All New Zealand competitor entries must be signed off by a Ceroc Branch owner or a certified Ceroc teacher currently teaching for a Ceroc Branch.
If a non Ceroc dancer wishes to enter a competition they must first satisfy a Ceroc Branch as to their suitability for entry and grading.
Classical Freestyle Events
These events are for couples, one male and one female, and danced to music chosen by the organisers.
To dance straight to the relevant criteria, click on a category from Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced B, Advanced A, Advanced Open, Champions, Dance with a Stranger, Showcase or Teams.
If you (being an individual or a couple) have placed (1st, 2nd or 3rd) in any regional Ceroc competition here or any competition abroad, you may stay in that level for up to 12 months from winning that place, provided you do not do anything that would take you up to the next level such as doing classes / workshops of a higher level, or becoming a teacher.
If you and your partner win a National title at these Championships then you must elevate to the next grade for your next competition regardless of the time spent in that grade.
Beginner
Competition Level: Beginner
To qualify for Beginner you must meet ALL the following criteria:
- Have not attended any Ceroc classes, workshops or training higher than Beginner level prior to this competition.
- Beginner moving up workshops are considered to be at Beginner level.
- Beginner Plus/Improver classes are considered to be at Beginner level.
- Have been dancing Ceroc for less then one calendar year from your first Ceroc dance class.
- Have never placed in any other style of partner dance competition.
Event
Freestyle heats, semi-finals and final will all be one song for a minimum of 2 minutes.
One song only between 120 – 130 bpm.
Moves
Allowed – floor moves, Astaire and Ginger leans.
Not allowed – dips, drops, lifts, baby aerials, aerials, death spiral.
Dancers will be penalised for using moves that are above the Beginner or Beginner Plus/Improver level. This includes any dips, drops or lifts.
Judging Criteria
Timing
Execution of moves
Sense of fun
Costume
As this is a freestyle event Judges will be looking for non choreographed dancing. Obvious use of repeated sequences of moves (i.e. choreographed routines) in this freestyle event will result in a lower ranking.
Intermediate
Competition Level: Intermediate
To qualify for Intermediate you must meet ALL the following criteria:
- Have not attended any Ceroc classes, workshops or training higher than Intermediate level prior to this competition.
- All aerial workshops are considered to be Advanced level.
- Intermediate moving up workshops are considered to be at Intermediate level.
- Intermediate Plus/Improver classes are considered to be at Intermediate level.
Event
Freestyle heats, semi-finals and final will all be one song for a minimum of 2 minutes.
One song only between 120 – 140 bpm.
Moves
Allowed – floor moves, baby aerials.
Not allowed – death spiral, aerials.
Dancers will be penalised for using aerials and this could result in disqualification. (See definition of aerials in general information.)
Judging Criteria
Timing
Execution of moves
Musical interpretation
Sense of fun
Connection with partner
Style
Costume
As this is a freestyle event Judges will be looking for non choreographed dancing. Obvious use of repeated sequences of moves (i.e. choreographed routines) in this freestyle event will result in a lower ranking.
Advanced B
Competition Level: Advanced
To qualify
If you have attended Advanced Intro / Advanced classes or Advanced workshops prior to this competition, then you must compete in this category.
Any person qualifying for Advanced A is not permitted in this section.
Event
Freestyle heats, semi finals will all be one song for a minimum of 2 minutes.
Freestyle final will be two songs, one slow and one fast, both of 2 to 3 minutes duration.
Songs between 80 – 165 bpm.
Song tempos may vary throughout the songs.
Moves
Allowed – floor moves, baby aerials.
Not allowed – death spiral, aerials.
Dancers will be penalised for using aerials and this could result in disqualification. (See definition of aerials in general information.)
Judging Criteria
Timing
Musical interpretation
Execution of moves
Difficulty of moves
Originality of moves
Sense of fun
Style
Connection with partner
Technical excellence
Costume
As this is a freestyle event Judges will be looking for non choreographed dancing. Obvious use of repeated sequences of moves (i.e. choreographed routines) in this freestyle event will result in a lower ranking.
Advanced A
Competition Level: Advanced
To qualify
Teachers, ex teachers and current trainee teachers must compete in Advanced A.
If you have attended Advanced Intro / Advanced classes or Advanced workshops prior to this competition, then you may compete in this category.
