RULES2025-2026 SEASON
Please see further below for our GENERAL RULES - and for specific event rules click on the icon shown and always check which sections are running at a event before booking.
Teams
Standardised across all styles:
Streetdance, Contemporary, Acrobatics
Level Maximum Time Allowed
- Intro & Beginner - 2 minutes
- Intermediate - 2 minutes 30 seconds
- Advanced - 3 minutes
🔸 75% of the team must fall into the age category, 25% over will move into the age section with 25% of the highest age in
🔸 Majority rules apply for mixed-age teams.
🔸 If teachers are dancing, the team must enter the Advanced 16+ category.
Team Size
Minimum: 5 dancers - Maximum: 36 dancers
Dancers can only dance in one team and with one school, Per style or section running at the event, E.g one streetteam and one contemporary team as a mixed event.
Costume & Appearance
- Clean, tidy, and age-appropriate
- No props that leave residue or require set-up time
- No glitter, feathers, or excessive accessories which can leave debris on the floor (especially in Acro & Contemporary)
Style-Specific Notes
ACRO
- Tricks must be safe and appropriate for level.
- Intro/ Beginner teams must not include: Aerials, handsprings, walkovers, headsprings, or advanced balances. Bridge recoveries or any movement beyond bridge pose or two-handed cartwheel.
- Mixed-level teams: If 50% or more have competed in Intermediate/Advanced solos or duets, the team must enter at that higher level.
STREETDANCE
- Urban styles may include: Breaking, Locking, Popping, Krump, House, Commercial.
- Use of vocal samples is permitted in music, but explicit lyrics = deductions.
- No acrobatic stunts like flips or aerials in Intro/Beginner sections
- Cypher sections are permitted if kept within time limits and don't disrupt routine flow.
CONTEMPORARY
- Style should reflect core elements of Modern, Lyrical, and Contemporary dance.
- Expressive storytelling is encouraged.
- Movement must suit age and level (no overly mature themes for young dancers).
- Acro is permitted if stylistically appropriate, but must not dominate routine.
Solos & Set Solos. Duos and Set Duets
All solo and duet entries must be entered into the correct:
Age Division
- Ability Level (Intro, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
- Each dancer may only perform once in each section, Solos, Set solos, Duets, Set duets
Dancer Number & Presentation
- All soloists and duet dancers must wear their entry number visibly on their front.
- Teachers or chaperones must help dancers check in for their section in good time.
🚫 Disqualification / Deduction Triggers
- Wrong age or ability entry
- Overuse of acrobatics (where not allowed)
- Unsafe stunts or tricks
- Leaving designated performance area (especially in Acro)
- Inappropriate lyrics, gestures, or costumes
Unique sections - Across the floor, Battles, Contact improv duets
🟦 ACROBATICS: ACROSS THE FLOOR
🔍 Overview
“Across the Floor” is a technical assessment section for Acro dancers focused on travelling acrobatic skills performed in sequence.
✅ Format
Dancers travel across a line of mats using continuous movement.
No stopping, freezing, balancing, or posing allowed.
Dancers perform individually within their lane.
📏 Mat Setups
Intro/Beginner: 5 mats (4 ft x 4 ft) – approx. 7.2m total length
Intermediate/Advanced: 5 mats (6 ft x 4 ft) – approx. 11m total length
📊 Judging Criteria
Control, fluidity, execution, and variety of travel.
Style should match dancer's level.
Overuse of higher-level tricks at a lower level = penalty.
🧠 Skill Restrictions by Level
Level Allowed Skills
- Intro - Basic rolls, two-handed cartwheels, bridge pose only
- Beginner - Rolls, bridge pose, cartwheels (no recoveries), no walkovers or aerials
- Intermediate - Front/back walkovers, dive rolls, round-offs, bridge recoveries
- Advanced - Aerials, back handsprings, tucks, tinsicas, layouts, etc. (controlled & clean)
🔸 Dangerous or uncontrolled tricks = disqualification
🔸 Use only what the dancer can execute safely and cleanly
🟥 STREETDANCE: BATTLES
🎤 Overview
Street Battles offer dancers a chance to compete in a 1v1 freestyle cypher format to showcase individuality, musicality, and confidence, Normally to 8 to 1v1
👣 Battle Format
Dancers enter by ability: Beginner, Open, Age will be based on entries
Sorted into heats, then semi-finals/finals
Dancers freestyle alternately to the DJ’s track selection
Judges select winners based on:
- Musicality
- Confidence
- Originality
- Street dance vocabulary
⏱ Time per dancer
Each round: Approx. 20–30 seconds per turn, 1 round, final 2 rounds
🚫 Not Permitted
- Acrobatics or power moves (unless part of the dancer’s natural style and ability and only in open)
- Inappropriate gestures or miming lyrics
- Leaving the dance floor or interrupting another dancer
🔸 Encourage individuality but stay within respectful boundaries
🟩 CONTEMPORARY: CONTACT IMPROV DUETS
🌿 Overview
This section explores contact improvisation between two dancers, encouraging creativity, connection, and authentic movement.
