Entry Rules for AIDA Competitions in NSW

GENERAL RULES

• The age of a competitor shall be taken as on 1st January for that particular dancing year. Where a competitor’s birth date falls on 1st January he/she shall, for the purpose of the Australian Championships be regarded as under the age attained on that day.

• A dancer who comes 1st in a section with 8 or more competitors will then be upgraded to the next grade for that dance. This rule does not apply to 6 years and under age groups.
  Should a dancer lose a heel or a complete shoe he/she may stand back, allowing the other dancer, where applicable, to continue dancing uninhibited. In such a case the dancer concerned will be permitted to re-dance as soon as it is deemed practicable by the stage personnel.

• AIDA accepts no liability for any injury caused to any person, including but not limited to, competitors, however caused and whether or not caused by the negligence or default of AIDA, its servants or agents.

• Should a dancer slip on stage the adjudicator may, at his/her discretion, ring the bell thereby stopping the performance of all dancers on stage.

• Should in the opinion of the Stage Personnel ( in consultation if deemed necessary with medical personnel) a dancer be unfit to re-dance, and if such dancer insists on performing the dancer concerned will only be permitted to redance on completion of a formal declaration which removes the organising committee of any liability.

• Any Form of unauthorised photography which has the capability to capture a dancer’s image whilst in motion, using electronic or manual means, e.g. mobile phone, standard camera, video camcorder, cine recorder, commercial film, with or without flash enhancement, is expressly forbidden in competition.

• No block, en point, stationary or moving be allowed to be performed for all ages up to and including the under 12 age group.

• Costumes must consist of a full front and back section i.e. cut away styles are not acceptable. Materials must be on an equivalent weight to that used in the more traditional costumes, e.g. dress velvet, trevira, gaberdine, wool mix etc

• Skirt lengths - the minimum skirt length is not more that four inches above knee level.
  Neck lines must be of collar-bone level or above. This does not prelude the use of alternative fabrics, e.g. lace as an inset

• Where chiffon or lace material is used as sleeves, the sleeves must start at the shoulder line and end at the cuff

• Appropriate underwear must be worn. Where tights are worn they must be of a denier of not less than 70.

• Any competitor found to be using artificial carriage aids and subsequently refused to remove same, will be subject to disqualification from that particular competitions.

• Medically prescribed apparatus (proof of which may be required) will be exempt from this ruling.

• With immediate effect, makeup* will not be permitted for any dancer in the first two grades (beginner and primary) up to and including the Under 12 age group Worldwide.

  * Please note that the phrase makeup refers to facial makeup as well as fake tan.
  

• In 2007, all dancers dancing in beginner grade for the 1st time may only wear a team costume, plain basic dress or skirt and top.
  
• In 2007 existing competing beginners can continue to wear their current costume.
  The IDC rule regarding make up and leg tan for beginners be followed, but no wigs or hair pieces be permitted in beginner grade. Hair to be worn in a neat and tidy manner.

For further clarification of this rule and how it affects your child, please speak to your teacher.

NSW STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

• In order for entries to be accepted all competitors:

(a) must be pupils of teachers who, at the date of entry, are registered with An Coimisiun for 2006
(b) must not, on the date(s) of their competition(s), be under suspension from competitive dancing due to any rule of An Coimisiun ;
(c) must have been formally entered and have had their entry fees paid in due time in accordance with these rules.
(d) must have had their 2006 AIDA Dancer Administration Fee paid to the Organising Committee prior to close of entry date.
(e) dancing solo competition, must have had their Birth Certificate sighted prior to the competition in accordance with the rules of the AIDA NSW Branch Inc.

• Competitors must;

(a) obey all instructions of the Organising Committee officials, otherwise permission to compete may be withdrawn.
b) Dance in numerical order as published in the official program.
(c) Present themselves to the marshallers in good time to dance in numerical order as sections will not be held up for late competitors.
(d) Where possible the Organising Committee will adhere to the timetable released once all entries have been received and collated. There may be times when this is not possible.

• The Organising Committee will, as far as is practicable provide a stage surface suitable for dancing, however dancers participate at their own risk.

• The Organising Committee cannot accept any liability for injuries sustained while on stage. The lodgement of an entry will be deemed to be an acceptance of this provision by a dancer.

• No pacers will be used in any sections of the NSW State Championships.

• Where possible, competitors will not dance together more than once. Starting number will be determined by ballot for dance 1.

• All age sections up to and including 12 years will dance their light and heavy shoe dances 3 at a time.

• 13 & 14 years will dance their heavy shoe dance 3 at a time but their light shoe dance 2 at a time.

• All other sections will dance both dances 2 at a time.
  The Official Points System will be used to place the competitors in order of merit.
  The results of each Championship will be read out at a time designated by the Organising Committee. These results will be available for sale after they have been read out.

• Decisions of the Organising Committee as to the interpretation of these Rules and in relation to all other matter pertaining to the State Championships shall be final.

• Lodgement of an entry shall be taken to signify that the teacher and pupil(s) concerned accept all these Rules in full and agree to strictly abide by them.
  

SOLO CHAMPIONSHIPS - RULES & DIRECTIONS

The required dances for each section are set out herein.

1. All recall set dances must be nominated on the original entry form (dances and tempo), any changes must be notified prior to the commencement of that section. All set dances nominated must be on the list included in this syllabus.

