Our first Jack and Jill contest was a ton of fun. Congratulations to our WNH Jack and Jill contest winners:
Jills' favorite Jack: Alex Protopopescu
Jacks' favorite Jill: Shirley Yap
It was a very close competition. Can you believe that the difference between some of our semi-finalists and finalists was as little as half a point? Whew! In addition, DJ Trevor's music was so hot that some of us danced well past midnight! Stay tuned for upcoming contest like this.
Event Details
Quick Links: Details | How to Enter | Why Enter | Judging |Rules | History | Schedule | Pricing | Location | Sponsor
What is a Jack & Jill Contest?
This is a fun competition for all dancers. Jack & Jill competitions originated over 40 years ago* and are designed to showcase a competitor's skills in spontaneous swing dancing and their ability to dance well with a variety of partners to randomly selected music. It is the ultimate fun lead/follow social dance contest you can enter.
Competitors enter individually and are randomly assigned to several partners. Partner selection is luck of the draw. During the preliminaries, couples will be judged in heats and will rotate partners as many times as deemed necessary by the judges. Each dancer will be judged individually as a leader or a follower. Should there be an imbalance in the number of leaders and followers entered in the contest, some contestants may be required to dance twice.
In the finals, dancers will be will be judged as individuals by the other contestants. The Jacks' favorite Jill and the Jills' favorite Jack will be the winners.
Contest music and the order in which it is played will be selected by the DJ's. The winners will receive tickets to the SFLX!
How to Enter
Register at the table near the DJ Booth before 9:30pm. To register you will need to pay $1, in addition to the regular dance admission ($7 for dance or $14 for lesson and dance). All registrations will be split between the winners.
Why Enter?
- It's really good fun.
- You get a chance to test your lead & follow skills.
- If there is even a remote chance that you will perform or compete one day, this is a great warm up.
- You could leave with more money than you came with.
- If you lose it's only a dollar.
- Most important, it's really fun!
Prizes
The winning couple will receive weekend passes to the San Francisco Lindy Exchange! AND winners will split the pot of cash from registration fees (amount determined by number of contestants entered).
Judging Criteria
Things that will increase your score
- Good timing, connection and musicality
- Improvisational skills
- Good teamwork with your partner (remember this is about Lead & Follow)
- Knowledge of the basics
- Your presentation of good, clean, fun dancing
Things that will lower your score
- Fancy moves not done well
- Lifts, drops, aerials or acrobatics (prohibited)
- Sloppy connection
- Bad timing
- Routines
Rules
No choreography is allowed. No lifts, drops, aerials or acrobatics.
Routine: Any segment which, in the opinion of the judges, consists of prearranged choreography (to include symmetric or complementary movements or footwork) is considered a routine.
Lift: A lift is described as any move where both feet of one partner are off the floor and weight of one partner is supported by the other partner.
Drop: A drop is described as any move where the entire head and torso of one partner is entirely below the waist level of the other partner and weight of one partner is supported by the other partner.
Aerial: an aerial is a move where one dancer is lifted with the assistance of his or her partner and the entire body is in a position higher than the waist of the remaining partner.
Acrobatic: an acrobatic movement shall be described as any move where one person independently passes his/her foot, leg, or body over and across the plane of either partneršs head or independently brings both feet off the floor and one foot is above either partneršs shoulder level or both feet are above either partneršs waist level.
Jack & Jill History
*Jack Carey is credited with coining the term "Jack & Jill" in the 1950's and inventing a particular type of dance contest in which the dancer does not know in advance what the music will be, nor who will be his or her partner.
Jack Carey a West Coast Swing legend, won the Harvest Moon Ball in 1949 when Gene Kelly headed the judging panel. Jack has been instrumental in keeping swing dancing alive, and continues to be an active judge, serving as the chief judge at numerous dance events across the country, including the U.S. Open Swing Dance.
Source: World Swing Dance Council SwingDanceCouncil.com
Schedule:
| 7:00 - 8:00 | Level 2: "Attaining Perfection" with Trevor & Andrea | |
| 8:00 - 9:00 | Level 1: 20's Charleston in your Lindy with Trevor & Audrey | |
| 9:00 - 9:45 | Swing Dance Party | |
| 9:45 - 10:15 |
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| 10:15 - 12:00 | Swing Dance Party continues |
Pricing:
To enter the Jack & Jill Contest you will need to pay $1 when you register at the DJ Booth (in addition to the normal dance admission specified below).
7:00 - 8:00pm — Level 2 $14 drop-in Details »
8:00 - 9:00pm — level 1 $14 drop-in Details »
9:00 - Midnight — Swing Dance Party: only $7
Location:
Starlite Dance Club
1160 N. Fair Oaks Ave (at Tasman Dr)
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
408-745-7827
Directions »
Starlite Dance Club is one of the largest and most beautifully constructed dance clubs in the country. It is conveniently located just off Hwy. 101 between San Jose and San Francisco in Sunnyvale, California. Come out and socialize and swing the night away at this spectacular venue!
Sponsor
Special thanks to our prize sponsor, the San Francisco Lindy Exchange, for donating two tickets to SFLX Sept. 12-14! You can sign up for weekend passes to SFLX at their website here: sflindyexchange.com
A lindy exchange is a gathering of lindy hop dancers in one city for several days to experience the dance venues and styles of that local community, and to dance with visitors and locals alike. Travelling for exchanges has contributed to the development of an international lindy hop community. Although the focus of lindy exchanges is on lindy hop, related swing dances such balboa, charleston, blues dance, and collegiate shag are common at 'lindy' exchanges. The term 'exchange' is derived from school or university 'exchange' programs, where students travel to another country or city to experience the local culture. Exchange students often 'swap' or exchange their own home or place at their home university with another traveller. Visitors at lindy exchanges are often hosted by local dancers, staying in their homes for the duration of the event.
Source: Wikipedia
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