Rules & Regulations

GENERAL RULES
Dancers from countries where ESDU qualification tournaments for the ESDU DANCESTAR World Dance Masters 2012 are not held can qualify on any of the ESDU qualification tournaments or on the ESDU qualification tournament All Other Countries the day befor the ESDU DANCESTAR qualification tournament. A competitor is allowed to represent a maximum of two different schools at any one tournament, but must be entered in two different disciplines.
Every competitor has the right to compete in various disciplines and categories.
In case a school/club/organization has more than one performance in one discipline or category, the same competitors can perform only TWICE.
Dances registered in a wrong discipline/category are to be transferred in the right one by the judges without taking any points off.

DISCIPLINES

BALLET
NATIONAL / FOLKLORIC DANCE
CONTEMPORARY  – a)  MODERN
                              –  b) LYRICAL
MTV COMMERCIAL
OPEN
JAZZ
MUSICAL THEATHER
TAP
URBAN DANCE STYLES
B-BOYING
ACROBATIC DANCE
PRODUCTION NUMBER

BALLET
Historical Dances, Classical Ballet, Neo-Classical Ballet, Postclassical Ballet, Characterdance from the classical ballet repertoire. Original choreographies (ag. Swanlake, La Bayadere etc.) and newly created choreographies are permitted. Pure classical technique, in soft shoes or pointed shoes (12 years up)

NATIONAL / FOLKLORIC DANCE
Original choreography is allowed but not necessary.The folkloric dance tradition must be preserved. The costumes and music must reflect the folkloric tradition.

CONTEMPORARY
Please chose between these two subcategories:
MODERN: Emotive and narrative dance that reflects the techniques and characteristics of the modern dance pioneers such as Martha Graham, Jose Limon, Lester Horton.    
LYRICAL: Lyrical is a dance style that combines elements of ballet, modern and jazz dance techniques. It is inspired by the lyrics and the musicial content. Lyrical dance challenges choreographers and dancers to use motion to interpret music and express emotion. A lyrical dancer's movements attempt to show the meaning of the music.  
Both of these subcategories are aiming at developing new dance vocabulary and creating experimental coreography.

MTV COMMERCIAL
A fusion of different dance styles with newly created choreographies inspired by the MTV tradition, variety shows and popular singing groups . It is a commercial style of jazz, a fusion of Jazz, Funk, Hip Hop or other styles, which you can see performed both live and in video clips alike The accent is on presentation, style, expression and performance.

OPEN
All dance styles are allowed. A routine in this category should incorporate a combination of styles, and emphasis is placed on originality when combining different dance styles and techniques.  Clear and pure dance technique in any chosen style is required.

JAZZ
Jazz is an energetic dance style, consisting of unique moves depending on the specific style and era of jazz you are leaning. The styles and steps must reflect jazz dance technique (eg. lay outs, jazz pirouettes, jumps etc.). which are based on learning and using technique from classical training The music must reflect the jazz tradition and can vary from theatre style, latin jazz, artistic jazz, lyrical jazz etc. Jazz is an exciting and ever evolving dance form full of rhythm, passion and life that encourages individual expression and the development of personal style.

MUSICAL THEATER
All styles are permitted including both classical and contemporary musicals.
Examples: from the 1930 ( Singing in the rain, Oklahoma, Cabaret, Sweet Charity) up to the present day (Mamma Mia, Producers, Chicago, Wicked, etc.). Storyline, characterisation and costume must reflect the chosen musical theatre peace. Musical character must be recognizable.

TAP
Must have clear tap technique. Appropriate choice of music is essential. No tap sounds are permitted on the music track.

Urban Dance Styles

Pertaining to the Urban Dance category, the choreography can place consideration to different dance styles of hip hop such as e.g. Oldschool and Newschool.

Oldschool includes: popping, locking, jazzrock, hype,…

Newschool includes: newstyle, krumpin, dance hall,…

Housedance (footwork, jacking and lofting) is considered in this category. also included: wacking, voguing and experimental.

Use choreography to be inspired, but do not copy, be creative! As Hip-Hop is a personal expression of emotions or situations and experiences. Abusive language and violent expressions are forbidden in music and performance. Acrobatic/Break movements are allowed but dancing has to dominate. 
 

B-boying / Breaking

The foundation of breakdance consist of: footwork (e.g.: six-step, knee-step,…), up-rock (eg: battle-rock, indian-step,…), freezes (clash, baby-freeze,…) and powermoves (e.g.: headspin, windmills,…).

Acrobatics (e.g.: flips/screws, butterflies)  and Freestyle sections are permitted but must not dominate. 

ACROBATIC DANCE
Acrobatics includes both basic and intermediate acrobatic movements such as forward and backwards rolls, handstands, cartwheels beranis and other movements Beside using acrobatic movements and technique, the predominant inclusion of dance elements is required. All dancing styles are allowed but must be creative in interpretation. It will be judged as a dance and not as a gymnastic number.

