USA Dance Southwest DanceSport Championships General Information and Rules & Guidelines TRANSPORTATION and PARKING San Jose (SJC) is the closest airport, approximately 4 miles/10 minutes away.  Taxi transportation from the airport is approximately $25.  SuperShuttle shared van service is also $25 per couple.  San Francisco (SFO) is also near by, about 40 miles/45 minutes away.  SuperShuttle service from SFO is approximately $46 per couple.  Oakland (OAK) airport may also be used; it is also about 40 miles away.  SuperShuttle offers private car service (no shared vans) from OAK for $100 per couple.  Contact SuperShuttle for current rates and reservations at 1-800-BLUE-VAN or www.supershuttle.com. General parking information for downtown San Jose may be found at www.sjdowntownparking.com. ADVERTISING and VENDOR INFORMATION Program advertising must be submitted by January 15th.  On-site Vendor space is available, fees depend on how much floor and table space is required.  Contact Alex Chan at advertising@usabda-norcal.org or (415) 661-8153 for advertising rates and other information.  SPECTATOR TICKETS Spectators may purchase tickets in advance, using the Ticket Order form in this packet, or online with a credit card via www.usabda-norcal.org/regionals after December 1st.  Tickets will also be available at the door during the event; only cash or check will be accepted.  All tickets are General Admission, and there is no saving of seats.  CANCELLATIONS and REFUNDS Competitors and spectators canceling on or before January 15th will receive a 100% refund.  Cancellations between January 16th and January 31st will receive a 75% refund.  Cancellations between February 1st and February 5th will receive a 25% refund.  No refunds will be given for cancellations after February 5, 2009.  Please allow 30 days following the competition for refunds to be processed and mailed.  VOLUNTEERS Whether you are a competitor or a spectator, you can earn a refund on your admission by volunteering.  Contact Dawn Neuhart at volunteers@usabda-norcal.org for positions, hours, and scheduling.  VIDEO TAPING and PHOTOGRAPHY Personal videotaping and photography is allowed at this event.  We ask that all camera operators respect other spectator's viewing space.  Personal camera operators are not allowed on the competition floor and must not interfere with the dancers, judges, or officials in any way.  MARKS Mark sheets will be available for purchase, at a cost of $1.00 per round.  They will also be posted online after the competition.  LOST and FOUND Contact Dawn Newhart at lostandfound@usabda-norcal.org with inquiries.  RULE BOOK The full USA Dance 2008-2009 Rulebook is available on the national USA Dance web site at http://usadance.org/dancesport/. ENTRIES Competitors are required to purchase tickets when registering for the competitive events.  There are no other fees for competitors who register and purchase admission tickets on or before the May 15th deadline.  Online entries, and credit card orders for tickets, will be accepted at www.usabda-norcal.org/regionals after December 1st.  Entry deadline is January 15th, 2009.  Late entries postmarked after January 15th are subject to the Registrar's approval, and will only be accepted if they do not affect the number of heats or rounds.  Late entries might not be reflected in the printed program.  To register after January 15th, first contact Laura La Gassa at registar@usabda-norcal.org or call (415) 810-5345.  If accepted, a $25 per couple Late Competitive Entry Fee must be paid.  Walk-in registrations will be accepted on the day of the competition if they do not affect the number of heats or rounds, and are subject to a $50 per couple Walk-In Competitive Entry Fee.  The organizers reserve the right to cancel or combine events in which fewer than three couples have entered by the January 15th deadline.  ELIGIBILITY All competitors must be current DanceSport Athlete members of USA Dance in good standing.  Each competitor's membership number and expiration date are required on the entry form.  Memberships may be renewed online with a credit card at www.usabda.org, or in person with cash or check at the competition.  DISCLOSURE STATEMENT All competitors certify by entering this comptition that they are eligible under USA Dance rules to compete in the events and age groups they have marked on their entry form, and that they will comply with all age level, proficiency level, costuming, and syllabus rules applicable to the events they have entered.  CHECK IN All competitors must report to the Registration Table and have a valid USA Dance membership in order to pick up their packets.  