West Coast Swing Competition Rules

Statement

The Calgary Dance Stampede is dedicated to creating a professional, fair, and exciting dance environment. Our goal is to showcase the artistry of West Coast Swing and related divisions, while maintaining integrity, inclusivity, and sportsmanship. As a recognized WSDC Registry Event and Rising Star Tour member, CDS follows the global standards set by the World Swing Dance Council (WSDC) and the Rising Star Tour (RST).

Competition Organizer

The Calgary Dance Stampede (CDS) is the official organizer of all competitions at the event. CDS administers its competitions in accordance with applicable CDS, World Swing Dance Council (WSDC), and Rising Star Tour (RST) rules. Where applicable, WSDC and RST rules take precedence over CDS-specific competition rules. CDS is a recognized WSDC Registry Event, with eligible Jack and Jill results reported to the WSDC Points Registry.

General Eligibility

To participate, dancers must purchase a Full Weekend Event Pass and complete all required competition registration forms and waivers. Competitors under 18 must include parental consent. Registration is confirmed only once all required information and payment have been received.

Role/Gender Requirements

Competitors are welcome to dance either the leader or follower role, regardless of gender identity.

Appropriate Dress Code

CDS encourages expressive and engaging performances while maintaining standards appropriate for a social dance environment. Competitors are expected to wear attire that is suitable for competition and appropriate for a public event.

Competition Requirements

Competitors must comply with current WSDC Registry Event Rules, CDS-specific competition rules, and Rising Star Tour (RST) rules where applicable. Competitors are responsible for reviewing and understanding all applicable rules prior to competing.

Contestants’ Meetings

CDS will not be holding formal contestants’ meetings. Competitors who have questions regarding the competition should direct them to the Chief Judge. Dancers will be called to line up prior to each division; the designated area will be announced in advance. Competitors are expected to remain in the ballroom and attentive to all announcements.

Petitions

Competitors wishing to compete one skill level higher must submit a petition to the WSDC Chief Judges Committee at least 15 days before the event, along with two videos of their dancing for review. Approved petitions to move up are valid for six months and may be used at other WSDC Registry Events.

Competitors wishing to move down one skill level in their primary role may submit a petition to the Chief Judge for review. Petitions to move down are event-specific and are not permitted for secondary roles.

Competitors may petition to move up in either their primary or secondary role. All petitions are subject to approval in accordance with current WSDC Registry Event Rules.

Participation

All participants are expected to take personal responsibility for reviewing and understanding the event’s rules and competition procedures prior to arrival.

Dancers should arrive at least 15 minutes before their scheduled competition time. This allows sufficient time to be in the ballroom prior to their division, fully prepared to check in, warm up, and adjust to any schedule changes that may occur during the weekend.

Professional conduct is required both on and off the dance floor. Competitors are expected to show respect toward partners, fellow competitors, event staff, judges, officials, and the audience. Inappropriate conduct includes, but is not limited to, arriving late, argumentative or confrontational behaviour, disregarding the authority of judges or officials, or creating an unsafe environment through reckless actions.

Disrespectful, disruptive, or unsafe behaviour may result in warnings, penalties, loss of standing, or disqualification from competition at the discretion of CDS and the Chief Judge. RST competitors may also be subject to penalties under applicable Rising Star Tour rules.

Judges

CDS will provide qualified judging panels in accordance with current WSDC and Rising Star Tour (RST) requirements, as applicable. The number of judges assigned to WSDC Jack and Jill preliminary and final rounds will be based on the applicable WSDC contest requirements. A Chief Judge will oversee all West Coast Swing competitions to ensure fairness, consistency, and compliance with applicable rules.

Music and Video

Music for Jack & Jill, Strictly Swing, and ProAm competitions will be selected and provided by the event DJs. Music for WSDC Jack & Jill competitions will be assigned in accordance with WSDC requirements for random and unbiased music selection.

For Rising Star and ProAm Spotlight divisions, couples are responsible for their own music selections and must provide music files to the DJ no later than one hour prior to scheduled floor trials.

Unless otherwise announced, competitors and attendees are welcome to record videos of performances and competitions.

