SEPTEMBER 23-26, 2015 2015 National Solo Dance Series Final Handbook Addendum INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE 2015 NATIONAL SOLO DANCE SERIES FINAL
SECTION 1: GENERAL COMPETITION RULES Solo Dance Series competitions are U.S. Figure Skating nonqualifying competitions, as per Rule 3060 in the 2015 U.S. Figure Skating Rulebook. OVERVIEW: U.S Figure Skating is pleased to announce the 2015 Solo Dance Competition Series. This program began in the 2010-11 season and is open to individual skaters within the Eastern, Midwestern and Pacific Coast sections. Skaters participating in at least two competitions within their respective sections accumulate points based upon placement that will be used to determine qualification of individual skaters to the National Solo Dance Series Final. The Solo Dance Series will be conducted in accordance with the rules of U.S. Figure Skating as set forth in the 2015 U.S. Figure Skating Rulebook. Additionally, all participants will be expected to be U.S. Figure Skating members and abide by the Code of Ethics (GR 1.01) and the Code of Conduct (GR 1.02), as set forth in the 2015 U.S. Figure Skating Rulebook. A. COMPETITION RULES: Competition will be conducted in accordance with rules as detailed in the 2015 Solo Dance Series Handbook. B. MUSIC Dance music selection for Pattern Dance events will be chosen from the Standardized music of the International Skating Union, per rule 6030, and will be provided to the LOC by U.S. Figure Skating. C. AWARDS AND MEDALS Medals will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place finishers in all events during on ice awards ceremony scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2015. The complete final schedule of awards ceremonies will be posted on the official bulletin board at the National Solo Dance Series Final. D. ELIGIBILITY TO COMPETE Athletes must be eligible members in good standing of U.S. Figure Skating, and may be members of the figure skating club of their choice. The section in which the skater competes and can qualify from will be based upon the location of the skaters home figure skating club. All participants will be expected to abide by the Code of Ethics (GR 1.01) and the Code of Conduct (GR 1.02), as set forth in the 2015 U.S. Figure Skating Rulebook. E. JUDGING SYSTEM: The 6.0 judging system will be used for all events and levels at the participating 2015 Solo Dance Series Competitions. The ISU judging system will not be used. You can find an explanation of the 6.0 judging system on the U.S. Figure Skating website at: http://www.usfigureskating.org/programs.asp?id=419 Specific deductions and judging references may be found in the reference section of the Solo Dance Series Handbook found on the solo dance series webpage. 2
2015 NATIONAL SOLO DANCE SERIES FINAL COMPETITION INFORMATION A. QUALIFICATION TO THE 2015 NATIONAL SOLO DANCE SERIES FINAL At each Solo Dance Series competition, skaters will earn qualifying points based on their final, overall combined placement at the competition. Refer to Section 3: Awarding of Points for more details. Skaters can compete at as many competitions during the Series season as they desire; however only the skater s best three point finishes will be used towards their total point accumulation. Skaters may earn and accumulate their best three qualifying point finishes from either: a) Three (3) competitions within their section b) Two (2) competitions within their section and one(1) competition outside of their section Note: Skaters must compete in AT LEAST two (2) competitions within their section to be eligible to advance to the National Solo Dance Series Final. B. WHO QUALIFIES TO RECEIVE AN INVITATION TO ADVANCE TO THE NATIONAL SOLO DANCE SERIES FINAL? Following the conclusion of the season, those skaters in the solo pattern dance, combined event and shadow dance events from each section that have competed in at least two Solo Dance Series participating competitions and meet the following criteria (specific to event type) will be invited to advance to the National Solo Dance Series Final (NSDSF): 1.) SOLO DANCE AND COMBINED EVENT ONLY: a. Those skaters in each section who finish in the top six (6) places in each level will receive an invitation to advance to the National Solo Dance Series Final. b. Those skaters who outright won (not tied) first place at a total of three or more competitions during the season, while competing in a group size of two or more (2+) skaters will also receive an invitation to advance to the National Solo Dance Series Final. A skater must have actual competition in order for a win to qualify as a win. No matter when the other skaters withdraw, if a skater does not have any actual competition on that day, they may still earn points, but it will not count as a win. 2.) SHADOW DANCE EVENT ONLY: a. Those shadow dance teams in each section who finish in the top three (3) places in each level will receive an invitation to advance to