Traditional Competition Rules

Nottingham's Whip the Cat went back to Winlaton's notation for last year's traditional competition only to be pipped at the post by Sallyport. Can they turn the tables in 2012?
(photo courtesy of John Asher)

• All competing teams must have their own public liability insurance.
• Teams will be judged on a single performance.  Details of each competing team's dance time will be published prior to the event.
• Performance times will be arranged so as not to coincide with the main competition.
• All dances should be traditional rapper dances performed to live music with rapper swords.
• For the purpose of this class, ‘Traditional Dance’ is to be a notated and researched dance collected from the North East of England, such as Earsdon, Newbiggin, Winlaton, Swalwell, Murton, High Spen, Amble, Bedlington, Lemington, Walbottle, Westerhope, Beadnell, Wylam, Cold Hesledon. (click links for judges notes/criteria for a notated version of each tradition)
• The tradition dance to be performed must be stated at the time of entry.
• Any teams missing their allocated spots will forfeit their entry.
• Performers may only compete in one team in the traditional competition.
• Any side entering more than one team must enter them as separate teams in the competition.
• Teams will be marked on Stepping, Style and Buzz based on how well the dance matches the original notation as summarised in the marking criteria.
• The judges' decisions are absolutely final.

Please note that these rules are subject to change in the run up to the competition itself.

The judges notes/criteria on this site represent a selection of the most commonly performed versions.  Other versions may be entered on request.