click click

Rules

BLACKPOOL GRAND FINALS & AREA QUALIFIER

MODERN BALLROOM,

LATIN AMERICAN & SEQUENCE

COMPETITION RULES

Entry Qualification for Blackpool Grand Finals 2026 & Area Qualifiers

Revised March 2026

1. All competitors must be members of an invited school, hold a dance examination medal or intend to hold one no higher than the level they are competing in.

2. If a competitor moves school, they may move back one level BUT must comply with Rule 4 below. If a competitor has had a break of 5 or more years, please contact the Events Secretary below for advice on the level to recommence.

3. Competitors may only dance in one solo partnered event, one solo solo event and one couples event in each genre. For couples’ events there are no split partnerships in any genre. At Blackpool Grand Finals, which is run over two days, you may have one partner only in each genre for the whole weekend.

4. The Season runs from the completion of the previous year’s Blackpool Grand Finals until the last qualifier leading up to the next Blackpool Grand Finals. The permitted length of time for which competitors may continue to compete at the same level at the Blackpool Grand Finals event is as follows:

Initial Welcome / U6 /U8 Primary and Primary: 1 year per level
Elementary: 2 years
Pre-Bronze: 3 years

(Please note Elementary replaces any previous naming and applies to the level below Pre Bronze).

On winning any event at the Blackpool Grand Finals that involves more than a straight final, the competitor must move into the next level for the following year, (except Gold Star and Awards).

If there were less than 6 competitors you may move into the next level or remain in the same event for 1 more year.

(Please note that this rule does not apply to ‘non-qualifiers’ events).

5. The following rules will apply to Initial Welcome, U6 & U8 Primary & Primary Level:

a) You enter the correct section according to your birthday.

b) You have only taken the level of medal in a corresponding medal test system or intend to if your school has not booked an examination session.

c) You are in your first year of competitions.

d) You may only dance in the sections for ONE year, for clarification that’s Initial Welcome one year, one year U6 & U8 Primary or Primary and then you must move to Elementary level or a higher level.

6. The role in which pupils commence the competition must be maintained throughout the event. No role changing mid dance as this is not in any syllabus. The events at both Area and Grand Finals level will be open to all genders and they will compete in the same event. However, events may be split according to numbers of competitors in events requiring further division.

7. If a pupil has taken a student teacher examination with any organisation in the genre of the event, they are not permitted to enter the medallist competitions held that day.

8. At an Area Qualifier for Blackpool Grand Finals all competitors must dance in the age category for the age they are on the day.

9. Blackpool Grand Finals – Competitors may enter at the level or age group they qualified (i.e. at the date of the event) or if changing age groups dance in a higher age group but at the same level of qualification at the date of the Blackpool event i.e. Juvenile qualifying at Silver may dance – Juvenile Silver or if 12 years old – Junior Silver. Teachers may also dance pupils “up” to a higher level if they have issues with partnering from the level they qualified in. It is important to inform us if you intend to do this and to inform us of the name of the competitor.

Risk and Liability Waiver

Anyone competing or partnering at any Blackpool Grand Finals event does so at their own risk. By entering the Blackpool Grand Finals events, you assume all risks associated with participation, including but not limited to bodily injury, illness or damage to or loss of personal belongings. The organisers, venue, and staff cannot and will not be held liable for any injury, illness, damage to or loss of personal belongings sustained at any Blackpool Grand Finals event.

Photography and Videoing

Photography or videoing is permitted, but it is restricted to the one school concerned and is for personal use only. Official photographers will be permitted to provide their services for the event and sell their products.

Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection

It is the responsibility of the teachers/principals to make sure that all pupils under the age of 16 and vulnerable adults are monitored whilst in the Ballroom. Please report anything seen untoward to any official.

Changing Rooms

Please make sure that all pupils use the changing rooms provided at all events.

At the Blackpool Grand Finals there are three, clearly marked on the first floor.

Competitors are NOT to change in the toilets or in the ballroom.

Dress Regulations

COSTUME RULES FOR JUVENILES: Ballroom, Latin and Sequence

The decision of the organiser on the day will be final – we are here to advise and help with getting it right.

Sponsorship Logos

Sponsor logos are permitted but must not exceed 40 square cms.

Hairstyle and Make-Up

To be appropriate for the child’s age.

Hair Decoration

Small flower or bow (Maximum 8cms in width and without rhinestones,

glitter or any other decoration and not made from shiny material) only

permitted in the hair. No glitter spray or other decoration.

Jewellery of a personal/religious nature may only be worn. Earrings are

to be kept simple and suitable.

Armbands, Headbands, Neckbands and Gloves in material are not permitted.

Shoes

Block heel only with a maximum height of 3.5 cm. White ankle socks must be worn.

