Categories

Competition Format

• Couples will dance to music chosen by the organisers. This could include all types of chill out music from 80bpm – 110bpm approx.
• The competition will consist of multiple heats, depending on the number of competitors.
• Each heat will consist of two, 2-minute tracks.
• All judging will be by a points system, and judges’ decisions are final.

Dance Rules

• The dance must mostly be recognisable as Ceroc i.e. as taught during Ceroc classes or workshops. However, the organisers recognise that your freestyle will incorporate a wealth of other dance styles as dictated by the music.
• The lead and follow aspect of the dance must be clearly demonstrated.
• Partners must not release hand hold or break contact for more than 8 beats.
• Qualifying dancers will be asked back to the next round.

Age Restrictions

• There are no age restrictions at this event, except in:
  – Over 50’s (specified in category rules as aged 50 or over)
  – Top Cats & Lucky Dip (minimum age is 16)
  – Anyone under the age of 18 will need to be supervised by a parent or guardian.

 Competitor Responsibilities

• Understanding Rules: Competitors are responsible for reading and comprehending both the general competition rules and the specific rules for their category. Refer to the Judging Criteria section which includes definition of various moves including airsteps and definition of Professional and Amateur dancers.
• Category Eligibility: Competitors must be aware of which categories they are eligible to enter. If you have won a trophy at a previous Ceroc champs, you can continue to compete at that level until that same competition recurs (this is known as a ‘Competition Year’). Once this competition recurs you must move up a level. For instance, if you have won a trophy in the intermediate category at Chill Out Champs 2025, you must compete at advanced level when you compete at the Chill Out Champs 2026. Refer to the Self Seeding information for examples of which category is right for you.
• Number Display: Competitors will be issued with a dance number on the day of the event which must be clearly displayed and securely fixed to their person during the competition categories.
  Competitors are advised to strengthen the fixing points on their dance numbers to avoid tearing, especially if dancing multiple categories.
• Number Visibility: At the end of each song, competitors must rotate to ensure judges can easily see their number.
  If the competitors dance number drops off or is illegible during the competition heat, then the competitor may not be judged.
• Punctuality: Competitors must be ready to start their heat on time. If not there, their name will be called a maximum of 3 times, after which there will be an instant disqualification.
• Floorcraft: Competitors must demonstrate good floorcraft, which involves using the dance floor space effectively without disrupting other dancers.
• Warmup: Competitors are encouraged to warm up sufficiently prior to their heat.

Conduct

• Participants must maintain good sportsmanship.
• Any form of misconduct or disrespect towards judges, organisers, or other competitors will result in disqualification.
• Participants must adhere to the venue’s rules and regulations.

Amendments

• Ceroc reserves the right to change the program and competition rules if necessary, without consultation.

 Recording and Promotion

• The event will be recorded by film, video, and photograph. These materials may be used for Ceroc promotional purposes without any obligation.

Disclaimer

• The organisers accept no responsibility for loss or injury to persons or possessions in relation to this event.
• Participants compete at their own risk.
• There will be no refund for competitors who withdraw or are unable to compete in a category either before or during the event.

Which Freestyle Competition Standard (Newcomer, Intermediate, Advanced, Open/Champions) Category Should You Compete In? Please read below.

Moving between competition standards

Remember, when you first join a Ceroc competition, you can ‘self-seed’. This means selecting your own entry level that you deem appropriate for your ability.

HOWEVER, once you have selected your level, you have made a long-standing decision!

MOVING UP – you can move up the competition standards whenever you want. The only time you are obliged to move up to the next standard is one year after placing first.

MOVING DOWN – moving down a competition standard is very rarely permitted, unless you have competed at your selected standard for 3 years or more, and have never placed. You may then move down one standard.

Choose your standard carefully and fairly, as it is a decision that will affect your personal participation in all future Champs events.

If you feel the above criteria need reconsideration for your personal circumstance, you must submit a written request, detailing your reasons, to any Ceroc Champs organiser. The entire Committee will review your request and respond within 30 days. The Committee’s decision is final. Email initially ceroceventsltd@gmail.com

Competition Year vs Calendar Year

If you place 1st at any competition standard, you are then permitted to continue competing at that same standard for a full Competition Year. This means you can continue to try and win 1st at all competitions across the country, until the competition at which you gained your first gold medal recurs. As soon as this event recurs, you have to move up a standard (irrespective of your success at any of the intermediary competitions).

