The Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company (CCBDC) is committed to supporting dance at The Claremont Colleges by providing quality instruction in a variety of dance techniques, as well as functioning as a hub for Claremont’s vibrant social dance scene. The company is comprised of four teams, Beginners, Campus, Campus+, and Tour.
In addition, the Physical Education Department offers classes in Latin, Standard, and Social dance styles that reach hundreds of students. CCBDC provides students a substance-free and body-positive forum for personal and artistic enrichment.
Every year, CCBDC hosts the Claremont Showdown, a weekend of dancing and classes, culminating in an individual and formation dancesport competition that draws competitors and performers from around the country.
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Welcome to Intercollegiate Showdown 2024 the CCBDC's annual Dancesport Competition! CCBDC is a member of the Collegiate Dancesport Association. Our competition will be hosted at Pomona College's Edmunds Ballroom, located in the Smith Campus Center. Our event is open to all amateur dancers and is free to watch.
Syllabus
Smooth
Newcomer | Waltz | Tango | Foxtrot | Viennese Waltz |
Bronze | Waltz | Tango | Foxtrot | Viennese Waltz |
Silver | Waltz/Foxtrot | Tango/Vinennese Waltz | ||
Gold | Waltz/Foxtrot | Tango/Vinennese Waltz | ||
Rookie/VT | Waltz | Tango | Foxtrot | Viennese Waltz |
Standard
Newcomer | Waltz | Tango | Viennese Waltz | Foxtrot | Quickstep |
Bronze | Waltz | Tango | Viennese Waltz | Foxtrot | Quickstep |
Silver | Waltz/Quickstep | Tango/Foxtrot | Viennese Waltz | ||
Gold | Waltz/Quickstep | Tango/Foxtrot | Viennese Waltz | ||
Rookie/VT | Waltz | Tango | Viennese Waltz | Foxtrot | Quickstep |
Rhythm
Newcomer | Cha Cha | Rumba | Swing | Bolero | Mambo |
Bronze | Cha Cha | Rumba | Swing | Bolero | Mambo |
Silver | Cha Cha/Rumba | Swing/Bolero | Mambo | ||
Gold | Cha Cha/Rumba | Swing/Bolero | Mambo | ||
Rookie/VT | Cha Cha | Rumba | Swing | Bolero | Mambo |
Latin
Newcomer | Cha Cha | Samba | Rumba | Paso Doble | Jive |
Bronze | Cha Cha | Samba | Rumba | Paso Doble | Jive |
Silver | Cha Cha/Rumba | Samba/Jive | Paso Doble | ||
Gold | Cha Cha/Rumba | Samba/Jive | Paso Doble | ||
Rookie/VT | Cha Cha | Samba | Rumba | Paso Doble | Jive |
Nightclub
Beginner | ||||
West Coast Swing | Nightclub Two-step | Lindy Hop | Merengue | Blues |
Salsa | Argentine Tango | Hustle | Bachata | Polka |
Intermediate/Advanced | ||||
West Coast Swing | Nightclub Two-step | Lindy Hop | Merengue | Blues |
Salsa | Argentine Tango | Hustle | Bachata | Polka |
Open
Smooth
Novice | Waltz/Foxtrot/Tango | Viennese Waltz |
Pre-Championship | Waltz/Tango/Foxtrot/Viennese Waltz | |
Championship | Waltz/Tango/Foxtrot/Viennese Waltz |
Standard
Novice |
Waltz/Foxtrot/Quickstep | Tango | Viennese Waltz |
Pre-Championship | Waltz/Tango/Foxtrot/Quickstep | Viennese Waltz | |
Championship | Waltz/Tango/Viennese Waltz/Foxtrot/Quickstep |
Rhythm
Novice |
ChaCha/Rumba/Swing | Bolero | Mambo |
Pre-Championship | ChaCha/Rumba/Swing/Bolero | Mambo | |
Championship | ChaCha/Rumba/Swing/Bolero/Mambo |
Latin
Novice |
ChaCha/Samba/Rumba | Paso Doble | Jive |
Pre-Championship | ChaCha/Samba/Rumba/Jive | Paso Doble | |
Championship | ChaCha/Samba/Rumba/Paso Doble/Jive |
Rules and Regulations
Costume Policies
Costumes are allowed for silver levels and above. Costume guidelines will follow CDA guidelines which can be found here.
Shoe Policy
The CCBDC requires that all dancers wear shoes that will not mark or damage the floor. Suede-soled dance shoes are strongly encouraged. Heel protectors are required for high-heeled shoes. Competitors may not apply powder or oil to the floor or to the soles of their shoes.
