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Northern Champs Rules
&
Guidance
 

General Rules​

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  • The DJ will select the music for all categories except Showcase, and the genre of music will be published in advance on the competition schedule.

  • Some of the finals include a Spotlight track, in which each couple will dance across the floor several times in turn during the track.

  • Judge’s decisions are final, including decisions regarding the eligibility of dancers for each category.

 

  • The following rules apply or all categories except Showcase.

  • The heats and semi-finals are knockout rounds, with the judges deciding who progresses from each round.

  • It must clearly be demonstrated throughout each dance that leads are leading and follows are following and that moves are not choreographed.

  • Partners must not release hand hold or break contact for more than eight beats during their dance.

Definitions

 

Professional

  • Anyone who has taught a partner dance more than 6 times in the previous 6 months for payment.​

  • Anyone who is intending to teach a partner dance more than 6 times in the next 6 months for payment.​

  • Anyone who enters the Open freestyle, Top Cats Pro or Slow & Smooth Pro categories in these championships.​

  • Any Open Category competition medallist, (bronze, silver or gold), in any other Ceroc competition in the three years prior to this competition date.​​

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Amateur

  • Anyone who has not taught a partner dance more than 6 times in the previous 6 months for payment.​

  • Anyone who is not intending to teach a partner dance more than 6 times in the next 6 months for payment.​

  • Anyone who has not entered and Open freestyle, Top Cats Pro or Slow & Smooth Pro categories in these championships.​

  • Anyone who is not an Open Category competition medallist, (bronze, silver or gold), in any other Ceroc competition in the three years prior to this competition date.

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Major Airstep

  • Any move where both of the follow’s feet travel above the lead’s waist level.​

  • Any acrobatic move by either dancer.​

  • Any inverted move, where the follow’s head is below the level of either of their feet.

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Baby Aerial

  • Any move where both of the follow’s feet leave the ground but at least one of them remains below the lead’s waist level.

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General Guidance

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  • If you are competing in the Northern Champs, you MUST  purchase either a COMPETITOR DAY TICKET or a FULL EVENT PASS entry ticket IN ADDITION TO tickets for any competition categories that you enter. 

  • For all categories except Lucky Dip, Top Cats and Double Trouble, 1 ticket per couple is required to enter.

  • For the Lucky Dip, dancers must purchase individual Lead or Follow tickets.

  • For Top Cats (AM and PRO), dancers must purchase individual Lead or Follow tickets.

  • For Double Trouble, one ticket per team is required.

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  • The Top Cats, Open Freestyle and Showcase categories have limited numbers, so we recommend that you do not delay in booking these. We also expect that the new Smooth & Slow categories will be very popular, and numbers may also be capped for these.

  • During the event, our recording crew will be taking photographs and recording video, and by attending the event each dancer is agreeing that these may be used for Ceroc promotional purposes.

  • The organisers accept no responsibility for loss or injury to persons or possessions during this event.

  • There will be no refund for entrants who pull out of the competition or are disqualified either before or during the event.

Category Criteria​

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Lucky Dip

​Eligibility

  • Open to all, and partners will be allocated on the day.

Rules & Judging

  • Points will be awarded for style, innovation, musical interpretation, quality of dancing and synchronisation of dancers rather than the number/difficulty of moves.

  • Major Airsteps and Baby Aerials are not permitted.

  • The dance must be recognisable as a Modern Jive style such as Ceroc.

Top Cats Amateur

​Eligibility

  • Open to amateurs.

Rules & Judging

  • Partners will be allocated randomly for each round.

  • Points will be awarded for style, innovation, musical interpretation, quality of dancing and synchronisation of dancers rather than the number/difficulty of moves.

  • Major Airsteps are not permitted.

  • Baby Aerials are permitted, but the follow’s feet must not be out of contact with the floor for more than 7 seconds.

  • Dress and presentation will be considered by the Judges when awarding points.

  • The dance must be recognisable as a Modern Jive style such as Ceroc.

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Top Cats Pro

​Eligibility

  • Open to all.

Rules & Judging

  • Partners will be allocated randomly for each round.

  • Points will be awarded for style, innovation, musical interpretation, quality of dancing and synchronisation of dancers rather than the number/difficulty of moves.

  • Major Airsteps and Baby Aerials are permitted, but the follow’s feet must not be out of contact with the floor for more than 7 seconds.

  • Dress and presentation will be considered by the Judges when awarding points.

  • The dance must be recognisable as a Modern Jive style such as Ceroc.

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Intermediate Freestyle

​Eligibility

  • Open to amateurs.

  • If in the opinion of the judges, entrants are of an advanced standard they will be asked to move up to the Advanced Amateur Freestyle category or be disqualified.

Rules & Judging​

  • Points will be awarded for style, innovation, musical interpretation, quality of dancing and synchronisation of dancers rather than the number/difficulty of moves.

  • Major Airsteps and Baby Aerials are not permitted.

  • Dips and Drops are permitted but the ball of one of the follow’s feet must remain in contact with the ground otherwise the move will be classed as an Airstep and therefore not permitted.

  • Dress and presentation will be considered by the Judges when awarding points.

  • The dance must be recognisable as a Modern Jive style such as Ceroc.

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Advanced Freestyle

​Eligibility

  • Open to advanced amateur dancers.

Rules & Judging​

  • Points will be awarded for style, innovation, musical interpretation, quality of dancing and synchronisation of dancers rather than the number/difficulty of moves.

  • Major Airsteps are not permitted.

  • Dips, Drops and Baby Aerials are permitted.

  • Dress and presentation will be considered by the Judges when awarding points.

  • The dance must be recognisable as a Modern Jive style such as Ceroc.

