Rules & Regulations

Each championship is based upon rules and regulations. The ESDU dancing rules are created exclusively by world dance specialists. With the competent and impartial board of ESDU judges this guarantees clear and positive feedback on your performance abilities. MORE:

DANCE GUIDLINES

The Tournaments
The ESDU presents annual competition events for amateur and professional dancers and singers. At the ESDU Masters Series – qualification tournaments – dancers can qualify for the finals, the ESDU World Dance Masters., held each year in May in Porec/croatia.

Eligibility
All ESDU Master Series-qualification tournaments- are open to any and all competitors.
A competitor is allowed to represent a maximum of two different schools at any one tournament, but must be entered in two different disciplines.

ESDU World Dance Masters: Eligible participants are those who have qualified at an ESDU Masters Series qualification tournament and have the permission to start. The obligatory „Starting Permission“ has to be shown at the finals.


Entry into a Tournament
You can register for the choosen tournament with the online registration portal. Please obey the deadline for the tournaments. Each participant will bear the transfer costs. After the registartion is accepted and the payment has been effected, the ESDU will confirm the receipt and the „Starting permission“ will be given.

Entries are limited. Schools are encouraged to turn in their applications as early as possible. Dances will be listed in the order of their registration. Once the competition is sold out, further dance applications cannot be accepted.

Changes of an application form  is possible within the closing date. No more changes are possible, after this deadline.
Schools or clubs that cancel an accepted application will not receive any refund of their application fee.

Multiple entries by one competitor in different categories or disciplines is allowed. In the case of multiple entries by a school or club in the same category or discipline, each competitor may only be entered a maximum of two times.
Dances registered in an incorrect category or discipline will be judged by the jury and transferred into the correct category without points being deducted. Please note: If a competitor is entered two times in one discipline, he or she may not enter a third time through the transfer of an incorrectly entered dance.

Age Groups
A tournament consists of MINI, CHILD, JUNIOR, and SENIOR age groups.
The cut-off date for age groups is January 1st of the current year. MINI, CHILD, JUNIOR, and SENIOR groups are based on the average age. Therefore, a competitor may compete in the child group even though he or she may have turned 12 years old after January 1st. The appropriate age group for a dance is determined by the average age of the competitors!

MINI or CHILDREN are not allowed to compete in the SENIOR group and SENIORS are not allowed to compete in a MINI or CHILDREN group.

Exception: in the discipline “Production Number” it's allowed to have Performances with MINI or CHILDREN and SENIORS.

Average age for dances with more than 1 dancer:
MINI: 5 – 8.5 years
CHILDREN: 8.6 – 12.5 years
JUNIORS: 12,6 - 16,5 years
SENIORS 1: over 16,6 years

Real Age for dances with 1 dancer (Solo):
MINI: 5 – 8 years
CHILDREN: 9 - 12 years
JUNIORS: 13 - 16 years
SENIORS: over 17 years
Divisions
Solo: One dancer
Duo/Trio: Two or three dancers 
Small Groups: 4-8 dancers 
Groups: 9-15 dancers
Formation: 16-30 dancers
Time Limits
Solo: 1.00 – 2.00 min
Duo/Trio: 1.00 - 2.00 min
Small Groups, Groups, Formation: 2 min – 2.30 min.
Production Number: 3 min – 4.00 min. 

Timing starts with the clear start  and ends with the clear end of the performance.

Time limits have a window of 5 seconds.  Misdemeanor will result in a 20-point deduction.


Scoring
Criteria
Overall Impression/Presentation
Choreography
Technique
Level

Each criterion is ranked on a point scale from 1 to 10. A max. of 40 points can be awarded per judge.
The jury consists of 3 - 5 judges. There is always one standby judge.

The dicission of the jury is undisclosed and final.

Each tournament has 2 rounds. The qualification round and the finals.

Qualifying
Qualifications for the ESDU World Dance Masters
The ESDU Masters Series-qualification tournaments-includes events that qualify dancers for the ESDU World Dance Masters.
Qualifying in the preliminary round held the day before the ESDU World Dance Masters(only for nations without a national tournament)

Entries that have qualified for a tournament must compete in the disciplines for which they have qualified. In the event of numerous dancers becoming unable to compete, teams should find substitute dancers. If they are unable to compete in that same category, the category is to be changed, but not the discipline.

Championship/Awards
Competitors win first place once they have the highest point in their discipline, category, and age group.
Runners up are those competitors who have the 2nd and 3 rd highest points in their disciplin, category, and age group.

In the event of a tie for first place, there will be a dance-off between the tied teams.

Champions can become “Diamond” winners if the minimum point is reached.

Special prices can be given for: best male and female, all over high point in each age division, best costume, talent of the year, best choreographie.

Music

Please provide one professional quality recording CD for each number entered. Schools are responsible for choosing, editing, running and preparing their own music.
Music will be played from CDs. CDs should be given to the proper tournament authorities no later than one hour before a performance. Please make shure your CDs are properly prepared.
A reserv CD should be at the disposal.



General Rules
A representative of the school or club must be at the disposal backstage, 5 dances before they are scheduled to dance.

By registering for a tournament you agree to the rules and guidelines of the ESDU.

Directors or trainers are not allow to hold up signs or give signals to dancers, or to step on stage during a performance.

Schools are solely responsible for any injuries or accidents that take place during the competition. Every school has to have their own assurance.

Failure to follow the following rules can result in a 20 point deduction:
Failure to properly prepared music

Large changes to any qualified choreography

Going more than 5 seconds over the time allowance

Excessive inclusion (more than 30%) of ballroom dance or rock & roll elements in any one performance

Breaking any ESDU rules

• The representative of each school or club will have the opportunity to attend the teachers meetings, where they will be informed of the programm or changes in the competition.
• Trainers, coaches, and audience members can be reprimanded and removed from the theater for unsportsman-like behavior.
• Artistic Freedoms
• Original choreography is allowed in all disciplines.
• Acrobatics are defined as: typically gymnastic and not dancing elements (salto, flick-flack). Jumps and lifts are not included in this definition and are exceptions to this rule.
• Acrobatics and gymnastics should only be used if they are properly integrated and do not dominate the dance style.
• The performance order must be adhered in order to stay on schedule. Any extra time needed for costume changes should be told to the proper tournament authorities.
• Entrance onto the stage should occur directly after the start number is announced and should lead directly into starting positions. Participants should exit the stage immediately after taking their bows.
• All costumes, music, and performance styles should be done in good taste and in the spirit of good sportsmanship.
• Props are allowed as long as they are quickly set up on the stage before a performance while the dancers take place and are immediately taken down after a performance while the dancers step down.
• Personal lighting effects including any fire effects are strictly forbidden.
• Creativity, originality, movement, effect, space usage and abilities of the performers are important.
• Choreography should be appropriate for the ability and age of the performers.
• Individual points will only be given out in the solo categories. All other results are based on the accomplishment of the entire group as a whole.
• Duo and trios should be choreographed in a way, which highlights the relationship of one to another.
• Live singing is only allowed in the “production number”, “song and dance” and  “vocal” categories.
• A single performer may only dance in TWO dances per discipline/category/age group.
• A single performer may compete for TWO schools but not in the same discipline.
• Directors of the schools / clubs are invited and expected to take part at the official opening, teachers meetings and the prize award ceremony.