American Classic Balboa Championships

ACBC (Open & Amateur)   Jack & Jills   Definition of an Amateur  

2009 American Classic Balboa Championship Rules (Open & Amateur)

Please note: There WILL be Bal-Swing in the Prelims in 2009 (see below).

Only amateurs may compete in the Amateur ACBC, while anyone may compete in the ACBC (Open). A competitor may compete in the Amateur division or the Open division but not both. Please see Definition of an Amateur below.

  • All competitors must be Full Weekend Pass or Competition Pass holders
  • $25 per couple
  • Please see the Schedule for times of the Prelims and Finals.
Preliminary Round:
  • Warm-up All Skate - This round will start with a non-judged all skate. There may be 2 heats depending on the space available, and the number of couples in the competition.
  • HEATS (Two songs) - The main portion of this round will be danced in heats. There will be 3 to 4 heats consisting of 8 to 10 couples each. If the maximum number of couples is less than 40, then there will be fewer couples in each of the 3 to 4 heats. And/or there will be less than 3 to 4 heats.
  • Song 1 of Heat - Pure Balboa only - Close body contact between partners must be maintained at all times (Couples torsos must maintain contact the entire round. This means: no cross-overs, no breakaway turns, no lollies, no rock-step start/reset, etc.).
  • Song 2 of Heat - Anything goes for this song.
  • Final All Skate - When all of the heats are complete, ALL of the couples will dance to another song. This will be judged. If the judges feel it necessary, ALL of the couples will dance again to an additional song. This will also be judged.

Please note that you are being judged against ALL of the other couples in the contest not just your heat. Therefore the couples brought back for the final round will be the best out of the entire group. There is no minimum number of couples to be brought back from each heat.

Judges will be looking for timing, teamwork, finesse, foot work and musicality.

Final Round:

Anything goes in this round. There are NO restrictions. However, emphasis will be placed on finesse, footwork, and musicality. Therefore, if a dip, trick, or aerial does not fit the music, it may not be beneficial to your final score.

  • 1st ALL SKATE - ALL of the couples will dance to a 2 minute song.
  • Spotlight - Each couple will then get a 1 1/2 minute solo dance.
  • 2nd ALL SKATE - When all of the heats are complete, ALL of the couples will dance to another song. This will be judged. If the judges feel it necessary, ALL of the couples will dance again to an additional song. This will also be judged. 

Once again, judges will be looking for timing, teamwork, finesse, foot work and musicality.

WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON SATURDAY EVENING.

***Please note that this is a BALBOA/BAL-SWING CONTEST. NOT a shag, jitterbug, or lindy contest. Expect GOOD balboa and bal-swing to be rewarded.

2009 Jack & Jill Competition (Open & Amateur)

Open & Amateur Jack & Jill

All competitors must be Full Weekend Pass or Competition Pass holders. There will be a maximum number of 50 leaders and 50 followers allowed to enter the Amateur Balboa Jack & Jill. Please sign up online for the Jack & Jill competition when you register for ABW itself. These spots will fill up fast, so the sooner you register the better!

$12/person

Anything goes in both rounds - there are no restrictions. Dancers will be randomly paired and will dance to music selected by the DJ. Leaders will be male and followers will be female.

Please see the Schedule for times of the Prelims and Finals.

  • Preliminary Round - During the preliminary rounds, dancers will rotate. The number of Heats (and rotations within each heat) will be determined by the Event Organizers. Leaders and followers will be selected to advance to the finals individually (but will be judged on how well they dance with their partner).
  • Final Round - Finalists will be randomly paired and will compete as a couple. Couples will not rotate or change partners during finals. Leaders will be male and followers will be female. Judging will emphasize how well the dancers adapt to their partners. Finalists will dance to 3 songs of varying tempos. There will be no spotlights in the Amateur division.

WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON SATURDAY EVENING.

Definition of an Amateur at ABW

With respect to the 2009 American Classic Balboa Championships at ABW an Amateur is someone with the following attributes:

  1. Does not make 60% of their income from teaching Balboa (or other forms of swing).
  2. Has NOT made the finals of the Open ACBC (2003-2008).
  3. Has NOT made the finals of other national Balboa competitions (2003-2008).

Please note that the final decision as to whether someone will be able to compete as an amateur is up to the discretion of Valerie Salstrom and/or a member of the All Balboa Committee. If you register for a level that the above mentioned find inaccurate you will be notified as such and the appropriate change will be made.