Welcome to our DanceSport World of 'Kalamata Dance Challenge' 

TERMS & CONDITIONS 

Everyone can participate in the Kalamata Dance Cup, regardless of age, dancing level, etc. Participants can be Greeks and foreigners, members of academies, federations, organizations, dance schools - clubs, public and private schools, gyms, etc., but also independent participants that do not represent some body. Dancers must belong to and support exactly what they claim to be participating in (category, level, age, music time limit, number of dancers).

The Organizing Commitee reserves the right to merge categories, in case the prescribed number of three entries per category is not completed. The merger concerns all groups and solo beginners and advanced categories, provided they belong to the same age group.

AGE DIVISION - DATE OF BIRTH

Mini Kids: 2017 up to today

Juveniles 1: 2015 - 2016

Juveniles 2: 2013 - 2014

Juniors 1: 2011 - 2012

Juniors 2: 2009 - 2010

Youth: 2006 - 2008

Adults: 2005 and earlier

Seniors

The age category is calculated based on the year of birth.

* The above age division is only for latin/ballroom. All other styles are divided in Mini Kids, Juveniles, Juniors, Youth, Adults, Seniors.

MUSIC DURATION

In the SOLO & DUO categories, songs and choreographies must last strictly up to 1:30 minutes. TRIO up to 2:30 min.

GROUPS (4-11) up to 3:00 minutes, MEGA GROUPS (12 and more) up to 4:00 minutes.

All styles categories of SHOW DANCE are with your own music. Songs and choreographies must strictly last: a. SOLO SHOW up to 1:30 min. DUO or COUPLE SHOW up to 2:00 minutes, c. TRIO SHOW up to 2:30 minutes, d. GROUP SHOW up to 3:00 minutes.

Dancers should be at the Sportshall at least one hour before their category in case of changes to the program, due to annulments etc.

All dance styles and age categories are divided into beginner and advanced levels. Competitors in the advanced category can compete in the next age category but are automatically excluded from the beginner categories. Those who register in beginner categories (first-time participants in their category) have the right to dance in the next age category but still in beginners. In case of rule violation, the dancer will be automatically placed in the last position.

Note 1:
In Duo and couple categories, the older dancer determines the age category in which they will participate.

Note 2 - GROUPS:
In groups of up to 7 people, 1 person can be older.
In groups of 8 to 13 people, 2 people can be older.
In groups of 14 to 19 people, 4 people can be older.
In groups of 20+ people, 5 people can be older.
*The older participants must be one age category older than the category they are competing in. For example, in a Juvenile I category of 6 people, one dancer can be from Juvenile II but not Junior I.

In adult groups (Groups Adults excluding Duo & Trio) consisting of at least 4 people, only one of them can be a teacher.

Note 3:
The age category is determined by the year of birth of the athlete.
All athletes in the categories Mini Kids, Juvenile I, Juvenile II, Junior I, Junior II, and Youth must have proof of date of birth!

Note 4:
In the categories Juvenile I & Juvenile II, Junior I & Junior II, Youth & Adult, there must be at least 3 entries; otherwise, they will be merged accordingly.

Note 5:

Each Solo category is entitled to upgrade up to one age category higher but at the same dance level. For example, Solo Beginner Junior can also register in Solo Beginner Youth, just as Solo Youth can register in Solo Adult.

GENERAL RULES

Beginners, amateurs, and professionals can participate in the competition individually, in duets, trios, pairs, and groups of ALL AGES.

Athletes must collect the numbers with which they will compete at least one (1) hour before the scheduled time of their category to avoid delays. In case of perceived rule violation, an appeal must be made to the head judge no later than 5 minutes after the end of the category (after 5 minutes, no appeal will be accepted).

The participation fee for athletes does not cover their transportation, accommodation, and insurance costs.

For age category rules, see the "Categories" section.

Violation of the rules will result in placement in the last position.

Team leaders are responsible for the proper preparation of the dancers and the music for their entries.

Participants are responsible for their health and personal belongings. The organizers are not responsible for any injury to a dancer, loss, or damage to belongings.

By submitting their entry, each participant waives their intellectual property rights from photographs, videos, etc., that the organization may produce for its use.

Female dancers wearing heels must wear special silicone protective covers.

In the BALLET category, dancers are invited to perform any song freely without restriction or to execute a Variation from the classical ballet repertoire if they wish. There will be a separate Ballet category with pointe shoes. Only water is allowed under ballet shoes and nothing else.

The use of any material/object that may be dangerous for participants and spectators is prohibited.

The entry and exit of athletes from the competition area must not exceed a total of 30 seconds. If the time limit is exceeded, the team will be automatically placed in the last position, regardless of the judges' decision.

In categories where the use of props is allowed, it must be taken into serious consideration that anything that destroys or soils the competition area is prohibited.

The team is responsible for collecting the items from the competition area within the allotted time.

Training, warm-up, and rehearsals will take place behind the main competition parquet of the Stadium, in the designated training warm – up area, throughout the event.