Materials

Bodice Materials from the roll with no additional decorations such as lace motifs, rhinestones, sequins or ruching.

Bodice To be of one material only and to be fully lined up to and including the shoulder seams. See through materials must be fully lined.

Bodice Length to be waistline or hipline.

Skirt To be of the same self colour (dye match). No cut outs with one hem length all the way round. Godets are not permitted.

Skirt To be of one material.

Panelling Must be the full length of the dress.

Up to two under skirts permitted and must be non-see through material.

Crinoline or wire are permitted inside hem of top skirt. Crinoline may not be exposed on the bottom of the skirt. Satin ribbon may be used on hems. Hems to be no more than 8cms in depth.

A Sash/Belt is permitted on skirt waist but no wider than 5cms to cover the join. Bow with tails to be no bigger than 5cms and may only be used as a fastening. Buttons and sashes for fastening purposes only.

Waistband to be no wider than 5cms. A Sash/Belt on a dress can have a back fastening but must be an integral part of the dress.

Neck Lines

Neck lines and Keyhole back not lower than top of armpit/underarm.

One frill up to 7.5cm in depth or simple collar.

Skirt/Dress Length

Permitted from knee level to 5cms above ankle sock. These are to be

representative of the genre danced.

Sleeves

Long, Short, Elbow Length, Short Puff, Cap – No frills and Dolman.

Trousers

Block black material only.

Normal or high waisted with optional underfoot strap.

Black Satin ONLY permitted in stripes and waistbands.

Shirt

White long sleeved (not rolled up and with no additional detail) and

must be tucked into trousers. No wing collars or shiny material. Cufflinks

permitted.

Ties

Black or Dark Blue bow tie or regular black or dark blue tie (no initials permitted).

Belts

Plain belt either of leather or similar material with small buckle.

Shoes

Shoes to be made either of leather, Nubuck or Patent materials

Age groups – Juvenile, Junior, Adult, Senior

Juvenile Up to and including 11 years

Junior 12-15 years

Youth Under 21

Adult 21- 34 years

Over 35 35 - 49 years

Over 50 50+ years

Over 65 65+ years

70 plus 70 years and above

80 plus 80 years and above

There is NO dispensation on age groups – see Rules 7 and 8.

When moving into a new age group the following rules apply for Juvenile to Junior and Junior to Youth ONLY. This does not apply to other levels i.e. on moving from Over 35 Silver to Over 50, the competitors may either remain at Silver or move to Gold.

1. Elementary competitors may compete at Elementary level or above. Pre-Bronze competitors may compete at Pre-Bronze level or above. This rule allows the possibility of one more year albeit in an older age group.

2. Bronze / Silver medallists may not compete below Bronze level in the new age group.

3. Gold medallists may not compete below Silver level.

Solo – Partnered Initial Welcome

Under 40 Initial Welcome W

Under 40 Initial Welcome C

Over 40 Initial Welcome W

Over 40 Initial Welcome C

The above events are designed for the totally new to competition dancer for one season only.

Dance shoes or outfits are not necessary, just the enthusiasm to want to dance in a competition.

Outfits must not have stones, sequins, feathers or shimmers of any kind - plain outfits.

Basic syllabus, no higher than any associate level is allowed.

If there are 6 or more dancers in any of these events the first 3 then move to Primary for future events.

Initial Welcome will be a qualified event at Blackpool Grand Finals 2026.

Solo Solo

1. These events will be danced as a one dance event changing each round

2. These events will qualify for the Solo Solo Grand Final in Blackpool November 2026

3. No Syllabus requirements at any age

4. Costume requirements as per other events

5. Qualification is by age not grade

Couples

1. Competitors for the couple’s events must enter at the higher grade of any medals held by either competitor.

2. A Juvenile dancing with a Junior or a Junior dancing with an Adult must compete in the upper age group.

3. An Over 35 Adult dancing with an Under 35 Adult must dance in the lower age group.

4. An Under 50 Adult dancing with an Over 50 Adult must dance in the lower age group.

5. Blackpool Grand Finals – Couples events must tie in with the solo partnered events danced on the day of the event e.g. Silver Under 35 must dance in Under 35 Silver/Gold.

Condition of Entry

Please note that all competitors’ names and dance schools will be included in a list for teachers as part of the Grand Finals Event.
The judges’ marks are not displayed after the Grand Finals or any other event associated with it.
All events are ticket only and are to be purchased through your school’s teacher/principal.
These events are not open to the general public, only those connected to invited schools.
Any complaints must be directed to the secretary within seven days following the event concerned.
All competitors should be made aware that they may be photographed/videoed during the event.
When entering these events, you are agreeing to adhere to the rules on behalf of yourself, your teachers, your pupils who are partnering and the competitors you enter.
These rules are published only to the principals or teachers of the schools entering events through which all information may be passed if they wish.