iHSC Rules & Regulations

See IHDA Hustle Guidelines below.

Definitions
Amateur: A dancer who has never received financial compensation for teaching or performing in any dance form. Professional: A dancer who is receiving financial compensation for teaching or performing in any dance form.
Pro-Am: Selection of category – Novice, Intermediate, or Advanced – is based on the level of the amateur should be selected with the guidance of the professional.
Silver:: 55 years and older.
*Newcomer (New) A person studying the dance for less than a year.

GENERAL RULES

  1. Competitors and attendees must have a day or weekend pass and are required to fill out a registration form and sign a liability waiver compliance.
  2. All competitors will receive a number to be used for the entire weekend and will be responsible to keep that number.
  3. Pros may compete with no more than two Ams in any one level of a dance.
  4. All competitors consent to release the use of their photographs, biographies, and names, for any video or television footage for sale.
  5. All heat competitors will dance to two songs of 1.5 minutes each – one slow and one fast, to be selected by IHSC
  6. All solo competitors will supply their own music on CD. All solo competitions are indicated with a double asterisk (**).
  7. The minimum/maximum time allowed for all solo competitors includes entrance and exit, with or without music. Solo routines should be no less than 2 ½ minutes and no more than 3 ½ minutes.
  8. If there are fewer than three couples, the IHSC reserves the right to cancel or combine divisions.
  9. The head judge and IHSC committee will have final say on all discrepancies. All questions and/or disputes should be brought to the attention of the head judge in writing (IHSC will supply a form for this purpose, if needed).

DANCE RULES
Hustle: A dance form using and combining the creative elements of circular rotation, slotted movement,elliptical rotation,traveling movement,visual lead and follow within the rhythm and timing of the dance. Basic will be defined as a ball change movement followed by two even steps.
Salsa: Breaking on one, two, three or four is permitted, however proper salsa/ mambo rhythm must be maintained.
Just Dance: When a competition is designated just dance, no routines, entrances or exits, lifts, aerials, or drops of any kind are permitted.
Swing: Each style will be designated on the competition entry form. For Triple Threat, any style of swing (West Coast, East Coast, Lindy or Jive is acceptable)

Solo Hustle Competitions Including World Pro-Am , World Amateur and World Professional Hustle Championships
Entries must be partnership form (male/female). All divisions are limited to one partnership per person (ie: Pros are limited to one amateur partner in this division)
Semi-Finals: Semi-final rounds will be heated just dance. No lifts, pre-choreographed side-by-sides or flairs allowed.
Finals: Finalists should have a prepared, spotlight routine to the song of their choice. Routine must be recognizable Hustle, however lifts, dips, drops, side by sides are allowed. Costumes recommended. Solo routines to be 3 minutes minimum to 3 ½ minutes maximum. Final placement will be based on a combined score from the heated and solo performances.

Pro-Am Classic Hustle: Solo performance only. Lifts, dips, drops and side by sides are allowed. Routine must consist of a minimum fifty percent (50%) Hustle Dancing and the balance of a combination of side-by-side, leaps, jumps and drops. NO LIFTS OR AERIALS are allowed. During a drop, one foot of both dancers must remain on the floor at all times. Leaps and jumps are allowed as long as they are not assisted by a partner. Music supplied by the competitor. Routine shall be no longer than (3 1/2) three and one half minutes and a minimum of (3) minutes including an entrance and an exit with or without music.
Pro-Am Theatre Arts Hustle: Solo performance only. Anything goes within the framework of the definition of Hustle Dancing. Music supplied by the competitor. Routine shall be no longer than (3 1/2) three and one half minutes and a minimum of (3) minutes including an entrance and an exit with or without music.

