// CATEGORY RULES

1. Bridging the Gap

1. Costumes - recommended, but not required
2. Breakaways - Three (3) allowed, not to exceed 8 beats each
3. Choreography – NOT ALLOWED
4. Dance (Heats)
5. Adagio figures - some allowed
     i. Lifts and drops - allowed
     ii. Aerials – NOT ALLOWED
6. Music - provided by Tri-State; limit two (2) minutes
7. Participants - One Adult (21 and over) and One young adult
8. Ages - Must be ten (10) years difference in age

2. Cabaret

1. Costumes – required. Theme costuming appropriate to the dance is allowed
2. Breakaways – Allowed (unlimited)
3. Choreography – Required
     i. Choreographed Entrances and Exits do count towards the length of the routine. Exceeding the 4-minute maximum will result in a reduction in placement.
4. Dance – Solo
5. Adagio figures – Allowed
     i. Lifts, Drops and Aerials
6. Music - provided by competitors, minimum two (2), maximum four (4) minutes
7. Participants – Open, Competitors who are 14 years of age or under must perform with an Adult (18 years or older) throughout the performance.

SPECIAL NOTES:
This Division is open to any style of Dance. The Performance must display a Cabaret element. This is not a Swing Division. However, including a slight amount of swing content is permitted. A maximum Swing content will be estimated at 10% of the overall dance time. If in doubt, leave it out. An entry may consist of a solo performer or multiple performers. TRI-State reserves the right to limit the number of solo performers.

Dance performances must be enhanced by a Cabaret element.

What is a “Cabaret Element”?
The Cabaret element is an additional ingredient added to the performance that is not present in the other dance divisions such as Theater arts routines.

“Cabaret Element” includes, but is not limited to, a theme, playing a character, additional props (TRI-State Pre-Approved), etc…

A dance performance, such as Jazz Dancing, Salsa, Hustle, Hip-Hop, Foxtrot, etc…, without a Cabaret element, is not appropriate for this division.


3. Classic Hand Dance

1. Costumes – recommended, but not required
2. Breakaways – NOT ALLOWED, with the exception of turns and spins
3. Choreography - accepted, but not required
4. Dance (Solo)
5. Adagio figures – NOT ALLOWED
     i. Variable footwork recommended (Skates, etc.)
     ii. Techniques – consist of old school techniques (80% hand dance)
6. Music - provided by competitors; limit three (3) minutes
7. Ages – 21 and over


4. Detroit Ballroom (Heat)

1. Costumes - accepted, but not required
2. Breakaways – Not allowed
3. Choreography – Not allowed
4. Dance Heats
5. Adagio figures - allowed, but not required
     i. lifts, leans, drops, slides, splits, and spreads
     ii. Aerials - NOT ALLOWED
6. Music - provided by Tri-State
7. Music pool will be approved by Ballroom experts


5. Detroit Ballroom (Solo)

1. Costumes - accepted, recommended
2. Breakaways – Not allowed
3. Choreography - accepted, but not required
4. Dance Solo
5. Adagio figures - allowed, but not required
     i. lifts, leans, drops, slides, splits, and spreads
     ii. Aerials - NOT ALLOWED
6. Music - provided by competitors; music three (3) minutes


6. Invitational (Hand Dance, Swing Out, Steppers)

1. Costumes – NOT ALLOWED
2. Breakaways – three (3) allowed, not to exceed 8 beats each
3. Choreography - none
4. Dance - partners selected at random, within perspective dance
5. Adagio figures - some allowed
     i. Lifts and drops allowed
     ii. Aerials - NOT ALLOWED
6. Music - provided by Tri-State; limit two (2) minutes, may dance to two or more songs
7. Participants - Advanced Level Dancers Only (Received Invitation Letters)


7. Just Dance

1. Costumes – NOT ALLOWED
2. Breakaways – three (3) allowed, not to exceed 8 beats each
3. Choreography – NOT ALLOWED
4. Dance (Heats)
5. Adagio Figures - some allowed
     i. Lifts and drops allowed
     ii. Aerials - NOT ALLOWED
6. Music - provided by Tri-State; three (3) minutes., one slow, one fast song (1.5 min each)
7. Participants - Adults Only


