RULES

2024-2025 SEASON

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Updated May 2026 - For Champs and Season 6

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Championships Qualification Criteria

General Eligibility

To be eligible to attend the CUO Championships, dance schools must have attended at least one CUO regional event during the current season.

Once a dance school has attended a regional event, dancers from that school may participate in the Championships, subject to the section rules below.

Schools should always check which sections are running before booking, as not every section may be offered at every event.

Dance Styles

The Championships may include sections across the following dance styles:

Streetdance

Acrobatics

Contemporary

Groups / Teams

Fun Sections

Teams, Freestyle Duo/Duets, Set Duets and Fun Sections

To keep our events fresh, inclusive and accessible, teams, Freestyle Duo/Duets and Set Duets may participate in the Championships across the three main dance styles:

Streetdance

Acrobatics

Contemporary

The dancer’s school must have attended at least one CUO regional event during the current season.

Teams, Freestyle Duo/Duets and Set Duets do not need to qualify in the same way as soloists. However, they must enter the Championships at their correct current ability level, following CUO’s normal progression rules.

This means they should enter based on:

Previous results

Competition experience

Dancer ability levels

CUO’s progression rules

Results from CUO and other competitions

If a team, Freestyle Duo/Duet or Set Duet has met the criteria to move up, they must enter the Championships at the higher level.

Friday Fun Sections

All eligible dancers may take part in Friday evening fun sections, where offered.

These may include:

Battles

Contact Improv Duets

Across the Floor

Other fun or specialist sections confirmed for that event

Friday fun sections may vary by event. Please check the event information before booking.

Solo Qualification

Soloists must qualify for the Championships by placing 1st–5th in a solo section at a CUO regional event during the current season.

Solo qualification applies within the same dance style.

For example:

If a dancer qualifies in a Contemporary solo section at a regional event, they are eligible to enter the Contemporary solo section at the Championships, following the correct ability rules.

Set Solos and Freestyle / Improv Solos

Set Solos and Freestyle / Improv Solos are treated as separate ability sections.

A dancer may be entered into a different ability level for Set Solos and Freestyle / Improv Solos.

To qualify for a Championship solo section, a dancer must place 1st–5th in a solo section within the same dance style at a CUO regional event.

For example:

If a dancer places 1st–5th in Contemporary Set Solos or Contemporary Improv Solos at a regional event, they are eligible to enter the Contemporary solo section at the Championships.

Solo Ability Level at Championships

Soloists must enter the Championships at the ability level they qualified in.

If a soloist attends another CUO regional event before the Championships and has met the progression rules, they must move up for that regional event.

If they place 1st–5th at the higher ability level, they will then qualify for the Championships at the higher ability level and must enter the Championships at that higher level.

If they do not place 1st–5th at the higher ability level, they must enter the Championships at the original ability level they qualified in.

Example

A dancer qualifies for Championships by placing 3rd in Beginner Contemporary Solos.

They later attend another regional event and, because they have met the move-up rule, they must enter Intermediate.

If they place 1st–5th in Intermediate Contemporary Solos, they must enter Intermediate Contemporary Solos at Championships.

If they do not place 1st–5th in Intermediate, they must enter Beginner Contemporary Solos at Championships because that is the level they originally qualified in.

Refund Policy

Lost or Forgotten Wristbands:

If any member of your dance school forgets their tickets, they will need to purchase new ones at the event. To be eligible for a refund for the original tickets, a form must be completed on the day when purchasing the replacements.

Refund Process:

There is a 14-day grace period after the event during which you can return the original tickets to us for a refund, minus a £2 administrative charge per band.

Important Notes:

1) Only tickets purchased due to being forgotten will be refunded. Unused tickets are non-refundable.

2) We recommend using a tracked delivery method to ensure the safe return of the tickets.

3) By purchasing tickets, you agree to this refund policy.

Return Address:

Calling U Out (BDPA)

Unit H

Platts Lane

Burscough

L40 7TP

CUO Booking, Ticket and Event Terms

Regular Events — Single Day Events

Tickets may be reserved in advance, and estimated ticket numbers can be amended at any time up until 5 weeks before the event.

