~ Pretty  Important  Stuff ~

RULES

 

General Participant Requirements

1. Attendees must have a full weekend pass in order to register and compete in competitions offered at Monterey Swing Fest. If an attendee only has a Day/Evening pass, they are NOT eligible to compete.

2. Attendees will wear their wristband throughout the duration of the weekend. 

3. Pay any required entry fees for each competition before the contests begin.

4. Sign a legal waiver (if under the age of 18 a parent or guardian must sign for you) to participate in the event. If under the age of 18, attendee must have their parent or guardian with them at all times while in the ballroom or inside the convention center.

5. Register for each competition by the official entry deadline and have a bib number. Entry deadlines are available on the schedule.

6. Marshal on time for contests. If you are not in line and checked in by the time the contest is ready to begin, you will be scratched.

7. Adhere to the Code of Conduct posted on the Monterey Swing Fest website.

8. Entering a contest indicates consent for the event to use unrestricted use of your name and likeness in photos and videos that may appear in future promotions.

9. Meet all other specified requirements to enter your contests as outlined in these rules.

10. All Covid and other illness-related mandates will be strictly adhered to if called upon by local authorities. At the time of this posting, there are no current vaccine or testing requirements but is subject to change.

 

Role/Gender Inclusiveness

Monterey Swing Fest welcomes persons of any gender to dance as a leader or as a follower in our contests. (Please see the specific rules for each competition for any additional requirements).

 

Dress Code

Monterey Swing Fest strives to have all attendees and competitors thrive in a safe environment. This means that although we want attendees to wear what they feel comfortable in and allows for creative expression through their attire, any actions or clothing that judges view as disrespectful or unsafe towards one’s partner or other dancers, will not be tolerated. Contestants should check with the Head Judge in advance if they have any questions regarding acceptable actions, movements, or clothing. Please be mindful or wearing strong scents, perfumes, or colognes while participating in contests. 

 

Procedure for Competitions

1. Line ups will be announced in the main ballroom prior to your competition. 

2. You must line up and check in with the contest coordinators in the designated locations. 

3. If you are not in line and checked in by the time the contest is ready to begin, you will be scratched.

 

Contest Requirements

1. Entries: Routine divisions must have a minimum of three entries to be a valid contest. Contests with fewer than three entries may be canceled or may have the prize money reduced at the Organizer’s discretion. Entry fees for canceled contests will be refunded.

2. Entries: All other contests must have a minimum of five entries to be a valid contest. Contests with fewer than five entries may be canceled or may have the prize money reduced at the Organizer’s discretion. Entry fees for canceled contests will be refunded.

3. Judges: Each contest will be judged by a qualified panel of Champion Judges. Additionally, there will be a Head Judge and Alternate Judges available.

4. Scoring System: Contests are scored by computer and relative placement. Contestants will be judged in the preliminaries and/or semi-finals as an individual and as a couple in any finals for Jack and Jill competitions. They will be judged as a couple in all rounds for all strictly divisions.

 

Posting of Results

The results of all the competitions will be posted after the final awards are awarded as soon as possible.

 

Strictly Swing Contests

Sign up with a partner of your choice. Lead/follow contest. Depending on the number of couples, there may be a preliminary round and/or semi-final round, followed by a final. This division will be danced in heats and/or spotlight at the promoter’s discretion. Dancers must maintain their own physical contact with the floor during partner weight support moves, with the exception of the All/Star Champions division where lifts are allowed.

    -Costumes and props are not allowed but coordinating attire is acceptable.

    -Strictly Swing partners may dance with the same partner only if they dance in different roles and in a different division.

    -You may enter more than one strictly swing contest by dancing at your WSDC level in your dominant role, and two levels ‘down’ in your non dominant role or if you dance with a different partner that qualifies for a higher role.

    -Skill divisions: Newcomer/Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, All Star/Champion: A couple’s strictly swing division is determined by their WSDC Jack and Jill levels. If partner’s qualify for different WSDC levels, they must enter at the higher skill level if dancing their dominant role.

    -Master’s Strictly Swing: Contestants must be 50 years or older to be eligible to compete in this division. Masters contests are an age division and is therefore open to all skill levels so long as they meet the age requirement. 

   -Generational Strictly Swing: Contestants must have a twenty year age gap between them to qualify for this division. 

  -If a strictly couple signs up together for a leveled strictly swing division, they may also sign up for Master’s Strictly or Generational Strictly, so long as they qualify.

 

WSDC Jack and Jill

Sign ups are done as an individual. Lead/follow contest. Depending on the number of couples, there may be a preliminary round and/or semi-final round, followed by a final. Dancers must maintain their own physical contact with the floor during partner weight support moves, with the exception of the Champions division where lifts are allowed.

    -WSDC qualified Jack and Jills include: Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate, Masters Open, Advanced, All Star, and Champions.

    -We adhere to WSDC Jack and Jill rules. You may compete in up to two skill divisions in WSDC Jack and Jills (one in your dominant role and one in your non-dominant role).

    -Non WSDC Jack and Jill contests include: All American (a contest open to any all skill levels),  and Masters Novice (contestants must be 50 years of age or older and do not have WSDC points exceeding the Novice division.)

