WINTER WHITE COMPETITION RULES
Winter White complies with the competition guidelines of the World Swing Dance Council (WSDC). As a competitor, you are responsible for:
Knowing the divisions in which you are eligible or required to compete.
Understanding the WSDC Points Registry Rules.
Using your WSDC Competitor ID number when registering for competitions.
WSDC rules require competitors to dance in the Jack & Jill divisions at the appropriate skill level for which they qualify.
PETITIONING FOR LEVEL CHANGES
Winter White recognizes the WSDC petitioning process for moving between levels based on your current points. To request a reclassification:
Submit a formal petition to Chief Judge Trudy Thatcher to compete in a level other than the one for which you qualify in your dominant or secondary role.
A committee, including the Chief Judge, will review your WSDC Points Registry record before making a decision.
All decisions made by competition officials are final and cannot be appealed.
REQUIREMENTS TO COMPETE
To compete at Winter White 2024, you must:
Hold a full weekend event pass.
Register during the open registration times listed on the schedule and pay the required entry fees.
Sign a legal waiver. If under 18, your parent or guardian must sign the waiver for you.
Have parental/guardian consent if under 18 and be comfortable social dancing with adults.
Demonstrate good sportsmanship at all times, treating your partners, competitors, officials, and spectators with respect.
Follow the Winter White Code of Conduct.
Know the rules. You are responsible for understanding and following all competition rules.
ADDITIONAL COMPETITION INFORMATION
Winter White does not require competitor meetings.
Divisions with fewer than five couples may be canceled at the discretion of the Event Directors.
If your name is not called during the final preliminary heat for your division, notify the emcee or Chief Judge immediately.
Competitors must be present in the ballroom for their competition. If you are not on the floor when the final preliminary heat is called, you will not compete.
During semi-finals and finals, alternates will be called if competitors are not present after the final call to the floor. Once an alternate has been called, the absent competitor will be disqualified.
Missed or withdrawn competitions result in forfeited entry fees.
WSDC JACK & JILL COMPETITIONS
Winter White Jack & Jills are gender-neutral. Please refer to WSDC rules at www.worldsdc.com for qualifications and requirements for skill-level divisions:
Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, and All-Star.
Rules for Jack & Jills:
Competitors may enter two skill-level Jack & Jill competitions: once in their primary role and once in their secondary role.
You may enter as a leader in one level and a follower in another, each at your WSDC-pointed level.
Once entered in a role, you must remain in that role for all rounds (prelims, semi-finals, and finals).
Competitors qualify for their level based on the higher of their Leader or Follower points and may compete one level lower in their secondary role.
Petitioning down an extra level for a secondary role is allowed.
NON-WSDC JACK & JILL COMPETITIONS
Avalanche Jack & Jill:
Open to all levels.
Dancers compete in a randomly assigned partnership through all rounds.
Role-switching is not permitted.
STRICTLY SWING DIVISIONS
Rules for Strictly Swing:
Competitors may enter multiple Strictly Swing divisions with different partners.
The partnership must compete in the division of the levelled dancer.
Levelled Strictly Swing:
Includes Novice, Intermediate,
Example: A Novice leader with an Intermediate follower must compete in Intermediate.
Open division
Open Strictly tonight will be open for everyone
Lifts below the shoulder are allowed.
COMPETITION FORMATS
All dances must be lead/follow. Choreography is not allowed.
Jack & Jill divisions require at least 80% recognizable swing content
Physical contact must be maintained except for spins, turns, short breakaways, and recoveries.
Lifts and aerials are not allowed except in All-Stars, where lifts below the shoulder are permitted.
On-the-ground support moves (e.g., slides and drops) are allowed, provided at least one foot remains on the floor for both dancers.
Winter White reserves the right to make changes to the competition schedule or rules if deemed necessary. All efforts will be made to align with current WSDC guidelines.