For example: If you win Intermediate 1st Place at the Welsh Champs 2024, you do not need to move up to Advanced until Welsh Champs 2025.

If you wish to compete at a different level in your non primary role (e.g. as a follow in Open and as a lead in Advanced) please email ceroceventsltd@gmail.com.

Should I Compete in…

NEWCOMERS?

You can compete in the Newcomers category if any of the following statements are true:

• You have never participated in a major partner dance competition. (Ref: Definitions on the Judging Criteria page)
• You have competed at the Newcomer level before, but only ever within the last Competition Year.
• You are an Intermediate-level dancer and you are partnering with a Newcomer.

To be the intermediate partner in the Newcomers category you must not have:

• Placed 1st at the Intermediate level in any previous partner dance competition more than a year ago.
• Competed at the Advanced or Open level.

Examples:

Daisy has been dancing for 4 months and has never competed. Her friend John has competed in Intermediate-level Ceroc competitions but has never won. They are eligible to compete in the Newcomers category together.

Husband and wife, Mark and Sue, competed in the Newcomers category at the Northern Champs and placed 1st. They have also registered to compete in the Newcomers category at the Ceroc South West Champs, Welsh Champs, and Scottish Champs. They can compete as Newcomers but will need to move up to Intermediates at the next Northern Champs and so on.

INTERMEDIATE?

You can compete in Intermediate if any of the following statements are true:

• You have never participated in a partner dance competition.
• You have competed at the Newcomer level in a partner dance competition.
• You are an Intermediate-level dancer who has never placed 1st in an Intermediate-level competition more than a year ago.
• You placed 1st in an Intermediate-level competition, but it was within the last 12 months.
• You have competed in Advanced standard for over 3 years and have never placed i.e. you choose to drop down a level.

You cannot compete in Intermediate if any of the following statements are true:

• You are a dance professional. (Ref: Definitions on the Judging Criteria page))
• You are currently competing in the Advanced level for less than 3 years or are an Open competitor in any partner dance competition.
• You have competed at Open level in the last 3 years.
• You have placed at the Advanced level within the last 3 years.

Examples:

Cara and Colin have been dancing for 2 years and last year won the Newcomers at the Ceroc Scottish Champs. They have been continuing to compete in Newcomer at other Ceroc competitions. Now Scottish Champs is back round in the dance calendar, they have to compete in Intermediate.

Phil and Lil have been dancing in the Advanced category for over 6 years, and have never been placed. They are permitted to move into Intermediates.

ADVANCED?

You can compete in Advanced if any of the following statements are true:

• You are an Advanced-level dancer who have not placed 1st in an Advanced-level partner dance competition.
• You placed 1st in an Advanced-level partner dance competition within the last 12 months.
• You have competed in the Open category for over 3 years and have never placed.

You cannot compete in Advanced if any of the following statements are true:

• You are a dance professional who placed in the Open/Champions category within the last 3 years.
• You are competing in the Newcomer or Intermediate categories. 
• You placed 1st in Advanced more than 1 Competition Year ago, you must compete in Open.

Examples

Keely has only ever competed at Intermediate level and her new dance partner Shane has been competing in Advanced for the last 2 years. If Keely wants to dance with Shane then she will need to move up into Advanced, and will not be able to return to Intermediates for a minimum of 3 years.

OPEN?

You can compete in Open if any of the following statements are true:

• You are an Open level competitor.
• You have placed 1st in the Advanced category.

You cannot compete in Open if any of the following statements are true:

• You are competing in Newcomer, Intermediate or Advanced categories in your primary role.

Examples:

Idris and Joanna self-seeded themselves into Open two years ago, but have not won a medal despite trying. They need to remain competing at Open level for at least another year, and if they cannot get placed in that time will have the option of moving to the Advanced category if they so wish.

Important note:

In a partnership where the two of you are at different levels, you must compete at the higher-level category or find another partner in the same level category.

£28 per couple

The Advanced Category is open to both professional and amateur dancers who have not placed in the Open/Champions category in the past 3 years. 

• Both you and your partner must not have previously placed in the Open/Champions category in the past 3 years.

• Dance teachers/professionals may enter this section provided neither partner placed in the Open/Champions category in the past 3 years. Competitors who have previously placed in the Open/Champions level categories are not allowed to enter this section.  

• If the judges believe entrants are of an Open standard, they will be asked to move up to the Open Freestyle category or be disqualified.  

