NDCA Rules & Regulations


Open and save NDCA Rules & RegulationsNDCA Rules & Regulations


II. DEFINITIONS STUDENT/STUDENT & PRO/AM STUDENT DANCER EVENTS FOR PRE-TEEN, JUNIOR AND YOUTH

i. When Pre-Teen, Junior and Youth events are offered for Student/Student and/or Pro/Am Student Dancers the age divisions must be those that are listed in the “Rules for Amateur Competitions” section.
ii. When Pre-Teen, Junior and Youth events are offered for Student/Student and/or Pro/Am Student Dancers the dress and/or costuming rules must be those that are listed in the “Rules for Amateur Competitions” section.
iii. When Pre-Teen events are offered for Student/Student and/or Pro/Am Student Dancers the syllabus rules must be those that are listed in the “Rules for Amateur Competitions” section.

X. RULES FOR AMATEUR COMPETITORS
1. AGE CATEGORY CLASSIFICATIONS

a. Age classifications, “a” through “f-(3)”, will become effective on January 1st of the year in which the individual’s classification age is attained, regardless of the actual birth date.
i. Pre-Teen I: 9th birthday or less
ii. Pre-Teen II: 10th or 11th birthday
iii. Junior I: 12th or 13th birthday
iv. Junior II: 14th or 15th birthday
v. Youth: 16th, 17th or 18th birthday
vi. Adult: 19th birthday or greater
(1) Senior I: 35th birthday or greater
(2) Senior II: 45th birthday or greater
(3) Senior III: 55th birthday or greater
b. Organizers may combine age classifications as follows:
i. Pre-Teen I and Pre-Teen II into a single Pre-Teen classification.
ii. Junior I and Junior II into a single Junior classification.
iii. Senior I, Senior II, and Senior III into a single Senior classification.
iv. Organizers may combine classifications not listed above by obtaining written permission from the Ballroom Director.
c. Organizers may offer additional age category competitions, such as “Under 21″, etc.
d. Competitors may dance “up” or “down” as follows:
i. Pre-Teen I competitors may dance up one age classification to “Pre-Teen II”.
ii. Pre-Teen II competitors may dance up one age classification to “Junior I”.
(1) Pre-teen II couples who elect to dance up to junior must remain in the approved pre-teen costumes.
iii. Junior I competitors may dance up one age classification to “Junior II”.
iv. Junior II competitors may dance up one age classification to “Youth”.
v. Youth competitors may dance up to the Adult classification.
vi. When an organizer combines age classifications (Pre-Teen I & II, Junior I & II or Senior I, II & III) competitors may dance up or down as follows:
(1) Only Pre-Teen II age category competitors may dance up into the combined Junior age category.
(2) Combined Juniors may dance up into the combined Youth age category.
(3) Combined Seniors may dance down into the adult age category.
e. The following rules apply to competitors age 18 and under:
i. For Youth, Junior I and Junior II partnerships, one of the individuals may be no more than two age classifications younger.
ii. If one of the individuals in the partnership is two age classifications younger, then the younger member of the partnership must request permission in writing from the NDCA Ballroom Department and in turn receive written approval prior to being allowed to compete. (example – a “Pre-Teen II” girl wishing to compete with a “Junior II” age boy)
(1) If written permission is given for the individual to dance up two age classifications, then that person may not return again to dance in the original younger age classification that they “gave up”.
iii. Under no circumstance will a Pre-Teen I, Pre-Teen II, or a Junior I competitor be allowed to compete in the Adult age classification.
iv. A Junior II competitor may not apply for permission to dance up as an Adult until they are 15 years old, at which time they would need to apply to the Ballroom Department as noted above.
v. Youth competitors turning 19 years of age in the calendar year may still dance as youths until they have graduated from “High School”.
f. A couple’s age classification eligibility is defined as the age of the older partner for the Pre-Teen I, Pre-Teen II, Junior I, Junior II, Youth and Adult classifications, while it is defined as the age of the younger partner for the Senior classifications.
g. Any amateur competitor dancing in a Pre-Teen I, Pre-Teen II, Junior I, Junior II, or Youth “open singles event” may only be partnered by another amateur competitor aged eighteen years or younger.

