Judging Ballroom Dance Competitions

Skating System

The Marking of Adjudicators' Cards

• In all rounds each judge must vote for the number of couples demanded by the Chairman of Adjudicators.
• In the Final round each judge shall place all the competing couples in order of merit in each of the dances.
• In the Final round the judge shall mark his first couple 1, his second couple 2, his third 3, and so on in each of the dances.
• A judge must not tie couples for any place in the Final of any dance.

Number of Couples to Dance in a Final

• In the Final round the open system of marking shall be used.
• When judges are instructed to select six couples for a Final and six couples are clearly chosen only that number shall dance. The same procedure would be observed if the Chairman's instructions were for any other number.
• If it is intended that six couples shall dance in a Final and through a tie more couples qualify for consideration the number to dance shall be decided by the Chairman. The same procedure would be observed if it is intended to have a Final of any other number.

The Allocation of Positions in Each Dance

• The winner of a particular dance is the couple who is placed first by an absolute majority of judges; second, the couple who is placed second or higher by an absolute majority. The remaining positions are allocated in a similar way.
• If More that One Couple have a Majority for the Same Position
  • The couple with the largest majority shall be allocated the position under review, and the couple with the next largest majority, the following position.
    • If the position under review is the "2nd" and two couples have a majority of "2nd and higher" places, the couple with the larger majority shall be placed "2nd" and the other couple "3rd".
    • We now examine the remaining competitors' markings, and the couple with the largest majority of "3rd and higher" places shall be allocated the next position, which in this example, is the "4th".
    • If none of the remaining couples has a majority of "3rd and higher" places, then include the "4th" places (and, if necessary, lower places).
• If Two or More Couples have an Equal Majority for the Same Position
  • a) If such majorities are equal, then the lowest total of marks given by those judges who form the majority, shall determine the allocation of the position under review.
    • If the position under review is the "2nd" and two couples have a similar majority of "2nd and higher" places, the couple with the lower total of marks given by those judges who form the majority, shall be allocated the "2nd" position and the other couple the "3rd".
  • b) If the totals of the marks are equal, then the next lower place (or places, if necessary), in respect of the particular couples concerned, must be included.
    • It should be noted that only the couples who have a majority for the position under review (say, for example, the "2nd" position) must be considered at this stage, and only their "3rd" places (and, if necessary, lower places) should be referred to, until the "2nd" position has been allocated.
    • A definite result will eventually be obtained unless the remaining markings are exactly the same, and should the latter be the case, there will, of course, be a tie for "2nd" position. If two couples were concerned, they would be allocated "2 1/2" each.
• If No Couple receives a Majority for the Position Under Review
  • If no couple receives a majority of "Firsts" then the winner is the couple who are placed "2nd and higher" by a majority of judges.
  • If no couple receives a majority of "1st" and "2nd" places, then the "3rd" places (and if necessary, lower places) must be included. (Subject to Rules 6 and 7).
  • The "2nd" and other places should be calculated in a similar way.

Compilation of the Final Summary

• When all the dances have been concluded, the order ascertained for each dance shall be carried to another sheet, showing the position achieved by each couple in each dance. The first in each dance shall be given one mark, the second two, and so on. These place marks shall be added up and the couple with the lowest aggregate shall be the winner.
• If there is a Tie for a Place in the Final Summary
  • a) If this results in a tie for first place, the winner shall be the couple who has actually won the greater number of dances.
  • b) If there is a tie for the "2nd" place, the "2nd" prize shall be awarded to the couple who has obtained "2nd and higher" in the greatest number of dances. If the couples have obtained the same number of "2nd and higher" place marks, then add the "2nd and higher" place marks together and the couple with the lowest total should be awarded second prize.
    • If more than two couples tie for second place, the second prize shall be awarded to the couple who has obtained the most "2nd and higher" place marks. Still only considering the remaining "tied" couples, the "3rd" prize is awarded to the couple who has won the most "3rd and higher" place marks.
  • c) If there is a tie for any remaining places they shall be decided on similar principles.
  • If after applying Rules 9 and 10 this still results in a tie, then treat the judges' marks of the "tied" couples over all dances, as for an individual dance (Rules 5 to 8). If this still results in a tie, there shall be at the discretion of the organizers of the competition, either a re-dance or the prizes for the places under review shall be divided.
    • a) If the tie is for first place, a majority of "1st" marks to the credit of either of the "tied" couples (4 dances-5 judges-majority 11) would win. If neither of the "tied" couples receive a majority of "firsts" see Rule 8.
    • b) If the tie is for second place, a majority of "2nd and higher" marks to the credit of either of the "tied" couples would be necessary. If neither of the "tied" couples obtain a majority of "2nd and higher" marks see Rule 8.
    • c) The "3rd" or any other "tied" places should be decided on similar principles.
    • d) If 3 (or more) couples tie for a place under Rule 10 (say, 2nd place) Rule 11 is applied to all couples concerned in the tie, and the best couple is awarded the "2nd" place. Rule 10 is now applied to the remaining "tied" couples for consideration of the place now under review, which is the "3rd". However, if they now tie for "3rd" under Rule 10, then Rule 11 is again applied to these "tied" couples, commencing this time with the "3rd and higher" judges' marks in the individual dances.

Related Articles

• Ballroom syllabus - Combined syllabus listing of the ISTD and IDTA
• Dance competition judging - Excerpts by Dan Radler (World Class Adjudicator).
• Scrutineering - preliminary and final rounds.

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