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My team has mixed abilities, which category should they enter?

If 50% or more of your team are entering intermediate/advanced solos and duets, the team cannot enter in the beginner team category, they belong in intermediate/advanced teams.

Can I use aerial moves in my team routine?

If your team is in the intermediate/advanced category for teams, they absolutely can perform aerials (safely of course, there will be no mats).

If you plan to enter your team in the beginners category, no aerial moves permitted.

Points will be deducted if aerial moves are performed in the beginner section.

Skills that are NOT permitted in BEGINNER TEAM routines:

- Aerial moves such as: Side aerial, front aerial, back tuck, front tuck

- Back/front handspring, flying walkovers, handstand to chest roll, handstand walking, chest roll

Front/Back walkovers are permitted if they are performed by a small selection of dancers (<50%), not the whole team. 

Down to bridge and kickover or handstand to bridge would be classed as the beginner alternative.

If judges determine that a Beginner team should be in the Intermediate section, they reserve the right to judge them as such and score them against the intermediate teams.

Costume and Preparation Guidelines for Dance Teams/solos/duets:

Participants must wear neat dance attire that does not leave any residue or debris on the dance floor. We advise selecting costumes with minimal attachements,  sequins etc and avoiding decorations like loose gems, rhinestones, or feathers, which might create dangerous debris or slip hazards.

Additionally, dancers are prohibited from using powder, talc, or any substances that could leave a residue on the floor, which could create a slipping hazard. 

It's essential to ensure all costumes are chosen with care, considering both style and age appropriateness.

( Updated 2024) 

TEAM RULES

Routine length: Beginner/ Intermediate/ Advanced: Max 3 mins.

- A Team, minimum of 5, maximum of 28 dancers performing an ACROBATIC style choreographed routine to music of their choice.

- Your prepared music must be sent 7 days prior to the event. Please bring a back up.

- Teachers do NOT have permission to use set choreography published by Calling U Out in their team routines. Points will be deducted if more than 2 counts of 8 of recognised choreography is used.

- ACROBATIC SKILLS are performed at the dancers own risk.

- Lifts are permitted if they are controlled and executed safely.

- Props are allowed however nothing that will take time to clear up after your performance e.g. Dust/Glitter/Water.

- Clothing should be suitable for acrobatics and suitable footwear is advised,  although footwear is not allowed on the mats for solos and duets.

- 75% of the team must be within the age category 25% of the team maybe above age. Adults must dance in the adult section and numbers are ALWAYS rounded up.

- CUO may choose to split a category if there are > 8 teams in a category. CUO also reserves the right to merge categories together if there are < 3 teams in a category. 

- Dancers can only dance in one team and with one school (If this rule is broken all teams concerned will be disqualified).

- Each school is permitted to enter as many teams as they wish in each division, and each team must be named. (Please do not use the name of your school!). 

- All dancers in a team must be from the same school. Any evidence of poaching dancers will result in that school concerned being disqualified.

- NO bad language or inappropriate movement for age is permitted in your recorded music or piece - team points will be deducted.

- Costumes must NOT contain your dance school name or logo

- If a teacher dances with their students the team must dance in advanced

- Teachers/parents are not permitted to intervene, coach or demonstrate movement from the sidelines once the music has started without permission from the event organisers.

Judges’ Criteria

Judges will score each team from 1 to 10 to total out of 50 in the following subcategories:

- Musicality

- Spacing and Formations

- Choreography

- Technicality

- Performance 

Points may be deducted for the following: 

- Use of foul language (3 points per judge)

- Crashes and dance style mistakes (1 point per judge)

- Loss of clothing or other mistakes (1 point per judge)

- Music running over the specified time (1 point per 5 seconds per judge)

- CUO choreography used in routine (2 points per judge).

Costume Rules

Competitors must wear plain dancewear (minimal sparkle/sequins are permitted) with no gems/rhinestones/feathers. Outfits MUST be style and age appropriate.

Acrobatics Set Solos

One dancer (solo) performing an acrobatics style set choreography with up to 16 other dancers on the floor at the same time.

Four set solo routines are choreographed by independent contemporary choreographers for intro, beginner, intermediate and advanced and then filmed. 

The footage will include a tutorial from the choreographer, plus a performance of the routine - you can request access to the set choreography on our website.

Teachers are expected to learn the routines using the tutorials and then select and teach them to their dancers, based on the individual dancers’ level of ability.

- Intro Level - Dancers who are brand new to the style

- All dancers competing in a set routine solo are to perform the choreography that is shown on the footage provided. 

- All choreography is subject to interpretation, but please teach the choreography as shown in the tutorial video and encourage the dancers to perform as shown.

- Dancers are permitted to compete in one set solo and one set duet only. 

- Dancers will perform to the same music on the day of the competition that is on the set routine footage provided.