To qualify for ticket commission, schools must not return more than 5% of their tickets after final numbers have been requested.

A £50 deposit must be paid when reserving tickets to secure your school’s place. This deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable if you choose to withdraw from the event.

Team and dancer registration is due 3 weeks before the event. No entries can be submitted after this deadline.

UK Championships — Weekend Event

If CUO cancels the event, full refunds will be issued to anyone who has paid deposits or purchased tickets.

If you choose to cancel your reservation, the following timescales apply:

2 months or more before the event start date: Full refund may be requested.

30 days or more before the event start date: 50% refund may be requested.

Less than 30 days before the event start date: No refund will be given.

Event Conditions

Wristbands must be worn at all times while attending the event.

Lost wristbands must be replaced immediately. A replacement charge will apply for lost wristbands.

No official performance times for categories will be guaranteed. Running orders and timings are subject to change.

No recording, videos or photographs are permitted while dancers are on the dance floor, unless otherwise stated by CUO.

One nominated person may video each team performance. CUO may also have an official photographer and/or videographer present at the event.

All dancers participate at their own risk. Any injuries sustained at the event are not the responsibility of the venue, Calling U Out organisers or Calling U Out Ltd.

Personal belongings are brought to the competition at the owner’s own risk. Loss or damage to personal items is not the responsibility of the venue, Calling U Out organisers or Calling U Out Ltd.

By purchasing a ticket for yourself, or on behalf of a minor for whom you have parental permission, you agree to the conditions set out above and on the CUO website.

You also confirm that you have checked with your teacher, school or organisation that suitable insurance is in place for the dancer to take part in the event.

CUO rules and event terms may be amended at any time.

Photo and Videography Policy

By purchasing a ticket and attending a CUO event, you acknowledge that you are attending a public event where photography and videography may take place.

You give consent for Calling U Out, CUO partners, official photographers and official videographers to capture and use images or video footage of the ticket holder for marketing, publicity and promotional purposes.

This may include use in:

CUO social media posts

CUO website content

Marketing materials

Event promotion

Other CUO publications or platforms

Images and recordings may be published on the Calling U Out website, social media platforms, partner websites or other promotional channels.

Images will be held in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.

Any photographs, video recordings or other media captured by CUO, official photographers, official videographers or authorised CUO partners will remain the copyright of CUO or the authorised content creator, where applicable.

By attending the event, the ticket holder agrees that CUO may use images or recordings captured at the event for promotional and publicity purposes.

You may ask CUO to stop using images of the ticket holder at any time by emailing:

info@callinguout.co.uk

If consent is withdrawn, CUO will stop using the images in future publications where reasonably possible. However, images may continue to appear in materials already published, printed, circulated or shared before the request was received.

CUO = Calling U Out.

Insurance Advisory

It is the responsibility of each school, teacher, parent, guardian and attendee to ensure that suitable insurance is in place when attending or taking part in a CUO event.

CUO will not be liable for any financial loss, damages or additional costs incurred due to event cancellation, rescheduling, timetable changes or changes to the event format.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Hotel costs
• Travel costs
• Parking costs
• Subsistence costs
• Lost income
• Other associated expenses

In the event that CUO needs to cancel or reschedule an event, attendees may be offered either:

A full ticket refund; or

A ticket transfer or credit.

However, if you are unable to attend for personal reasons, withdraw from the event, or miss the specified ticket return deadline set out in CUO’s terms, refunds for tickets or deposits will not be available.

Calling You Out- Safeguarding & Health/Safety Information 

Calling You Out event! To ensure a safe, enjoyable experience for all, please carefully review the following policies. These reflect our commitment to safety, in line with BOPA requirements and the new Martyn’s Law guidelines.--

Event Safeguarding A Body of Persons Approval (BOPA) has been granted for this event by the Council. Under BOPA, our priority is the safety and well-being of all participants, especially children up to school-leaving age. This requires collaboration among:- Event Organizers and team members- Licensed Chaperones/Dance School Teachers/Leaders- Parents/Guardians/Responsible Adults- External Vendor Providers Thank you for your cooperation in reviewing and following these procedures.--

Participant Sign-In/Sign-Out 

To ensure all participants are accounted for, each student should inform their teacher or group lead upon arrival and departure. Teachers/group leads are responsible for recording attendance. Supervision In accordance with BOPA guidelines, children up to school-leaving age must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times. 

