Jack and Jill competitions
You may have heard from Jack & Jill competitions.. So now you're thinking about entering your first? Or maybe you've competed before but want to understand the rules better? Either way, we've got you covered with this breakdown of the Brazilian Zouk Dance Council's competition guidelines.
What are Jack and Jill competitions anyway?
Let's start with the basics. Jack and Jill competitions are all about social dancing - you're improvising with a random partner to a random song. But here's the thing many people don't realize: competition dancing isn't exactly the same as social dancing.
In competitions, you're being judged on specific elements, including how you present your dance visually. You need to think about facing the audience while still maintaining good technique, timing, and connection. This means even fantastic social dancers sometimes need to adjust their approach for competitions.
And let's be honest - competitions are a mix of skill and luck. Your skill is how well you execute the dance criteria, but luck includes who you draw as a partner, when judges happen to be watching you, and what music you get.
The competition divisions
The BZDC has several divisions for competitors:
Newcomer: For beginners or first-time competitors
Novice: Where most people start their competition journey
Intermediate: You need 20 Novice points to compete here
Advanced: You need 30 Intermediate points to reach this level
All-Star: You need 40 Advanced points for this division
Champion: You need 120 All-Star points to compete here
Pro: For anyone who teaches for money
Invitational: By invitation from the event organizer
Junior/Masters: Age-based divisions
An important note: once you've earned enough points to move up a division, you must move up. No hanging around in lower divisions just because you're comfortable there!
Important rules to remember
Lifts and dips
Quick clarification that trips people up: dips (where at least one foot of each partner stays on the floor) are allowed. Lifts (where both feet of one partner leave the floor) are not allowed in any division and will get you disqualified.
Clothing and shoes
You absolutely must wear shoes! This seems obvious, but Foot Undeez and socks don't count as shoes. Going barefoot will get you disqualified.
Followers are encouraged to wear heels (and you'll get bonus points for difficulty), but flats are perfectly fine too. Leaders don't get bonus points for heels, as the BZDC prefers leads to stay grounded for stability.
For clothing, you should wear something that catches judges' attention, allows freedom of movement, and shows your lines well. Most importantly, clothing needs to cover private areas at all times. Men must wear shirts. And while bodysuits are popular in some dance circles, the BZDC considers them gym wear, not competition attire.
Bib placement
Seems trivial, but it matters! Followers should wear their bib on their lower back or over their butt. Leaders should place it in the center of their upper back. This helps judges quickly identify dancers and distinguish between leaders and followers.
What about leading and following?
Good news: you can compete as either a lead or follow regardless of your gender! You can also switch roles between competitions if you want.
As of January 2024, your lead and follow skills are tracked separately with their own points. This means if you're different levels in each role, you can compete in more than one division at an event. If you have no points in your secondary role, you start one level below your primary role (with an exception for teachers, who must start at Intermediate).
The competition mindset
Remember, not making finals or not placing doesn't mean you're not a good dancer. It simply means that based on the criteria, your dancing wasn't as strong as other competitors when the judges were watching.
Similarly, winning one competition doesn't mean you've mastered everything. It's entirely possible to place 1st in one competition and not even make finals in the next.
Use competition videos and feedback to target your training. Even if you did well, feedback can help you continue improving.
Competition preparation tips
Warm up properly! Stretch and get your blood flowing before competing
Eat something light beforehand
Use the bathroom and grab water before lining up
Bring a sweater in case you're waiting for a while
Remember: no props, and shoes are mandatory
Final thoughts
Competitions should be fun challenges that help you grow as a dancer. Sometimes the results won't go your way, but the experience itself is valuable. Keep a healthy perspective, be respectful to everyone involved, and focus on improving your skills.
If you ever have concerns about a competition, first talk to the event organizer, competition coordinator, or head judge. If you need additional help, you can always email the BZDC at info@brazilianzoukcouncil.com.
Happy dancing, and maybe we'll see you on the competition floor soon!
For complete details on all rules and policies, visit the Brazilian Zouk Dance Council website.