Levels
American and International style events are offered in Newcomer through Open levels. Please read and understand the eligibility guidelines below and choose your level accordingly. Eligibility and syllabus restrictions will be enforced strictly in all levels; couples found breaking these rules may be disqualified without advance notice.
Both dancers in a couple must individually be eligible to dance at any given level. In the Standard, Smooth, Rhythm and Latin categories, couples may enter the lowest level for which both dancers are eligible, and the next higher level. (For example, a Bronze level dancer may also enter Silver level events.) In the Nightclub category, couples may only enter one level (Newcomer/Beginner OR Intermediate/Advanced) for each dance.
As mentioned below, Newcomer, Bronze, Silver and Gold levels are closed syllabus events. For International style events, syllabus restrictions refer to the ISTD Specified Figures, at the Associate level for the Bronze, through the Fellow level for Gold. For American style events, any published syllabus (Fred Astaire, Arthur Murray, DVIDA, ISTD) may be used. ISTD step lists for International and American styles are available from http://www.usistd.org/. The chairman of judges will strictly invigilate syllabus events.
No lifts, drops, or aerials are allowed in any event at this competition.
Intercollegiate Showdown is a CDA Fair Level competition and will use fair level points to determine when couples are entered in a level that is too low for their calculated proficiency. You can look up your fair level points using the Fair Level Point Lookup Tool Dancers who do not have fair level points should refer to the guidelines below to determine their appropriate level.
Newcomer
Newcomer events are open to couples where both partners started Ballroom Dancing less than a year ago (after Nov 2023.) Only Bronze syllabus choreography may be danced.
Bronze
Bronze events are for beginning dancers relatively inexperienced with ballroom dance competitions. Only Bronze syllabus choreography may be danced.
Silver
Silver events are for dancers with competitive experience. Those taking intermediate level classes and dancing regularly should find this category appropriate. Bronze and Silver syllabus figures can be used.
Gold
Gold events are for more experienced competitors. Any syllabus choreography (Bronze, Silver, or Gold) may be used.
Novice, Pre-Champ, Championship
Novice, Pre-Champ, and Championship are advanced levels are for experienced competitors and are equivalent to the corresponding level at USADance/NDCA competitions. Competitors who have placed out of Gold or Pre-Novice level are only eligible for Novice or higher. Costumes are strongly encouraged, and there are no restrictions on choreography.
Rookie/Veteran
Think of this level (also called Mixed Proficiency) as being similar to a Pro/Am event, but with an experienced Amateur instead of a Pro. The rules:
- One partner (the Rookie) must be a NEWCOMER, and the other partner bronze or above (the Veteran).
- Both partners must be amateur dancers.
- Choreography is strictly restricted to Bronze syllabus only
- Only the Rookie dancer will be judged.
- There are no costume restrictions.
- The events will be held after the Gold level events in each style.
- The events will be all single dance events (no multi-dance).
Nightclub
Nightclub events are open to all competitors and carry no restrictions on costumes or choreography. However, lifts, drops, and aerials are not permitted in any event. The nightclub events have been separated into two-level categories: Beginner, for dancers with two or fewer years of dance experience; and Intermediate/Advanced, for couples with more competitive experience. You may only sign up for one level for each nightclub dance.
Logistics
Registration Fees:
- Competitors new to the Collegiate Dancesport Association by Oct 13th: $20
- Returning Competitors to CDA by Oct 13th: $35
- Competitors new to CDA after Oct 13th: $25
- Returning Competitors to CDA after Oct 13th: $50
- Spectators are FREE
*Tentative* Schedule
Will be updated based on sign-ups:
- 7am: Doors Open
- 8am: Syllabus Smooth
- 10:30am: Syllabus Standard
- 1pm: Syllabus Rhythm
- 2:45pm: Syllabus Latin
- 6:30pm: Dinner Break
- 7:30pm: Nightclub
- 8:45pm: Open- Ordered to be determined by Participants
Payment:
There are three ways to pay:
- Throughs Zelle: Pay Sundry@eraglobe.com, including Showdown and dancers names in the note.
- By Check: Please make out to "Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company" with registration and dancers names in the memo. Checks can be mailed to: Attn. Dr. Denise Machin 170 E 6st, Claremont, Ca, 91711.
- By cash at the door- please bring exact change!
Officials and Organizers
- Judges:
- 'Ikaika Dowsett
- Colin Williams
- Eddie Alba
- Sasha Radiush
- Alisa Radiush
- Lorena Bravo
- Jonathan Atkinson
- Marcus Johnson
- Stacey Chuang
- Competition Organizers:
- Carleton Imbens
- Denise Machin
- Scrutineer
- Chris Ellwood