SAFETY ť DANCE RULES ť

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Dance Rules 2010/2011

Glossary 2010/2011

Age Grid, Divisions and Categories 2010/2011

Dance General Guidelines

1.	All teams must be supervised during all official functions by a qualified director/advisor/coach.

2.	All participants agree to conduct themselves in a manner displaying good sportsmanship throughout the event. The director/advisor/coach of each team is responsible for seeing that team members, coaches, parents, and any other person affiliated with the team conduct themselves accordingly. Severe demonstrations of unsportsmanlike conduct are grounds for disqualification.

3.	All directors, advisors and coaches should have an emergency response plan in the event of an injury.

4.	Teams must have at least 4 members. There is no maximum limit.

5.	Each team will have a maximum of 2 minutes and 30 seconds (2:30) to demonstrate their style and expertise. Timing will begin with the first choreographed movement or note of the music. Timing will end with the last choreographed movement or note of the music, whichever comes last. If Event Producers add the production/show category, the time limit may be increased to 5 minutes. Event Producers may allow a maximum of 5 second leeway/grace period.

6.	Participants may compete in more than one dance division and/or category as long as they abide by the age restrictions in all divisions in which they compete. Dancers may not compete in more than one routine in the same category and division. Example: A dancer cannot compete in 2 Senior Jazz routines. Exception: If a dancer is on a Senior Hip Hop team and a Senior Coed Hip Hop team and the event producer combines the divisions, this rule does not apply

7.	Substitutions may be made in the event of any injury or other serious circumstance. Substitutes must also abide by the age restrictions in all divisions.

8.	Any team proven to be in violation of the age restrictions will be automatically disqualified from the event.

9.	Footwear is recommended but not required. Wearing socks and/or footed tights only is prohibited. (Exception: socks are allowed on a carpeted performance surface)

10.	Jewelry as a part of a costume is allowed.

Tumbling & Tricks (Executed by individuals)

Tumbling and/or tricks: An acrobatic or gymnastics skill executed by an individual dancer without contact, assistance or support of another dancer(s) and begins and ends on the performance surface.

	Tumbling is allowed in all divisions as long as one hand, foot or body part remains in constant contact with the performance surface. These skills can be performed individually or in combination. Airborne skills are not allowed when hip-over-head rotation occurs.(Exception: aerial cartwheels are allowed)
	Tumbling is allowed, but not required, in all divisions with the following limitations:
	ALLOWED	NOT ALLOWED
	Forward/Backward Rolls Shoulder Rolls Cartwheels Headstands Handstands Backbends Front/Back Walkovers Stalls Head spins Windmills/Flairs Kip up Dive Rolls (in a piked position) Round-offs	Aerial Cartwheels Front/Back Handsprings Front/Back Tucks Side Somi Shushunova Headsprings (Without hand support) Layouts * see below for exceptions to these limitations*
1.	* Allowed only for hip-hop: Airborne skills with hip over head rotation must involve hand support with at least one hand when passing through the inverted position. (Exception: Aerial Cartwheels are alolowed in hip hop only. )
	a) Tumbling skills with airborne hip over head rotation is limited to 2 connected skills. (Example: Round-off, back handspring, back handspring is not allowed. Round-off back handspring kip up is allowed)

	b) Weight bearing skills on the hands are not allowed while holding poms or props (including tumbling, stalls, etc.). (Exception: Forward and backward rolls are allowed) Please see the USASF Glossary for definition of weight bearing.

3.	Drops to the knee, thigh, seat, front, back, jazz split (hurdler) or split position onto the performing surface from a jump, stand, or inverted position must first bear weight on the hands or feet in order to break the impact of the drop. (Exception: Toe-touches to a push up position are not allowed.)
4.	Drops to a push-up position onto the performance surface are permitted from a standing or kneeling position or from a jump with forward momentum (i.e. Flying Squirrel) or an X, Star or Spread Eagle jump. All variations of a Shushinova not permitted

Dance Lifts , Tricks & Partnering (Executed as partners or groups )

	Dance Lifts, Tricks and Partnering are permitted and are defined below:

	Dance Lift: An action in which a dancer(s) is elevated from the performance surface by one or more dancers and set down. A Dance Lift is comprised of Lifting dancer(s) and Elevated dancer(s).

	Dance Trick: An action in which a dancer(s) executes a skill with support from one or more dancers. A Dance Trick is comprised of Supporting dancer(s) and Executing dancer(s).

	Partnering: An action in which two or more dancers use support from one another, but are not elevated. Partnering can involve both Supporting and Executing skills.

1.	A Lifting/Supporting Dancer must maintain direct contact with the performance surface at all times.

2.	At least one Lifting/Supporting Dancer must have hand/arm/body to hand/arm/body contact with the Elevated/Executing Dancer(s) at all times during the Lift, Trick or Partnering skill.

3.	Swinging Lifts and Tricks are allowed provided the Elevated/Executing Dancers body does not make a complete circular rotation and is in a face up position at all times.

4.	Hip over head rotation of the Elevated/Executing Dancer(s) may occur as long as his/her hips maintain a level at or below the shoulder height of a standing Dancer(s). (Exception: Chorus Line Flips are not allowed. See USASF Dance Glossary for full definition of Chorus Line Flips)

5.	All Cheer style stunts and/or pyramids are prohibited. (Exceptions: pony sit, thigh stand, shoulder sit)

6.	Jumping or leaping off a dancer is allowed as long as there is hand/arm (supporting dancer) to hand/arm/body (elevated/executing dancer) contact with a supporting dancer throughout the skill.

7.	Tossing a dancer is allowed as long as there is hand/arm (supporting dancer) to hand/arm/body (elevated/executing) contact with at least one other dancer throughout the skill.

Choreography and Costuming

1.	Suggestive, offensive, or vulgar choreography, costuming,and/or music is inappropriate for family audiences and therefore lacks audience appeal.

2.	Routine choreography should be appropriate and entertaining for all audience members. Vulgar or suggestive material is defined as any movement or choreography implying something improper or indecent, appearing offensive or sexual in content, and/or relaying lewd or profane gestures or implications. Inappropriate choreography, costuming and/or music may affects the judges overall impression and/ or score of the routine.

3.	All choreography should be age appropriate.

4.	All costuming and makeup should be age appropriate and acceptable for family viewing.

Props

1.	Wearable and handheld items are allowed in all categories and can be removed and discarded from the body.
2.	Standing props are only allowed in the prop and production category. Any items that bears the weight of the participant is considered a standing prop. (Examples: chairs, stools, benches, ladders, boxes, stairs, etc.)