Competitions
In-Person Competitions
| Division | Format / Tempo / Structure | Awards | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Novice DRAW $15 / person |
Prelims Heats to DJ music 2 songs per heat (~160 and 180 bpm) About 1 min 30 sec each song |
Semis Heats to DJ music 2 songs per heat (~160 and 180 bpm) About 45 sec each song |
Finals Spotlights to DJ music Warmup: ~150 bpm Spotlights: ~170 bpm about 1 min All-skate finale: ~190 bpm |
1st – $150 2nd – $100 3rd – $50 |
|
Advanced DRAW $15 / person |
Prelims Heats to DJ music 2 songs per heat (~170 and 190 bpm) About 1 min 30 sec each song |
Semis Heats to DJ music 2 songs per heat (~170 and 190 bpm) About 45 sec each song |
Finals Spotlights to DJ music Warmup: ~160 bpm Spotlights: ~180 bpm about 1 min All-skate finale: ~200 bpm |
1st – $150 2nd – $100 3rd – $50 |
|
All-Star DRAW $15 / person |
Prelims Heats to DJ music 2 songs per heat (~170 and 200 bpm) About 1 min 30 sec each song |
Semis Heats to DJ music 2 songs per heat (~170 and 120 bpm) About 45 sec each song |
Finals Spotlights to live band Warmup: ~160 bpm Spotlights: ~180 bpm about 1 min 15 sec All-skate finale: ~215 bpm |
1st – $250 2nd – $150 3rd – $100 |
| Invitational DRAW |
Spotlights to live band Warmup: ~150 bpm Spotlights: ~175 bpm about 1 min 30 sec All-skate finale: ~215 bpm |
1st – $400 2nd – $250 3rd – $150 |
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|
Open Strictly $30 / couple |
Prelims 1st and 2nd place of Beginner Strictly ILHC qualifiers AND 3rd place of Advanced Strictly ILHC qualiers: FREE entry into the Open Strictly Heats to DJ music 2 songs per heat (~170 and 210 bpm) About 1 min 30 sec each song |
Semis 2nd place of Advanced Strictly ILHC qualiers go straight to the Open Strictly semi-finals Heats to DJ music 2 songs per heat (~170 and 210 bpm), about 45 sec each song All-skate 1 song ~210 bpm, about 1 min 30 sec |
Finals 1st place of Advanced Strictly ILHC qualiers go straight to the Open Strictly finals Jam format to live band 1 song: each couple dances 2 blues choruses (12x8s) at ~170 bpm, tempo change, then each couple dances 2 blues choruses (12x8s) at ~210 bpm, then all-skate 2 blues choruses (12x8s) |
1st – $150 2nd – $100 3rd – $50 |
|
All-Star Strictly $30 / couple |
Prelims 3rd place of All-Star Strictly ILHC qualiers: FREE entry into the All-Star Strictly Heats to DJ music 2 songs per heat (~170 and 220 bpm) About 1 min 30 sec each song |
Semis 2nd place of All-Star Strictly ILHC qualiers go straight to the All-Star Strictly semi-finals Heats to DJ music 2 songs per heat (~170 and 220 bpm), about 45 sec each song All-skate 1 song ~230 bpm, about 1 min 30 sec |
Finals 1st place of All-Star Strictly ILHC qualiers go straight to the All-Star Strictly finals Jam format to live band 1 song: each couple dances 2 blues choruses (12x8s) at ~165 bpm, tempo change, then each couple dances 2 blues choruses (12x8s) at ~225 bpm, then all-skate 2 blues choruses (12x8s) |
Top 3 are invited to the Strictly Social Challenge 1st – $300 |
| Invitational Strictly |
Jam format to live band. 1 song: each couple dances 2 blues choruses (12x8s) at ~165 bpm, tempo change, then each couple dances 2 blues choruses (12x8s) at ~225 bpm, then all-skate 2 blues choruses (12x8s) |
Top 3 are invited to the Strictly Social Challenge 1st – $300 |
||
| Strictly Social Challenge |
Top 3 of the All-Star Strictly and top 3 of the Invitational Strictly compete in the Strictly Social Challenge. Details forthcoming |
1st – $600 2nd – $300 3rd – $200 |
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|
Open Jazz $15 / person |
Prelims 1st and 2nd place of Beginner Jazz ILHC qualifiers AND 3rd place of Advanced Jazz ILHC qualiers: FREE entry into the Open Jazz Heats to DJ music 2 songs per heat (~180 and 220 bpm) About 1 min 30 sec each song |
Semis 2nd place of Advanced Jazz ILHC qualiers go straight to the Open Jazz semi-finals Heats to DJ music 2 songs per heat (~180 and 220 bpm), about 45 sec each song All-skate 1 song ~230 bpm, about 1 min 30 sec |