🧘 Guidelines
- Dancers enter in pairs with someone they don't know.
- All ability levels welcome , Splits will be based on entries.
- Performed without pre-set choreography
- Teachers may help prepare contact prompts, but movement must be fully improvised
⏱ Time - 5-10 mins to practise with you're new partner, 1 minuet rounds
🎶 Music
Provided by CUO (ambient/lyrical music)
Dancers respond intuitively to the track
🎯 Judging Criteria
- Connection between dancers
- Responsiveness to touch and movement
Parent teams, Solos and Parent / Child
👨👩👧👦 PARENT TEAMS & SOLOS
🧾 Eligibility & Entry
Open to parents, guardians, or adult family members dancing with or without children.
Parent entries are available in:
Team performances (with or without students)
Solo category (adult only)
Parent & Child Duets
📅 Age & Level
All parent entries are automatically placed in the 16+ age group or open all ages
Parent team time limits - 2.30 mins for all styles
Parent teams should be for Amateur dancers only, no teachers or professionals.
Parents only need Spectator tickets, when booking your teams in please let the team know you have a parent team attending directly.
Mega Crews and Super Groups
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AGE AND ABILITY CATEGORIES
(PLEASE NOTE that Under 6, Under 8 is equivalent to 5&under, 7&under, etc.)
Age Sections may be added
Teams | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Level | ||||||||
Intro (no experience) | Under 6 | Under 8 | Under 10 | Under 12 | Under 14 | Under 16 | Under 16 | 18 & Over |
Beginner | Under 6 | Under 8 | Under 10 | Under 12 | Under 14 | Under 16 | Under 16 | 18 & Over |
Intermediate | - | Under 8 | Under 10 | Under 12 | Under 14 | Under 16 | Under 16 | 18 & Over |
Advanced | - | - | Under 10 | Under 12 | Under 14 | Under 16 | Under 16 | 18 & Over |
Parent Teams | OPEN | |||||||
SEN | OPEN |
Solos & Set Solos | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Level | ||||||||
Intro | Under 4 | Under 6 | Under 8 | Under 10 | Under 12 | Under 14 | Under 16 | 18 & Over |
Beginner | Under 6 | Under 8 | Under 10 | Under 14 | Under 16 | Under 16 | 18 & Over | |
Intermediate | Under 8 | Under 10 | Under 14 | Under 16 | Under 16 | 18 & Over | ||
Advanced | Under 10 | Under 14 | Under 16 | Under 16 | 18 & Over | |||
SEN ( Option to merge) | Under 6 | Under 8 | Under 10 | Under 12 | Under 14 | Under 16 | 18 & Over | |
Parent | Open |
Duos & Set Duets | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Level | ||||||||
Beginner | Under 6 | Under 8 | Under 10 | Under 12 | Under 14 | Under 16 | 16&Over | Parent |
Intermediate | Under 8 | Under 10 | Under 12 | Under 14 | Under 16 | 16&Over | - | |
Advanced | Under 10 | Under 12 | Under 14 | Under 16 | 16&Over | - | ||
PARENT & CHILD | OPEN |
Unique Sections | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Across the floor | |||||||
Introduction | Under 6 | Under 8 | Under 10 | Under 12 | Under 14 | Under 16 | 16&Over |
Beginner | Under 8 | Under 10 | Under 12 | Under 14 | Under 16 | 16&Over | |
Intermediate | Under 8 | Under 10 | Under 12 | Under 14 | Under 16 | 16&Over | |
Advanced | Under 8 | Under 10 | Under 12 | Under 14 | Under 16 | 16&Over | |
Contact improv duets | |||||||
Open | Under 10 | Under 14 | 14 & Over | ||||
Battles | |||||||
Beginner 1v1 | Under 12 | 12 & Over | Beginner 5v5 | All Ages | |||
Open 1v1 | Under 12 | 12 & Over | Open 5v5 | All Ages |