 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LDI
(Line Dance International)
Competition
Rules & Scoring Guidelines
Effective August 2000
Mission
Statement
It
is the intent of LDI (Line Dance International) to establish an organization in
order to provide growth in the development of line dance competition in a fair
manner for all competitors and to also provide for an atmosphere that intends to
encourage linedancing events that will offer the best of workshops and social
linedancing for dancers of all ages and abilities.
Divisions
The following competition divisions are established and are recognized and sanctioned by the LDI toward invitation to theLDI World Championships. Event directors have the option to offer all or only selected divisions at a competition.
Individual
Competitor Divisions & Levels
Males
will compete against males and females will compete against females, although
both may be on the floor at the same time. Competitors in different age
divisions may be on the floor at the same time, but will compete against those
within their age division. Dancers who have competed in other formal
competitions (primarily sanctioned) must enter the LDI division which
corresponds, to their competition experience and placement.
Beginner
Level: Dancers may enter this division and compete until
they have placed 1st overall three times in a field of 3 or more competitors. A
competitor may voluntarily elect to advance to a higher division but will not be
allowed to return to a lower division. No paid instructors, (or instructors who
have instructed for 3 months or more) will be admitted to this division. Dancers
who have competed in other formal competitions (primarily sanctioned) must NOT
enter this division if they have placed 1st overall 3 or more times in a similar
or higher division in a field of 3 or more competitors.
Intermediate
Level: Dancers may
enter and remain within this division until they have placed 1st overall 3 times
in a field of 3 or more competitors. Paid instructors (or instructors who have
instructed for 3 months or more) may enter at this level or higher based on
their competition experience. Experienced competitors who have earned placements
of 1st overall three times within a field of 3 or more competitors in similar or
higher divisions of other formal dance competitions (primarily sanctioned) must
NOT enter at this level.
Advanced
Level: Experienced
dancers must dance in this division if they have exceeded the limits for
remaining in the Intermediate Division. Experienced competitors who have
exceeded the requirements of the Beginner and Intermediate Divisions in other
formal dance competitions (primarily sanctioned) must enter this division.
Dancers in the Advanced Division who have within the previous 24 months placed
1st overall 3 times in a field of 3 or more competitors will advance to the
Masters Division.
Masters
Level: Dancers who
have won three 1st place overall advanced placements within a field of 3 or more
competitors in the past 24 months must dance in this division.
Solo
Level: Open to
Advanced and Masters level competitors only.
Dancers may choose their own music, 3 to 5 minutes, however it must be
approved by the head judge before competition. Medleys are acceptable.
New
Original Choreography: Open
to all dancers, choreography is divided into 3 levels, an 2 divisions. Divisions
are Country and Non-country. Levels are: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.
The choreographer determines the skill level of the dance. The music determines
the division. Beginner & Intermediate dances should have not more than 64
counts. Choreography is judged on originality, variety, continuity, music, step
description and difficulty. Choreographer must be present during competition.
Music is choreographer’s choice, faded at 3 minutes. Music must be presented
to the head judge at the competitor’s meeting for approval prior to the
competition. Dance is to be presented in a workshop setting with the
choreographer (or person designated by the choreographer) teaching their dance
to the judges and other workshop attendees. Beginner and Intermediate workshops
are to be 30 minutes in length with Advanced 45 minutes. New Original
Choreography entries are restricted to 1 entry per contestant per division and the dance must
have been choreographed within the previous 6 months prior to the competition.
Choreographer/Instructor is not judged on their ability to teach the dance, the
dance itself is the only thing being judged.
Wheelchair:
Open to all dancers in wheelchairs. This division is not gender specific
and consists of only one level. Wheelchair competitors are to use the same rules
as individual competitors except where obvious. (example: footwork is not
scored)
Pro-Am:
Open to beginning dancers that have a desire to begin competing. Dancers
may only dance twice in this division before moving up. Competitors must have
their instructor/coach (hereinafter called “pacer”) dance with them on the
dancefloor to help pace them and make them feel more at ease. Pacer may not
actively coach while on the floor dancing (however, encouragement is allowed,
i.e. smiling, etc.) and the pacer must dance only vanilla patterns throughout
the entire dance. Pacer also must not wear any type of distracting (i.e.; shiney,
bright costume) clothing that would distract the judges or the competitor. The
idea here is to help beginning competitors feel more comfortable in their first
competitions and to encourage more dancers to compete. Pro-Am competitors must
follow all rules for Individual competitors.
General
Competition Information Individual Competition
Competitors
& Divisions
Individual
dancers have the option of dancing in their respective divisions as categorized
by dance experience (Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced, Masters or Solo), except
as noted. Individual dancers who voluntarily elect to dance in a higher level
and/or division may not return to the lower division in the future. (Exception:
If a competitor's division is not offered, competing and placing 1st through 3rd
in a higher division/level does not prevent the dancer from entering their own
division at a future competition.)
