Costume Policies
Costumes are allowed for Silver levels and above. Costume guidelines will follow CDA guidelines, which can be found on the CDA website.
Shoe Policy
The CCBDC requires that all dancers wear shoes that will not mark or damage the floor. Suede-soled dance shoes are strongly encouraged. Competitors may not apply powder or oil to the floor or to the soles of their shoes.
Levels
American and International style events are offered in Newcomer through Open levels. Please read and understand the eligibility guidelines below and choose your level accordingly. Eligibility and syllabus restrictions will be enforced strictly in all levels; couples found breaking these rules may be disqualified without advance notice.
Both dancers in a couple must individually be eligible to dance at any given level. In the Standard, Smooth, Rhythm and Latin categories, couples may enter the lowest level for which both dancers are eligible, and the next higher level. (For example, a Bronze level dancer may also enter Silver level events.) In the Nightclub category, couples may only enter one level (Newcomer/Beginner OR Intermediate/Advanced) for each dance.
As mentioned below, Newcomer, Bronze, Silver and Gold levels are closed syllabus events. For International style events, syllabus restrictions refer to the ISTD Specified Figures, at the Associate level for Bronze, through the Fellow level for Gold. For American style events, any published syllabus (Fred Astaire, Arthur Murray, DVIDA, ISTD) may be used. ISTD step lists for International and American styles are available from www.usibda.org. The chairman of judges will strictly invigilate syllabus events.
No lifts, drops, or aerials are allowed in any event at this competition.
Intercollegiate Showdown is a CDA Fair Level competition and will use fair level points to determine when couples are entered in a level that is too low for their calculated proficiency. You can look up your fair level points using the Fair Level Point Lookup Tool. Dancers who do not have fair level points should refer to the guidelines below to determine their appropriate level.
Newcomer
Newcomer events are open to couples where both partners started Ballroom Dancing less than a year ago (after Nov 2024). Only Bronze syllabus choreography may be danced.
Bronze
Bronze events are for beginning dancers relatively inexperienced with ballroom dance competitions. Only Bronze syllabus choreography may be danced.
Silver
Silver events are for dancers with competitive experience. Those taking intermediate level classes and dancing regularly should find this category appropriate. Bronze and Silver syllabus figures can be used.
Gold
Gold events are for more experienced competitors. Any syllabus choreography (Bronze, Silver, or Gold) may be used.
Novice, Pre-Champ, Championship
Novice, Pre-Champ, and Championship are advanced levels are for experienced competitors and are equivalent to the corresponding level at USADance/NDCA competitions. Competitors who have placed out of Gold or Pre-Novice level are only eligible for Novice or higher. Costumes are strongly encouraged, and there are no restrictions on choreography.
Rookie/Veteran
Think of this level (also called Mixed Proficiency) as being similar to a Pro/Am event, but with an experienced Amateur instead of a Pro. The rules:
- One partner (the Rookie) must be a NEWCOMER, and the other partner Bronze or above (the Veteran).
- Both partners must be amateur dancers.
- Choreography is strictly restricted to Bronze syllabus only.
- Only the Rookie dancer will be judged.
- There are no costume restrictions.
- The events will be held after the Gold level events in each style.
- The events will be all single dance events (no multi-dance).
Nightclub
Nightclub events are open to all competitors and carry no restrictions on costumes or choreography. However, lifts, drops, and aerials are not permitted in any event. The nightclub events have been separated into two-level categories: Beginner, for dancers with two or fewer years of dance experience; and Intermediate/Advanced, for couples with more competitive experience. You may only sign up for one level for each nightclub dance.