Floor Trials

Floor trials will be scheduled according to the official Event Schedule. Competitors are responsible for reviewing the posted schedule to confirm times.

Posting of Results

Competition results will be announced during awards presentations throughout the weekend. Detailed score summaries will be posted following the final awards on Sunday.

In accordance with WSDC requirements, results for WSDC competitions, including all contest rounds, final placements, and score reports, will be published on the CDS website within three days following the close of the event and will remain publicly accessible for a minimum of 30 days.

DIVISIONAL RULES

Judging Criteria

Competitors will be judged on the following elements:

  • Timing: Dancing on time and with syncopation that reflects the music.
  • Technique: Execution, balance, posture, footwork, and control.
  • Teamwork: Quality of connection, lead/follow, and partnership.
  • Choreography (Routine Divisions): Creativity, variety, and musical structure.
  • Musical Interpretation: How well the dance reflects the music’s phrasing, accents, and dynamics.
  • Presentation: Audience engagement, showmanship, and confidence.

Restarts

A restart may be initiated by the Chief Judge or requested by a competitor in the event of a technical issue, such as an incorrect song, sound, lighting, or floor issue, or a clothing/costume malfunction. All restarts must be approved by the Chief Judge, who will determine whether the restart occurs immediately or at a later time.

Age Requirements

CDS competitors must be at least twelve years old to participate in West Coast Swing competitions, unless otherwise specified for a particular CDS division. Dancers aged 12 and older may compete in the appropriate skill-level division based on their WSDC eligibility. Sophisticated is defined as 35+, and Masters as 50+ by the close of the event weekend. Competitors under 18 must include parental consent and be supervised while at the event.

Jack and Jill Divisions

Jack and Jill competitions are the centre of WSDC Regestry events, designed to showcase social dance skills and adaptability with randomly assigned partners. CDS will run all standard WSDC Jack and Jill divisions, with points awarded in accordance with current WSDC Registry rules.

Dancers sign up individually and are paired randomly with partners. Music is provided by the event DJ, and competitors are judged on their ability to connect, improvise, and interpret the music in real time.

Competition rounds will be determined by the number of competitors and the applicable WSDC contest Tier requirements. A minimum of 5 unique Leaders and 5 unique Followers must be present for WSDC points to be awarded, subject to WSDC contest requirements.

Competitors may enter a maximum of two skill-level WSDC Jack and Jill contests — once in their primary role and once in their secondary role — subject to WSDC skill-level eligibility requirements. Competitors may also enter multiple age-based WSDC Jack and Jill divisions for which they meet the applicable age requirements.

If divisions are combined due to insufficient entries, WSDC points will be awarded at the lower division level, except for a combined Newcomer/Novice division, which awards Novice points.

Divisional Qualifications / Skill Levels

Competitors advance based on WSDC’s point thresholds. Progression is as follows:

  • Newcomer: May move up at the dancer’s discretion; must move up with 1+ point.
  • Novice: May move up at 16 points; must move up at 30 points.
  • Intermediate: May move up at 30 points; must move up at 45 points or with 1+ Advanced point.
  • Advanced: May move up at 60 points; must move up at 90 points or with 1+ All Star point.
  • All Star: May move up at 150 points; must move up at 225 points.
  • Champion: May compete with 1 Champion point or 150 All Star points; must compete with 10+ Champion points or 225+ All Star points.

Competitors must enter the appropriate WSDC Jack and Jill skill level based on their current WSDC eligibility. Where a competitor falls within a “may move up” range, they may choose either eligible level for their primary role.

Skill-level eligibility for other CDS competitions may differ from WSDC Jack and Jill eligibility and will be determined by the rules for the applicable division.

Strictly Swing Divisions

Strictly Swing divisions showcase the essence of spontaneous social dancing, where couples rely on authentic lead-and-follow technique rather than planned choreography. While dancers may incorporate commonly recognized swing patterns and variations, the priority is to demonstrate continuous connection and improvisation throughout the dance. Partners enter the division together and remain paired for all rounds, with judges evaluating them as a couple based on timing, technical skill, partnership quality, and overall musical expression.