Competitors
must compete at the LDI World Championships in the levels in which they have
competed and qualified. If a competitor's age and/or experience level changes
during the competition year, the competitor must compete at the World
Championships in the highest age division and/or level in which they have
competed and qualified with the following exception: (if a competitor's division
is not offered, competing and placing 1st through 3rd in a higher division/level
does not prevent the dancer from entering their own division at a future
competition). Divisions/levels are offered at the discretion of the individual
event directors, within LDI guidelines.
Individual
competitors may enter only in their respective skill level and age division
and/or New Original Choreography.
The
event director within LDI guidelines will select competition dances and music
for all divisions/levels except New Original Choreography and Advanced/Masters
Solo. Event Directors must use LDI approved step descriptions. Any type of music
is permissible, (exception: in New Original Choreography, music must match
division) however, music selected by the contestants must be suitable for family
audience and must be approved by the head judge at the competitor’s meeting
prior to the competition. Music not pre-approved will not be used.
Upon
receipt of registration, the event director will provide competitors with LDI
approved step descriptions for their dances and a copy of the current LDI rules.
At the event registration desk, the event director will have copies of the LDI
approved competition dance step descriptions and the current LDI rules for
contestants registering at the door. Competition music will be pre-released at
the same time that the competition dances are announced. Three dances must be
offered for LDI sanctioned individual divisions/levels.
A
competitor may dance any or all of the dances offered within a division.
However, to be eligible for the division overall award, the competitor must
dance all three dances offered in their division.
All
individual competition music (except Advanced/Masters Solo) will be faded at 3
minutes.
In
the event of a tie, the highest total scores will determine placements in the
following order: technique then content. In the event they are still tied, then
equal awards will be given.
Event
Directors will conduct a competitor’s meeting prior to the competition to
answer any questions that the competitors may have regarding rules, music, etc.
Judges are required to be present. Competitors are not allowed to discuss the
rules, etc. regarding the competition after this meeting until after awards have
been presented.
Judges
Only
LDI approved judges will judge LDI sanctioned competitions. Men and women's
heats may be danced on the competition floor at the same time, but will be
judged separately.
Four
wall dances will begin with competitors facing away from judges with two wall
and one wall dances beginning facing the judges.
To
insure the objective stance of the judges, the judging staff is not permitted to
answer individual competitors' questions regarding their performance or the
competition except as directed by the head judge. Competitors' performances must
not be discussed with the judges until after all awards have been presented.
Penalties
are given individually by each judge at their own discretion, except where
noted.
No
contestant may judge at an event in which they are actively competing in any
similar division of competition. No contestant may judge and compete the
division for which he/she is currently qualified during a given competition
year. No judge may serve on the panel of judges actively judging a specific
division in which they have a personal relationship with one of the competitors.
(Exception: Divisions where there is only
one competitor)
Attire
(Individual)
No
points will be awarded for attire. An attire judge will approve competitor’s
attire prior to the competition.
Competitors
are cautioned that though no individual attire infractions may be specifically
noted, the overall appearance of the competitor could reflect in their
showmanship scores. At a minimum, attire should be neat, clean, and in good
repair. There will be no points added to showmanship scores for showy costumes
such as those made of satin, sequins, "liner, etc. The competition emphasis
is placed on dancing, not costuming.
Costumes
that have inappropriate or vulgar wording or artwork are not allowed. Thong
panties are unacceptable. Hosiery is optional. Dance pants are required while
wearing skirts or kilts.
Dance
Accents
Event
directors will ensure that their competition DJ provides an audible countdown
for each competition music selection. Judging will begin after the countdown.
Movements made with the introduction of the music, but prior to the countdown
are not scored. Scoring continues until the last beat of danceable music,
(fading music is not considered danceable). The competitor may end the
performance with a freeze break as long as it does not exceed the 8 beat
limitation.
Competitors
must dance the first two patterns (herein after referred to as “vanillas”)
of the selected dance according to the LDI approved step description issued for
that event. (Exception: certain dances that are 64 counts or more and/or that
contain bridges/tags, etc. may only be required to perform 1 vanilla pattern) At
no time during the vanillas may the competitor deviate from the foot
pattern/position, body orientation, and flow of dance set forth in the LDI
approved step description. However, minimal personal styling is permitted to
prevent dancers performing the dances in rigid, robot like movements. The
minimum personal styling in the vanillas may not include interpretive moves with
the hands such as additional snaps, claps or poses not specifically included
within the original choreography. Failure to add personal styling during these
vanillas will not result in lower scores. Only technique is scored during
vanillas.
Variations,
syncopation’s, freeze breaks, or other individual interpretation should not
occur until after the vanillas are completed. Deviations and variations from the
original step description during the vanillas shall be scored as technique
errors. No Content points may be earned in the vanillas for variations,
creativity, use of music, continuity/flow, or recognition.