2. PROFICIENCY CLASSIFICATIONS

Competition proficiency categories may be offered as follows:
a. Syllabus. Restricted to “medalist” level figures (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Novice Bronze, Novice Silver, Novice Gold, Etc).
b. Novice. Open Syllabus. It is recommended that “Novice” competitions generally be restricted to two (2) of the allowed dances for each style.
c. Pre-Championship. Open Syllabus. It is recommended that “Pre-Championship” competitions generally be restricted to three or four (3-4) of the allowed dances for each style.
d. Open Amateur. Open syllabus. All of the dances in each style must be done in this category in all rounds, and in the order prescribed.

3. ELIGIBILITY DEFINITIONS

a. A competitor is eligible to dance in the “Syllabus”, “Novice” and/or “Pre-Championship” proficiency classifications until they accumulate three proficiency points. There is no limit to the number of proficiency points that may be accumulated in the “Open Amateur” level.
b. A competitor receives one point when they either a) place first in their current classification when a semi-final was danced, or b) dance in the final of a higher proficiency event where a semi-final was danced.
c. In the “Syllabus” categories proficiency points should be accumulated independently for each dance.
d. The eligibility to compete in a classification is applied to individual amateur competitors and not the couple as an entity.
e. An amateur couple is only eligible to compete in a classification if both members of the couple are eligible.
f. An amateur competitor’s eligibility is based on his/her accomplishments regardless of the number or length of partnerships they have had.
g. It is the responsibility of all amateur competitors to ensure that they are eligible for the category in which they desire to dance.
h. An amateur competitor may enter at most two consecutive proficiency classifications in any particular style and age group at a particular competition.
i. An amateur competitor’s ineligibility begins at the conclusion of the competition in which his/her third point was acquired. In this case the word “competition” refers to the entire event (generally a “weekend”).
j. An amateur competitor’s proficiency level as a Pro/Am shall not be used in determining his/her amateur proficiency level.

4. DRESS AND/OR COSTUMING – PRE-TEENS
Pre-Teens must dress as listed below.

a. Pre-Teen.
i. Boys
(1) Trousers
(a) Black or dark blue color only
(b) High waist optional
(c) Underfoot strap optional
(d) Satin stripes are not allowed.
(2) Shirts
(a) Plain white or black long sleeved collared shirt only
(b) No pleats or ribbing
(c) Sleeves to be worn at wrist length
(3) Sweaters and vests are not allowed.
(4) Tie – Black color only, may be either straight or bow
(5) Socks – Black or dark blue color only
(6) Shoes- Heel height not to exceed 1.5 inches
(7) Materials – Fabrics must be plain, ie: cotton, polyester, cotton/polyester blend, wool blend
(a) No satin or shiny fabrics
(b) No glitter, metallic thread, patterns or sequins allowed
(c) Decorations – not allowed
(8) Makeup – Not allowed
(9) Hairstyle – Long hair must be worn in a pony tail
ii. Girls
(1) Skirt with top or simple dress with attached under garment or leotard top with full skirt
(2) Skirts
(a) Plain or pleated with minimum 1 to maximum 3 half circles. One plain simple underskirt allowed which is no larger or longer than top layer, and is the same or similar color as the outer skirt
(b) No uneven hem lines, use of boning, frills, splits, openings, fishing line, “lettuce edging”, etc
(c) Length of skirt must not be shorter than 3 inches above the knee cap and no longer than 1 inch below the knee cap
(3) Necklines
(a) Boat, high neck, v-neck, sweetheart, ‘peter pan’ collar, and regular collar are allowed
(4) Sleeves
(a) Long, short, elbow length, cap, puff. or sleeveless styles are allowed
(b) Cannot be replaced by trimmings, frills, or edging on the shoulder line
(c) No “finger loops” allowed
(5) Materials
(a) Fabrics MUST be only one color throughout
(b) No glitter, metallic thread, or fabric creating ‘light or pattern effects’
(c) No use of feathers, fringes, bows, belts, frills or sequins
(d) No flesh color fabric
(e) Any use of color coordinated ‘see through’ fabric must be lined from waist to shoulder; for use on arms no lining is needed
(6) Shoes
(a) Heel height not to exceed 1.5 inches, and must be block heel style if a dance shoe
(7) Other
(a) No use of arm bands, chokers or headbands
(b) No decoration is allowed on dress or in hair
(c) No jewelry is allowed
(d) No makeup allowed
(e) Use of fake eyelashes, fake fingernails, colored or glitter hairspray is forbidden
(f) Socks: White ankle socks or flesh colored pantyhose must be worn
(g) No fishnet tights
(h) Gathering or shirring on the bodice is not allowed.
iii. For pre-teen one-dance or two-dance events, competition organizers may require that the shirts/tops be white and the trousers/skirts be black.
iv. Drawings of approved dress/costuming for pre-teen boys and girls follow:

PRE-TEEN BOYS & GIRLS APPROVED DRESS/COSTUMING DIAGRAMS

High Waist Bow Tie Black Shirt Under Foot Boat Neckline High Neckline #1 High Neckline #2 “V” Neckline Sweetheart Neckline Peter Pan Collar Regular Collar Long Sleeve Short Sleeve Elbow Length Sleeve Puff Sleeve Cap Sleeve Sleeveless Plain Skirt Pleated Under Skirt

5. DRESS AND/OR COSTUMING – JUNIOR, YOUTH & ADULT

a. Definition of “Syllabus Dress”. i. Gentlemen. Standard and Smooth Divisions: Dress pants, plain shirt and tie, and optional cummerbund or vest or black sweater or tuxedo. No tail suits. Latin and Rhythm Divisions: Dress pants, plain or ruffled shirt, optional tie and or vest.
ii. Ladies. Standard and Smooth Divisions: Cocktail dress without excessive adornment. No ball gowns. Latin and Rhythm Divisions: Leotards and wrap skirts or party/cocktail dresses without excessive adornment.
b. Definition of “Open Amateur Dress”.
i. Gentlemen. Standard and Smooth Divisions: Tailsuits. Latin and Rhythm Divisions: Latin costumes.
ii. Ladies. Standard and Smooth Divisions: Ball gowns. Latin and Rhythm Divisions: Latin costumes.
c. For “Syllabus” competitions competitors must wear “Syllabus” Dress.
d. For “Novice” competitions competitors may wear either “Syllabus” or “Open Amateur” dress. The competition organizer may stipulate one or the other for this category.
e. For “Pre-Championship” and “Open Amateur” competitions competitors should wear “Championship” costumes.
f. Competition organizers may establish alternative dress and/or costume guidelines if they desire for Juniors, Youths or Adults.

6. SYLLABUS – PRE-TEEN

Couples competing in the “Pre-Teen” category must dance restricted syllabi as noted below.
a. Pre-teen. Couples competing in this age category may only dance Bronze, Silver and Gold syllabus figures from approved syllabi of member organizations of the NDCA as well as the official NDCA syllabus.
i. No embellishments of standard figures. No change of levels, head rolls, foot flicks, syncopations or delayed timings unless specified within the approved syllabus.

7. SYLLABUS – JUNIOR, YOUTH & ADULT

a. Couples competing in the “Junior”, “Youth” and “Adult” categories are not restricted in syllabi unless competing in a “Syllabus” event, or otherwise stipulated by the organizer.
i. No embellishments of standard figures. No change of levels, head rolls, foot flicks, syncopations or delayed timings unless specified within the approved syllabus.

Guide to buying Our dancewear

“Design is not just what it looks like
and feels like.
Design is how it works.”

Guide to buying-dancewear

Measurement forms

Male and Female measurement forms.
Use our online measurement forms
or open and save the forms for later use.

Measurementform

Specialty Wear

We design fabulous specialty wear,
exiting Ice Skating costumes, Entertainment,
and many other types of events.

Karina-Smirnoff