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2006
Participating Events

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NASDE Rules

EFFECTIVE 1 June 2003

NASDE Swing Dance Competition Divisions: NASDE sponsors the swing dance competition divisions of Showcase, Classic, and Strictly Swing to help promote, preserve, and improve swing dancing. The objective is to provide a competitive performance venue for the various unique styles of swing that have developed across the nation to include the Carolina Shag, Dallas Push, East Coast Swing, Hand Dancing, Hollywood Swing, Houston Whip, Imperial Swing, Jive, Jitterbug, Lindy Hop, Rock-n-Roll, and West Coast Swing, to name a few.

NASDE Statement of Swing to be used to identify the presence of swing in the NASDE competition divisions.

Swing is an American Rhythm Dance based on a foundation of 6-beat and 8-beat patterns that incorporate a wide variety of rhythms built on 2-beat single, delayed, double, triple, and blank rhythm units. The 6-beat patterns include, but are not limited to, passes, underarm turns, push-breaks, open-to-closed, and closed-to-open position patterns. The 8-beat patterns include, but are not limited to, whips, swing-outs, Lindy circles, and Shag pivots. Although they are not part of the foundation of the dance as stated above, 2- beat and 4-beat extension rhythm breaks may be incorporated to extend a pattern, to phrase the music, and/or to accent breaks.

General Rules:

1.     Contestants must be 18 years or older by the end of the event to participate in a NASDE Classic, Showcase, and/or Strictly Swing division.

2.     Competitors will be one Male Leader and one Female Follower.

3.     The maximum number of entries in each division is at the promoter's discretion. There is no minimum number of entries. If fewer than ten couples enter a division, NASDE points will still be awarded.

4.     In the NASDE divisions, the competitor guidelines for expected swing content are: at least 60% in Showcase, 80% in Classic, and 90% in Strictly Swing. It is at the judges discretion to determine that the swing content requirement has been met.

5.     An individual is not permitted to dance twice within the same division.

Showcase Division: Swing dancing that allows choreography with a flair toward lifts and other partner weight support moves.

1.     Performance time is a minimum of 2 minutes and maximum of 3 minutes.

2.     Costumes are allowed and encouraged.

3.     Time and judging starts at first movement of performance with or without music.

4.     Separate entrances are permitted.

5.     Break-a-ways and side by side patterns are permitted.

6.     At least three partner weight support moves are required with the partner at knee level or above.

7.     At least one partner weight support move is required with the partner above the waist.

8.     At most five partner weight support moves are permitted with a partner not maintaining floor contact.

Classic Division: Swing dancing that allows choreography with an "on the ground" approach to the dance. Drops, leans, circular movements and other partner weight support moves are allowed as long as both partners keep at least one foot on the floor.

1.      Performance time is a minimum of 2 minutes and maximum of 3 minutes.

2.     Costumes are allowed and encouraged.

3.     Time and judging starts at first movement of performance with or without music.

4.     Separate entrances are permitted but the couple must physically join together within 32 beats of music.

5.     Couples must maintain physical contact except for spins, turns, short break-a-ways, and recoveries.

6.     Dancers must maintain their own physical contact with the floor during partner weight support moves.

7.     At most five partner weight support moves are permitted.

Strictly Swing Division: Swing dancing that encourages lead and follow partner dancing at its best. Although swing includes amalgamations and patterns that are familiar to many dancers, the essence of lead and follow must be maintained in and out of these patterns. Strictly Swing division is not meant for long and extended pre-choreographed phrases. Choreography "on the fly" is the objective. Drops, leans, circular movements and other partner weight support moves are allowed as long as both partners keep at least one foot on the floor.

1.     Length of performance is at the promoter’s discretion.

2.     Costumes are not allowed. However, matching or complementary outfits suitable for social dancing are acceptable

3.     This division will be danced in heats and/or spotlight at the promoter’s discretion.

4.     Couples must maintain physical contact except for spins, turns, short break-a-ways, and recoveries.

5.     Pre-choreographed routines are not allowed.

6.     Dancers must maintain their own physical contact with the floor during partner weight support moves.

7.     At most five partner weight support moves are permitted.

Sponsored by the National Association of Swing Dance Events (NASDE)

Rules Coordinator Annie Hirsch; Phone: 949-673-8893; E-mail: WSDCAnnie@aol.com

Secretary: Craig Hutchinson; Phone: 703-698-9811; E-mail: crhutch@erols.com

Address: NASDE; 3409 Silver Maple Place; Falls Church, VA 22042-3545