Novice Level-Up Jack & Jill

About This Qualifier

💃 Novice Level-Up Jack & Jill Independent Competition powered by the Bachata Social World Cup ecosystem Not a qualifying event for the World Cup Finals The Novice Level-Up Jack & Jill is a welcoming competition for dancers who are newer to the bachata competition world and ready to level up in a fun, supportive, and professionally organized environment. Supported by the BSWC ecosystem, this Jack & Jill follows international standards of transparency, fairness, and social dance evaluation while creating a supportive space for dancers to experience a structured, high-quality competition format. The focus is on authentic social dancing, musicality, connection, adaptability, and partner experience. ⚠️ Important Participation Requirements ✔️ All participants must hold a valid Full Pass or Party Pass for the Toronto Bachata Level-Up Festival in order to participate in the competition. ✔️ Registration is open until the category fills up. ✔️ All participants must register through the official competition platform and complete all required information (see Registration section below). 📅 Event Details Festival: Toronto Bachata Level-Up Festival Festival Dates: June 4–7, 2026 Competition Date: Friday, June 5, 2026 — TBC Category: Novice Level-Up Jack & Jill Registration: Open until the category fills up 👉 Who This Category Is For This category is recommended for dancers who: ✔️ Have little or no Jack & Jill competition experience ✔️ Have less than 2.5 years of bachata dancing experience ✔️ Are still building confidence in social bachata ✔️ Do not teach bachata regularly or occasionally, including private classes, group classes, online classes, or substitute teaching ✔️ Do not feel ready for Rising Star If you’re unsure which category fits you best, we recommend registering for Novice and allowing the organization team to review your eligibility. The organizers reserve the right to move participants between categories if needed to keep the competition fair and balanced. 🏆 Prizes Awards will be given to the top placements in the Novice Level-Up Jack & Jill. 🥇 1st Place: $200 cash prize, shared between the winning Leader and Follower — $100 each 🥈 2nd Place: Festival Full Passes 🥉 3rd Place: Festival Full Passes 🎫 Festival Full Passes may include: ✔️ Baychata Festival ✔️ Level Up Festival 2027 ✔️ Infinity Festival ✔️ SBK Festival 🧩 Competition Format The competition follows a Jack & Jill–style social dance format, where dancers are randomly assigned partners. Each dancer is evaluated individually as a Leader or Follower, even while dancing with a partner. 🔹 Round 1 — Preliminaries All participants will dance with rotating partners. Partner rotations will happen every 60 seconds to ensure fairness, variety, and adaptability with different partners. Depending on registration numbers, this round may include approximately 10 songs, allowing dancers to experience multiple partner connections. 🔹 Final Round The top dancers from the preliminary round will advance to the final. The expected final format is: ✔️ Top 6 Leaders ✔️ Top 6 Followers Finalists may dance with multiple partners and/or jury members from the opposite role, depending on the final competition structure confirmed by the organizers. All music will be randomly selected by the organizers and will include modern / sensual bachata. Traditional bachata is not required, but dancers may incorporate it if they feel comfortable and musically inspired. 🧠 Judging Judging will focus on the quality of each dancer’s social dancing, not choreography or performance routines. Dancers may be evaluated on: ✔️ Leading or following clarity ✔️ Connection with the partner ✔️ Musicality and timing ✔️ Adaptability with different partners ✔️ Movement quality, body control, and fluidity ✔️ Partner awareness and communication ✔️ Positive presence on the dance floor Judges will evaluate dancers individually in their own role: ✔️ Leaders are evaluated as Leaders ✔️ Followers are evaluated as Followers The goal is not to show the hardest moves. The goal is to create a comfortable, musical, connected, and enjoyable dance with each partner. 📌 Competition Rules To keep the competition fair, safe, and enjoyable, all participants must follow these rules: 🔄 Partner Rotation All dancers will be randomly assigned partners in each round. Partner rotation happens every 60 seconds. Each dancer is responsible for their own score. Your evaluation is based on your own dancing, connection, musicality, adaptability, and partner experience. 🚫 No Lifts, Tricks, or Acrobatics Lifts, tricks, and acrobatics are not allowed. Any movement where both feet of one partner rise above the leader’s knee level is not permitted. Keep your dancing safe, social, and appropriate for a Jack & Jill environment. 💃 Social Dancing Comes First This is a social dance competition, not a choreography or performance competition. Avoid forced patterns, overly rehearsed combinations, show-off movements, or anything that makes the dance uncomfortable for your partner. Connection with your partner is the priority. 👟 Outfits & Footwear Outfits and footwear are not judged. Wear something comfortable, confident, and safe to dance in. Please avoid clothing with offensive language, slogans, or controversial imagery. Respect and inclusion are key values of this competition. 🌿 Hygiene & Personal Care Hygiene, grooming, and scent are not scored, but they are strongly recommended. You will be dancing with multiple partners, so please be mindful of partner comfort. ⏰ Be On Time Participants must arrive on time and be ready when called. Late arrivals may be disqualified. 🤝 Respect Everyone All dancers must treat partners, judges, organizers, volunteers, and staff with respect. Misconduct, disrespect, or unsafe behaviour may result in disqualification, including: 🚫 Harassment or rude behaviour 🚫 Rough or reckless dancing 🚫 Disrespecting judges, staff, partners, or competitors 🚫 Trying to influence scores or results unfairly 🚫 Intentionally breaking the rules ⚖️ Ties In case of a tie, organizers may use a dance-off with judges or another fair method to determine placement. 🧑‍⚖️ Judges & Feedback Please do not approach judges for detailed feedback immediately after the rounds. Brief feedback may be requested during the event if time allows. For detailed feedback, dancers may ask judges about the possibility of booking a private lesson or receiving feedback at another appropriate time. Please respect the judges’ time and availability during the event. 🛡️ Competition Supervisor A competition supervisor may be present to ensure the rules are followed and to handle warnings, rule violations, or possible disqualifications. 🎟️ Registration All participants must register through the official competition platform. During registration, participants may be required to: ✔️ Create a competitor profile ✔️ Upload a clear profile photo ✔️ Complete all required information ✔️ Accept the competition rules Incomplete registrations may not be accepted. 📌 Additional Information ✔️ Competition fees are non-refundable ✔️ Results will be processed through the official digital system ✔️ Organizers may adjust the format if needed ✔️ Final schedule and details will be confirmed closer to the event