1. Material used shall be based on the N.D.C.A. syllabus and/or any approved syllabi of member organizations of the N.D.C.A.

2. Pro/Am & Amateur Couple Age Divisions: You may enter in two age divisions as listed below. Students may dance in any age category younger, but not older than their own age (excluding Jrs.) Amateur couples should enter the age category of the older partner.

Pre-teen (up to 7),

Junior 1 (8-11), Junior 2 (12-14), Junior 3 (15- 18)

A1 (19-25), A2 (26- 35),

B1 (36-45), B2 (46-55),

C1 (56-65), C2 (66-75)

D (76 +)

3. Pro/Am & Amateur Couple Dance Level Categories: See entry forms for available dance levels. You may dance up to two full levels in the single dance events. The levels must be in consecutive order - you may not skip a level. Example: All of the Bronze and All of the Silver levels. Newcomer level single dance events are open to students who have never competed in any type of a ballroom competition. A student may not enter this category more than once.

4. MultiDance Events: See Event Offerings sheet for complete listing of MultiDance events. In all MultiDance, Championship, and Scholarship events, genders are not judged separately.

Closed Scholarships and Closed Championships are restricted to Bronze and Silver Students Only. Students may dance in only one Closed Scholarship per style, Bronze or Silver. It must be in the highest level in which they entered, Example: If the student enters the single dance events in Levels Open Bronze and Pre-Silver, the student may enter the Silver closed Scholarship Only.

Students may enter both Closed Championship events, only if they have entered All levels of the single dances for the Bronze Championship and All levels of the single dances for the Silver Championship.

Students may dance in either Closed or Open MultiDance events per style, not both.

Scholarship Qualifications: In order to compete in any Pro/AM Scholarship event, you must enter the single dance events for that same style and that same level. The only exception is the Pro/AM Show Dance event - To compete in the Pro/AM Show Dance, it is not required to enter any other events.

5. No continuity style in Bronze.

6. Dress Code: Costumes are permitted at any level, but not required in the newcomer level. Current NDCA dress code regulations apply to all levels.

7. In any event with fewer than three entries, the organizer reserves the right to reduce by half, the advertised prize monies, merge events or cancel the event entirely.

8 . Formations Teams: The maximum time is limited to three (3) minutes for a single dance and four (4) minutes for a medley. Timing of routine shall begin and end with the accompaniment and must include entrance and exit from the floor. Music will be faded out if time limit is exceeded. Teams must consist of at least four (4) couples. Teams must provide their music on an individual CD per entry.

9 . Lifts are permitted in Solo Exhibition, Theatre Arts, and Show Dance categories only.

10. Solo Exhibitions: No solo is to exceed three (3) minutes. Music will be faded out after (3) minutes. Music must be provided on an individual CD per entry. Interpretation of the music and lifts are not restricted. Props are not permitted. An exhibition event with two teachers dancing with one student must be entered as one entry. Competitors may enter a maximum of two solo exhibition entries. If an amateur dances as part of an Am/Am couple and as part of a Pro/Am couple as well, they may enter a maximum of two solo exhibitions per couple.

11 . Pro/Am Show Dance Scholarship Event: Pro/Am couples will be judged performing a solo routine of their own choice, not to exceed three (3) minutes. The routine must include elements of one or more of the following recognized NDCA approved dance styles: Standard, Latin, Rhythm, or Smooth. The routine may also include elements of other dances to enhance the choreography. Lifts are permitted. Props are not permitted. Timing of the routine shall begin and end with the accompaniment and must include entrance and exit from the floor. Music will be faded out if time limit is exceeded. Couples must provide the music of their choice on an individual CD per entry.

12. Amateur Theatre Arts – Cabaret Challenge: Amateur couples will be judged performing a solo routine of their own choice, not to exceed three (3) minutes. Interpretation of the music and lifts are not restricted. Props are not permitted. Timing of the routine shall begin and end with the accompaniment and must include entrance and exit from the floor. Music will be faded out if time limit is exceeded. Couples must provide the music of their choice on an individual CD per entry.

13. Professional Show Dance Championship: Professional Couples will be judged performing a solo routine of their own choice, not to exceed four (4) minutes. The routine must include elements of one or more of the recognized NDCA approved dance styles (i.e. Standard, Latin, Rhythm, or Smooth) and may include elements of other dances to enhance the choreography. Lifts are permitted. Props are not permitted. Timing of the routine shall begin and end with the accompaniment and must include entrance and exit from the floor. Music will be faded out if time limit is exceeded. Couples must provide the music of their choice on an individual
CD per entry. This event may be danced on Friday or Saturday evening depending on interest and participation. Competitors will be given ample notice of the final schedule for preparation.

14. Cancellation/Refund Policy: All cancellation requests must be made in writing to the organizers. Cancellations made up to 14 days prior to the event will receive a refund within 30 days after the event. No refunds will be given within 14 days of the event. No substitutions of entries will be allowed. Absolutely no refunds will be given at the event. There are no refunds or exchanges on general admission tickets.

15. A panel of invigilators will be used for all restricted categories. These categories will be strictly supervised and competitors committing infractions will be warned once. If competitors continue to commit infractions after the warning, they will be disqualified.

16. No responsibility for loss or theft of articles left in changing rooms, ballroom, or hotel rooms can be accepted by The Organizers or the N.D.C.A., neither can they be held liable for any injury sustained by persons attending the Windy City Open. Everyone does so at his or her own risk.

17. Everyone attending this event, whether as spectators or as Officials or as Competitors or guests of the Organizer, shall be bound by N.D.C.A. rules, and by participating in the Windy City Open Dance Competition all parties automatically become obligated to adhere to them.

18. All professional and amateur couples competing in any capacity must be currently registered with the N.D.C.A. and supply the organizers with an official registration number on our entry forms. Pro/Am students are not required to be registered with a member organization.

Registration Forms are available from:

Ms. Eleanor Wiblin
P.O. Box 22018
Provo , Utah 84602
(801) 378-8381

19. Private videotaping of ALL Windy City Open events is strictly prohibited. An authorized videographer will be available to record dance heats. Arrangements can be made to purchases videos of your dancing.

20. Smoking is strictly prohibited in the ballroom and all smoking regulations in accordance with Hotel premises apply.

COMPETITORS CONDUCT

While on the competition premises, competitors shall conduct themselves in a civil, sportsmanlike manner at all times.

It is the competitors’ responsibility to be in the ballroom 30 minutes prior to the posted scheduled time for their events and check in at the on deck area prior to their heats. Any couple who fails to appear at the scheduled time for any event may be disqualified from that event. Every attempt will be made to stay on time with publicized schedule. Changes in schedule during the competition will be announced.

Competitors entering the Windy City Open event shall accept as final the individual markings of the Judges and no appeal against them may be made, except when it can be shown that the actual markings have been incorrectly calculated. No competitor shall harass or question a judge about his/her personal reasons for marking. Any competitor who removes any of the master scrutineer sheets without the permission of the Organizer shall render himself liable to disciplinary action. Results will be provided to competitors.

The Organizer of the Windy City Open reserves the right to reject the application of any competitor who has violated any of the above rules of conduct in any recognized N.D.C.A. event.

All rules and regulations of the Windy City Open can be amended at the discretion of the organizers. Ample notice will be provided via the web site for any and all changes.