2. In all sections competitors will dance (as set at the 2005 AIDA Convention) (a) a reel or slip-jig (b) either a heavy jig or hornpipe, depending on their age groups. In all cases the heavy dances (b) will be performed first.

3. Dancers will dance 48 bars in the reel, 40 bars in the slip jig, jig and hornpipe. Except Sub Minors who will dance 32 bars of the jig and a Traditional Set Dance comprising Full Step (short) and 1/2 of the Set (long).

4. In all sections the official points system will be used to place the competitors in their first two dances, a recall set dance will then be done by those who place in the first two dances with the following ratio used: top 60% of the section. A dancer who fails to complete one of the dances of the first two rounds will not appear in the recall round.

5. In all Championships only recalled competitors will perform their own choice set dance. A dancer who fails to complete the set dance will not appear in the final result of the Championship. The number of points gained by competitors on their overall placings in the first two dances will not be disclosed at recall stage, only the list of those recalled will be announced in numerical order.

6. In the case of set dances, introductions will be played only once and a dancer must set his/her music speed during the one playing. Where the official metronome is used, no variation of the speed of the music will be permitted once the playing has commenced. The onus of ensuring that the stage steward is informed of the correct metronomic speed will rest with the teacher who should enter the appropriate number on his/her competitor’s entry form.

7. Should a teacher submit an incorrect metronomic speed to the stage steward and the music is played accordingly, the dancer must continue to dance at this speed as no further opportunity of tempo change will be afforded.

8. Any competitor in breach of the IDC Rules pertaining to dress, makeup and tanning will be subject to disqualification.

Speeds for the solo competition dances will be as follows:

Reel Slip Jig Jig (all ages) Hornpipe St Patrick’s Day Jockey to the Fair Blackbird Garden of Daisies Three Sea Captains King of the Fairies Job of Journeywork

113 113 73 113 92 92 144 138 92 120 138

Only set dances included in the following list may be performed in at the NSW State Championships 2006. Minimum metronomic speeds as outlined below must be adhered to:

OWN CHOREOGRAPHY CHAMPIONSHIPS
RULES AND DIRECTIONS

1. OWN CHOREOGRAPHY UNDER 13 - THREE HAND
(a) Dance must be 96 bars or less, not including introduction, of reel music.
(b) No story allowed, either read or sung.
(c) Must be performed in usual class costume (excluding solo costume).
(d) Own music to be arranged.
(e) More than one team per school allowed in either mixed, unmixed sections or both.
(f) Each team member should dance continuously for the duration of dance.
(g) Pauses found in Ceili Dancing permitted.
(h) Steps are permitted if desired. Dance must be performed in soft shoes.

2. OWN CHOREOGRAPHY UNDER 16 - TWO-HAND
(a) Dance must be 72 bars or less, not including introduction, of reel music.
(b) No story allowed, either read or sung.
(c) Must be performed in usual class costume (excluding solo costume).
(d) Own music to be arranged.
(e) More than one team per school is allowed in either mixed, unmixed sections or both.
(f) Each team member should dance continuously for the duration of dance.
(g) Pauses found in Ceili Dancing permitted.
(h) Steps are permitted if desired. Dance must be performed in soft shoes.
(i) Competitors minimum age requirement is 13 – 15 years only.

3. SENIOR 4 HAND OWN CHOREOGRAPHY
(a) Dance must be 96 bars or less, not including introduction, of jig music.
(b) No story allowed, either read or sung
(c) Must be performed in usual class costume (excluding solo costume) & soft shoes..
(d) Own music to be arranged.
(e) More than one team per school allowed in either mixed, unmixed sections or both. Dancers cannot dance across from girls team to mixed team.
(f) Each team member should dance continuously for the duration of dance.
(g) Pauses found in Ceili Dancing permitted.
(h) Steps are permitted if desired. Dance must be performed in soft shoes.

FIGURE DANCING CHAMPIONSHIPS
RULES AND DIRECTIONS

These rules and directions must be read in conjunction with the General Rules and other relevant sections of this syllabus.

1. Each team must consist of not fewer than eight (8) and not more than sixteen (16) dancers.
2. Each dance must portray by movements an Irish theme or item.
3. Only the basic steps, found in "Ar Rince Foirne" will be permitted.
4. Dances must be in 2/4, 4/4, 6/8 time, or a combination of those times, but any change of music must last for at least 16 bars.
5. Song is not permitted.
6. Each team member must be on stage from the commencement of the dance and shall dance continuously for the duration of the dance except where, to emphasise a figure, short pauses for up to 4 bars may be permitted.
7. A dance should not exceed 4 minutes duration from beginning to end of the dance. All teams will be strictly timed and, where a dance is not finished by 4 minutes 20 seconds from the time of commencement, a bell will be rung. For every 10 seconds, or part of 10 seconds, a dance continues after the ringing of the bell, twenty (20) competition points will be deducted from the team's overall points total (if any) at the conclusion of the competition.
8. The names of all team members must be submitted with the entry and any later alterations notified prior to the competition.
9. Every dance must be capable of being performed on a stage not greater than 9.14m x 9.14m.
10. Teachers are required to submit an account of their dance with their entry. This account should not exceed 150 words.
11. Directives of An Coimisiun for figure dancing will apply refer World Syllabus 2006.