Contests
Our goal at Swing Dance SCT is to carry on the tradition of dance contests like they had at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. Contests are a way to show off your art, celebrate your friends, and push the art form forward through friendly competition.
It’s important to remember that contests are only one of the ways to interact with the art form, they are never a required part of being a dancer, and they should have no effect on your self worth as a human or an artist.
If contests are not motivating and fun for you, we recommend focusing on social dancing and/or performance. Keep an eye out for performance opportunities like Evergreen Rhythm and Showcase Nights on our Saturday Swing calendar!
Check out our “Fremont Stomp Contests” playlist on YouTube!
Divisions
Newcomer: This division is for dancers who have never been in any dance contest final at Fremont Stomp or an equivalent event. If you make finals in this division, you automatically move up to Amateur.
Amateur: To qualify for this division, you must not have finals experience in any Lindy Hop social or strictly contest (excluding Newcomer divisions) at a major events like Camp Jitterbug, Stormy Weather, ILHC, Lindyfest, Lindy on the Rocks, or Camp Hollywood. If you place first in this division, you automatically move up to Open.
Open: Anyone is welcome to enter this division! Contests at this level will be designed for experienced dancers and contestants.
Specialty: Speciality contests include Any Swing Goes, Solo Jazz, Lindy Switch Social, and Slow Strictly. Anyone is welcome to join these contests. If you make finals, you can no longer do the Newcomer division, but making finals or placing will not effect your status as either an Amateur or Open level contestant.
Schedule
Social: Sign up as an individual leader or follower*. Contestants will dance with multiple randomized partners in prelims and will be judged as individuals. In finals, dancers will be randomly paired and judged as a couple.
*Ambi-dancers can sign up for both roles for prelims but must choose one role if they qualify for finals in both.
Strictly: Sign up as a partnership. Contestants will stay with the same partner in both prelims and finals. Switch dancing is allowed in any strictly contest.
January - Newcomer Pro/Am Social Contest
February - Specialty: Any Swing Goes Strictly Contest
March - Amateur Social Contest
April - Specialty: Solo Jazz Contest
May - Amateur Strictly Contest (One dancer in the partnership must be in the Amateur division. This contest will be held at T-Town Stomp on May 23rd.)
June - Open Social Contest
July - Newcomer Pro/Am Social Contest
August - Open Fast Strictly Contest
September - Amateur Social Contest
October - Specialty: Lindy Switch Social Contest
November - Open Social Contest
December - Specialty: Slow Strictly Contest