IHDA Pro/Am Hustle Guidelines:

All competitiors, IHDA members and nonmembers will be judged by the rules below. If guidelines are not maintained, points will be removed from your score which will result in not placing in your category. Costumes are allowed but not mandatory. Please select the Level that best suits you:

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Pro/Am Hustle Level One = Pre-Novice

Description: This Level would be simple happy dancing, back and forth, stay in place, maintaining connection, much like you might find beginners doing at a wedding. Good for fast music. For beginners only, people would have to move on after 6 months or a year. Many students would skip this level.

Guide:
3 count rhythm (1 measure patterns only)
Quarter and Half Turns (not exceeding 1/2 turn elements)
Stationary dance
Maintain connection at all times (either right to right hand hold / left to right hand hold / double hand hold)

Rules: Any pattern can be used as long as the criteria from Level 1 is implemented. There will be no syncopations allowed. Maintain connection at all times. No traveling. One year Cut-off for competing in this division.

Suggested patterns: Cross-Body Lead, Wheel, Hesitations, Underarm Turn Combination (You Go, I Go, You Go), Double Hand Hold Bridges. (Please note: This list are example patterns, you may use any pattern you like as long as the rules are maintained.)

Music tempo for L1 will range from 104-109 bpm. *Song criteria below.

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Pro/Am Hustle Level Two = Novice

Description: This level adds one-and-a-half left turns and a little more room with NY Walks and a Grapevine, but still stays in place, with continuous connection.

Guide:
Any pattern from Level 1
up to 1-1/2 turns with connection (not exceeding 1-1/2 turns)
3 and 6 count patterns (2 measure patterns)
Maintain Connection with Slight disconnect during transitions (either right to right hand hold / left to right hand hold / double hand hold)

Rules: Any pattern can be used as long as the criteria from Level 2 is implemented. There will be no syncopations allowed. Maintain connection at all times unless during transitions (ex: sliding door). No traveling beyond a 6 count pattern. No consecutive 1-1/2 turns.

Suggested patterns: Leader's Behind the Back Pass, Cross-Body Lead, Cross-Body Lead with Open Break to Return, Grapevine, Sliding Door, Cross Body Lead with Inside Turn, Shadow with Comb, Las Vegas, NY walks. (Please note: these are example patterns, you may use any pattern you like as long as the rules are maintained.)

Music tempo for L2 will range from 104 - 112 bpm. *Song criteria below.

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Pro/Am Hustle Level Three = Pre-Intermediate

Description: This Level adds rhythmic diversity with swivels. Also double right turns, consecutive one-and-a-half turns, and syncopations used for example in Las Vegas.

Guide:
Any pattern from Level 1 and 2
3 and 6 count patterns (2 measure patterns with the ability to release hold)
Syncopated basic
Extended rhythm (extra 2 beat increments only)

Rules: Any pattern can be used as long as the criteria from Level 3 is implemented. There will be no syncopated turns with (+12+3+4) (Ex: no 4-count turn, no continuous turns). Connection is not mandatory. No traveling beyond a 6 count pattern. No blind leads. No free spins. Both feet on floor (Ex: no rondes). No poses and/or holding a beat.

Suggested patterns: Swivels and Variations of Such, Diva Walks, Wrap Turn Variations, Free New York Walk. (Please note: these are example patterns, you may use any pattern you like as long as the rules are maintained.)

Music tempo for L3 will range from 104 - 115 bpm. *Song criteria below.

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Pro/Am Hustle Level Four = Intermediate

Description: This level adds free spins, posing, traveling in a straight line and everything that most dancers at a party are doing. This level is normal, good, social hustle.

Guide:
Any pattern from Level 1, 2 and 3
Extended rhythm
Syncopations
Pivots
free 1-1/2 turns
Continuous spins
Traveling
Rondes (leg action)
blind moves
poses/ holding a beat

Rules: Two (2) songs slow and fast will be implemented. Any pattern can be used as long as the criteria from Level 4 is implemented. Connection is not mandatory. There is no limit for traveling. Both feet primarily on the floor except for flicks and rondes. No one-legged spins.

