General Rules
The Irish Salsa Open Championship is open to all couples. The competitors must be at least 16years old at the time of their participation in the qualifying events they are entering.

The Top six competitors will compete for the finals. This will apply to both the professional level and the amateur level. But where there are not up to five couples in that particular level, the top three competitors will then go through to the final

Competitors can represent a country, a dance school or a dance club. There is no limit to the amount of competitors that can represent a particular school or country.

All competitors and attendees must have a full weekend ticket for the Irish salsa Congress and sign a liability waiver.

All forms submissions should be accompanied by the full weekend ticket for the congress per couple

All competitors consent to release the use of their photographs, biographies, and names, for any video or television footage for sale.

The committee reserves the right to amend or vary any condition of the competition. It also reserves the right to refuse any entry or vary the number of competitors.

Entry into the competition shall be in accordance with Rules of competition as laid down by Afrimania Entertainment.

Open Championship Events
Open championship events: Salsa classic is open to professional/advanced and amateur/intermediate or any combination thereof. The competitors' can only compete in the professional or amateur competition.

The amateur partner in the pro-amateur competition should be at least an intermediate level and should still be an intermediate level at the time of the competition.

The organizers reserve the right to ask for proof of the pro-amateur partnership. This will involve a dance showcase before the organizing committee.

Level Definition
The professional/Advanced dancer in the above is one who has danced for at least 2years or makes money from dancing or teaching salsa.

The amateur/intermediate dancer is one who has danced for at least 6 months and does not make money from salsa.

Pro-amateur is a couple with a combination of both of the above, where one partner is a professional/advanced dancer and the other is amateur/intermediate.

Competition Categories
There will be only two categories at the championships. Please contact the chairman of judges if you are not sure of the category you belong.
You can dance any style of Salsa but be sure to inform the judges of your style before the competition.

The professional and advanced category

The pro-amateur and intermediate category

Definition of a Couple
A couple is defined as a male and a female

Rules for Competitors
Competitors are restricted to entering only those categories for which they are eligible under the above rules.

Competitors are advised to make considerable effort in their dress requirements.

Competitors are required to remain on the floor until the end of the music to avoid the possibility of disqualification.

Competitors must not use props in the any of the above divisions. A prop is defined as any item that is not part of the regular costume worn by the dancers, and that is not attached to the dancer or their costume for the full duration of the time that they are on the floor.

It is the competitors' responsibly to be in attendance at least an hour in advance of the advertised time for the events he/she is entering.

Competitors shall accept as final the individual markings of the judges.

If a couple fails to appear for an event without notifying the organizers in advance, then the organizer is not obligated to accept entries from that couple for the future competitions.

In the semi-final round the couples will dance 2 times with music provided by Afrimania entertainment. The first time all the couples will be on the floor at the same time for 1minute 30seconds. Then the second time the couples will be on the floor individually for 2minutes.

In the final round the couple will dance 3 times with music provided by Afrimania entertainment. The first time the couples will be on the floor in groups of three for 1minute 30secounds. The second time the couples will be on the floor individually for 2minutes. The third time all the couples will be on the floor for 1minute 30secounds.

Judges Conduct
Judges are not to compare notes and must judge independently.

Judges may move about freely in order to see all the couples.

Judges are required to remain on the floor until the end of the music.

The Chairman of the judges has the final decision where there is a disagreement or indecision.

While on the competition premises, judges shall conduct themselves with the utmost of professional decorum, including refraining from conversing with competitors.

Judges Criteria

Artistic Impressions
Musical Interpretation
Choreography
Characterization of Dance
Overall impact or Charisma

Technique
Timing and Rhythm
Footwork and leg action
Body action and lines
Partnering skills
Floor craft