the National Solo Dance Series Final. A variation of a fill-up rule may be used if less than six skaters qualify to receive invitations to the NSDSF at any particular level in the Series for the Solo Pattern Dance and Combined Events. This variation of the fill-up rule will be done at the discretion of the Program Development Committee Chair, National Vice Chair for Solo Dance and the U.S. Figure Skating Programs Director. C. DECLINING AN INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE: Following participation in the 2015 Solo Dance competitions, it is expected that skaters will compete in the National Solo Dance Series Final upon qualification. If a skater declines his/her invitation to compete in the National Solo Dance Series Final, he/she must notify Gia Witmer, U.S. Figure Skating Programs Manager by the deadline on the online acceptance form that is sent out following the conclusion of the season. No alternates will be invited to attend under any circumstances. 3
D. 2015 NATIONAL SOLO DANCE SERIES FINAL COMPETITION EVENTS: Competition will take place in Combined Event, Pattern Dance Event and Shadow Dance Event. The initial and championship rounds for each event are as follows: Combined Event: Level Qualifying Round Championship Round Juvenile Willow Waltz & Free Dance Juvenile Free Dance Intermediate Foxtrot & Free Dance Intermediate Free Dance Novice American Waltz & Free Dance Novice Free Dance Junior Short Dance & Free Dance Junior Free Dance Senior Short Dance & Free Dance Senior Free Dance Pattern Dance Event: Level Qualifying Round Championship Round Preliminary Canasta Tango, Rhythm Blues Dutch Waltz Pre-Bronze Swing Dance, Fiesta Tango Cha Cha Bronze Hickory Hoedown Willow Waltz Ten Fox Pre-Silver Foxtrot, European Waltz Fourteenstep Silver Tango, Rocker Foxtrot American Waltz Pre-Gold Blues, Paso Doble Kilian Gold Westminster Waltz, Argentine Tango Quickstep International Tango Romantica. Cha Cha Congeldo Yankee Polka Shadow Dance: Level Preliminary Juvenile Intermediate Novice Junior Senior Championship Round Canasta Tango Hickory Hoedown Foxtrot Tango Paso Doble Westminster Waltz E. GROUPINGS AT THE NATIONAL SOLO DANCE SERIES FINAL: PATTERN DANCE: Each level in pattern dance will be split into two qualifying rounds. The qualifying round for pattern dance will consist of two dances at each level, with the championship round being the final dance. The athletes finishing in the top five in each qualifying round in pattern dance will advance to the Championship round where they will compete the final solo pattern dance. The exception to this will be with the international solo pattern dance level where entry numbers are low, therefore all skaters entered will skate both the qualifying and championship rounds. COMBINED EVENT: The combined event will be split into two qualifying rounds. The qualifying round for the juvenile, intermediate and novice levels in the combined event will consist of a pattern dance and free dance, with the championship round consisting only of the free dance. The qualifying round for junior and senior levels in the combined event will consist of a short dance and free dance, with the championship round consisting only of the free dance. The athletes finishing in the top five in each qualifying round in the combined event, following their overall result from, either, the pattern dance / free dance or short dance / free dance, will advance to the Championship round where they will compete their free dance. 4
The skaters placement in free dance in the championship round only will determine their final placement overall. TIE-BREAKER FOR PATTERN DANCE AT THE NATIONAL SOLO DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS: Pattern Dance Tie-breaker at National Solo Dance Series Final: 1. If two or more skaters are tied for a particular place in points in qualifying round for pattern dance, the referee will draw a tie breaker dance. The skater with the highest score in the chosen tie-breaker pattern dance will take the higher placement. F. CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS AT THE NATIONAL SOLO DANCE SERIES FINAL: Top five skaters from each qualifying round group will advance to the Championship Round. The skaters' placement in the championship round only will determine their final placement. The exception to this will be with the international solo pattern dance level where skaters will compete both the qualifying and championship rounds due to low participation numbers at this level. CONTACT INFORMATION: U.S. Figure Skating, Manager, Figure Skating Programs: Gia Witmer E-mail: gwitmer@usfigureskating.org Chair, Program Development Committee: Elise Preston E-mail: epreston@trumporg.com National Vice Chair for Solo Dance, Program Development Committee: Lisa Navarro E-mail: skatinlisa@aol.com Greater Lansing Sports Authority (LOC and Competition Chair): Meghan Ziehmer E-mail: mziehmer@lansing.org Phone: (517) 377-1425 Cell Phone: (734) 417-8967 5