subsequent penalties.
9. Entrants may compete only ONCE in any section they qualify for.
10. A team consists of at least 3 dancers.
11. Free form entry (including contra and waves) onto the floor to introductory music is allowed.
12. Competitors may be removed from group entries, but may not be added or substituted after closing date of entries.
13. Entrants choose their own music/dance for all sections, excluding solos.
14. All music must be clearly marked with the entrant’s name, section number, the track number of their dance and any instructions for the DJ i.e. dance on, start on the floor, etc. This must be received by the event organisers before September 18th 2009.
15. A piece of music can be used no more than TWICE by one group during the Competition.
Penalty – Competitors will be disqualified.
16. Music for the standard sections must be on one track and may be lengthened or shortened to fit in with the time constrains; however the song cannot be enhanced by splicing two or more tracks together.
Penalty – Competitors will be disqualified.
17. Music for dances in the solo sections will be provided by the event organisers.
18. Competitors enter at their own risk and MUST be in good physical condition.
19. Competitors must dance in the order published in the official program unless otherwise organised with event directors.
20. Competitors must be ready to compete when called. Failure to do so after 2 calls will result in disqualification.
21. No competitor will restart a dance after breakdown unless requested to do so by the judges.
22. The judges’ decision is final. No correspondence or discussion will be entered into.
Penalty for infringement of the following rules – Competitors will be disqualified.
23. Age is determined as at 3rd October 2009.
24. Proof of age is required on request by event directors.
25. In all sections competitors must meet any listed age criteria.
Penalty for infringement of following rules – minimum of 3 points per judge for each infringement.
26. Competitors must wear Country/Western style clothing.
27. The following are specifically NOT ALLOWED.
a. Any clothing that exposes a competitors’ midriff.
b. Tank tops, polo shirts or t-shirts.
28. Skirts (if worn) should be no shorter than 10cm above the center of the knee, front and back. Fringing or lace cannot compensate for skirt length.
29. Long skirts can be any length, providing judges are able to see competitors’ footwork. Skirts that are deemed to be too long and as such impede the judges’ view of footwork will be penalized. A good length from the floor is 20cm – please note: this is a suggested length only.
30. Modesty skirts may be worn under skirts (long or short) at the discretion of each competitor. However if worn, all members of the duo/trio/team wearing skirts must conform.
31. Western style hats are: -
c. Mandatory for males in all standard and solo sections.
d. Optional for females in all standard and solo sections.
32. If worn, hats must remain in the control of each individual competitor. Hats must not be placed on the floor at any time during the performance, including introduction or ending.
33. Western style boots are mandatory for all standard and freestyle sections.
34. The event directors in conjunction with the head judge of the current section will confer regarding any infringements of this dress code, i.e. whether an outfit is deemed to be country/western style clothing, if a skirt is too long, etc
35. Entrants in the Solo Sections are required to dance the specified dances for their category.
36. Dance sheets will be available to contestants on request and from the Bandits website.
37. Solo competitors must be careful to retain personal dance space and to not intentionally or carelessly intrude on another dancer’s area.
38. In SOLO STANDARD section there will be one dance only which should be danced EXACTLY as written on the official step description sheet provided by the organisers and no hat or skirt work allowed.
Penalty – Competitors will be disqualified.
39. Competitors in the solo freestyle sections are required to dance the first TWO VANILLAS (sequences) EXACTLY as written on the official step description provided by the organisers.
Penalty – Points loss in compliance.
40. Competitors may then add their own variations and interpretations ONLY AFTER these first two sequences are completed. If the chosen dance has a restart/tag on the first wall another entire wall is to be completed. If the restart/tag happens on the second wall competitors are free to begin their variations once the restart is completed.
41. The dance must remain recognizable as the original dance. The flow and direction of variations must remain the same as the original dance i.e. if the original dance moves to the right, dance variations MUST move to the right, competitors must not over or under emphasize step length to purposely move out of line with other dancers.
Penalty – points will be deducted in Maintained Flow.
42. Variations should enhance the original dance. Competitors must remain aware that overuse of variations, particularly one type of variation, e.g. Pantomime, turns, syncopation’s or the dance becoming unrecognizable, will result in point loss.
43. Judging starts from the beginning of the dance through to the last sound recorded on the track.
44. Competitors must enter and exit the floor in a neat orderly fashion.
45. Competitors may enter from either or both sides of the stage.
46. No intentional mirror imaging or contra movements or handholds are allowed EXCEPT for the introduction time before the dance starts.
Penalty – Competitors will be disqualified.
47. No athletic movements such as flips or splits allowed – NOTE at the end of a dance, dancers may drop to one knee on the stage.
Penalty – Competitors will be disqualified
48. Hand/arm positions may differ between male and female competitors except if both are wearing jeans in which case hand positions should be identical.
Penalty – Points lost in unity as determined by majority of judges.
49. No props allowed – hats are not considered props.
Penalty –Competitors will be disqualified
50. Hands should generally be in the waist area, or on the buckle, in belt loops, in
pockets or on the waist. Marks will be deducted for loose or sloppy hand or arm movements. However there will be no deduction of points if arm movements are choreographed to add to the performance of the routine provided they return to the specified area.
Penalty – Points lost IN EXECUTION as determined by majority of judges.
51. Should a contestant’s hat, belt, or any article of clothing fall to the floor it should be picked up immediately.
52. No obscene, or overly suggestive body movements, abusive or bad language or music to be used by competitors.
Penalty –Competitors will be disqualified.
53. Restarts are only permitted at the head judge’s discretion.
Penalty – Judging panel WILL NOT score the routine and a zero total will be entered.
54. There MUST be 10 years age difference between at least 2 competitors.
Penalty –Competitors will be disqualified.
55. The rise and fall of WALTZ must be adhered to regardless of music timing … steps should be in groups of three… syncopation’s are allowed.
Penalty - Points will be deducted in Execution.
56. Music selected for any waltz section may be country or non-country and is to include simple and compound time as follows 3/2, 3/4, 3/8, 6/8, 9/8 12/8 time signatures. Dance steps must be in 3/4 timing.
57. Dance facing each other, or in opposite directions – Contra and/or mirror image.
58. Split or separate provided they follow an organized and/or choreographed flow of movement.
59. Dance in rounds (the wave or cannon motion).
60. Have differing hand movements providing that all ladies do the similar hand movements (not necessarily at the same time) and all men and/or persons wearing jeans execute the SAME hand movements (not necessarily at the same time).
61. Team members may not after the commencement of the first dance steps, do any of the following:
b. Lower knee(s) to floor for more than 8 counts.
c. Skid or slide across the floor.
Penalty – minimum 1 point per judge for each time these rules are breached as determined by the judging panel.
Standard
62. Music may be Country or non-country
63. Standard sections time limit is 5 minutes maximum, there is no minimum time limit. Competitors will incur a 5-point penalty from each judge for every 15 seconds, or part thereof, over the time limit.
Freestyle
64. For freestyle sections competitors may use a combination of country and non-country music.
65. Freestyle sections time limit is 4-6 minutes for duos and 5-7 minutes for teams. Competitors will incur a 5-point penalty from each judge for every 15 seconds, or part thereof, under/over the time limits.