ABILITIES

SET SOLOS & IMPROV SOLOS

INTRO U4 U6 U8 U10 U12 U14 U16 Parent

BEGINNER U6 U8 U10 U12 U14 U16 16+

INTERMEDIATE U8 U10 U12 U14 U16 16+

ADVANCED U10 U12 U14 U16 16+

DUETS

BEGINNER U4 U6 U8 U10 U12 U14 U16 16+

INTERMEDIATE U6 U8 U10 U12 U14 U16 16+

ADVANCED  U10 U12 U14 U16 16+

PARENT & CHILD - Open

Note: When entering duets on our system, Into and Beginners are combined

Costume Rules

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

Contemporary Set Solos

One dancer (solo) performing a contemporary 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 routine only. 

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

Improv/Freestyle Solo

One dancer (solo) performing a contemporary style freestyle/improvisation interpreting the music played by the DJ with up to 16 other dancers on the floor at the same time.

- Beginner solos are NOT permitted to perform travelling or uncontrolled movements (including acrobatics) - any breach of this rule will lead to the dancer being removed from the dance floor.

- 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 contemporary 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.

- The DJ will play approximately 30 – 90 seconds of a random track each time; dancers must continue to dance for the duration of the track.

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

Duets

Two dancers performing a contemporary style choreographed routine (self-choreo) interpreting the music played by the DJ with up to 16 other dancers on the floor at the same time.

- Beginner duets are NOT permitted to perform travelling or uncontrolled movements (including acrobatics) - any breach of this rule will lead to the dancer being removed from the dance floor.

- Dancers may NOT use sections of choreography from the CUO set routines created by any of the choreographers for our events as part of their duet. 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 contemporary dance.

- 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 eldest 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.

- The DJ will play approximately 30 – 90 seconds of a random track each time; dancers must continue to dance for the duration of the track.

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

ABILITIES

BEGINNER U8 U10 U12 U14 U16 16+

INTERMEDIATE U8 U10 U12 U14 U16 16+

ADVANCED U10 U12 U14 U16 16+

Costume Rules

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

TEAM RULES

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

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

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

- 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.

- Some aerial moves are allowed in intermediate and advanced categories only and must be kept within the context of a contemporary dance performance and 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 contemporary and suitable footwear is advised.

- 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).

Supergroups

(selected events, please enquire)

All Ages, All Levels, 3 mins max, 15-50 dancers per groups and only 1 group per school

66% of the supergroup must dance on stage for at least 2 minutes of the routine, all members of the crew must dance together on stage for at least 30 seconds

Same rules as teams (see above), controlled tricks/aerial moves allowed if performed safely, the routine must not be the same as your normal team routine. 

We place 1st to 3rd only

The decision of the Judges and contest coordinators are FINAL.

Dancers are not permitted to ask the judges about their placements.

We expect all dancers to support each other throughout the event. If you see someone needing a confidence boost – please make it your responsibility to help!

Contact by Chance Improv

This is a chance to really challenge your dancers! 

Dancing as part of a duet (decided by the judges, dancers may not dance with someone from their dance school), they are to interpret the music and improvise with the intention of using elements of contact improvisation such as mirroring, leaning, lifting and puppeting each other to create a dance on the spot. 

They do not have to be in contact with each other the entire time but it is not to appear as two separate improvisation solos. Pre-registration required.

All Levels, split by age (entry dependent)

Under 14

14 & Over

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