Athlete Rules
🟦 AGE CATEGORIES
Official Age Divisions
• Under 8
• Under 10
• Under 12
• Under 14
• Under 16
• Under 19
• Amateurs under 16
• Professionals over 16
• Senior over 35
• Senior over 45
• Senior over 55
• Senior over 65
How Age is Calculated
• Age categories are determined strictly based on the year of birth, not the exact birth date
• All athletes born in the same year belong to the same category
Example
• Athlete born on 02/12/2016 competing in February 2026 → competes in Under 12 (NOT Under 10)
Age Verification
• All minors must present valid proof of birth year on competition day
• If proof cannot be provided → athlete is automatically placed last, regardless of judges’ results
🟦 PARTICIPATION RULES
Couples
• Category is determined by the older partner
• Exception: Senior categories → determined by the younger partner
• Seniors may compete in younger categories if they wish
• In Pro/Am categories → age is determined by the student (who wears the number)
Teams (Groups)
• Teams under 7 members → max 1 athlete outside category
• Teams with 7+ members → max 2 athletes outside category
• Teams with 10+ members → max 3 athletes outside category
• Teams with 13+ members (Mega Crew) → max 4 athletes outside category
• Age difference must not exceed 1 age category
Younger Athletes in Teams
• Younger athletes may compete up to 2 age categories above
• Example:
A Juvenile athlete may participate in a Youth team
Solo Categories
• Athletes may compete up to 1 age category above their own
• Example:
Juvenile 2 → can compete up to Junior 1
Professional Category
• An athlete is considered Professional only if:
• Is a teacher OR student in a professional dance school
• Is over 21 years old
🟦 LEVELS
Category Levels
• Beginners
• Rising Stars
• Closed / Open Categories
Level Description
• Beginners
• No competition experience
• First-time competitors
• Rising Stars
• Intermediate level
• Basic competition experience
• Closed / Open
• Advanced level
• High technical and competitive experience
🟦 CLOSED CATEGORIES (LATIN & BALLROOM)
Levels
• Bronze → Associate level
• Silver → Licentiate level
• Gold → Fellow level
Rules
• Only syllabus figures are allowed per level
• Figures outside syllabus (but within official books) allowed ONLY in Gold
Category Clarification
• Closed Rising Stars → Bronze & Silver
• Closed → Bronze, Silver, Gold
Participation Rules
• Closed athletes may also compete in Open categories
• Open athletes competing in Closed → automatic disqualification
Figure Restrictions
• Rising Stars → only Associate & Licentiate figures allowed
• Closed → all levels + additional figures allowed
🟦 LEVEL PROGRESSION
• Athletes MUST change level when:
Time-Based
• After 2 years in the same category
• Example: Beginner → Rising Stars
Performance-Based
• If athlete places Top 3 in 70% of competitions within one year
• Moves automatically to next level
Additional Rules
• Athlete may compete at different levels in different dances
• Changing age category does NOT change level
• Example:
Junior Rising Stars → remains Rising Stars in Youth
🟦 PRO / AM CATEGORIES
• Pro/Am → only student is judged
• Pro/Am Scholarship → whole couple is judged
🟦 SOLO CATEGORIES
Music
• Provided by the organizers
• Available on official event website
Duration
• Standard → up to 1:30
• Exceptions:
• Oriental/Belly Dance Show → up to 2:00
• Classic → up to 2:30
• Professional → up to 3:00
Rules
• Athlete must wear competition number
• Accessories are NOT allowed
• Accessories = any removable costume item
🟦 SHOW CATEGORIES
• Music is provided by competitor
• Number may be placed on the floor
• Accessories allowed (depending on category)
🟦 DUO CATEGORIES
Duration
• Standard → up to 1:30
• Exceptions:
• Oriental → up to 2:00
• Professional → up to 3:00
Rules
• In Duo Latin → holding is NOT allowed
• If holding is used → moved to Am/Am category
• In Am/Am → dancers must use closed syllabus
🟦 GROUP CATEGORIES
General Rules
• Each team must have a name
• Name changes must be reported
Duration
• Teams → max 3:00
• Mega Crew → max 4:00
• Exceeding time → automatic last place
Entry / Exit
• Maximum 15 seconds
Restrictions
• No religious messages
• No political messages
• No sexist content
• No nationalistic content
• Music must NOT promote a dance school
🟦 ALL LADIES LATIN
Strictly Latin
• No thematic music
• Music must be Latin
• No themed makeup
• No themed costumes
• No accessories
• No lifts
• Drops allowed (max 3 seconds)
• Choreography must include recognized Latin figures
Show Category
• Thematic music allowed
• Thematic costumes & makeup allowed
• Accessories allowed (must be removable)
• Lifts allowed (max 15 seconds)
• Floor work allowed
COSTUME RULES
🟦 GENERAL RULES
• Dance costumes are allowed in all categories
• Costumes must NOT be provocative or inappropriate
Applicability
• Costume restrictions apply ONLY to Juvenile 1 & Juvenile 2 categories
• Rules follow the official standards of Latin & Ballroom categories
🟦 JUVENILE COSTUME REGULATIONS
Makeup
• Makeup for minors must be natural and age-appropriate
• Allowed:
• Light blush
• Light mascara
• Soft lipstick
• Heavy or theatrical makeup is NOT allowed
Sponsor Logos