8. Ladies & Gents (Beginners, Intermediate/Advanced)

1. Costumes - NOT ALLOWED
2. Breakaways - Three (3) allowed, not to exceed 8 beats each
3. Choreography - NOT ALLOWED
4. Dance (Heats) -- Partners randomly selected
5. Adagio Figures - some allowed
     i. Lifts and drops allowed
     ii. Aerials - NOT ALLOWED
6. Music - provided by Tri-State
7. Dance to slow & up tempo music (1.5 minutes each)
     i. Preliminary; individuals judged
     ii. Finals; couples judged


9. Line Dance

1. Costumes - highly recommended
2. Breakaways (does not apply)
3. Choreography required
4. Dance (Solo)
5. Adagio Figures (does not apply)
6. Music - provided by competitors; minimum three (3) minutes, maximum 5 minutes
7. Participants - minimum six (6) people
8. Routine should be repetitive, not to exceed 72 beats of music, variations within the repetitive sequence are allowed but not required. Changing/facing different walls are recommended but not required.


10. Performing Arts

1. Costumes - highly recommended
2. Breakaways - Three (3) allowed, not to exceed 8 beats each
3. Choreography - highly recommended
4. Dance (Solo)
5. Adagio Figures - some allowed
     i. Leverage moves allowed
     ii. Lifts Drops and Aerials - NOT ALLOWED
6. Music - provided by competitors; three (3) minutes maximum


11. Performing Arts (Level 2), Advanced Beginners and Intermediate Dancers

1. Costumes - highly recommended
2. Breakaways - Three (3) allowed, not to exceed 8 beats each
3. Choreography - highly recommended
4. Dance (Solo)
5. Adagio Figures - some allowed
     i. Leverage moves allowed
     ii. Lifts Drops and Aerials - NOT ALLOWED
6. Music - provided by competitors; three (3) minutes maximum
7. This category is for the dancer that wishes to do a solo routine but has not competed in a top level category comparable to our Level 1 Performing arts.


12. Pro Am Heat

1. Costumes – NOT ALLOWED, matching outfits are allowed
2. Breakaways - Three (3) allowed; not to exceed 8 beats each
3. Choreography – NOT ALLOWED
4. Dance (Heats)
5. Adagio Figures - some allowed
     i. Leverage moves - allowed
     ii. Lifts, Drops and Aerials - NOT ALLOWED
6. Music - provided by Tri-State; three (3) mins., one slow, one fast (1.5 mins. each)
7. Participants - One Pro (instructor, senior level dancer, etc.); One Amateur; Amateur must be 16
years or older, Max number of students per pro is 5
8. Judging – Only Amateur is judged


13. Pro Am Solo

1. Costumes - allowed
2. Breakaways - Three (3) allowed, not to exceed 8 beats each
3. Choreography - recommended, but not required
4. Dance (Solo)
5. Adagio Figures - some allowed
     i. Leverage moves - allowed
     ii. Lifts, Drops and Aerials - NOT ALLOWED
6. Music - provided by competitors; three minutes maximum
7. Participants - One Pro (instructor, senior level dancer, etc.); One Amateur; Amateur must be 16
years or older, Max number of students per pro is 5
8. Judging – Only Amateur is judged


14. Rising Star (Adults Only)

1. Costumes – NOT ALLOWED
2. Breakaways - Three (3) allowed, not to exceed 8 beats each
3. Choreography – NOT ALLOWED
4. Dance (Heats)
5. Adagio, Figures - some allowed
     i. Leverage moves - allowed
     ii. Lifts, Drops and Aerials - NOT ALLOWED
6. Music - provided by Tri-State; three (3) minutes; one slow, one fast (1.5 minutes each)
7. Participant Level - Beginner/intermediate level dancers
8. Judging - No previous 1st, 2nd or 3rd place wins


15. Seasonally Chic (40 Years or Older)

1. Costumes – NOT ALLOWED
2. Breakaways - Three (3) allowed, not to exceed 8 beats each
3. Choreography – NOT ALLOWED
4. Dance (Heats)
5. Adagio Figures
     i. Lifts and drops - allowed
     ii. Aerials - NOT ALLOWED
6. Music - provided by Tri-State; three (3) minutes; one slow, one fast (1.5 minutes each)