The Competition Organizers do not interfere with the decisions of the Judging Committee and bear no responsibility for the final results. The Judges' decision is final.

Attention! The responsible teacher of each school – organization collects the entries and only they declare and pay for them to the organizer.

Only fully independent competitors who do not belong to any school can declare and pay for their participation themselves.

Participants – dancers – trainers are not allowed to approach the table of the Organizing Committee and the Judges. Only leaders or trainers have the right to approach the secretariat (never the judging committee) for any issue that arises.

SPECIAL RULES

In the Am/Am categories, participants dance a closed program.

Participation in the SILVER and GOLD categories automatically excludes participation in the BRONZE category.

In the 3 Dance Latin Closed categories, the dances are: Cha cha cha, Rumba, Jive.

In the 3 Dance Latin Open categories, the dances are: Cha cha cha, Samba, Rumba.

In the 3 Dance Ballroom Open & Ballroom Closed categories, the dances are: Waltz, Tango, Quickstep.

In the 4 Dance Latin Open & Closed categories, the dances are: Cha cha cha, Samba, Rumba, Jive.

The Advanced One Dance Closed Rumba, Cha cha, Samba, Paso, Jive can participate in the Closed 3 Dance, Closed 4 Dance & Closed 5 Dance categories.

Those participating in 3 Dance, 4 Dance & 5 Dance Closed can also participate in One Dance Open Beginner.

Those participating in One Dance Open Advanced Rumba, Cha cha, Samba, Paso & Jive can also dance 3 Dance Open.

Those participating in 3 Dance Open can participate (choose one category below or above, not both) in One Dance Open Advanced or in 5 Dance Open (provided they have not repeatedly participated in the last year).

Those participating in the 5 Dance Open category and have been competing in this category for the last year cannot enter a lower category.

In the Showdance categories, the presentation must be thematic and distinguishable in the choreography, costume, and music. Props, Accessories, Acrobatic moves, lifts, and rolls are allowed (except in the kids and Juvenile categories). Costume and accessory changes are allowed. In the Pro/Am categories, only the amateur student who bears the number competes. Their partner can be either a teacher or an advanced classmate, accompanying them to the podium, but only the competitor is awarded.

DRESS CODE

Participants are requested to pay attention to their attire. Costumes should not be overly provocative. Special attention should be paid to avoid overexposure of certain body areas (chest - buttocks). Leotards should adequately cover the buttocks area, have no deep necklines, and no transparency around the hips or buttocks. Outfits that do not comply with the competition's code of ethics will be rejected if they are age-inappropriate.

Specifically for Mini Kids & Juveniles in Latin & Ballroom categories, where 1.5 or 2-inch thick heels are allowed:

Boys: Black fabric pants with a white shirt and a black bow tie or black tie.

Girls: Solid-colored dress in any shade. The use of lamé fabrics is prohibited. The skirt should be knee-length with built-in underwear from the same fabric. Sleeves can be short or wrist-length. Transparency or lace is acceptable below the shoulder. Hair should be in a bun. Jewelry and accessories are prohibited. White short socks should be worn with dance shoes.

In Belly Dance categories: Leggings of any length and a leotard are required. A coin scarf around the waist is allowed, but no glittering decorative elements on the dress or head. The belly should not be visible.

ACCESSORIES

In Oriental categories, costumes and accessories are allowed.

ACROBATIC ELEMENTS - LIFTS

All choreographies in LATIN & STANDARD categories (solo, duo, groups, all ladies) that include accessories, acrobatics, lifts over 3 seconds, are thematic, and the songs are not classical, should be registered in the SHOW DANCE categories, otherwise, the participants will automatically be placed in the last position. In the ALL LADIES category, acrobatics or lifts up to 3 seconds are allowed. Similarly, in CONTEMPORARY DANCE, these should be registered in the ACRO DANCE category.

EVALUATION - CRITERIA

Categories: SOLO - COUPLES

In categories where dancers compete with the event's music, judges mark those they want to see in the next round (preliminaries, quarter-finals, and semi-finals). The positions of the participants are determined according to the Skating System (places).

DUO/GROUP: The positions of the participants are determined according to the Skating System (places).

In the final round, the Sum System (scores) will be used, which will be converted into the Skating System (places).

Criteria:

• Technique (Balance, Posture, Speed, Coordination)
• Music (Timing, Musicality, Dynamics, Interpretation)
• Team Skills (only in group categories) (Synchronization, Transition-change of shapes, Use of space, Effectiveness)
• Choreography (Performance, Difficulty of steps, Originality, Energy)
• Show (only in show categories) (Idea, Image-costume, Creativity, Entertainment)

AWARDS

The awards will be presented at the end of each Part.

All participants will receive participation diplomas with the official seal of the International "Kalamata Dance Cup" organization.

Medals will be awarded to the top 3 places in each category.

The Kalamata Cup will be awarded only for the first place in certain categories.