• Baby Aerials (any lift where one of the follow’s feet remains below the waist/belt line at all times) are permitted.
   
• Other Aerials (Lifts, Jumps, Major Aerials and Acrobatic Moves) are not permitted. Attempting these moves will result in penalisation or automatic disqualification. 
  

• All judging will be by a points system. Qualifying dancers will be asked back to the next heat/round. All judges’ decisions are final.

• Judges will award points based on the four lenses – move content, musicality, connection & conversation and dance quality.

• Judges will also be awarding points for dress and presentation.

• Partners must not break contact/handhold for more than 8 beats.

£28 per couple

​In this category it’s all about the funk! Dancing to some eclectic music that will throw musicality at you, and we expect you to hit it! Bring shapes, moves, laughs, musicality and have a great time entertaining the crowd!

• This category is open to all, amateurs and professionals.
    
• Couples will dance to music chosen for the Funkified category and it will be musically challenging..

• Couples must stay within their partnership.

• The definition and timing of the music, plus your own musical style, may encourage all dance styles. Therefore, all styles are permitted.  

• All judging will be by a points system. Qualifying dancers will be asked back to the next round. Judges’ decisions are final. 

• Judges will award points based on the four lenses – move content, musicality, connection & conversation and dance quality.

• Judges will also be awarding points for dress and presentation.  

• There are no further rules – Time to get funky!

£28 per couple

This section is recommended for those who have danced for 6 months or more but do not wish to compete with the Advanced dancers. 

• The Intermediate Category is open to amateurs only (including newcomers).
• Both you and your partner must be amateurs.

• Dance teachers/professionals, and competitors from Advanced and Open level categories, are not allowed to enter this section. 

• If the judges believe entrants are of an Advanced standard, they will be asked to move up to the Advanced Freestyle category or be disqualified.  

• Aerials (Lifts, Jumps, Major Aerials, Baby Aerials and Acrobatic Moves) are not permitted. Attempting these moves will result in penalisation or automatic disqualification. 

• Drops are permitted, provided that the ball of one of the follow’s feet remains in contact with the ground. If this condition is not met, the move will be classified as an aerial and will result in a penalisation or disqualification. 

• If you have won an intermediate competition, you have 1 calendar year to still compete at intermediate level. i.e. if you won Chill Out Champs intermediate last year you can compete for the following year at intermediate level until you get to Chill Out Champs again where you would need to step up to advanced level. 

• All judging will be by a points system. Qualifying dancers will be asked back to the next heat/round. All judges’ decisions are final. 

• Judges will award points based on the four lenses – move content, musicality, connection & conversation and dance quality.

• Judges will also be awarding points for dress and presentation. 

• Partners must not break contact/handhold for more than 8 beats. 

£8 per person

In this section, participants will not know their dance partners until the day of the event. It’s the luck of the draw that could see you end up with a teacher, your regular dance partner or some random person who turns out to be your dancing soulmate. You just never know with this category so dip in and see what you get.  

• Only the leaders receive dance numbers.

• Pairing – the follows are given a pink slip in their pack on arrival. The leaders are given a sticky label with their dance number on it. Couples are paired randomly on the day, and the leader’s dance numbers are stuck on to the follows slips as a record of the partnership. This is then the couple for the entire category, including heats, semi-finals and finals.

• It is crucial to arrive at the venue on time to register and be ready on the dance floor for partnering.

• The Lucky Dip Category is open to all, amateur and professional. 

• Aerials (Lifts, Jumps, Major Aerials, Baby Aerials and Acrobatic Moves) are not permitted. Attempting these moves will result in penalisation or automatic disqualification.  

• Drops are permitted, provided that the ball of one of the follow’s feet remains in contact with the ground. If this condition is not met, the move will be classified as an aerial and will result in a penalisation or disqualification. 

• Judges will award points based on the four lenses – move content, musicality, connection & conversation and dance quality.

• Judges will NOT award points for dress and presentation. 

£28 per couple

The perfect introduction to competition awaits! In the Newcomers category, couples can be a mix of two complete Newcomers or a blend of one Newcomer paired with an intermediate dancer. Dive into the competitive spirit and discover the joy of dancing in this dynamic and supportive environment!

• Both partners must be amateurs. 

• Couples can consist of either 2 newcomers or 1 newcomer paired with an intermediate dancer. 

Newcomer Definition:

• A Newcomer is someone who has never competed in any major dance competition above Newcomer level (local and weekender competitions are allowed – see definition below).

