Contest Rules
- Instructors teaching at this year's BluesSHOUT! event cannot compete in any divisions other than the Invitational “Instructor’s Choice” contest; however, instructors in general may compete in any division for which they qualify, given they are not teaching at the event.
- Attendees competing in the Champions Jack & Jill may not compete in the Novice or Expert Jack & Jill.
- The Novice Jack & Jill is open to competitors who have never made the finals in any Blues competition.
- The Expert Jack & Jill is open to competitors (even former Champions or Invitational competitors) who qualify, with the exception of Rules #1 and #2 above.
- The Strictly Slow Blues, Strictly Fast Blues, and Solo Blues contests are open to all competitors, with the exception of Rule #1.
- (Note: The reigning Champion of each of these divisions will be invited back to defend their title the next year. They will receive a bye directly to the finals.)
- The Champions division is by invitation only. Competitors must qualify for the division by meeting the requirements below between last year's BluesSHOUT! and this year's event.
- You may be invited to compete as a Champion if:
- You won a national-level Blues dance competition between last year's BluesSHOUT! and this year's event.
- You won last year's BluesSHOUT! Champions Division.
- You won any of the partnered divisions at this year's BluesSHOUT!
- If more competitors are needed to even out the numbers in the current Champs
division or there are not enough competitors to fill the division, the following
may be invited to compete in the Champs division:
- You won any of the partnered divisions in last year's event.
- You placed in any of the above competitions and the original invitee is unable to attend.
- You may be invited to compete as a Champion if:
- Cutting etiquette is a judging criteria in the preliminaries for the Solo Cuttin’ Contest. Cutting contests are about "one-upmanship" and respect of art and authenticity.
- Give your fellow contestants space, both physically and in the music, to dance: You should not need to interrupt your fellow contestant or interfere with the judge/audience view of their dancing to ensure that all eyes are on you.
- Be aware of your dance space: Do not make any sort of unwanted physical contact with your fellow contestants. If you are not sure whether your fellow contestants would invite the touch, then don't do it.
- Dominating the time in the jam is discouraged: Dance, cut, and when someone else takes the floor, back up a little. If they cut you, then feel free to dance back. If they instead cut your partner or lay down an open challenge to the floor, back off and give someone else a chance to dance.