This event is sanctioned by and conducted under the rules and regulations of the National Dance Council of America, Inc. The NDCA Rule Book is available online at www.ndca.org.

Additional Rules

1. All competitors must purchase an admission ticket. Entry fees are additional.
2. No entry may be accepted that does not include any required entry fee. Requests for refunds will only be honored up to the closing date.
3. Registration with the National Dance Council of America (NDCA) will be required for all amateur competitors - Pre-Teen, Junior, Youth, and Adult (register online at www.ndca.org).
4. All competitors are required to check in with the competition registrar at least one hour in advance of their scheduled time to dance.
5. All competitors are required to be in the on-deck area at least 30 minutes in advance of their scheduled time to dance.
6. NDCA rule X.C.8. will apply, which does not allow any competitor to dance in three consecutive skill levels in the same age category, specifically Novice, Pre-Championship, and Championship.
7. The "School Syllabus" competitions are considered "student/student" events. Competitors dancing only in these events are not required to register with the NDCA.
8. All Pre-Teen I, Pre-Teen II, and School Syllabus competitions are restricted to the syllabi listed in Appendix I of the NDCA rule book. American style events are limited to the bronze and silver American Style figures, elements and restrictions. International style events are limited to the bronze, silver, and gold International Style figures.
9. "Newcomer" competitors may not also enter any "open" events in any style.
10. Competitors entered in "School Syllabus" events may not enter "open" events in the same style.
11. Elementary School competitors may dance up into the Junior High School category. Junior High School competitors may dance up into the High School category.
12. Pre-Teen, Junior, and Youth competitors may not compete in any "School Syllabus" event in the same style.
13. Age classifications appear in the NDCA rule book.
14. Competitors in the Latin-American divisions must not be overly suggestive in their movements at all times while on the floor. Couples who are viewed as inappropriate will be warned once, and then will be subject to disqualification.

Click here to view the list of ineligible Newcomer competitors (PDF). This document lists individuals who have placed in the final of a Newcomer division at a previous NDCA-sanctioned competition, provided a quarter-final round was held. These individuals are not eligible to dance in the same school Newcomer division at future NDCA-sanctioned competitions.

"Newcomer" competitors are eligible for this category until they place in a final of a Newcomer competition held as part of the BYU DanceSport Championships, the Utah DanceSport Challenge, or the U.S. National Amateur DanceSport Championships, provided a quarter-final was danced.

Competitors who lose their eligibility for a particular newcomer school event will become eligible once again for the newcomer category when they move up to the next school age level.

However, competitors who dance up into a higher school level newcomer event, and then place in the final of that event when a quarter-final was held, will not be eligible in the future to dance "back down" in the newcomer division of their true school level.

Ineligible competitor list current as of the conclusion of the 2025 BYU DanceSport Championships (November 2025).

Below are the costume specifications for all amateur costumed events, including Adult Amateur, Youth, Junior II, and Junior I.

Women

Shoulders

1. Shoulders require stoned straps or fabric. Straps must be a minimum of 1/4 inch in width. Flesh colored fabric must be heavily stoned.

Bodice

1. Bust must be fully covered, including the sides, with no plunging necklines.
2. Front and sides of the bodice must be covered with solid non-sheer fabric.
3. Back of bodice must be covered in solid non-sheer fabric from three inches above the waist down.
4. Open backs must taper inward to a point no lower than three inches above the waistline.
5. Flesh-tone fabrics require heavy use of rhinestones or similar decorations so as not to reveal the skin or create a similar effect.
6. Halter tops are not allowed.

Skirts

1. Must reach mid-thigh in length.
2. May not use transparent fabric above mid-thigh for the Latin, Rhythm, and Cabaret styles.
3. May be broken or slitted from the trunk line down and fully cover the legs when not in motion.
4. Fringe skirts must reach mid-thigh in the front, back, and sides and must be thick enough to fully cover the legs when not in motion.
5. Flesh-tone fabrics require heavy use of rhinestones or similar decorations that do not reveal the skin or create a similar effect.

Trunks

1. Full coverage dance trunks are required.
2. No flesh tone fabric.

Fishnets

1. Fishnets or tights are required for lady competitors in the Adult Amateur Cabaret.

Men

Shirts

1. Back and sides of the shirt may be of a sheer fabric. Front of the shirt must be of a solid non-sheer fabric. The front of the shirt must also come to a closed point.

