At the Ultimate Dance Competition, our mission is to promote fairness and equality within the world of dance, uniting dancers of all genres, ages, and dancing proficiencies. To that end, we ask all attendees, staff, and participants to abide by these rules and regulations as well as the spirit of “Promoting Fairness and Equality Through Dance.” We promote and host ethically and morally sound dance competitions, and we invite you to join us in our vision to set the gold standard for dance competitions and what dance is truly about.
GENERAL
- All spectators, competitors, officials, and guests shall be bound by the Ultimate Dance Competition rules.
- Attendance is at your own risk. The Ultimate Dance Competition does not take responsibility for loss, damage or theft of property left in the changing rooms, ballrooms or hotel. Attendees expressly and irrevocably waive any claim against UDC and its employees and representatives arising from loss, personal injury, death or damage associated with this event.
- Participants will receive a copy of their dance schedule upon arrival at the event and must review the information to verify their dances, levels and ages are correct. Participants are responsible for immediately notifying UDC officials of any mistakes.
COMPETITIVE STANDARDS
- This is a unisex competition.
- Schedules are approximate and subject to change. Participants must be present at least 30 minutes prior to their scheduled dance times.
- Closed events will be supervised as per the UDC rule book and in alignment with our mission statement.
- 4 Pro-Am single dances are required per Pro-Am multi dance event.
- Events with fewer than 3 entries may be canceled or combined. Prize monies may be reduced in events with fewer than 3 entries.
- For the Pro-Am 9 Dance and 10 Dance Championships, competitors must dance with the same teacher for all dances.
- There is no entry fee for Top Teacher.
- Teachers must meet the minimum of Pro-Am entries to be eligible for top teacher awards.
REGISTRATION, PAYMENTS AND DEADLINES
- Entry forms and payments must be returned to UDC by our closing date of April 3, 2025. Changes or additions to entries after the deadline will incur a $50 fee per person and may be accepted at the sole discretion of the organizers.
- Payments may be made online and must be submitted at the time of registration.
- Make checks payable to Ultimate Dance Competition. Checks will only be accepted prior to the deadline.
- No personal checks will be accepted. We will accept cashiers checks, corporate checks or money orders. We will also accept Zelle payment. Payment by checks must be received within a week of such entries.
- Outstanding balances must be paid before packages, tickets, and competitor numbers can be released.
- Seats in the ballroom are assigned by ticket. Groups that wish to sit together should order their tickets together.
CANCELATIONS AND REFUNDS
• Cancelations must be submitted in writing 30 days before the closing date of the event indicated on the website and will incur a $95 service charge. Refunds for cancelation will be issued after the event. No refunds will be issued for cancelations after the closing date.
• General admission tickets may not be refunded or exchanged.
• In cases of injury, illness, or emergency, credit or partial credit towards entry fees for the following year may be considered at the sole discretion of the organizers. Such cancelations must be made before the start of the competition. Instances of injury or illness may require physician verification.
• Entries canceled at the event cannot be substituted with another entry, nor will their entry fees be refunded.
UDC Rulebook
Levels
The goal of Ultimate Dance Competition (UDC) is to promote Fairness & Equality in dance competitions.
These rules are written to assist Artists/Athletes in getting them ready to put their best foot forward, to promote
a higher quality of dancing, to provide competitors with a competitive edge, and to ensure that they are
rewarded based strictly on their performance.
All rules will be fully enforced at all levels of competition (Newcomer / Bronze, Silver, & Gold). There are no
separate rules or regulations for levels 1, 2, 3, or 4.
A primary goal of UDC is to help prepare competitors for advancing through the levels by setting high and clear
standards from Newcomer/Bronze level through to the highest level. Judges will mark competitors according to
their level of execution at each level.
- Closed Single & Multi Dance Events:
All competitors at the Pro-Amateur (Pro-Am), & Amateur Levels will be eligible to compete at the
Newcomer/Bronze Level (Closed Syllabus) for the First Two Years (2) Year of the competition (2025 &
2026). Competitors who win the overall category in the multi-dance (Scholarship, Best of the Best, &
Championship) Closed Events may do so for a maximum of three years. For example, A competitor
dancing in Newcomer / Bronze single dances (Closed Events) and winning the multi-dance events
(Scholarship, Championship, & Best of the Best) Closed & Open must move to compete in the next
eligible level after winning or placing in the top two for three years. - Open Multi-Dance Events:
Competitors may place in the top two at the open Bronze, Open Silver, or Open Gold levels in
(Scholarship, Championship, & Best of the Best) for a maximum of three years, then move to the Open
Advanced level. - Dancing in the single dance categories will be required in order to compete in Multi-Dance Events.
- Competitors will be graded on their level of execution. Not on the type of steps they dance!!
Newcomer/Bronze divisions are judged according to the following criteria:
- Foot Skills (Foot Action and Placement), with particular attention to accuracy and consistency of the Five
Classic Foot Positions - Movement to Music (Timing)
- Posture and Frame/Dance Holds
- Quality/Ease of Movement
Silver Criteria (in addition to Newcomer/Bronze Criteria) - Clarity & Quality of all technical aspects
- Partnering Skills/Connection
Gold Criteria (in addition to Newcomer/Bronze and Silver Criteria) - Quality of Line
- Ability to complete movements
- Coordination of Movement with Stepping (This is the ability to demonstrate the difference between the body
engineering the step vs. the step engineering the movement. Movement comes before the step.) - Characterization of each Dance
- Action vs. Reaction (The lead initiates actions and the follower reacts.)
Restriction of Figures/Elements (No lifts allowed at any level. A lift is defined as having both feet off the floor
for more than two beats. No dips until the Gold level)
Newcomer / Bronze (Closed)
No Double Spins, Swivels (except the chicken walks in Swing), Spiral Turns, or Dips