Event
Freestyle heats will be one song for a minimum of 2 minutes.
Semi Final will include two songs, one slow and one fast, both of a minimum of 2 minutes duration.
Freestyle final will include:
- Two songs, one slow and one fast, both of a minimum of 2 minutes duration.
- A spotlight performance of no longer than 2 minutes to music selected by the organiser
Songs between 80 – 165 bpm.
Song tempos may vary throughout the songs.
An honours dance will be expected from the winners of the freestyle Advanced A event to one song of their own choice for no longer than 1 minute.
Moves
Allowed – floor moves, baby aerials.
Not allowed – death spiral, aerials.
Dancers will be penalised for using aerials and this could result in disqualification. (See definition of aerials in general information.)
Judging Criteria
Timing
Musical interpretation
Execution of moves
Difficulty of moves
Originality of moves
Sense of fun
Style
Connection with partner
Technical excellence
Costume
As this is a freestyle event Judges will be looking for non choreographed dancing. Obvious use of repeated sequences of moves (i.e. choreographed routines) in this freestyle event will result in a lower ranking.
Advanced Open
Competition Level: Advanced
To qualify
Only dancers who qualify as Champions, Advanced A or Advanced B competitors can compete at this level.
Event
Open heats will be one song for a minimum of 2 minutes.
Semi Final will include two songs, one slow and one fast, both of a minimum of 2 minutes duration.
Open final will include:
- Two songs, one slow and one fast, both of a minimum of 2 minutes duration.
- A spotlight performance of no longer than 2 minutes to music selected by the organiser
An honours dance will be expected from the winners of the Freestyle Open event to one song of their own choice for no longer than 1 minute.
Songs between 80 – 165 bpm.
Song tempos may vary throughout the songs.
Moves
Allowed – floor moves, baby aerials, death spiral, aerials.
Aerials are allowed in both slow and fast songs but will be penalised if not performed safely.
Judging Criteria
Timing
Musical interpretation
Execution of moves
Difficulty of moves
Originality of moves
Sense of fun
Style
Connection with partner
Technical excellence
Costume
As this is a freestyle event Judges will be looking for non choreographed dancing. Obvious use of repeated sequences of moves (i.e. choreographed routines) in this freestyle event will result in a lower ranking.
Champions
Competition Level: Champions
To qualify
- if you or your partner have danced in the Masters/Championships category outside New Zealand – you dance in this category and/or
- if you or your partner has won or placed 2nd at least twice in the Advanced A event in a New Zealand Ceroc Competition since the 2009 Nationals you also compete here.
Please note:
If you have ever placed in this category overseas you are in this category for life.
Event
Freestyle heats, semi finals will all be one song for a minimum of 2 minutes.
Freestyle final will include:
- Two songs, one slow and one fast, both of a minimum of 2 minutes duration.
- A spotlight performance of no longer than 2 minutes to music selected by the organiser
An honours dance will be expected from the winners of the freestyle Champions event to one song of their own choice for no longer than 1 minute.
Songs between 80 – 165 bpm.
Song tempos may vary throughout the songs.
Moves
Allowed – floor moves, baby aerials.
Not allowed – death spiral, aerials.
Dancers will be penalised for using aerials and this could result in disqualification. (See definition of aerials in general information.)
Judging Criteria
Timing
Musical interpretation
Execution of moves
Difficulty of moves
Originality of moves
Sense of fun
Style
Connection with partner
Technical excellence
Costume
As this is a freestyle event Judges will be looking for non choreographed dancing. Obvious use of repeated sequences of moves (i.e. choreographed routines) in this freestyle event will result in a lower ranking.
Dance with a Stranger (DWAS) Events
Open to any competitor.
If you (being an individual or part of a couple) have placed (1st, 2nd or 3rd) in any regional Ceroc competition here or any competition abroad, you may stay in that level for up to 12 months from winning that place, provided you do not do anything that would take you up to the next level such as doing classes / workshops of a higher level, or becoming a teacher.
If you gain a National title in this category at these Championships then you must elevate to the next grade for your next competition regardless of the time spent in that grade.
Dancers do not need a partner for this event and will dance with randomly matched partners during the song in a similar manner to a class situation.
Men and women are judged separately. Men must dance the lead role and women must dance the follow role.
