This year the divisions will include:
*Invitational Jack and Jill (New) *Like a Virgin (for those who have never competed before) *Up & Coming (for those dancing since Jan 2010) *Showcase *Strictly Lindy *Fast and Furious *All Balboa Jam *Solo Charleston *Open Jack and Jill
Event Information
Below are the specific guidelines for each division, please read carefully before registering. Aerials are allowed in all events.
Invitational Jack n’ Jill
This is a new event for the London Jitterbug Championships. In this event you will get to see the London Swing Festival teaching teams and a few other super dancers compete in a fun Jack and Jill that will go straight to finals. The twist to this event is that it will be judged by a group of beginners. Come and see these amazing dancers battle it out for the approval of our newbee dancers.
Like a Virgin
If you have never before felt the thrill of entering a swing competition, then you are a competition virgin and eligible for this division! It does not matter how long you have been dancing for, as long as you have never competed before (excluding Jack n Jill comps). You must enter as a couple and dance swing. Everyone will dance on the floor at the same time in an all-skate.
BPM Range: Medium Formant: All-Skate for 90sec to 2 minutes
Up & Coming
This event is only available to those who began swing dancing AFTER January 1st 2010 (you may only enter an Up & Coming division once). It’s a great opportunity for eager and promising new dancers to get out there and strut their stuff. You must enter as a couple and dance swing. You don’t need to worry about spotlights or phrase by phrase formats; everyone will dance on the floor together in an all-skate. Get out there and have some fun!
BPM Range: Medium Format: All-skate for 90sec to 2 minutes
Showcase
This is an exciting division for individual couples strut their best by choreographing their own routine to the music of their choosing. Swing styles are assumed. This may include Lindy Hop, Balboa, Shag, 20′s Charleston and Blues.
Routine length: Maximum of 3 minutes 30 seconds Format: Performance order will be chosen at random
Groups
This is an exciting division for groups to show us what they got by choreographing their own routine to the music of their choosing. Swing styles are assumed. This may include Lindy Hop, Balboa, Shag, 20′s Charleston and Blues.
Routine length: Maximum of 3 minutes 30 seconds Format: Performance order will be chosen at random
Strictly Lindy
This division is for the pure Lindy lovers. Couples get on the floor and dance Lindy Hop to the music provided. You must enter as a couple.
BPM range: 160 to 200bpm Format: ‘Spotlight’ – 2 phrases per spotlight, 3 spotlights each. There will be a short un-judged all-skate before, and a judged all-skate after the phrase-by-phrase format.
Fast and Furious
This division is all about speed and style! This is NOT a Strictly Lindy event; the more Shag, Balboa and 20s Charleston dancers there are, the more interesting the event. Dance the style of your choice, or mix them all up! You must enter as a couple.
BPM Range: Upwards of 250bpm Format: ‘Spotlight’ – 2 phrases per spotlight, 3 spotlights each. There will be a short un-judged all-skate before, and a judged all-skate after the phrase-by-phrase format.
All Balboa Jam
Balboa lovers, this is your chance to showcase this old-world dance we love so much. This division is not necessarily about pace, it’s about style and finesse and your chance to demonstrate an understanding of what Bal is all about! You must enter as a couple and dance Balboa (Pure Bal and/or Bal-swing) to the music provided.
BPM Range: 180 to 220bpm Format: Single Spotlight of 60-90 seconds. There will be a short un-judged all-skate before, and a judged all-skate after the spotlights.
Solo Charleston
It’s solo, it’s Charleston, there are no other rules! We will provide the music and using a phrase-by-phrase format competitors will bust it out with their best 20′s and 30′s Charleston moves. Depending on the number of competitors, there may be the need for heats and a final. The crazier, the better!
Open Jack n’ Jill
This event is for everyone and anyone of any level to jump in, and have some fun. In a Jack n’ Jill dancers are judged on their ability to lead/follow. Dancers will also be expected to dance swing and will be judged accordingly as per the judging criteria. You enter as an individual and you don’t know who your partner will be, it’s completely random!
Heats: Your partners will be determined randomly. You will dance to 3 tracks, of various tempos in an all-skate – with a different partner each time. You will be judged individually.
Finals: Your finals partner will be chosen randomly. All couples will dance in three sections with the same partner: all-skate, spotlight, all-skate, each approximately 60 sec long. You will be judged as a team.
Note: The previous years winners are not eligable to enter the J&J. They will be included in the invitational J&J.
COMPETITOR INFORMATION
All divisions will be judged using the below criteria and guidelines. The judge’s decision will be final.
Eligibility: This competition is open to all dancers
Registration fee: 1 event = £10.00 2 events = £15.00 3 or more events = £20.00 Registration fee cap: £20.00
Swing content: Each event must display a majority of recognisable swing content. This may include associated swing dances such as Balboa, Shag, Blues and 20′s Charleston. Aerials are allowed in all events.
Formats: The format for each division is explained within the division description. Should there be too few entries in any division to run heats, an instant final will be run. Should there be too many entrants in a division, then extra heats may be required on the night. All events with the phrase-by-phrase format will include a short un-judged all-skate before and a judged all-skate after the phrase-by-phrase spotlights. The number of phrases and spotlights for each event may also vary please read each event description carefully.
Prizes: Will be awarded for 3rd, 2nd and 1st in all divisions. And finally…remember, dancing is about having fun, so have stacks of it!!!
JUDGING CRITERIA
Technique: The ability of the dancers to use core dance and movement technique to execute all of the criteria below. Lead & Follow: The skill of clear leading and following techniques that enable the flow, individual expression, moves, musicality and execution of the dance.
Timing: How well the couple stays in time with the music and each other. It is all about flow and connection.