• Maximum 3 sponsor logos per couple
• Total size must NOT exceed 40 cm combined
• Example:
• 8 cm x 5 cm per logo
Jewelry
• Only personal or religious jewelry is allowed
• Conditions:
• Must be worn around the neck
• Must remain inside the clothing
• Earrings:
• Allowed up to 2 cm maximum size
Not Allowed
• Decorative bracelets → ❌ NOT allowed
• Rings → ❌ NOT allowed
• Wrist watches → ❌ NOT allowed
Boys Costumes
BOYS COSTUME (JUVENILES)
Trousers
• Color:
• Black OR Dark Blue → MANDATORY
• Optional:
• High-waisted trousers
• Braces (suspenders)
• Belt
• Allowed:
• Satin stripes on outer sides
Shirts
• Must be:
• Plain white OR black
• Long-sleeved
• With collar (mandatory)
• Not allowed:
• Pleated shirts
• Sleeves:
• Must be worn at full wrist length
Additional Clothing
• Allowed:
• Black or dark blue vests
• NOT allowed:
• Sweaters
• Jackets
Tie
• Must be:
• Black
• Either straight tie OR bow tie
Socks
• Only:
• Black OR Dark Blue
Shoes
• Color:
• Black OR White ONLY
• Heel height:
• Maximum 1.5 inches
Fabrics / Materials
• Allowed fabrics:
• Cotton
• Polyester
• Cotton-polyester blends
• Wool blends
Strictly Forbidden
• Satin fabrics → ❌
• Shiny materials → ❌
• Swarovski stones → ❌
• Glitter → ❌
• Metallic decorations → ❌
• Patterns / prints → ❌
• Sequins → ❌
• Decorative elements of any kind are NOT allowed
Girls Costumes
🟦 GENERAL
• Girls are allowed to wear:
• A leotard with a simple skirt
• OR a simple dress with attached underwear
🟦 SKIRTS
• A simple or pleated skirt with 1 to 3 flares is allowed
• NOT allowed:
• Additional panels
• Hem decorations
• Frills
• Slits or openings
• Lace
• Sequins
• Structural elements such as:
• Boning
• Crinoline
→ are allowed ONLY as part of construction, NOT decoration
Length
• Skirt length must be:
• No more than 8 cm above the knee
• No more than 8 cm below the knee
Fabric Rules
• Must be:
• Single solid color
• NOT transparent
🟦 NECKLINES
• Allowed styles:
• Smile neckline
• High neck
• V-neck
• Sweetheart
• Peter Pan
• Standard neckline
🟦 BELT
• Allowed ONLY if:
• It is part of the dress (not an accessory)
• Maximum width: 4 cm
• Positioned from the waist and below
🟦 MATERIALS & FABRICS
• Fabrics must be:
• Uniform in color across the entire costume
Strictly Forbidden
• Swarovski crystals → ❌
• Glitter → ❌
• Metallic accessories → ❌
• Pearls → ❌
• Patterns / prints → ❌
• Sequins → ❌
• Also NOT allowed:
• Feathers
• Fringe
• Bows
• Decorative belts
• Ruffles
• Skin-colored costumes → ❌ NOT allowed
Lace & Motif Rules
• Lace or motifs (same color as costume):
• Must be lined from waist to shoulder
• Arm use does NOT require lining
• Maximum coverage:
• Must NOT exceed 40% of the costume
🟦 LEOTARD (BODYSUIT)
Upper Part
• May be:
• Sleeveless
• Short sleeve
• Elbow length
• Full wrist length
Lower Part
• Must:
• Follow the hip line
• NOT be cut higher than the hip
🟦 ACCESSORIES
• NOT allowed:
• Bracelets
• Necklaces
• Gloves
🟦 HAIR DECORATION
• Allowed:
• One flower OR ribbon
• Maximum size: 10 cm
• NOT allowed:
• Tiaras
• Decorative headbands
• Rhinestones / crystal decorations
🟦 SHOES
• Maximum heel height:
• 1.5 inches (Juveniles)
• Allowed:
• Shoes with rhinestones on buckle
• Glitter elements
Junior Categories (Exception)
• Junior categories may have:
• Heel up to 2 inches
• Junior 1:
• Thin “Cuban” heel is recommended
• Junior 2:
• No heel restriction
• In the image above:
• Right side → Juvenile category shoe (mandatory)
• Left side → Junior category shoe (optional)
🟦 SOCKS
• Mandatory:
• White ankle socks
• Allowed:
• Small amount of lace
• NOT allowed:
• Fishnet tights
COMPLIANCE & PENALTIES
• In case of objection:
• The chairman may:
• Request costume change
• OR move the athlete to the next age category within the same level
• If the athlete is able to change costume:
• They may continue normally in the next round
CODE OF CONDUCT & ETHICS
🟦 GENERAL PRINCIPLES
All athletes are expected to maintain high standards of behavior, professionalism, and respect throughout the competition.
🟦 ATHLETE OBLIGATIONS
• Demonstrate a high level of conduct:
• Before the competition
• During the competition
• After the competition
• Show sportsmanship regardless of results:
• Be respectful and polite in both victory and defeat
🟦 RESPECT & BEHAVIOR
• Respect all individuals involved in the event:
• Fellow athletes
• Competitors
• Spectators
• Organizers
• Officials and staff
🟦 ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
• Any form of discrimination is strictly prohibited, including:
• Xenophobia
• Racism
• Any other discriminatory behavior
• This applies to all forms of expression:
• Verbal
• Written
• Gestures
• Facial expressions
🟦 PARTICIPATION & PRESENCE
• Athletes must:
• Arrive at the venue at least 1 hour before their scheduled category
• Be in appropriate physical and mental condition
• Mandatory participation in:
• Opening parade
• Award ceremony
🟦 VENUE RULES
• The following are strictly prohibited within the competition venue:
• Smoking
• Vaping
• Alcohol consumption
🟦 TIME MANAGEMENT
• All participants must:
• Be present at least one hour before their category start time
• Ensure punctuality to avoid delays in the event schedule