Finals 1st place of Advanced Jazz ILHC qualiers go straight to the Open Jazz finals Jam format to live band 1 song: each dancer dances 2 blues choruses (12x8s) at ~180 bpm, tempo change, then each dancer dances 2 blues choruses (12x8s) at ~220 bpm, then all-skate 2 blues choruses (12x8s) |
1st – $75 2nd – $50 3rd – $25 |
|
All-Star Jazz $15 / person |
Prelims 3rd place of All-Star Jazz ILHC qualiers: FREE entry into the All-Star Jazz Heats to DJ music 2 songs per heat (~180 and 230 bpm) About 1 min 30 sec each song |
Semis 2nd place of All-Star Jazz ILHC qualiers go straight to the All-Star Jazz semi-finals Heats to live band 2 songs per heat (~180 and 230 bpm), about 45 sec each song All-skate 1 song ~230 bpm, about 1 min 30 sec |
Finals 1st place of All-Star Jazz ILHC qualiers go straight to the All-Star Jazz finals Jam format to live band 1 song: each dancer dances 2 blues choruses (12x8s) at ~180 bpm, tempo change, then each dancer dances 2 blues choruses (12x8s) at ~230 bpm, tempo change, then all-skate 2 blues choruses (12x8s) at ~245 bpm |
Top 6 are invited to the Jazz Throwdown 1st – $150 |
| Invitational Jazz |
Dual jam format first song and jam format second song to live band First song: ~180 bpm, two dancers at a time dance 2 blues choruses (12x8s), then all-skate 1 blues choruses (6x8s) Second song: ~230 bpm, each dancer dances one at a time for 1 chorus (16x8s), tempo change, then all-skate 1 chorus (16x8s) at ~245 bpm |
Top 6 are invited to the Jazz Throwdown 1st – $150 |
||
| Jazz Throwdown |
Top 6 of the All-Star Jazz and top 6 of the Invitational Jazz battle to a live band. Round 1 (Tenacious 12): ~225 bpm, 32-bar structure to live band. Six songs / 6 jam battles. One dancer dances for 1/2 chorus (8x8s), the other dances for 1/2 chorus (8x8s), and all-skate 1/2 chorus (8x8s) Round 2 (Stellar 6): ~235 bpm, 32-bar structure to live band. Four songs / 4 jam battles. One dancer dances for 1/2 chorus (8x8s), the other dances for 1/2 chorus (8x8s), and all-skate 1/2 chorus (8x8s) Round 3 (Fantastic 4): ~245 bpm, blues structure to live band. Two songs / 2 jam battles. One dancer dances 2 choruses (12x8s), the other dances 2 choruses (12x8s), and all-skate chorus (6x8s) Round 4 (Triumphant 2): ~255 bpm, 32-bar structure to live band. Each dancer dances a 1/2 chorus (8x8s), a second 1/2 chorus (8x8s), a third 1/2 chorus (8x8s), and all-skate chorus (16x8s) |
1st – $300 2nd – $150 3rd – $100 |
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|
NORMAlizer Throwdown $30 / couple |
Prelims Heats to DJ music 2 songs per heat (~220 and 240 bpm) All-skate: ~260 bpm About 1 min each song |
Battles The NORMAlizer will be held in a double-elimination battle format, until the final round. The top 3 couples from the prelims and the winners of the 2024 NORMAlizer. Round 1 battles and 1st round elimination bracket: ~230 bpm, each couple dances 2 blues choruses (12x8s) Round 2 battle and 2nd round elimination bracket: ~240 bpm, each couple dances 2 blues choruses (12x8s) Final battle: ~250 bpm, each couple dances 1 chorus (16x8s), then each couple dances 2 blues choruses (12x8s), and 2 all-skate blues choruses (12x8s) |
1st – $700 2nd – $300 |
|
|
All-Star Classic $30 / couple |
2nd and 3rd place of All-Star Classic ILHC qualifiers: FREE entry into the All-Star Classic Lindy Hop routine division. Competitors (1 lead and 1 follow) dance to music of their choice. You may choose any song appropriate for lindy hop, including both modern and historical bands. You CANNOT do the same routine in the virtual classic and an in-person classic. No aerials, air-steps, acrobatics, or lifts in this division. “On the ground” moves (such as drops, slides, and splits) are allowed. Emphasis on partnering. Songs should be 2 – 2.5 minutes in length (or cut or faded within the time allotted). |
1st – $300 2nd – $200 3rd – $100 |
||
| World Finals Classic |
Top 5 from the previous ILHC World Finals Classic, 1st place from the previous ILHC All-Star Classic, 1st place from each ILHC qualifier, and invited dancers by the organizers. Lindy Hop routine division. Competitors (1 lead and 1 follow) dance to music of their choice. You may choose any song appropriate for lindy hop, including both modern and historical bands. You CANNOT do the same routine in the virtual classic and an in-person classic. No aerials, air-steps, acrobatics, or lifts in this division. “On the ground” moves (such as drops, slides, and splits) are allowed. Emphasis on partnering. Songs should be 2 – 2.5 minutes in length (or cut or faded within the time allotted). |