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Open Freestyle

​Eligibility

  • Open to all dancers other than those who have entered the Intermediate or Advanced Amateur Freestyle categories.

Rules & Judging​

  • Points will be awarded for style, musical interpretation, innovation, synchronisation of dancers, quality of dancing as well as the variety and complexity of moves.

  • Up to 2 Major Airsteps are permitted per track, but the follow’s feet must not be out of contact with the floor for more than 7 seconds.

  • Dips, Drops and Baby Aerials are permitted.

  • Dress and presentation will be considered by the Judges when awarding points.

  • The dance must be recognisable as a Modern Jive style such as Ceroc.

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Slow and Smooth Intermediate

​Eligibility

  • Open to amateurs.

  • If in the opinion of the judges, entrants are of an advanced standard they will be asked to move up to the Slow and Smooth Advanced category or be disqualified.

Rules & Judging​

  • Points will be awarded for style, innovation, musical interpretation, quality of dancing and synchronisation of dancers rather than the number/difficulty of moves.

  • Major Airsteps and Baby Aerials are not permitted.

  • Dips and Drops are permitted but the ball of one of the follow’s feet must remain in contact with the ground otherwise the move will be classed as an Airstep and therefore not permitted.

  • Dress and presentation will be considered by the Judges when awarding points.

  • The dance must be recognisable as a Modern Jive style such as Ceroc.

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Slow and Smooth Advanced

​Eligibility

  • Open to advanced amateur dancers.

Rules & Judging​

  • Points will be awarded for style, musical interpretation, innovation, synchronisation of dancers, quality of dancing as well as the variety and creativity of moves.

  • Up to 2 Major Airsteps are permitted per track, but the follow’s feet must not be out of contact with the floor for more than 7 seconds.

  • Dips, Drops and Baby Aerials are permitted.

  • Dress and presentation will be considered by the Judges when awarding points.

  • The dance must be recognisable as a Modern Jive style such as Ceroc.

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Slow and Smooth Open

​Eligibility

  • Open to all dancers except those who have entered the Slow and Smooth Intermediate or Advanced categories.

Rules & Judging​

  • Points will be awarded for style, musical interpretation, innovation, synchronisation of dancers, quality of dancing as well as the variety and creativity of moves.

  • Up to 2 Major Airsteps are permitted per track, but the follow’s feet must not be out of contact with the floor for more than 7 seconds.

  • Dips, Drops and Baby Aerials are permitted.

  • Dress and presentation will be considered by the Judges when awarding points.

  • The dance must be recognisable as a Modern Jive style such as Ceroc.

Back 2 Basics

​Eligibility

  • Open to all, however only one member of the couple may be a Professional.

Rules & Judging​

  • Points will be awarded for style, musical interpretation, synchronisation of dancers, and quality of dancing however, only the 12 Ceroc beginner moves are permitted.

  • The dancers in each couple may swap between lead and follow during the dance.

  • Major Airsteps, Baby Aerials Dips and Drops are not permitted.

Over 45s

​Eligibility

  • Open to amateurs.

  • Both members of the couple must be at least 45 years of age on the day of the competition.

Rules & Judging​

  • Points will be awarded for style, innovation, musical interpretation, quality of dancing and synchronisation of dancers rather than the number/difficulty of moves.

  • Major Airsteps and Baby Aerials are not permitted.

  • Dips and Drops are permitted but the ball of one of the follow’s feet must remain in contact with the ground otherwise the move will be classed as an Airstep and therefore not permitted.

  • Dress and presentation will be considered by the Judges when awarding points.

  • The dance must be recognisable as a Modern Jive style such as Ceroc.

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Pro Am Lead

​Eligibility

  • Open to partnerships consisting of a professional follow and an amateur lead dancer.

  • Couples who have entered the Intermediate or Advanced Freestyle categories as a couple cannot enter this category.

Rules & Judging​

  • Points will be awarded for style, musical interpretation, innovation, synchronisation of dancers, quality of dancing as well as the variety and creativity of moves.

  • Major Airsteps and Baby Aerials are not permitted.

  • Dips and Drops are permitted but the ball of one of the follow’s feet must remain in contact with the ground otherwise the move will be classed as an Airstep and therefore not permitted.

  • Dress and presentation will be considered by the Judges when awarding points.

  • The dance must be recognisable as a Modern Jive style such as Ceroc.

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Pro Am Follow

​Eligibility

  • Open to partnerships consisting of a dance professional lead and an amateur follow dancer.

  • Couples who have entered the Intermediate or Advanced Freestyle categories as a couple cannot enter this category.

Rules & Judging​

  • Points will be awarded for style, musical interpretation, innovation, synchronisation of dancers, quality of dancing as well as the variety and creativity of moves.

  • Major Airsteps and Baby Aerials are not permitted.

  • Dips and Drops are permitted but the ball of one of the follow’s feet must remain in contact with the ground otherwise the move will be classed as an Airstep and therefore not permitted.

  • Dress and presentation will be considered by the Judges when awarding points.

  • The dance must be recognisable as a Modern Jive style such as Ceroc.

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Double Trouble

​Eligibility

  • Open to all, and each team must consist of three people in any gender combination.

Rules & Judging​

  • Points will be awarded for style, musical interpretation, innovation, synchronisation of dancers, quality of dancing as well as the variety and creativity of moves.

  • The dancing must be continuous, and the lead may change between team members during tracks.

  • Up to 2 Major Airsteps are permitted per track, but the follow’s feet must not be out of contact with the floor for more than 7 seconds.

  • Dips, Drops and Baby Aerials are permitted.

  • Dress and presentation will be considered by the Judges when awarding points.

  • The dance must be recognisable as a Modern Jive style such as Ceroc.

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