Suggested patterns: Progressive Circular Basics (ex. T-Turns, Back to Back Turns), Double Outside Turn and All Variations (5 or 6 beats, including Double Illusion Turns, etc.), Free Spins to the Left (start on 2), Free Spins to the Right (start on 3), Diamonds, Wrap Turn Variations, 4 Count Right Turns, Double Syncopated Elements. (Please note: these are example patterns, you may use any pattern you like as long as the rules are maintained.)

Music tempo for L4 will range from 104 - 118 bpm. *Song criteria below.

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Pro/Am Hustle Level Five = Advance

Description: This level is for the seriously competitive, where an Am would need to place in level 4 a certain number of times before entering level 5. Entry in all other levels would be based on the material an Am is working on. This would contain whatever moves are beyond good dancers, and would also contain a musical component- dancing to very fast, and very slow music, both of which develop very different skills.

Guide:
Any pattern

Rules: This division is to better showcase technique, timing, and styling. NO routines, entrances or exits, lifts, aerials, drops, dips or acrobatic moves permitted. All patterns MUST be lead and follow.

Suggested patterns: Fred and Ginger/Pivots, Rondes, Capes, Samba Turns, Timing Variations, Pop, Snap, Syncopated Timing Variations, Waltz and any pattern from levels 1-4. All patterns MUST be lead and follow. (Please note: these are example patterns, you may use any pattern you like as long as the rules are maintained.)

Patterns that will be penalized: One Leg Turns, Horse and Cart Variations, Side by Side Combinations, Any TRICK Pattern.

Music tempo for L5 will range from 104 - 121 bpm. *Song criteria below.

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Pro/Am Hustle Level 6 = Open Division

The open division is a just dance division and may contain any Hustle pattern. One foot must remain on the floor at all times. Basic tricks are permitted, however, lifts and drops are not. A couple may choose to dance a pre-determined amalgamation.

Music tempo for the Open Division will range from 104-121bpm.
*Song criteria below.

Please Note for pro/am levels above:
Suggested number of songs to be played for each Level:

One song for levels 1-3 and Open Division. (Time limit of one song is 2 minutes).
Two songs for levels 4 and 5 (Time limit of two song is 90 seconds each song).
Depending on the Events entries, this may be changed.

Pro/Am Salsa, Amateur and Pro Just Hustle/Salsa: These are just dance competitions. Costumes are allowed but not mandatory. Contestants may dance up to two levels (their regular level, and one level up). In addition to the two levels permitted, contestants over 55 years of age may also dance in the Silver category Pro-Am competitions.
Professional/Amateur Cabaret: Any alternative dance. No hustle permitted. Anything goes but entries must be partnership form (male/female). Routines to be 2 ½ minutes minimum to 3 ½ minutes maximum.
Jack and Jill: These are just dance competitions. Dancers will draw for partners or have partners selected randomly. Costumes not required.
Triple Threat: All couples will dance 1 ½ minute heats in the following: Hustle, Salsa, Swing. Any style of swing or salsa is permitted. Heats are “just dance” competitions.
Pro-Am Showcase Exhibition: Open to any partner dance.Routines to be 2 ½ minutes minimum to 3 ½ minutes maximum.
Pro Anything Goes Salsa: Solo performance only. Breaking On-1 or On-2 is permitted but must remain consistent throughout the routine. Lifts, Dips, Drops and Shines are permitted. Costumes recommended. Routine must be recognizable salsa. Routines to be 2 ½ minutes minimum to 3 ½ minutes maximum. This competition will serve as a qualifying round for the World Salsa Championships for ESPN.

TIME ALLOWANCES FOR ALL SOLO PERFORMANCES:
Please note that there will be strict adherence to time allowances for solos, and anyone not adhering to the rules will be penalized. Head judge will allow for up to 10 seconds over or undertime with no penalty. However, more than that will result in a deduction from the final score. Anyone more than 10 seconds overtime will result in the music being cut off regardless of whether the couple is still dancing or not.