• You have 1 calendar year from your first Ceroc Series competition to compete at Newcomer level, unless you place 1st at any of these. i.e. if you competed as a newcomer last year at Chill Out Champs you cannot compete as a newcomer a second time – you will therefore be classed as intermediate.

• Must not have placed 1st in any previous Newcomer category.

      Intermediate Definition for this category:

• The Intermediate dancer must never have placed 1st in any Ceroc or Modern Jive competition at the Intermediate level or above (exceptions include categories like Lucky Dip and Pro Am).
   
• They may have placed in a Newcomers category previously.

Major Dance Competitions:

• Newcomers must not have competed in any major competitions (such as Welsh Champs, London/UK Champs, Midland Champs, Northern Champs, Scottish Champs, Pan Asia Champs, Crystal Blues, World Modern Jive Champs, Indie Champs) at Intermediate level (or equivalent) or above. Small local class night or freestyle competitions for fun do not count.

• Aerials (Lifts, Jumps, Major Aerials, Baby Aerials and Acrobatic Moves) are not permitted. Attempting these moves will result in penalisation or automatic disqualification.
   
• Drops are permitted, provided that the ball of one of the follow’s feet remains in contact with the ground. If this condition is not met, the move will be classified as an aerial and will result in a penalisation or disqualification. 

• All judging will be by a points system. Qualifying dancers will be asked back to the next heat/round. All judges decisions are final.
  

• Judges will award points based on the four lenses – move content, musicality, connection & conversation and dance quality.

• Partners must not break contact/handhold for more than 8 beats. 

£28 per couple

The top-level competition for those who want to compete against the best. The format will be 2 rounds of up to 10 couples on the floor. The rounds will be mixed up so you will compete against different dancers in rounds 1 & 2. The top 10 will make the semi-final where you will all compete against each other. The top 6 will make it through to the spotlight final, where you will get two, 1.5 minute tracks and the floor is yours to shine.

• The Open Category is open to professionals and Open level dancers.

• Competitors or partnerships from the Intermediate & Advanced level categories, are not allowed to enter this section. 

• Drops are permitted. 

• Each track will allow up to 2 major aerials or inverted moves, in addition to drops, leans, and baby aerials of any kind. (Please refer to the Definitions subsection in Judging Criteria for all definitions.) Major aerials or inverted moves should not exceed 7 seconds in duration, meaning the follow’s feet should not be off the floor for more than 7 seconds from the start to the end of the move.  

• All judging will be by a points system. Qualifying dancers will be asked back to the next heat/round. All judges’ decisions are final. 

• Judges will award points based on the four lenses – move content, musicality, connection & conversation and dance quality.

• Judges will also be awarding points for dress and presentation.

• Partners must not break contact/handhold for more than 8 beats. 

• Once you’ve entered the Open you will be considered as a Professional for all other categories. 

About the Open/Champions Split:

• If there are 16 or more Open-level competitors, the Open category will be split into 2 divisions: Open and Champions.

• If there are 15 or fewer competitors, we will run a single division: Open.

• Champions will consist of the top 6 couples, based on cumulative points at the time bookings close (see the points system, coming soon).

• Any Open entries received after bookings close will remain in Open, regardless of points.

• Open will be run on a knockout basis: your score in each round determines whether you progress.

• Champions will be judged over 3 rounds, contributing to your final score as follows:

  • Round 1: 25%

  • Round 2: 25%

  • Spotlight: 50%

£28 per couple

• The Over 50’s Category is open to amateurs only. 

• Both you and your partner must be 50 years old, or older, on the day of the competition. 

• Proof of age may be required.  

• Aerials (Lifts, Jumps, Major Aerials, Baby Aerials and Acrobatic Moves) are not permitted. Attempting these moves will result in penalisation or automatic disqualification. 

• Drops are permitted, provided that the ball of one of the follow’s feet remains in contact with the ground. If this condition is not met, the move will be classified as an aerial and will result in a penalisation or disqualification.

•  All judging will be by a points system. Qualifying dancers will be asked back to the next heat/round. All judges’ decisions are final.

• Judges will award points based on the four lenses – move content, musicality, connection & conversation and dance quality.

• Partners must not break contact/handhold for more than 8 beats.

£28 per couple

In this category couples will be made from one Pro and one Am. Pro’s are professional dancers (see Definitions subsection in Judging Criteria for definitions detail). Am’s are amateur dancers who have not received payment for teaching dance. Sparks can fly in this category as the best of the best and the best of the rest team up for some awesome partnerships that burn up the dance floor.