1st – $600 2nd – $400 3rd – $200 |
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|
Lindy Hop Team $100 / team |
Lindy Hop routine division. Teams (3 or more couples) dance to music of their choice. You may choose any song appropriate for lindy hop, including both modern and historical bands. Songs should be 2.5 – 3.5 minutes in length (or cut or faded within the time allotted). |
1st – $400 2nd – $200 3rd – $100 |
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|
Jazz Team $100 / team |
Vernacular jazz routine division. Teams (3 or more dancers) dance to music of their choice. You may choose any song appropriate for vernacular jazz, including both modern and historical bands. This division is for non-partnered jazz movement. Songs should be 2.5 – 3.5 minutes in length (or cut or faded within the time allotted). |
1st – $400 2nd – $200 3rd – $100 |
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Divisions
Novice and Open Divisions – Open to all dancers who have not placed in the top 3 of a high national/international competition and who do not compete regularly in high national/international competitions.
Advanced Division – Open to advanced dancers who compete regularly at high national/international competitions.
All-Star Division – Open to dancers who compete and place in the top national/international level competitions (to be determined by the organizers).
Invitational Division – Open to dancers determined by the organizers.
Multiple Entries
When submitting multiple entries for competitions, please note that each competition has specific rules and guidelines regarding entries across different divisions and roles. Here’s a breakdown:
- Jazz Comps: Participants are allowed only one entry into one division.
- Strictly Comps: Competitors can enter one division per role (e.g., Open as a leader and Adv as a follower).
- Draw Comps: Like Strictly Comps, participants can enter one division per role.
- Classic Comps: Participants can enter one division. Participants may submit an additional entry on waitlist if they enter a different division and dance a different role.
- Teams: Competitors can participate in up to 2 Jazz Teams and 2 Lindy Hop Teams.
In partner and team divisions, only 1 person needs to register for the division. Please be considerate of your fellow dancers and DO NOT register under two names. ALL TBD partners will need to be established and named by the deadline.
Definitions
Virtual and In-Person Contests
You may compete in both in-person and virtual competitions. Our Virtual competitions are open to all levels and our in-person competitions have multiple level divisions.
Also, note that you CANNOT do the same routine in a virtual contest and an in-person contest.
Draw Contests
Lindy Hop Draw contests are social dance competitions. In the preliminary rounds, leaders and followers are randomly paired together and dance to songs of varying styles and tempos but are judged as individuals. In the finals, leaders and followers are randomly paired again, but will be judged as a couple as they dance in a spotlight format.
Strictly Contests
Lindy Hop Strictly contests are social dance competitions. Dancers register as couples and will dance to music selected by ILHC. The finals will be danced in a jam format to a live band. Although choreographed sequences are not disallowed, the judges will be looking for spontaneity, creativity, and connection to the music.
Jazz Contests
Jazz contests are solo American vernacular jazz dance competitions. Dancers must include Charleston and vernacular jazz movements. Dancers will dance to music selected by ILHC.
Classic Contests
In this division, competitors display their Lindy Hop choreographed creativity without aerials, air steps, acrobatics, or lifts. “On the ground” moves (such as drops, slides, and splits) are allowed. The emphasis is on partnering.
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