2008 USA Dance California State DanceSport Championships
Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  I sent in a check and it hasn't cleared yet.  Am I registered?
A:  You should be.  You can email us at registrar@usabda-norcal.org or call Laura La Gassa at 415-810-5345 to verify.  We usually don't deposit the checks until after the event, but if you included your email address on your entry form then you should have been sent a confirmation note when your entry was processed. 

Q:  Can I register for events at the competition?
A:  We will accept new entries so long as they do not change the number of heats or rounds.  New walk-in couples will need to pay a $50 fee for their late entries.  Couples who are already registered in the competition who are just changing their existing entries will not be charged this late fee.  The late fee may be paid by cash or check only.

Q:  What time are my events?
A:  We will post a detailed schedule when the heats and rounds have been set, about a week before the competition.  Please be ready to dance up to half an hour before the published time, as we often run ahead of schedule.

Q:  What time do the doors open?
A:  The doors will open one hour before the first event on Saturday morning, and the building will remain open until the end of the evening sesesion.  The ballroom will remain open during the break between the daytime and evening sessions.

Q:  I ordered tickets in advance, where do I pick them up?  Or, were they mailed to me?
A:  All tickets will be held at the "will call" desk at the entrance to Just Dance Ballroom.

Q:  I need some more tickets.  Can I buy them at the door?
A:  Yes.  They are $25 for adults, $20 for college students, and $12 for 18-and-under.  Tickets are for all day.  We can only accept cash or check for tickets purchased at the door.

Q:  May I join or renew my USA Dance membership at the event?
A:  Definitely.  We will have forms available there.  Only cash or a personal check will be accepted for payment; we have no facilities for processing credit card transactions at the competition itself.  Membership fees for competitors ("DanceSport Athletes") are:

  • Adults -- $60
  • College Students -- $20 (full-time students under the age of 35 only)
  • Youth, Juniors, and Pre-teens -- $15

Q:  If I'm dancing in a Junior Novice, Pre-Championship, or Championship event, may I wear a costume?
A:  Yes.  Since our Junior Novice, Pre-Championship, and Championship events are for Junior I & II combined, the costume rules for the Junior II age group apply.

Q:  What about costumes for Pre-Teens?
A:  Pre-teens are not allowed to wear costumes in any Pre-Teen level event.  If a Pre-Teen couple dances up into one of our Junior events, however, they may wear a costume that conforms to the Junior II rules.  Please see the Section 3.10 of the USA Dance 2008-2009 DanceSport Rulebook for details on what is allowable in Pre-Teen events.

Q:  The dress code rules say that Seniors can wear costumes in Syllabus events.  Is that okay at this competition?
A:  No.  Seniors may wear costumes in Senior-level Syllabus events.  The Syllabus events at this competition are actually Adult-level events, where costumes are not allowed.

Q:  Is this a costume?
A:  USA Dance has a very specific dress code for dancers, including Syllabus dancers who aren't allowed to wear costumes, and open-level dancers who can.  Please don't think that you don't need to look up the requirements before you compete. For instance, men in Syllabus events may only wear black or white ties, and ladies cannot have anything sparkly in their hair.  These are just examples of the rules, please review Section 3.10 of the USA Dance 2008-2009 DanceSport Rulebook for details on what is acceptable.

Q:  Where can I find the dress code rules?
A:  They are available on the National USA Dance web site at http://usadance.org/dancesport/

Q:  Will Mixed Proficiency events be offered at this competition?
A:  We have no plans to offer Mixed Proficiency events.  If you are interested in Mixed Proficiency, please let us know so we can offer it next year if enough people want it.

Q:  Is this competition a qualifier for the USA Dance National DanceSport Championships?
A:  The California State DanceSport Championships is NOT a qualifying event for the 2009 USA Dance National DanceSport Championships.  It was mistakenly included on a list of NQEs that was published in the USA Dance magazine, American Dancer.  The Southwest DanceSport Championships in February 2008 is the only NQE that the NorCal Chapter will be hosting before the 2009 USA Dance National DanceSport Championships.

 

Questions?  Problems?  Contact the NorCal Registrars at registrar@usabda-norcal.org.