The AM is the follow, the Pro the lead. You will be judged as a couple.  

• This competition is open to couples comprising of a Professional or an Open Level Dancer (Pro) and a non-Open level dancer (Am).  

• Each track will allow up to 2 major aerials or inverted moves, in addition to drops, leans, and baby aerials of any kind. (Please refer to the Definitions subsection in Judging Criteria for all definitions.) Major aerials or inverted moves should not exceed 7 seconds in duration, meaning the follow’s feet should not be off the floor for more than 7 seconds from the start to the end of the move.  

• Judges will award points based on the four lenses – move content, musicality, connection & conversation and dance quality.

• Judges will also be awarding points for dress and presentation.  

• Partners must not break contact/handhold for more than 8 beats.  

£28 per couple

In this category couples will be made from one Pro and one Am. Pro’s are professional dancers (see Definitions subsection in Judging Criteria for definitions detail). Am’s are amateur dancers who have not received payment for teaching dance. Sparks can fly in this category as the best of the best and the best of the rest team up for some awesome partnerships that burn up the dance floor.

The AM is the lead, the Pro the follow. You will be judged as a couple.  

• This competition is open to couples comprising of a Professional or an Open Level Dancer (Pro) and a non-Open level dancer (Am).  

• Each track will allow up to 2 major aerials or inverted moves, in addition to drops, leans, and baby aerials of any kind. (Please refer to the Definitions subsection in Judging Criteria for all definitions.) Major aerials or inverted moves should not exceed 7 seconds in duration, meaning the follow’s feet should not be off the floor for more than 7 seconds from the start to the end of the move. 

• Judges will award points based on the four lenses – move content, musicality, connection & conversation and dance quality.  

• Judges will also be awarding points for dress and presentation.

• Partners must not break contact/handhold for more than 8 beats.

£14 per person

In this section no-one knows who their partner will be! We aim to discover who are the best individual dancers in the Amateur category. 

Tops Cats is based on the Jack & Jill concept where individuals are randomly paired in each round and judged on their dancing. It is the individuals who go through to the next round, again to be randomly paired for the next heat. This means that each entrant may have a different partner for each round. 

• The Top Cats Am Category is open to amateurs only. 

• Dance teachers/professionals, and competitors from the Open level categories, are not allowed to enter this section. 

• Aerials (Lifts, Jumps, Major Aerials, Baby Aerials and Acrobatic Moves) are not permitted. Attempting these moves will result in penalisation or automatic disqualification.  

• Drops are permitted, provided that the ball of one of the follow’s feet remains in contact with the ground. If this condition is not met, the move will be classified as an aerial and will result in a penalisation or disqualification. 

• Individuals are randomly paired in each round and individually judged on their dancing. Your individual numbers must be visible to the judges on your back (or front or leg for backless outfits).  

• All judging will be by a points system. Qualifying dancers will be asked back to the next heat/round. All judges’ decisions are final.  

• Judges will award points based on the four lenses – move content, musicality, connection & conversation and dance quality.

• Partners must not break contact/handhold for more than 8 beats. 

£14 per person

In this section no-one knows who their partner will be! We aim to discover who are the best individual dancers in the Open/Pro category.  

Top Cats Pro is based on the Jack & Jill concept where individuals are randomly paired in each round and judged on their dancing. It is the individuals who go through to the next round, again to be randomly paired for the next heat. This means that each entrant may have a different partner for each round.

• The Top Cats Pro Category is open to Open/Champions level and Professional dancers only.  

• Aerials (Lifts, Jumps, Baby Aerials, Major Aerials and Acrobatic Moves) are not permitted. Attempting these moves will result in penalisation or automatic disqualification.

• Drops are permitted, provided that the ball of one of the follow’s feet remains in contact with the ground. If this condition is not met, the move will be classified as an aerial and will result in a penalisation or disqualification.

• Individuals are randomly paired in each round and individually judged on their dancing. Your individual numbers must be visible to the judges on your back (or front for backless outfits).

• Entry into this category may be limited due to lead/follow balancing.  

• Judges will award points based on the four lenses – move content, musicality, connection & conversation and dance quality. 

• All judging will be by a points system. Qualifying dancers will be asked back to the next heat/round. All judges’ decisions are final. 

• Partners must not break contact/handhold for more than 8 beats.