Memberships forms will be available for dancers who need to join or renew.  Competitors should be in the ballroom, ready to dance, at least 60 minutes prior to the scheduled time for their events.  Events may run up to 30 minutes ahead of schedule.  A schedule of events and times will be published at www.usabda-norcal.org/regionals before the competition.  The "on deck" system will be used for all events.  Competitors must check in with the Deck Captain.  Any competitor who does not take the floor when called will face disqualification from that event.  PROFICIENCY LEVELS Competitors may enter any proficiency level for which both partners are eligible, as well as the next level higher.  Competitors may not compete in a level below the minimum proficiency level for which they are eligible.  AGE CATEGORIES Couples may compete in any age category for which both partners are eligible.  Age is determined by birth year, regardless of when the birthday occurs.  For example, a competitor who was born December 14, 1993 would be considered to be 16 years old for this competition.  He or she would be eligible for Youth but not Junior events, even though his or her 16th birthday has not yet taken place.  Age Category for 2009 Birth Years Notes Pre-Teen 1998 or later   Junior 1994-1997 Pre-Teens may dance up Youth 1991-1993 Juniors may dance up Adult 1990 or earlier Youths may dance up Senior I 1974 or earlier Both partners must meet age requirement Senior II 1964 or earlier Both partners must meet age requirement Senior III 1954 or earlier Both partners must meet age requirement The Senior III age category was created in 2008.  Because there are three Senior categories, Adult/Senior dancers may now only enter two consecutive age groups.  For example, a couple in which both dancers are over the age of 45 could enter Adult and Senior I, or Senior II and Senior II, but not all three age groups.  Mixed age group couples in the Pre-Teen through Youth categories may dance in the age group of the older dancer, plus the next consecutive age group higher at this competition.  For example, a couple made up of a Pre-Teen dancer and a Junior dancer may enter Junior and Youth.  SYLLABUS RESTRICTIONS International Standard and Latin Syllabus steps may only come from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) syllabus.  American Smooth and Rhythm Syllabus steps may be from the USA Dance, US-ISTD, NDCA, or any other published syllabus such as DVIDA, Fred Astaire, or Arthur Murray.  Couples dancing steps above their entered syllabus level will be warned, continued violation could result in disqualification.  If you are not sure what syllabus level your routines match, have your coach check them against the appropriate syllabus, or enter the Novice level since it does not have any step restrictions.  In American Smooth Bronze Syllabus events, closed footwork must be used.  Continuity style will be penalized at this level.  In American Style Silver and Gold Syllabus events, continuity style will be permitted.  No open theatrical style work, lifts, or drops are permitted.  Syllabus events will be run in three age categories: Pre-Teen, Junior/Youth (combined), and Adult/Senior I/Senior II/Senior III (combined).  Syllabus dancers in all age groups at this competition may not wear costumes.  COSTUME RESTRICTIONS A complete description of the costuming rules, including diagrams of acceptable dancewear, may be found in section 3.10 of the 2008-2009 USA Dance Rulebook.  Note that some of these rules are quite restrictive.  For instance, no makeup or jewelry is allowed on Pre-Teen dancers, and only certain neckline and sleeve styles are allowed.  Flesh-colored garments are not allowed in any age group or level.  Males dancing in Latin or Rhythm events, including Syllabus events, must wear long sleeved shirts.  Syllabus dancers in all age groups at this competition may not wear costumes.  Costumes and dance outfits that were allowed in previous years, or in NDCA-sanctioned competitions, may not be acceptable under the 2008-2009 USA Dance rules.  Please check the rulebook for full information, as it is impractical for us to list all restrictions in this packet.  Any competitor who does not comply with the costume rules will be asked to change.  Competitors who continue to violate the costume rules can be disqualified, or have their final placing lowered.  The Chairman of Judges will have the final say on all costume questions and violations.  Questions?  Problems?  Contact the NorCal Registrars at registrar@usabda-norcal.org.