Additional Costume Policies

Parents, coaches, dressmakers, etc. will not be included when addressing costume concerns unless the competitor is under the age of eighteen.

Organizers reserve the right to require costume adjustments if deemed unacceptable, and also to cancel any entries for a couple who refuses to comply with the costume requirements.

Costume specifications dated November 22, 2025.

Competitors dancing in Pre-Teen I or Pre-Teen II events should refer to the NDCA Rule Book (pages 40-41) for costume requirements.

Girls

Girls entered in all School Syllabus events must dress as listed below.

1. General Attire

   A black skirt and a black top must be worn.

2. Skirts
   1. Plain or pleated with minimum 1 to maximum 3 half circles. One plain simple underskirt allowed which is no larger or longer than top layer, and is the same or similar color as the outer skirt.
   2. No uneven hem lines, use of boning, frills, splits, openings, fishing line, horsehair, or edging (including "lettuce edging"). Edging or trim of any kind, including ribbon, satin, lace, sequins, etc., is not allowed. A simple hem is required.
   3. Length of skirt must be at least knee length.
3. Bodice
   1. Necklines: Boat, high neck, v-neck, sweetheart, "peter pan" collar, and regular collar are allowed. No lowcut necklines. Edging or trim of any kind, including ribbon, satin, lace, sequins, etc., is not allowed on the neckline.
   2. Gathering or shirring on the bodice in parallel rows is not allowed.
   3. Edging or trim on the bodice is not allowed.
4. Sleeves
   1. Long, short, elbow length, cap, puff, or sleeveless styles are allowed.
   2. Cannot be replaced by trimmings, frills, or edging on the shoulder line.
   3. No "finger loops" allowed.
5. Materials
   1. No glitter, metallic thread, or fabric creating pattern effects.
   2. No use of feathers, fringes, bows, belts, ruffles or sequins.
   3. Any use of color coordinated "see through" fabric must be lined from waist to shoulder; for use on arms no lining is needed.
   4. Lace (or similar fabric) is not allowed. Lycra, spandex, polyester, velvet, satin or jersey is encouraged.
6. Shoes and Socks
   1. Shoes - Elementary School girls must wear shoes with heels that are no higher than 1.5 inches, including if they dance up a level. Junior High School and High School girls are not restricted by any heel height.
   2. Socks - White ankle socks (lace allowed), natural colored pantyhose, or fishnet tights.
7. Trunks
   1. Trunks are required if the movement of the skirt would reveal this area.
8. Accessories, Jewelry, and Makeup
   1. No use of arm bands, chokers or headbands.
   2. No decoration is allowed on dress or in hair.
   3. No jewelry is allowed, other than one simple earring in each ear (no dangling earrings allowed).
   4. Neutral or lightly shaded lipstick is allowed for Elementary School girls, as well as mascara and blush. Elementary School girls are not allowed to wear eye liner, eye shadow, false eyelashes, lip liner, and severe or extreme colors of lipstick (including, but not limited to, hot pink, red, black, brown, etc.). Competition makeup is allowed for Junior High School and High School girls.

Boys

Boys entered in all School Syllabus events must dress as listed below.

1. Trousers
   1. Must be black.
   2. High waist optional.
   3. Underfoot strap optional.
   4. Satin stripes are allowed.
2. Shirts
   1. Plain white long sleeved collared shirt only (no wing collars).
   2. No pleats or ribbing.
   3. Sleeves to be worn at wrist length.
3. Sweaters and Vests - Not allowed.
4. Tie - Black color only, may be either straight or bow.
5. Socks - Black only.
6. Shoes - No restrictions.
7. Materials - Fabrics must be plain.
   1. No satin or shiny fabrics.
   2. No rhinestones, glitter, metallic thread, patterns or sequins allowed.
   3. Decorations - Not allowed.
8. Makeup - Not allowed.
9. Hairstyle - Long hair must be worn in a pony tail.

Costume specifications dated November 19, 2024.

1. All cancellations of entries must be made in writing via email to the organizers. No phone or verbal cancellations accepted.
2. Cancellations of entries received up to the end of the day on February 4, 2026 will be 100% refunded.
3. There will be no refunds for cancellations of entries received after February 4, 2026.

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