DANCE DIVISIONS
Jack & Jill, Pro/Am Jack & Jill, AnySwing Goes, Slow Groove, Solo Vintage Jazz, Same Gender Strictly Swing and Team Divisions will adhere to CJC Rules.

GENERAL RULES

• All competitions are restricted to Amateur dancers.
• Contests awarding cash prizes must be run with minimum of 5 couples. Maximum number of entries will be the decision of the promoter. The promoter has the option to run a division with less than 5 couples and the option to reduce the prize money on a reduced division. (Please note that if a competition runs with less than the required number of participants the prize money will be adjusted. If the contest does not run, all entrants will be given a full refund of their entry fee.)
• Contestants failing to appear on the floor when their names are called during the competition will be scratched from the judges' sheets.
• The competitor guidelines for expected Swing content are: at least 60% in Team and 80% in all other swing divisions. It is at the judge's discretion to determine that the swing content requirement has been met.

JACK & JIll
This category is judged on leader and follower skill level. Preliminaries will be judged individually and competitors will have more than one partner. Finals will be judged as a couple. Partners are drawn at random. If by chance normal partners are put together - we will not switch partners. "Luck of the draw" will prevail. This is subject to change at the discretion of the Chief Judge.

• Participants register individually.
• Jack & Jill may dance to a variety of tempos.

ANYSWING GOES
There will be two rounds. Prelims will be held on Friday Night. Finals will be held on Saturday Night. Finals will consist of two songs danced by the five finalists. For the first song of the finals, each couple will dance an entire chorus. The final song will be a no holds bar street battle. Couples will enter the jam in no particular order for an unspecified length of time. It is up to the competitors to take the spotlight. There will not be a third song. Competitors will not get another chance if they do not enter the jam before the final song runs out.

• Participants must register with partner.
• Length of performance is at the promoter's discretion.
• Couples may dance to a variety of tempos.
• Dance content must be 80% Swing. Any form of Swing is possible.
• Lifts, air steps, drops and breakaways are permitted.

SLOW GROOVE
This division will be danced in heats and/or spotlight at the promoter's discretion.

• Participants must register with partner.
• Length of performance is at the promoter's discretion.
• Dance content must be 80% Swing.
• Lifts and drops are permitted.

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

• Length of performance is at the promoter’s discretion.
• Dance content must be 80% Swing/Vintage Jazz

Same Gender Strictly Swing
This division will be danced in heats and/or spotlight at the promoter’s discretion.

• Participants must register with partner.
• Length of performance is at the promoter’s discretion.
• Dance content must be 80% Swing.
• Lifts and drops are permitted.

TEAM
NO entry fee for Team Competition. Teams must register before February 28, 2012. Any form of Swing is possible. Teams will be judged on entrance, exit, timing, teamwork, formations, music interpretation, and variety, as well as execution.

• Each team must have a minimum of 6 dancers.
• No more than 2 people can be on 2 separate teams.
• All choreographies must be original pieces
• Music Time Limitations: No less than 2-1/2 minutes and no more than 4 minutes.
• This is a Swing category and dance content must be 60% that style.
• Any style of dance may be choreographed; however, swing dancing will be the basis of judging
• There are NO music genre restrictions.

MUSIC
Genre and length of Slow Groove, Jack & Jill, Pro/Am Jack N Jill, Solo Vintage Jazz, Same Gender Strictly Swing and AnySwing Goes Divisions will be determined by promoter. Team contestants are responsible for their own music. Music that makes use of more than one tempo is allowed. There are NO genre restrictions, but please use discretion when selecting your music. Select the music to which you will dance. Please email an MP3 file of your music by February 28th with specific instructions so that our DJ may become familiar with your music. If you choose to hand in your music at registration, please note the following: Music can be on CDs or Ipods and should be labeled with the contestants' Team name, Song title and track number. Every effort will be made to allow contestants to test their music on the equipment which will be used during the actual competition. You are responsible for your music. You must pick up your CD or Ipod at the end of your division from the Stage Manager. CJC is not responsible for returning your music. Email us if you have questions about music selection.

RESTARTS
No restart will be allowed for a contestant who is dissatisfied with his/her music, timing or performance. A music system break down, a broken shoe strap, broken heel, torn dress strap, and like objective problems may justify a restart. A restart will only be allowed by the Chief Judge.

COSTUMES
Costumes are not mandatory. However, appropriate attire and/or costumes may enhance your performance.

RULES VIOLATIONS
An infraction of the rules may cause loss of placement. In severe cases, the violation(s) may cause disqualification.

COMPETITORS' MEETING
Not scheduled at this time.

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY
All dancers must have Amateur status at the time of competition. Following are guidelines to clarify eligibility.

ELIGIBLE

• There are no situations in which you promote yourself as a professional instructor or performer in any type of partner dancing.
• You sometimes teach a lesson at a bar, nightclub or for a private organization as a student representing a dance studio.
• You participate in a dance demo or performance for which you receive no payment.
• You occasionally participate as an amateur performer for which you receive payment.
• You have NOT placed in the top three in the following national swing dance competitions: ILHC, ALHC, ULHS, NJC (excludes Amateur and Pro/Am divisions)
• You have NOT placed First in any of the following national amateur swing dance competitions NJC, Amateur Showdown, and Hop to the Beat

INELIGIBLE

• You are a full-time instructor in any type of partner dancing for your own studio or some other studio.
• You perform any type of partner dancing as a professional.
• You have placed in the top three in any of the following national swing dance competions: ILHC, ALHC, ULHS, NJC (excludes Amateur and Pro/Am divisions)
• You have placed First in any of the following national Amateur swing dance competition including: National Jitterbug Championships, Amateur Showdown, Hop to the Beat

If you have questions about eligibility, please contact heartlandswingfestival@gmail.com

AWARD CATEGORIES Awards will be given in 8 categories. They are as follows:

Jack N' Jill
Pro/Am Jack N' Jill *NEW*
Solo Vintage Jazz
AnySwing Goes
Slow Groove
Same Gender Strictly Swing
Team
Overall Collegiate Jitterbug Champion*
Dancers' Choice

* Overall Collegiate Jitterbug Champions!
To be considered for the CJC Jitterbug Trophy, competitors must compete in Jack N' Jill, Slow Groove, Solo Vintage Jazz and AnySwing Goes. The Leader and Follower with the most points will be declared the Collegiate Jitterbug Champions!