16. Show Case

1. Costumes - highly recommended
2. Breakaways - Three (3) allowed, not to exceed 8 beats each
3. Choreography - highly recommended
4. Dance (Solo)
5. Adagio figures -
     i. Minimum of three (3), maximum of six (6) lifts and/or drops required
     ii. Aerials - NOT ALLOWED
6. Music - provided by competitors; three (3) minutes maximum


17. DC Bop (Slow Dancing) -- (Gray-stone Ballroom, Bop, Fred Astaire, etc.)

1. Costumes – NOT ALLOWED
2. Breakaways - not to exceed 8 beats each
3. Choreography - accepted, but not required
4. Dance (Heats)
5. Adagio, Figures - some allowed
     i. Leverage moves - allowed
     ii. Lifts, Drops and Aerials - NOT ALLOWED
6. Music - provided by Tri-State; two (2) minutes, may dance to two or more songs; tempo between 80-100 Beeps Per Minute


18. Stepping

1. Costumes – matching and complimentary outfits accepted, but not mandatory
2. Breakaways - allowed
3. Choreography – allowed (Improvisation, styling and uniqueness encouraged; Fancy Foot Work that provides
     i. precision and timing
     ii. innovative moves
4. Dance (Heats) – Maximum of three couples per Heat
5. Adagio Figures - some allowed
     i. Drops and dips - allowed
6. Music, provided by competitors (1.5 minutes per couple); three (3) minutes to four and one-half (4 ½) minutes; depending on the number of couples on the floor (for example, three (3) minutes for two (2) couples, etc.


19. Swing Out, Bop (Philadelphia and Milwaukee)

1. Costumes - accepted, but not required
2. Breakaways - Three (3) allowed, not to exceed 8 beats each
3. Choreography - accepted, but not required
4. Dance (Solo/Heats) – This category may be heat or solo
5. Adagio figures - allowed, but not required
     i. lifts, leans, drops, slides, splits, and spreads)
     ii. Aerials - NOT ALLOWED
6. Music - provided by competitors; music three (3) minutes


20. Team

1. Costumes - recommended
2. Breakaways - Four (4) allowed, cannot exceed 40 beats of music total
3. Choreography - required
4. Dance (Solo); minimum four (4) couples
5. Adagio figures - allowed
6. Music - provided by competitors; minimum three (3) minutes; maximum four (4) minutes;


21. Trios

1. Costumes - recommended
2. Breakaways - Three (3) allowed, not to exceed 8 beats each
3. Choreography - accepted, but not required
4. Dance (Solo)
5. Adagio Figures – allowed
     i. Lifts and drops - allowed
     ii. Aerials - NOT ALLOWED
6. Music - provided by competitors; three (3) minutes maximum
7. Dancers, any combination of three dancers


22. Young Adults (15 and Under)

1. Costumes - accepted, but not required
2. Breakaways - Three (3) allowed, not to exceed 8 beats each
3. Choreography – NOT ALLOWED
4. Dance (Heats)
5. Adagio Figures - some allowed
     i. Leverage moves - allowed
     ii. Lifts, Drops and Aerials - NOT ALLOWED
6. Music - provided by Tri-State; two (2) minutes to three (3) minutes


23. Young Adults 16 to 20

1. Costumes - accepted, but not required
2. Breakaways - Three (3) allowed, not to exceed 8 beats each
3. Choreography – NOT ALLOWED
4. Dance (Heats)
5. Adagio Figures - some allowed
     i. Lifts and drops - allowed
     ii. Aerials - NOT ALLOWED
6. Music - provided by Tri-State; two (2) minutes to three (3) minutes


24. Young Adults 16 to 20 (Solo)

1. Costumes - recommended, but not required
2. Breakaways - Three (3) allowed, not to exceed 8 beats each
3. Choreography - recommended, but not required
4. Dance (Solo)
5. Adagio Figures - some allowed
     i. Lifts and drops - allowed
     ii. Aerials - NOT ALLOWED
6. Music - provided by competitors; three (3) minutes

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