- Dancers may NOT use sections of choreography from the set routines created by any of the choreographers for our events as part of their improvised solo. This is down to judges discretion, if they feel a dancer has used a large amount of set routine choreography they will be disqualified.

- Props are NOT allowed and clothing should be appropriate for acrobatics dance.

- Dancers must obtain a number upon arrival and wear their number clearly visible and pinned on their front. In heats, groups of dancers will be performing on stage together.

- Dancers must stay in their own space and not move around the floor in solos

Duets

- Duet dancers must only dance with one duet on the same day and both dancers must be from the same school .

- Duets need not qualify as a pair to compete as a duet in our Championship, as long as they have each competed in a duet section at a qualifying event in that season.

- Dancers must enter in their age category of the oldest dancer and ability only.

- Dancers must obtain a number upon arrival and wear their number clearly visible and pinned on their front; Only one number is required for a Duet.

- In heats groups of dancers will be performing on stage together. Dancers must stay in their own space and not move around the floor when in solos or duets

All our regional events are all qualifiers for our annual championships, click here for information on our qualifying criteria.

This policy applies to all participants, coaches, staff, and volunteers involved in our competitions. It is particularly relevant to those involved in the staging and execution of acrobatic performances.

III. Policy

Mats: Mats are a crucial element in ensuring the safety of dancers, particularly when they are learning and practicing acrobatic moves. 

However, in the interest of maintaining a high standard of performance and competitiveness, and given the proficiency of dancers, the following rules apply:

1.1. dancer mats are not used during the team acrobatic performances in the competition, 

1.2. The non-use of mats applies to all types of acrobatic dances and routines, regardless of the complexity or difficulty of the moves involved.

Responsibility and Safety: It is the responsibility of the individual dancer, their coach, and their team to ensure that they can safely perform their routine without the use of mats. If a dancer or their coach feels that a particular move cannot be performed safely without a mat, it should be removed from the routine and a substitue move used instead

Note: Mats are not used in our team sections, performances must be choreographered as such.

Acro-across the floor is a continuous movement from one end of the floor to the other, without stopping or travelling back up the mat. Balances are not allowed across the floor, as they will cause the dancer to stop and result in disqualification. Dancers are required to create their own combinations using the abilities specified for their level.

Judges: The judges will watch 1  lane each and choose their top from each lane, with a view to reduce the entries down to a final or 3 to 5 which will then be placed 1st to 5th in their section, dancers must move forward and straight on their combinations only, and ensure they do not fall off the matts.

Matts are used and cover a distance for this section - please train your acro dancers to cover this distance

Intro U8s and Beginners 5+- Mats 4x4 mats 24feet/ 7.2 meters in length

Intermedate/Advanced 5+ Mats 6x4 mats 36feet/ 11 meters

Music: We will play upbeat random music 

Tips for Creating Combinations:

Emphasise the importance of incorporating movement in between Acro skills.

Discourage repetitive skills performed continuously down the mat (e.g., multiple cartwheels, forward rolls,  back handsprings or step side aerials in a row).

Encourage dancers to connect different movements before or after their Acro skills to showcase variety and creativity.

Ability Sections:

The abilities for Acro across the floor are divided into four sections: 

• U8 Intro  - 
• Beginner 5+
• Intermediate  5+
• Advanced Levels. 5+ 

Each section has specific requirements based on the dancer's acrobatics skill level.

 Under 8 Section: Intro ability 

• This section is dedicated to dancers who are 7yrs and under
• Dancers in this section should be at a preschool to primary acrobatics level and very limited skills not able to cartwheel at all. 
• The specific skills for this section should be appropriate for this age group.

Beginner Level:

• This section is for dancers aged 5 and above who have acquired basic acrobatics skills. 
• Required skills for this level include forward and backward rolls, cartwheels with two hands, and basic handstand technique. Additional skills such as going down to bridge and bridge walking are also permitted however the dancer should not be able to back kickover from the floor, bridge recover, or perform front walkovers

Intermediate Level:

• This section is for dancers aged 5 and above who have progressed beyond the beginner level.
• The skills for this level include all the movements from the beginner level, along with there progressions such as dive forward rolls, cartwheel variations (one handed, flying cartwheels, round offs, and side aerials) Also permitted front and back walkovers/kickovers variations, handstand variations and bridge recovery are also expected at this level.

Advanced Level:

• This section is for dancers aged 5 and above who have achieved a high level of acrobatics proficiency.
• Required skills for this level include all the movements from the beginner and intermediate levels, with added progressions and more difficult skills.
• Advanced skills include standing back handsprings, roundoff back handsprings, back tucks, front aerials, back layouts, rolling tinsica, and more.

Skill Placement:

• Dancers who perform skills above their designated level will be disqualified.
• This ensures fairness and maintains appropriate skill level differentiations in the competition.