DWAS will likely involve 6 – 8 couples on the floor at a time and partners swapped every 30-50 seconds until all men have danced with all women.
There will be four categories: Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced and Champions.
DWAS Beginner/Intermediate
Same eligibility criteria as for freestyle categories.
Same music speeds as per freestyle categories.
Moves
Allowed – floor moves.
Not allowed –death spiral, baby aerials, aerials.
Dancers will be penalised for using baby aerials and aerials and this could result in disqualification. (See definition of baby aerials and aerials in general information.)
Judging Criteria:
Timing
Complementing each others style
Connection with partner
Using partners strengths
Musical interpretation
Sense of fun
Execution of moves
Advanced
Same eligibility criteria as for freestyle categories.
Same music speeds as per freestyle categories.
Final for Advanced DWAS could include a slow and a fast song.
Moves
Allowed – floor moves, baby aerials.
Not allowed –death spiral, aerials.
Dancers will be penalised for using aerials and this could result in disqualification. (See definition of aerials in general information.)
Judging Criteria:
Timing
Complementing each others style
Connection with partner
Using partners strengths
Musical interpretation
Sense of fun
Execution of moves
Champions
Eligibility criteria:
- if you or your partner have danced in a Masters/Championships category outside New Zealand – you dance in this category and/or
- if you our your partner have won or placed 2nd at least twice in the Advanced DWAS in a New Zealand Ceroc Competition since the 2009 Nationals you also compete here.
Please note:
If you have ever placed in this category overseas you are in this category for life.
Same music speeds as per freestyle categories.
Final for Champions DWAS could include a slow and a fast song.
Moves
Allowed – floor moves, baby aerials.
Not allowed –death spiral, aerials.
Dancers will be penalised for using aerials and this could result in disqualification. (See definition of aerials in general information.)
Judging Criteria:
Timing
Complementing each others style
Connection with partner
Using partners strengths
Musical interpretation
Sense of fun
Execution of moves
Performance Events
Non upgrading except in certain circumstances.
Showcase Events
Competition level: Intermediate/ Advanced/Champions
(If moves are danced outside your usual grade you may be upgraded).
To qualify
Open to Intermediate and Advanced.
Showcase may be either a couple or a triple entry.
Same sex couples can compete.
Event
Choreographed piece to your own choice of music between 2.5 – 3.5 minutes long.
Music
Competition organiser to provide information regarding format of music to be supplied with your entry form.
Moves
Moves allowed: All moves including the death spiral.
Moves used should equal your current grading and you will be penalised if you do moves outside that grade.
Judging Criteria
Timing
Choreography
Engagement with audience and entertainment value
Musical interpretation
Originality
Showmanship
Synchronisation between couples
Difficulty of moves
Technical excellence
Technique
Costumes
Teams Events
Beginner Teams
Competition level: Beginner
To qualify
Team routines must be danced by Beginner dancers only.
Event
Choreographed piece to your own choice of music no more than 2 minutes long.
Music
Competition organiser to provide information regarding format of music to be supplied with your entry form.
Moves
Can only use the 21 Beginner moves as per the Ceroc NZ Beginners DVD.
American spin
Arm jive
Back pass
Basket
Break thru
Catapult
Ceroc spin
Figure of 8
First move
Ginger
Loop thru’s
Mans comb
Mans spin
Neck thru
Push spin
Side to side
Slide break
Squeezebox
Step across
Wurlitzer
Yoyo
Basic variations and styling are allowed.
Judging Criteria
Fun
Timing
Technique
Styling
Positioning
Intermediate/Advanced/Champions Teams
Competition level: Intermediate/ Advanced/Champions
(If moves are danced outside your usual grade you may be upgraded).
To qualify
Open to Intermediate and Advanced.
Teams must have six or more dancers of any level, can be any combination of couples or triples.
Event
Choreographed piece to your own choice of music between 2.5 and 4 minutes long.
Music
Competition organiser to provide information regarding format of music to be supplied with your entry form.
Moves
Moves allowed: All moves including the death spiral (death spiral allowed only for Advanced dancers).
Moves used should equal your current grading and you will be penalised if you do moves outside that grade.
Judging Criteria
Timing
Choreography
Engagement with audience and entertainment value
Musical interpretation
Originality
Showmanship
Synchronisation between couples
Difficulty of moves
Technical excellence
Technique
Costumes