Cardinal Classic

Events

Individual events are offered in American style, International style, and Nightclub dances. All events are open to leaders and followers of either gender. Two or more dances separated by a slash constitute a multi-dance event. Contestants in multi-dance events must dance all dances. Dancers in international style categories must dance international style, and dancers in American style categories must dance American style.

Formation Teams

Formation team competitons are open to groups of four to ten couples. Coaches/Organizers of Formation Teams should register their teams through the main registration system. Please bring your music on the day of the competition on a clearly labeled CD.

Formation team entries are included in the flat per-person registration fee ($25 student/$35 non-student). For those dancing only in Formation events,
we offer a discounted rate of $20/person, including general admission to the evening session.

Team Match

The team match will consist of the following four dances: waltz, chacha, quickstep, and rumba, all international style. One representative couple from each team will enter each dance. Each team should consist of eight people; however, teams of six or seven will be permitted if a school or group is not able to produce a full team of eight. Any school, organization, or group may enter this event. Team match entries will be accepted on the day of the competition. We will accept as many teams as floor size permits.

Shoe Policy

The SBDT shoe policy requires that all dancers wear suede-soled dance shoes (toe and heel). Shoes must have heel guards, may not have been worn outdoors, and must not leave marks on the floor. Heel protectors are required for high-heeled shoes.

Levels

American and international style events are offered in these levels. Please read and understand the eligibility guidelines below and choose your level accordingly. Eligibility, costume, and syllabus restrictions will be enforced strictly in all levels; couples found breaking these rules may be disqualified without advance notice.

Both dancers in a couple must be individually eligible to dance a given level. To be eligible for any syllabus level, they must be eligible to dance this level in USA Dance Competitions. The couple may enter the lowest level for which both dancers are eligible, and the next higher level.

Costume restrictions apply to custom-made or custom-enhanced garments specifically for ballroom dance competitions. Unaltered off-the-rack costumes are permitted in all categories, as are ballroom dance shoes.

For international style events, syllabus restrictions refer to the ISTD Specified Figures, at the Associate level for bronze, through the Fellow level for gold. For American style events, any published syllabus may be used. ISTD step lists for international and American styles are available from http://www.usistd.org/. The chairman of judges will be strictly invigilating syllabus events.

• Newcomer events are open to those who have never competed in a ballroom dance competition of any kind before. Costumes are not permitted, and only bronze choreography may be danced.
• Bronze events are for dancers relatively inexperienced with ballroom dance competitions. Costumes are permitted, and only bronze choreography may be danced.
• Silver events are only available in International Style dances. These events are for relatively experienced competitors. Costumes are permitted, and only bronze and silver choreography may be danced.
• Gold events are for more experienced competitors. Costumes are permitted, and any syllabus choreography (bronze, silver, or gold) may be used.
• Advanced events are for serious competitors at the level of USABDA amateur competitions. Competitors who have placed out of Prenovice level in USABDA events are only eligible for the Advanced and/or Open level at Cardinal Classic. Costumes are encouraged, and there are no restrictions on choreography.
• Open events are for competitors dancing at the highest levels of amateur competition. Competitors who have placed out of Novice level in USABDA events are only eligible for the Open level at Cardinal Classic. Costumes are very encouraged, and there are no restrictions on choreography.
• Nightclub events are open to all competitors and carry no restrictions on costumes or choreography. However, lifts, drops, and aerials are not permitted.

Costumes

Costumes are not permitted for Newcomer level only.

Age Categories

Junior events are open to couples in which both dancers will be 15 years old or younger on the day of the competition.

Senior events are open to couples in which both dancers will be 35 years old or older on the day of the competition. Senior couples are encouraged to compete in the Adult age category as well as Senior. For safety concerns, we request that Juniors do not compete in Adult.

Scholarships

We will award scholarships of $100 to the first-place couples in Open Standard and Open Latin, for the Adult and Junior ages.