Entertainment: The showmanship and entertainment value of the competitors. It is the dancer’s ability to engage the crowd.
Level of difficulty: The complexity of the moves and interaction between the couple, lead and follow ability in the context of the moves and musicality. Innovation will also be considered under this criterion, being the ability of the couple to execute moves to the music that are clearly not scripted/choreographed moves (except the showcase division).
Musicality: How the music is interpreted by a couple, suitable expression of the music, use of musical highlights. Interpretation and understanding of phrasings.
DEFINITIONS
All skate: Where all couples in an event dance on the floor at the same time.
Soptlight: Where one couple at a time takes the floor to dance on their own for a set time or number of phrases.
Phrase by phrase: A Jam format where each couple takes turns to perform solo for a set number of phrases and spotlights. Couples keep rotating through until they have all had the correct number of spotlights. i.e. 1 phrase is equal to 4 x 8′s (Jazz phrasing) or 6 x 8′s (Blues Phrasing). 2 phrases are equal to 8 x 8′s (Jazz phrasing) or 12 x 8′s (Blues Phrasing).
Swing: Any dance style that falls into the 20s/30s/40s ‘swing era’ i.e. Balboa, Shag, 20s Charleston, Blues, Lindy Hop, Fast Lindy etc
LJC WINNERS
Fast & Furious
2011 1st: Jamie Cameron & Sally Young (London, UK), 2nd: Fabien Vrillon & Lisa Clarke (Grenoble, France/London, UK), 3rd: Thom Scott Phillips & Ash Cochrane (Edinburgh, UK/London, UK).
2010 1st: Jamie Cameron & Sally Young (London, UK) 2nd: Ben Cook & Tanya Stephan (London) 3rd: Paul Rankin & Christi Orr (Edinburgh, UK).
Show Case
2011: 1st: Fabien Vrillon & Lisa Clarke (Grenoble, France/London, UK), 2nd: Benjamin Cook & Peta Cook (London, UK), 3rd: Christopher Lloyd & Natalie Lloyd (Northampton, UK).
2010 1st: Ashleigh Cochrane & Peta Cook (London, UK), 2nd: Paul Rankin & Christi Orr (Edinburgh, UK), 3rd: John & Dierdre Costello (Galway, Ireland).
Solo Charleston
2011 1st: Ash Cochrane (London, UK), 2nd: Fabien Vrillon (Grenoble, UK), 3rd: Lisa Clarke (London, UK).
2010 1st: Peta Cook (London, UK), 2nd: Ashleigh CochraneV(London, UK), 3rd: Tanya Stephan (London, UK).
All Balboa Jam
2011 1st: Mel Calanglang and Jo Calanglang (London, UK), 2nd: Sean Hall and Paula Ryan (London, UK), 3rd: Didier Dumet and Moe Sakan (London, UK).
2010 1st: Didier Dumet & Christi Orr (France/Edinburgh, UK), 2nd: Mel Calanglang & Jo Calanglang (London, UK), 3rd: Sean Hall & Paula Ryan (London, UK).
Up & Comers
2011 1st: Fearghal Corbett and Chloe Burrow (London, UK), 2nd: Matt Turner and Dee Nic Sitric (London, UK), 3rd: Chris Neale and Rose Hall (London, UK).
2010 1st: Joe Enright & Eve Kouakou-Kaouame (London, UK), 2nd: Adamo Ciarallo & Jessica Robinson (Italy/London, UK), 3rd: Steve Coombs & Grace Collins (Cornwall/London, UK).
Like A Virgin
2011 1st: David Warwick & Charlotta Karner (London, UK), 2nd: Andrew Rutter and Laura Knight (London, UK), 3rd: James Russell and Rhiannon Parkinson (London, UK).
2010 1st: Quinten Kray & Sarah Wastiaux (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 2nd: Joe Enright & Eve Kouakou-Kaouame (London, UK), 3rd: Chris Gammie & Simone Edwards (London, UK).
Strictly Lindy
2011 1st: Pom & Moe Sakan (Grenoble, France/London, UK), 2nd: Jamie Cameron & Sally Young (London, UK), 3rd: Fabien Vrillon & Lisa Clarke (Grenoble, France/London, UK).
2010 1st: Ben Cook & Tanya Stephan (London, UK), 2nd: Jamie Cameron & Sally Young (London, UK), 3rd: Chris Härm & Peta Cook (Adelaide, Australia/London, UK).
Open Jack & Jill
2011 1st: Jamie Cameron & Moe Sakan (London, UK), 2nd: Fabien Vrillon & Verity Roberts (Grenoble, France/Hertfordshire, UK), 3rd: Didier Dumet & Alba Mengual Alamo (London, UK).
2010 1st: Ben Cook & Sally Young (London, UK), 2nd: Jamie Cameron & Tanya Stephan (London, UK), 3rd: Chris Härm & Christi Orr (Adelaide, Australia/Edinburgh, UK).
Teams
2011 1st: Aristocats (London, UK), 2nd: Ragtagglers (London, UK), 3rd: Revelletes (London, UK).
Invitational Jack and Jill
2011 1st: Daniel Heedman & Sally Young (Sweden and London, UK), 2nd: Benjamin Cook & Tina Rizza (London, UK/Buenos Aires, Argentina), 3rd: Hasse Mattson/Daniela de Zabaleta (Stockholm, Sweden/Barcelona, Spain).
Slow Swing
2010 1st: Ben Cook & Peta Cook (London, UK), 2nd: James Horada & Ashleigh Cochrane (London, UK), 3rd: Thom Scott Phillips & Michelle Davies (Edinburgh, UK).
Heel Slide Competition
2010 1st: Daniel Wegan (Kettering, UK), 2nd: Dider Dumet (France).
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