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Competitor List 11-18-25

We love seeing everyone’s personal style on the dance floor! For contests, we do ask that outfits reflect the spirit of the event and the category you’re competing in. This helps keep things fair, professional, and in line with the competition’s presentation standards.

While we welcome creativity, Forever Country reserves the right to request a change in attire if an outfit is deemed inappropriate or not in keeping with the competition’s guidelines. Our goal is to create a fun, respectful environment where everyone can shine.

Your look is part of your performance—dress in a way that makes you feel confident and matches the vibe of your dance style.

STYLE & PRESENTATION

TWO-STEP
(NCDC Certified)

Description:

A progressive partner dance that moves counterclockwise around the floor, using a quick-quick-slow-slow rhythm.

Rules & Judging Criteria

Timing: Adherence to quick-quick-slow-slow timing. Brief deviations allowed, such as quick-quick-slow-quick-quick-slow breaks.
Footwork: Must maintain the quick-quick-slow-slow rhythm.
Safety: Running into competitors will result in points reduction.
Musicality: Rewarded for matching movements to music breaks or phrasing.
All competitors must wear appropriate shoes.

Divisions

Jack & Jill:
- Divisions: Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced
- Random partner contest, progressively moving around the floor. One foot for each partner must remain on the ground.

Strictly:
- Divisions: Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, and Showcase
- Bring your own partner. Progressively move around the floor with one foot on the ground for each partner.

COUNTRY SWING
(NCDC Certified)

Description: A rotational, stationary partner dance.

Rules & Judging Criteria

Timing: Judged on basic one-count timing (stepping to the beat).
Footwork: Syncopated steps allowed. Every 16 counts must include a basic country swing move.
Musicality: Rewarded for matching movements to music breaks or phrasing.
Safety: Running into competitors will reduce points.
All competitors must wear appropriate shoes.

For more information on judging rules and expectations please visit www.nationalcountrydancecircuit.com/countryswing

Divisions

Jack & Jill:
- Divisions: Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced
- Random partner, stationary fusion dance contest. One foot must remain on the ground, and the slot must rotate every 16 counts.
Strictly:
- Divisions: Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, and Showcase
- Bring your own partner. One foot must remain on the ground.

West Coast Swing All-Star and Champion dancers are not eligible to compete in the Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate.

Country Swing Competitor Meeting
Friday, November 21

General Store Floor

4 PM - Newcomer & Novice

4:15 PM - Intermediate & Advanced

TRADITIONAL PROGRESSIVE
(NCDC Certified)

Description: A slotted, progressive dance moving counterclockwise around the floor.

Rules & Judging Criteria

Timing: Judged on one-count timing (stepping to the beat).
Footwork: Syncopated steps allowed. Stops permitted for up to 8 counts on each straight away. Barcoast patterns, like whips and slotted moves, are allowed.
Lifts & Tricks: One foot must remain on the ground. Rides, pendulums, and one-footed spins are allowed.
Musicality: Rewarded for matching movements to musical moments.
Safety: Running into competitors reduces points.
All competitors must wear appropriate shoes.

Divisions

Jack & Jill:
- Divisions: Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced
- Random partner competition, judged on technique, musicality, originality, and performance quality.

Strictly:
- Divisions: Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced
- Bring your own partner competition with the same judging criteria.

FREESTYLE PROGRESSIVE

Description: A slotted, progressive dance that allows lifts.

Rules & Judging Criteria

Timing: Judged on basic one-count timing.
Footwork: Syncopated steps allowed. Stops permitted for up to 8 counts on each straight away.
Lifts & Tricks: Lifts encouraged.
Musicality: Rewarded for connecting movements to musical moments.
Safety: Running into competitors results in disqualification.
All competitors must wear appropriate shoes.

Division

Strictly:
- Divisions: All Levels
- Bring your own partner contest with lifts allowed.

COUNTRY MEDLEY
WALTZ | POLKA | EAST COAST SWING

Show off your versatility and connection in our Country Dance Medley, where Strictly partners will dance Waltz, Polka, and East Coast Swing—all socially led and improvised in the moment. No choreography, no routines—just musicality, partnership, and style.

Divisions:

Novice (Lower Level)
Intermediate (Might combine into an Upper Level division)
Advanced (Might combine into an Upper Level division)

Guidelines:

One foot must remain on the ground for each partner at all times.
All movement must be socially led—no memorized routines allowed.
If you're new to any of these styles or uncertain about proper technique, we strongly encourage you to work with a trusted instructor to ensure you're competition-ready.
Men must wear jeans and polished country western attire.
Women are allowed to wear competition dresses.

Eligibility Notice:
To keep this division fun and accessible, Division 1 and Masters UCWDC dancers, as well as equivalent-level ballroom dancers, are not eligible to compete.

All competitors must wear appropriate shoes.

STEALS

Rules & Judging Criteria

Steal Execution: Clean, smooth, and creatively matched to the music.
Steal Timing: Must execute within 15 seconds after being tapped.
Dancers: Must keep one foot on the ground at all times.
All competitors must wear appropriate shoes.

Division

All Levels:
- Awarded to the best Steals leader and follower in the Circle of Fire.

LINE DANCE
(NCDC Certified)

Rules & Judging Criteria

***UPDATED OCTOBER 6***

Line Dance Divisions Now Feature Male, Female & Open Categories at Every Level!

Musicality: Demonstrate knowledge of the dance in relation to the music.
Performance: Full-body engagement, including facial expressions and upper-body movement.
Step Sheet Adherence: Stick to the choreography for the first two walls, then add creative variations.
Prelims songs will be 2 minutes and Finals songs will be full song.
No flips or acrobatic skills allowed.
All competitors must wear appropriate shoes.