Only amateurs may compete in the Amateur ACBC, while anyone may compete in the ACBC (Open).
Amateurs may compete in both the Amateur division and the Open division if they wish to do so.
Please see What's An Amateur tab above for ABW's qualification.
- All competitors must be Full Weekend Pass or Competition Pass holders
- $40 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.).
- 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, technique, teamwork, finesse, foot work and
musicality.
Final Round:
Anything goes in this round. There are NO restrictions. However, emphasis
will be placed on timing, technique, teamwork, finesse, foot work 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, technique, teamwork, finesse, foot work
and musicality.
WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE AWARDS CEREMONY ON SUNDAY NIGHT. SEE SCHEDULE FOR DETAILS.
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.
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. There will be a maximum number of 50 leaders and 50 followers allowed to
enter the Open 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!
$20 per person
Anything goes in both rounds - there are no restrictions. Dancers will be
randomly paired and will dance to music selected by the DJ. You cannot lead and follow in the same division.
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 change partners during finals.
Leaders may be male or female. Followers may be male or 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 AT THE AWARDS CEREMONY ON SUNDAY NIGHT. SEE SCHEDULE FOR DETAILS.
All competitors must be Full Weekend Pass or Competition Pass holders.
Each Amateur Follow will dance with the Pro Leader that has agreed to partner her.
Each Amateur Leader will dance with the Pro Follow that has agreed to partner him.
Only the Amateur will be judged. Amateur Leaders and Amateur Followers will compete and be
judged separately. Pros may dance with up to two different partners.
This will be a social dance competition in a strictly style competition format. Dancers register
as couples and will dance to music randomly selected by the ABW DJ.
Please see What's An Amateur tab above for ABW's definition of an amateur.
The exact format of the contest will be determined by the number of entrants and announced at the competitors meeting.
Medals will be given to the top three Amateur Leaders and the top three Amateur Followers.
In addition, cash prizes will be given to ALL of the dancers winning top three placements, this
includes both Amateurs and Pros.
$40 per couple
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.
WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE AWARDS CEREMONY ON SUNDAY NIGHT. SEE SCHEDULE FOR DETAILS.
With respect to the 2015 American Classic Balboa Championships at ABW an
Amateur is someone with the following attributes:
- Does not make 60% of their income from teaching Balboa (or other forms of
swing dancing).
- Has NOT made the finals of the Open ACBC (2003-2012).
- Has NOT made the finals of other national or international Balboa competitions (2003-2012).
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.