Rules: To compete in Strictly Swing, dancers must be at least twelve years old by the close of the event. Sophisticated competitors must be 35+ and Masters competitors must be 50+ by the close of the event. Couples are expected to maintain a minimum of eighty percent recognizable swing content, as determined by the judging panel, and must maintain physical connection throughout the dance except during spins, turns, brief breakaways, and recoveries. Weight-support moves are permitted provided at least one foot remains in contact with the floor, and drops or leans are acceptable under the same condition. While coordinated outfits are allowed, costumes are not. To preserve fairness, couples may not compete together in both Strictly Swing and a Routine division. Couples must enter Strictly Swing at the highest skill level for which either partner is eligible based on their current WSDC point status.

ProAm Strictly Divisions

The ProAm Strictly category is designed to showcase the partnership between dance instructors and their students, providing amateurs with the opportunity to gain competitive experience in a supportive format. For CDS competitions, Amateurs are considered social or recreational dancers who do not earn substantial income from teaching or performing, while Professionals are recognized as those who do. Each Professional may enter no more than five students in a single division. Judging focuses exclusively on the Amateur’s performance, allowing them to demonstrate their skills and progress in a live competition setting.

Rules: ProAm Strictly performances must consist of at least eighty percent recognizable swing content, as determined by the judging panel. Couples must maintain physical contact throughout the dance, except during spins, turns, short breakaways, and recoveries. Weight-support movements are permitted provided at least one foot remains in contact with the floor, and drops or leans are permitted under the same condition. Coordinated outfits are permitted; costumes are not.

ProAm Spotlight Division

The ProAm Spotlight division showcases choreographed routines performed by a student together with their instructor, set to music of their own choosing. Each couple appears individually on the floor, and judges evaluate both the Professional and Amateur as part of the overall presentation.

For CDS competitions, Amateurs are considered social or recreational dancers who do not earn substantial income from teaching or performing, while Professionals are recognized as those who do. Each Professional may present no more than five ProAm Spotlight routines.

Rules: Each routine must feature one Amateur partnered with one Professional and run between two and three minutes. Routines must contain at least eighty percent recognizable swing content, as determined by the judging panel. The official dance order will be determined at random and posted prior to the start of the division. Professionals entering with multiple students must accept the randomly assigned order of performance.

Formation Team Division

The Formation Team division showcases choreographed group performances by multiple swing couples working together as a team. 

Rules: Each team must include at least two couples, and at least three teams are required for the division to be held. The number of entries is flexible, with final capacity determined by CDS. Dancers are evaluated collectively as a team, with no individual scoring.

Participants must be at least six years old by the close of the event, and each dancer may compete on only one team unless the Event Director approves an exception for special circumstances.

Routines must be fully choreographed, run between three and five minutes, and contain a minimum of eighty percent recognizable swing content, as determined by the judging panel. Teams select their own music. Props are not permitted; however, lifts, aerials, acrobatic moves, drops, breakaways, partner switches, and reverse lead/follow are allowed. Costumes are required, and choreographed entrances and exits are permitted.

Rising Star Division

CDS is proud to be part of the official Rising Star Tour (RST). The Rising Star Division gives developing dancers the opportunity to perform choreographed routines under RST standards. Current RST rules take precedence over CDS-specific rules for this division.

Eligibility: Dancers may not have Champion points in the last 10 years, may not have been NASDE finalists, may not have won a previous RST overall, and may not have placed in the top three of Classic or Showcase twice.

Routine Requirements: Routines must contain at least 70% swing content and run between 2 and 3 minutes. Costumes are encouraged and props are not permitted. One role switch of up to 8 beats is permitted, and up to seven weight-support moves are allowed.

Rising Star Tour Age Requirement: Competitors must be at least fifteen years of age to participate in the Rising Star Division. Other CDS divisions are subject to the age requirements specified for the applicable division.

 

See also official World Swing Dance Council rules at https://worldsdc.com/rules/ 

See also official Rising Star Tour rules at www.risingstartour.com/rules.

 

Last Updated: August 31, 2026