 

All American Jack and Jill

Dancers must maintain their own physical contact with the floor during partner weight support moves. We are running a new style of All American Jack and Jill. Professional staff of Monterey Swing Fest will be placed into the finals. Contestants will sign up and be randomly selected with a partner. That pairing will be judged as a couple in the prelims and the semis. You and your partner will make the final together as a couple. For the finals, partnerships will be once again randomly selected and you will have a new partnership with one of the MSF staff members. Finals will be judged as newly coupled partnerships.

 

 

Pro-Am Spotlight Routines

This division is designed to highlight a performance between a professional and an amateur. We offer a combined Pro Lead/Am Follow and Pro Follow/Am Lead division. 

1. To qualify for this division, an instructor/student relationship must exist between the professional and the amateur.

2. Amateurs are defined as anyone who is not compensated in any way for teaching or judging.

3. Professionals are defined as anyone who ears a significant amount of income teaching or performing swing. 

4. The time limit for the routine must be a minimum of 1 1/2 minutes and a maximum of  2 1/2 minutes. The clock starts and judging begins once the first dance movement initiates, with or without music.

5. Swing Content: 50% is present throughout the performance. Any recognizable style of swing dancing is accepted.

6. Amateurs must be at least 8 years of age at the time of the performance.

7. Costumes are encouraged however it is not a requirement.

8. Choreography is required along with set music. Competitors get to select their own music and must submit their music by the deadline (3 hours prior to the routine contest start time).

9. Lifts, drops, tricks, and stunts are allowed but not required. 

10. Order of dance will be randomized and posted prior to the start of Saturday evening contests.

 

Showcase Spotlight Routines

1. Routines performed in the Showcase division should accentuate choreography that includes aerials, lifts, and other acrobatic or partner weight support moves mixed in with lead/follow moves.

2. Swing Content: 60% is present throughout the performance. Any recognizable style of swing dancing is accepted.

3. Swing Content Violations will adhere to the Swing Violation Criteria set forth by NASDE (https://nasde.net/nasde-scoring/)

4. The time limit for the routine must be a minimum of 2 minutes and a maximum of 3 minutes. The clock starts and judging begins once the music begins.

5. A minimum of 3 “in air” partner weight support moves (such as lifts or aerials). 1 of the 3 required moves must be an aerial (the follower’s hips are at or above the leader’s shoulders. The leader must be in a standing position- not sitting, squatting, or flexing forward.) The aerial must be sustained for 1-3 seconds. There is no lift maximum. “On the ground” weight supported moves are also permitted, but not required. The review panel will be selected by the head judge prior to the weekend.

6. Both dancers must remain in their respective roles throughout the duration of the routine. 

7. Costumes are encouraged however it is not a requirement.

8. Choreography is required along with set music. Competitors get to select their own music and must submit their music by the deadline (3 hours prior to the routine contest start time).

9. Order of dance will be randomized and posted prior to the start of Saturday evening contests.

 

Classic Spotlight Routines

1. Routines performed in the Classic division should accentuate choreography that includes lead/follow moves with an “on the ground” approach to the dance.

2. Swing Content: 75% is present throughout the performance. Any recognizable style of swing dancing is accepted.

3. Swing Content Violations will adhere to the Swing Violation Criteria set forth by NASDE (https://nasde.net/nasde-scoring/)

4. The time limit for the routine must be a minimum of 2 minutes and a maximum of 3 minutes. The clock starts and judging begins once the music begins.

5. Separate entrances by the leader and follower to begin the dance are permitted however they must join together within 32 beats of music.

6. “In the air” partner weight supported moves are not allowed. This includes lifts and aerials.

7. “On the ground” partner weight supported moves (ex: drops, slides, splits) are allowed. A maximum of 7 partner weight supported moves are allowed. 

8. Both leader and follower must keep at least one foot on the floor during these partner weight supported moves. If a foot comes off the floor, it will be flagged by the referee for review to determine the penalty for the violation. The review panel will be selected by the head judge prior to the weekend. 

9. Both dancers must remain in their respective roles throughout the duration of the routine.

10. Costumes are encouraged however it is not a requirement.

11. Choreography is required along with set music. Competitors get to select their own music and must submit their music by the deadline (3 hours prior to the routine contest start time).

12. Order of dance will be randomized and posted prior to the start of Saturday evening contests.

 

 

 

 

Special Requests

If you have special requests or questions of any kind please reach out to us at info@montereyswing.com

We do ask that you send special requests as far in advance as possible prior to the start of the event (Wednesday leading into the event weekend.)

 

 

Petitions

-Petitions may only be submitted to dance one level up or down in their dominant role. 

 

-Petitions to dance up must be submitted 15 days prior to the start of the event to the Chief Judges Committee:  worldsdc.com/level-up-petition

 

-To petition down, dancers may either fill out the form electronically and email it to Estelle.Bonnaire@gmail.com or fill out a paper copy, available at event registration. "Dancing down" petitions must be submitted prior to 3pm PST on Friday January 15th, 2027.  In the case of all petitions submitted, our Head Judge will review your petition and either approve or deny your request. You will be contacted with the decision as soon as possible. Please be prepared to dance in your original competition level or division in case your petition is denied. The petition form to "dance down" is available here: https://www.worldsdc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/WSDC-Jack-and-Jill-petition_vF_Oct-2023.pdf

 

Competitors are responsible for following the WSDC Registry Rules. Competitors will not receive WSDC points for placement if they fail to follow the WSDC Points Registry Rules.