Dance Competitions
Your applause decides the winner!
Back in the 1930s, dancers at the legendary Savoy Ballroom pushed each other to new heights during the weekly competitions, showing off their latest and greatest moves. We keep this tradition alive at Rock That Swing Festival, where competitors battle for the cheers and applause of the audience.
Anyone holding a ticket for the respective evening can enter the competitions. The entry fee for solo and couples competitions is €10 per person and competition. For the Lindy Hop Team Battle, the entry fee is €50 per team.
Registration is available through our online registration system. If spots are still available, you can also register during the day at check-in or at the evening event up to 30 minutes before the competition starts. For couples competitions, each dancer must register individually. For the Team Battle, only one registration per team is required.
Competitions
Thursday – In The Mood
Shag Jack’n’Jill
Balboa Jack’n’Jill
Friday – Hep Cats Night
Boogie Woogie Fast Feet Jack’n’Jill
Lindy Hop Fast Feet Jack’n’Jill
Friday Night – After Hours
Blues Couples
Saturday – Rock That Swing Ball
Boogie Woogie Cup
Sunday – Jamboree Ball
Lindy Hop Team Battle
Monday – Jitterbug Hop
Swing & Rock Goes Pop Jack’n’Jill Contest
Competition Format
In the preliminary rounds of the solo and couples competitions, several dancers compete on the floor at the same time. Depending on the number of participants, the finals feature one or two spotlight rounds (solo or battle format). These are usually preceded by a short all-skate warm-up round and followed by a final all-skate.
Shag & Balboa Jack’n’Jill
In the preliminary rounds, participants dance to several songs with randomly assigned partners in Jack’n’Jill style. The top leaders and followers advance to the finals. The audience decides the top three places by applause.
Lindy Hop / Boogie Woogie Fast Feet Jack’n’Jill
The Fast Feet Jack’n’Jill competitions have a special format. In the preliminary rounds, participants dance to several songs with randomly assigned partners in Jack’n’Jill style, while the music gets progressively faster. The top leaders and followers advance to the finals. The finals follow the “Weakest Link” principle: after each round, the judges eliminate the weakest couple, and the remaining dancers are randomly paired again. This continues until only three couples remain. The audience then decides the top three places by applause. The Boogie Woogie competition is danced to 1950s music, while the Lindy Hop competition features swing music.
Blues Couples
Depending on the number of participants, an all-skate elimination round may be held. The judges select the best couples to advance to the finals, which are danced in jam style.
Boogie Woogie Cup
Depending on the number of participants, an all-skate elimination round may be held. The judges select the best couples to advance to the finals, which are danced in jam style.
Lindy Hop Team Battle
In the Lindy Hop Team Battle, up to eight teams compete head-to-head in a knockout tournament. Each team must consist of at least five dancers, and teams can be formed freely. The main focus is on classic Lindy Hop, but other swing dance styles such as Balboa, Shag, Charleston, and Solo Jazz are welcome. Aerials are allowed but not required. Creativity, musicality, improvisation, and teamwork are what count!
In the quarterfinals and semifinals, teams take turns dancing two choruses each (16 × 8 counts per chorus). In the grand final, each team gets three choruses, accompanied by a live band! The judges decide the winners of the preliminary rounds, while the audience chooses the champion in the final.
Depending on the number of participating teams, byes may be awarded or a Lucky Loser selected to complete the four-team semifinal lineup. The Lucky Loser is the eliminated team with the highest score from the judges. To encourage an exciting final, up to two teams may be seeded. Semifinal matchups will be arranged to avoid rematches whenever possible.
Entry fee: €50 per team
1st Prize: €500
The Lindy Hop Team Battle will only take place if enough teams sign up, and we would like to have those commitments in before registration opens. So if you are planning to enter with a team, please get in touch with us beforehand at info@worldofswing.com.
Swing & Rock Goes Pop Jack’n’Jill
This competition follows the regular Jack’n’Jill format, but the music selection features danceable pop songs.
Competition Prizes
Once again, our competition winners can look forward to fantastic prizes, including free passes to dance events around the world and other great prizes. We sincerely thank all the event organizers and companies who have generously donated prizes.
