COMPETITIONS – RULES & GUIDELINES

GENERAL RULES

All competitors must display good sportsmanship on and off the floor. Disrespectful behaviour toward dancers, judges, officials, staff, volunteers, or the event may result in penalties or disqualification.
Competitors must have a full weekend pass, register and pay all entry fees before the deadline, sign a legal waiver, and wear their assigned BIB number (unless otherwise instructed).
Competitors under 18 must submit a parent/guardian consent form found HERE.

Age Requirements:

- Jack & Jill: Minimum age is 16 years old by the end of the event.
- All other competitions: The minimum age is 13 years old.

All competitors must read and understand the CTO’s Rules and Code of Conduct found HERE.
Teaching and judging staff may compete in levelled competitions, but not age-based divisions.
For a WSDC contest to be valid, there must be at least 5 leaders and 5 followers. For non-WSDC contests, the Chief Judge may combine or cancel divisions.
You may dance as a Leader or Follower regardless of gender.
If eligible for two levels in the same role, you must compete in only one level per role for the entire event.
Entry implies consent to use your name, photo, and video for CTO promotion. Opt-out requests may be submitted HERE.
No street shoes, slippers, socks, or bare feet. No torn clothing, obscene language/images, or political statements.
Drops, leans, and other weight support moves are allowed as long as both partners keep at least one foot on the floor. (exceptions for Pro or Invitational divisions, and routine divisions).
All-Star dancers must compete as a Pro in the Krazy Canucks Challenge Prelims to receive the All-Star discount.

COMPETITION PROCEDURE

Please be ready to check in 15 minutes before your competition time. When your division is announced, you must line up and check in.
Failure to check in before the contest begins will result in being scratched and forfeiting the competition fees.
Finals format determined by the Event Director. (Heated, Pushout, Spotlight).
The number of judges is determined by the sanctioning organization (WSDC, CTST, and CSDC).
All scores calculated using the WSDC Callback system and relative placement unless otherwise stated.

WEST COAST SWING

Jack and Jill Competitions

Sign up as either a leader or a follower. You will be randomly paired with different partners and dance to random songs chosen by the DJ.
You may compete in two skill levels (one in your primary role and one in your secondary role). Your secondary role may be up to two levels down, with some exceptions.
Divisions: Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate, Sophisticated, Masters, Advanced, All-Star. Divisions may be combined; points awarded to the lower level.

All WSDC Contests will adhere to the WSDC rules found HERE.

Petitions

Petitions to dance up, found HERE, must be submitted at least 15 days before the event.
Petitions to dance down (primary role only), found HERE, must be submitted before the posted competition cutoff time.
Email petitions to dance down to register@ctodance.ca.
Petitions for those dancing down may be submitted to the Registration desk before the first competition of the weekend.

STRICTLY SWING

Sign up with your chosen partner. If one partner is at a higher level, you must sign up for the higher level.
Divisions: Newcomer/Novice, Intermediate, Open, Masters, and Pro. (Pro may not enter other divisions)
No choreography: lead-and-follow only. Costumes are not permitted; coordinated social attire is allowed.
If entering two divisions, you must have different partners for each.

PRO-AM ROUTINE

Enter with a professional partner: role must remain consistent.
Styles: West Coast Swing, Country Two Step, or Country Swing only.
Amateurs: Advanced or lower level, have never done Pro-Am as a Pro, and must not be a full-time dance teacher.
Music must be submitted 1 week before the event to register@ctodance.ca.
Routine length: 2–4 minutes.
Lifts, drops, and tricks are allowed, but not props.
Each Pro may enter up to 5 routines.

KRAZY CANUCK CHALLENGE (FUN CHARITY COMP)

Dancers at the advanced WSDC level or lower may sign up as either a leader or a follower. This will be run as a Pro-Am Jack & Jill for prelims.
Dancers are randomly paired with All-Star and Champion-level partners and dance to random songs chosen by the DJ.
The top eight leaders and followers are selected for the finals and paired with an All-Star or Champion-level dancer.
Finals are run as Head-to-Head battles for 16 dance couples.
Dancers must return to their assigned side of the dance floor
Dancers must perform a randomly selected dance technique during the battle
Winners of a round return for another Head to Head battle until just four couples remain
The couples who don’t advance will battle for Third place, while the winners battle for First and Second Place.
Judging is based on creative performance and teamwork that thrills the crowd. and judges (magic moments), not technique.
Judges will use flags to choose the winners of each battle.

COUNTRY TWO STEP JACK & JILL (CTST)

All CTST contests will follow CTST rules found HERE.

Levels: Newcomer, Novice, and Intermediate.

Petitions, found HERE, are emailed to register@ctodance.ca 15 days before the event or submitted to the Registration desk one hour before the first competition of the weekend.

COUNTRY SWING JACK & JILL (CSDC)

As a trial event under CSDC, all contests will follow CSDC rules found HERE.
Levels: Newcomer, Novice, and Intermediate.

WINNER TAKES ALL - OPEN TEAM ROUTINES

The 1st Place team takes 100% of the division’s entry fees.
Teams of 3 or more dancers; roles may change.
Styles: WCS, Country Two Step, Country Swing, Nightclub Two Step, Line Dance
Routine length: 2–4 minutes,
For this contest to be valid, there must be at least 3 entries
Music must be submitted 1 week before the event to register@ctodance.ca.
Lifts, drops, and tricks are allowed, but not props.

WINNERS TAKE ALL – LINE DANCE

This is an Open Level competition. Dancers of all skill levels compete together in one category.
All registration fees form a single prize pool (“the Pot”), which is awarded to the top three finalists.

Entry & Prize Pot

Registration: All participants must pay a flat entry fee.
For this contest to be valid, there must be at least 5 entries.
Payout: 100% of entry fees are distributed as follows:
- 1st Place: 60%
- 2nd Place: 25%
- 3rd Place: 15%

Preliminary Round (Qualifier)

Routine: Dancers must perform a specific pre-assigned routine, found HERE.
Choreography: Must follow the posted step sheet —no variations beyond styling (no extra steps, spins, drops, or kicks),
Judging Focus: Technical accuracy, timing, and footwork precision. Judges may deduct points for not following the choreography rules.
Format: Dancers perform in heats, based on the number of entries.

Semi-Final Round (The Cut)

Routine: Dancers perform a second pre-assigned routine, found HERE.
Choreography: Must follow the posted step sheet, where one wall remains “basic” (no variations beyond styling (no extra steps, spins, drops, or kicks).
Judging Focus: Technical accuracy, timing, and footwork precision. Judges may deduct points for not following the choreography rules.
Format: Dancers perform in heats.
Advancement: Only the highest-scoring dancers (number determined by field size) advance to Finals.

Grand Finals

Routine: Finalists perform the Semi-Final routine again, found HERE.
Choreography: Must follow the posted step sheet, where one wall remains “basic” (no variations beyond styling (no extra steps, spins, drops, or kicks). After the first wall, you may show all your flair and variations as long as you maintain the flow of the dance
Judging Focus: Performance quality, musicality, and presentation.
- Any variations or styling must follow the choreography and musical flow.
- Judges may deduct points for not following the choreography rules.
Ranking: Dancers are placed 1st through 3rd based on technique, charisma, and rhythm.