Venue: Ngaio Marsh Theatre, Canterbury University.
Aftershow salsa party at the Student Ballroom. Canterbury University.

Entry prices: $20 presold & $25 door sales
- Tickets presold at Salsa Latina during class times

Doors open at 7pm for the Youth Section
Adult section starts 8pm approximately

For Competitors......... read below

Prizes: 1st place 'Amateur Under 1 year' : $200
1st place 'Amateur Open' : $200
1st place 'Professional' : $500
(automatic entry to NZ Nationals)
1st place 'Teams' : $300

( Download entry form here )

Salsa Freestyle
Open to Amateur dancers ONLY ie a student or dancer who is a non-professional (not received any money from dancing or dance for a living).
* Couples compete on the dance floor together to DJ selected music of approximately 3minutes. Depending on number of entries competitors may be grouped into Heats + Final.
* Dancers can only enter one Freestyle category. Please read the criteria carefully for Amateur (Under 1 year Division). If you do not fulfill the criteria, you should enter the Amateur Open Divison.

Amateur Division (Under 1 Year Category)
* Dancers must not have more than approximately 1 year of dance experience
* Not to have placed in previous Salsa/Latindance Competitions
* Not to be competing above “E Grade”

Amateur Open Divison (Over 1 year Category)
* All other Amateur dancers

Salsa Performance (Professional Couples Category)
Open to Professional AND Amateur dancers who have performed overseas (ie a student or dancer who has received money from dancing or dance for a living or performed Salsa overseas).
* Dance Couples perform individually one at a time to their own music
* Music should be supplied on CD format (2 copies) with only one music track per CD 1 week before the competition. If not received before this time you will be disqualified!
* CD must be labeled with Name of competitor & Track duration
* Technical Rehearsal can be provided. Contact organisers for a rehearsal time.

MUSIC GUILDLINES (please read carefully as points will be deducted if these are not followed)

* Music to be between 2 to 2.45 minutes (couples) or 3-3.5 minutes (Teams).
* Music should be at least 80% salsa with 20% being available for any style of music.
* Only 3 songs, maximum, can be mixed for one routine.

Couple Performance
2 people

Cabaret Team Division
Minimum of 6 dancers in group. Open to any genre of 'Street Latin' (Bachata, Salsa, Zouk, Cha Cha). Any style of music can be used as long as it keeps to the time limit & fits the rhythm and style of dance you are performing.
Groups perform individually one at a time to their own music.
Music should be supplied on CD format (2 copies) with only one music track per CD 1 week before the competition. If not received before this time you will be disqualified!
CD must be labeled with Name of Team & Track duration
Technical Rehearsal can be provided. Contact organisers for a rehearsal time.

Guidlines:

MUSIC GUILDLINES (please read carefully as points will be deducted if these are not followed)

Music to be between 3-3.5 minutes.
Only 3 songs, maximum, can be mixed for one routine.
JUDGING GUIDELINES / CRITERIA

QUALIFICATION : Amateur:
Persons or couples that have not received financial reward either directly or indirectly for performing or teaching salsa.

Professional:
Persons or couples that have received financial reward either directly or indirectly for performing or teaching salsa. Or couples who have performed overseas.

NOTE: While dancing and performing lifts, jumps etc. dancers need to exhibit good understanding of salsa rhythms, footwork and partner connection.

Judges will be marking each entry on the following criteria:

Rhythm / Timing
This is the highest proportion of the marking
Do the Dancers exhibit an understanding of the rhythm. Can they maintain the rhythm. When required can they change between the rhythms & syncopations. Are “Highlights” on time.

Partnering
Couple Dynamics – do they interact with each other, dance as a couple. Is there something happening between them or are they just 2 individuals, doing their own thing

Overall Presentation
The complete package. Their entrance and exit, introduction steps, end poses, stage presence & confidence. Moves should be well executed. Any lifts, highlights and step sequences should not interrupt the flow of the dance.

Appearance
Do the costumes match, suit the dancers and the performance.

Style
Does the dancers’ styling suit Salsa dancing and each other, is it unique, does it add to the performance or does it detract from the dance.

Audience Appeal
Is the performance exciting, dynamic and entertaining to watch

Musicality (Freestyle categories only)
Ability to interpret the music and match the dance to the music

Choreography (Performance categories only)
Do the Dancers dance with movements & steps that match the music played. Are Highlights well placed. Are the moves original (creation or re-creation of moves). What is the level of difficulty of the moves. How dynamic and clean is their presentation.

Judges: Alfonso, Latin Movez, Dunedin (Peru) / Jake Rosevear, Wellington / Natasha Powell, Street Latin, Auckland
Youth Judges: Annie (Salsa Groove, Blenheim), Donna (Latin Fire, Christchurch), Jake (Wellington).