PRODUCTION NUMBER
Must have a clear theme which takes you on a theatrical journey that has a beginning, middle and end. All dance styles are allowed. Only for groups (9 +).


Age Groups
A tournament consists of MINI, CHILD, JUNIOR, and SENIOR age groups.
The cut-off date for age groups is the last day of the ESDU World Dance Masters. MINI, CHILD, JUNIOR, and SENIOR groups are based on the average age. Therefore, a competitor may compete in the child group even though he or she may have turned 12 after January 1st. The appropriate age group for a dance is determined by the average age of the competitors!

MINI or CHILDREN are not allowed to compete in the SENIOR group and SENIORS are not allowed to compete in a MINI or CHILDREN group.

Exception: in the discipline “Production Number” it's allowed to have Performances with MINI or CHILDREN and SENIORS.

Average age for dances with more than 1 dancer:
MINI: 5 – 8,5 years
CHILDREN: 8,6 – 12,5 years
JUNIORS: 12,6 - 16,5 years
SENIORS 1: over 16,6 years

Real Age for dances with 1 dancer (Solo):
MINI: 5 – 8 years       
CHILDREN: 9 - 12 years
JUNIORS: 13 - 16 years
SENIORS: over 16 years

Categories – groupations:
Solo: 1 person
Pair/Trio: 2 or 3 persons
Group: 4-12 persons
Formation: 13 + persons

Time Limits
Solo: 1.00 – 2.00 min
Duo/Trio: 1.00 - 2.00 min
Group : 2.00-3.30 min
Formation : 2.00-3.30
Production Number: 3.00 min – 4.30 min.

Timing starts with the clear start and ends with the clear end of the performance.

Time limits have a window of 5 seconds. Misdemeanor will result in a 20-point deduction.

Music

Please provide one professional quality recording CD for each number entered. Schools are responsible for choosing, editing, running and preparing their own music. 
Music will be played from CDs.

CDs should be given to the proper tournament authorities no later than one hour before a performance. Please make sure your CDs are properly prepared.

1 CHOREOGRAPHY = 1 CD.

A reserve CD should be at the disposal.

CD has to be professionally recorded.

SCORING SYSTEM
(a) technique: 40%
(b) choreography: 30%
(c) level of performance: 15%
(d) overall impression: 15%
•    Every  judge gives points  from 1 to 10 in each of the criteria. The total number of points one judge can give is a maximum of 40 points.
•    The jury consists of 3 to 5 judges for each dance. One spare judge is always present.
•    Evaluation is closed-type, and final.
•    There is only one round
•    Special prizez are choosen by the judges

After the competition, except for the judges comments, there will be a possibility of getting the number of points gained.

ESDU has the right to check the participant’s age and the number of registered dancers with the number of dancers on stage during the choreography.

Important information for the directors of the schools/clubs

General Rules
By registering for a tournament you agree to the rules and guidelines of the ESDU.

Only online on the Registration Portal you can register for the tournament.
A representative of the school or club must be at the disposal backstage, 5 dances before they are scheduled to dance.

Directors or trainers are not allow to hold up signs or give signals to dancers, or to step on stage during a performance.

Schools are solely responsible for any injuries or accidents that take place during the competition. Every school has to have their own assurance.

Failure to follow the following rules can result in a 20 point deduction:
Failure to properly prepared music
Large changes to any qualified choreography
Going more than 5 seconds over the time allowance.

The representative of each school or club will have the opportunity to attend the teachers meetings, where they will be informed of the programme or changes in the competition.

Trainers, coaches, and audience members can be reprimanded and removed from the theatre for unsportsman-like behaviour.

Original choreography is allowed in all disciplines.
Acrobatics are defined as typically gymnastic and not dancing elements (salto, flick-flack). Jumps and lifts are not included in this definition and are exceptions to this rule.

Acrobatics and gymnastics should only be used if they are properly integrated and do not dominate the dance style.

The performance order must be adhered in order to stay on schedule. For any extra time needed for costume changes You should inform us in advance via mail on office@esdu.org

Starting list will be announced on our web page one week before the tournament.

Entrance onto the stage should occur directly after the start number is announced and should lead directly into starting positions. Participants should exit the stage immediately after taking their bows.

All costumes, music, and performance styles should be done in good taste and in the spirit of good sportsmanship.

Props are allowed as long as they are quickly set up on the stage before a performance while the dancers take place and are immediately taken down after a performance while the dancers step down.

Personal lighting effects including any fire effects are strictly forbidden.

Creativity, originality, movement, effect, space usage and abilities of the performers are important.

Choreography should be appropriate for the ability and age of the performers.
Individual points will only be given out in the solo categories. All other results are based on the accomplishment of the entire group as a whole.

Duo and trios should be choreographed in a way, which highlights the relationship of one to another.

Live singing is only allowed in the “Production number” and “Theatre vocal” categories.

A single performer may only dance in TWO dances per discipline/category/age group.

A single performer may compete for TWO schools but not in the same discipline and category.

Directors of the schools / clubs are invited and expected to take part at the official opening, teachers meetings and the prize award ceremony.