Ultimate Dance Competition (UDC) Rule Book
All rules are subject to change in the interest of upholding our standards of fairness and equality.
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.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Dancing in the single dance categories will be required in order to compete in Multi-Dance Events.
4. 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:
1. Foot Skills (Foot Action and Placement), with particular attention to accuracy and consistency of the Five Classic Foot Positions
2. Movement to Music (Timing)
3. Posture and Frame/Dance Holds
4. Quality/Ease of Movement
Silver Criteria (in addition to Newcomer/Bronze Criteria)
1. Clarity & Quality of all technical aspects
2. Partnering Skills/Connection
Gold Criteria (in addition to Newcomer/Bronze and Silver Criteria)
1. Quality of Line
2. Ability to complete movements
3. 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.)
4. Characterization of each Dance
5. 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