Unaccompanied children will not be allowed through security, and any found wandering will be taken to a designated safe area (the Desk and Shop area) until collected by an appropriate adult. We will provide a minimum of two Licensed Chaperones, and each team member has an Enhanced DBS check.--

Health & Safety

First Aid Wewill have two Pediatric and one FTACC (First Aid at Concerts and Crowds) trained personnel on-site. The FTACC officer will remain at the PA area for coordination if necessary. 

Footwear Requirement

All children must wear suitable footwear at all times when not actively dancing. Bare feet, socks, or inappropriate footwear can increase the risk of injuries such as cuts, slips, or other accidents.

Parent/Guardian Responsibility

It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to ensure that their child is wearing appropriate footwear while not participating in a dance performance or rehearsal.

Please direct any medical assistance needs to our team members. Changing Rooms Designated male and female changing rooms are provided. For safeguarding reasons, children up to school-leaving age must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Photography or video recording is strictly prohibited in these areas. Changing in public areas not allowed--

Photography/Filming Guidelines Personal Recordings Families are welcome to capture memories during solo and pair events, as well as during awards presentations. We ask that:- Social media privacy settings are adjusted to limit the audience to close family and friends.- 

Cameras focus only on your child, respecting the privacy of others. Editing tools can be used to blur other participants if necessary.- Any concerns regarding recordings should be raised with your dance school lead, who will communicate them to our team. Event Media Coverage Our media team may capture event highlights for social media purposes. Please inform your dance school lead of any concerns, and we will address them promptly.--

Venue Safety and Martyn’s Law Compliance Emergency Evacuation, Lockdown, or Other Emergencies Upon arrival, familiarize yourself with venue exits. In an emergency, the PA system will instruct attendees to exit. Please follow the nearest exit route to the designated assembly point. Responsible adults should confirm the safe evacuation of students with their group lead, taking a register once outside and immediately reporting any concerns or missing children.

In line with Martyn’s Law, all participants are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to event staff. This includes reviewing learning resources such as Prevent and HOT (Hide, Observe, Tell) before attending the event. In case of an emergency (fire, intruder, or unknown package), the event host will coordinate with designated leaders and contact the relevant authorities.--

Points of Contact- Chris Lloyd- Event Coordinator, FTACC, and Safeguarding Lead- Claire Lloyd- Event Support, First Aid, and Safeguarding Second Lead For any safeguarding concerns, please contact us at info@callinguout.co.uk or speak to your designated lead on the event day. Thank you for your attention to these important safety guidelines. We look forward to a fantastic event!

At our dance events, good sportsmanship is paramount. We expect all dance schools to act with integrity, professionalism, and respect towards other dancers, teachers, and schools. We do not tolerate any attempts to poach students or engage in any behaviour that would reflect poorly on our community.

Examples of good sportsmanship include, but are not limited to:

Teachers: Showing support and encouragement towards other schools and their students, being fair in judging, and maintaining a positive and professional attitude towards everyone involved.

Parents: Respect the decisions of the teacher and the judges, be positive and supportive towards their own child and others, and avoid engaging in negative gossip or confrontations.

Dancers: Being gracious winners and losers, showing respect towards other dancers and their teachers, and displaying appropriate behaviour both on and off the dance floor.

If any school, parent or student is found to be engaging in poor behaviour, we expect the teacher to actively address the issue and create a dialogue with the other party. We believe that it is important to resolve conflicts in a respectful and constructive manner and that all parties involved should be willing to listen and work towards a positive solution.

If a teacher fails to address such issues or is found to be engaging in poor behavior themselves, the school may not be allowed to enter our events or be suspended for a season. We take these matters seriously and strive to maintain a positive and supportive environment for all dancers and schools.

We believe that good sportsmanship is the foundation of a successful dance community. Therefore, we ask all schools, parents, and students to adhere to this rule and help us create a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.