Contents


Categories explained

Upon competing at your first BDO event you must consult your tutor who must decide on your ability level using the following criteria.


First timers

  • First time at a street dance competition
  • Basic level of musicality
  • Basic freestyle ability
  • Basic co-ordination
  • Basic level of energy

Once entering at this level, you are permitted to stay at this level until you have been placed.
Once you have been placed, you must move into the Amateur category.
If you do not get placed after 5 times of competing at First timer level then you must automatically move to Amateur level.


Amateur

  • Previously competed at a dance competition
  • Placed 1st - 6th at BDO First timers or completed a maximum of 5 times at First timer level
  • Good level of musicality
  • Good level of co-ordination throughout
  • Good stage presence
  • Ability to use multiple dance styles
  • Sharp, clean movement throughout

Once entering at this level, you are permitted to stay at this level until being placed in the top 3.
At this point, you must move up to Open level.


Open

  • Excellent level of musicality
  • Excellent co-ordination
  • Excellent use of multiple dance styles
  • Excellent stage presence
  • Sharp, clean movement throughout
  • Placed in the top 3 at Amateur level


Solo


Freestyle solos

This category is a freestyle category.
Music will be chosen at random on the day of the event.


Divisions

  • First timer
  • Amateur
  • Open


Age groups

Please see each event for the details of age groups


Duo


Freestyle duos

This category is a freestyle category.
Music will be chosen at random on the day of the event.


Divisions

  • First timer
  • Amateur
  • Open

Duos must compete at the ability level of the highest rank dance.
For example, if one of the dancers is an Open dancer, then the duo must compete at this level.

You may be disqualified if you do not comply with this.


Age groups

Please see each event for the details of age groups.

All duos must compete in the age group of the oldest dancer.
For example, an 8 year old dancer and a 12 year old dancer must compete in 12 and under, not 8 and under.

You may be disqualified if you do not comply with this.


Teams


Divisions

  • First timer
  • Amateur
  • Open


Age groups

Please see each event for the details of age groups

  • Teams may consist of dancers in different age groups
  • 70% of a team must be in the same age group
  • 30% of a team can be older or younger
  • Older dancers can only be older up to the next age group
  • Younger dancers can be as young as you like

For example, for a team consisting of 15 dancers who are competing in 12 and under age group, 11 of the dancers would have to fall in the 12 and under age group.
4 dancers could be older or younger but older dancers could be no older than the age group above which is 16 and under.

If your team does not fall into the 70%/30% rule then you may still be able to compete, but at a higher age level.
Consent for this must be obtained from the BDO prior to the competition.

Your team may be disqualified if you do not comply with this.


Core rules

Each team must have a minimum of 5 dancers and a maximum of 25 dancers.
Small props such as canes or umbrellas can be used.


Team music

  • Teams must bring two copies of their music on a CD in the event of needed a spare
  • Music can be mixed
  • Music must be clean and have NO SWEARING.
  • Music must not exceed the following duration for each category:
    • First timer: 2:00
    • Amateur: 2:00
    • Open: 2:30


Suggestions

If you would like to make a suggestion on how we can improve the ruling of our events please use the contact form available on the website