Following
the vanillas, the competitors are encouraged to perform the dance with
individual styling and interpretation as long as the “dance
remains recognizable” through count and general flow as set forth in the
LDI approved step descriptions. Competitors are cautioned to maintain a “recognizable
form of the dance” while performing with individual creativity and style.
Use
of hands, hat tricks, skirts, and/or vocals may be incorporated to enhance the
expression of the dance. Movements selected should fit the dance being
performed. The following guidelines apply:
Hands
should be positioned in a manner to compliment the dance during all patterns of
the dance. After the vanillas are completed, hands and arms may be used to
enhance the dancers' interpretation of the dance.
A
skirt (if worn) may be held, but not worked, during the vanillas. Skirt working
should compliment, not detract from the dance.
Hat
tricks may be performed following the vanillas. If wearing a hat, the hat must
be worn during the vanillas.
If
a hat is used, hat loss will result in the loss of 5 technique points. Hat does
not have to be reclaimed.
During
the vanillas, only vocals as called for in the LDI approved step description may
be used. Following the vanillas, additional vocals, claps, and/or stomps may be
performed to enhance individual expression of the dance.
Any
dance accents should be properly executed and fit the dance and the dancer;
otherwise, the dancer is subject to point loss in the appropriate scoring
categories of technique, content, or showmanship.
The
use of props is prohibited except in the Advanced Solo/Masters Division. Any
article of clothing or other item used during the dance performance, other than
the hat for hat tricks and the skirt for skirt work, may be considered a prop.
For safety reasons, acrobatic moves are allowed only in the Advanced/Masters Solo Division. Acrobatic movements are described as at any time when the heels are above the head. (Splits are NOT considered acrobatic movements.) The penalty for said acrobatic moves may incur a loss of 25 points from the technique score from each judge for that particular dance.
Competition
Disqualifications
DANCE
DISQUALIFICATIONS: Competitors may be disqualified by the head judge for the
following reasons:
All
competitors will be judged on technique, content and showmanship. Alignment,
timing, balance, footwork, rhythm, variety, enthusiasm, showmanship, arm/hand
movements, symmetry, flow/continuity and use of music are points of
consideration by the judges.
The
total points possible for Individual, Wheelchair and Pro-Am competitions are
outlined below: (per judge, per dance)
TECHNIQUE
1-50 (grade score)
CONTENT
1-30
(grade score) points considered are variety, difficulty, use of music,
continuity/flow, recognition
SHOWMANSHIP
1-20 (grade score) points considered are poise, attitude, stage presence, floorcraft, enthusiasm
The
total points possible for New Original Choreography is outlined below: (per
judge)
CONTENT
1-50
(grade score) points considered are for originality, variety, continuity and
flow
1-15
(grade score) points considered are mood of music, and how the dance fits the
music.
1-25 (grade score) points considered are ease of understanding, and dance matches the step descriptions
DIFFICULTY
1-10
(grade score) appropriateness for the division entered
Scoring
Penalties
(As
determined by each individual judge, except where noted.)
Use
of props in those divisions that are not allowed carry a 25 point penalty per
judge per dance in technique.
Contestants
in all divisions, will dance until the end of the danceable music (fading music
is not considered danceable). One technique point will be tallied for every beat
of music when contestant is not dancing with the exception of the 8/12 freeze
break allowance.
Skirt
working and hat tricks during the vanillas shall be treated as technique errors
and tallied accordingly. No Content points for skirt working and hat tricks may
be added during the vanillas.
Hat
loss will result in the loss of 5 technique points. For all divisions this is a
per incident per performer penalty. (Hat does not have to be reclaimed)
Omission
and addition of vocals in the vanillas will be tallied as technique errors.
Acrobatic
moves other than the Advanced/Masters Solo Division carry a 25 point penalty per
judge.
Interference
may be called if it is deemed a contestant deliberately interferes with another
contestant's dance space, therefore causing said person to loose their dance as
determined by the head judge. Physical contact with another contestant during
individual competition may be ruled interference with a resulting point penalty.
The injured contestant will not be penalized provided they recover their dance
within a reasonable number of beats of music. A majority of the judges must
agree interference occurred in order for a 10 point penalty to be assessed by
all judges against the competitor at fault. If the interference was deemed
deliberate by the head judge, a disqualification may occur.
Coaches
may not actively coach individual competitor(s) while the dancers are performing
without risking disqualification of said competitor(s).
Scoring
System
LDI’s
scoring system will be used to score each competitor. Total number of points
scored determines placements. Placements will be awarded through 3rd place. In
order for a competitor to receive a first place, they must total at least 65% of
the potential points for their division. This will insure that a competitor will
still give their best performance even when there is only one competitor in that
particular division.