The Western Idaho Fair and Dirt Road Dancing have teamed up to bring the 8th Annual Country Swing Dance Contest! The contest is free to enter and includes Fair admission for contestants. The top three winners will have a chance to compete in the Idaho State Fair Championship held in Garden City, October 3, 2024.
Presented by: 
Qualifications
- All contestants must be at least 16 years of age. Contestants under 18 years of age must have parent/legal guardian signature on liability release form.
- Must be registered online before midnight Friday, August 23.
- Competition is limited to the first 20 qualified entries.
- This is a BEGINNER/AMATEUR dance competition, therefore anyone who has received compensation to instruct or perform any style of country dancing will be ineligible to compete.
- All competitors must check in with a signed liability waiver by 6PM the day of contest. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS. FAILURE TO CHECK IN PRIOR TO 6PM WILL RESULT IN AUTOMATIC 5 POINT DEDUCTION FROM THE COMPETITION.
Prizes
The overall top three highest scores will be awarded!
- First Place: $200 Cash + Prizes
- Second Place: $150 Cash + Prizes
- Third Place: $100 Cash + Prizes
Contest Regulations
- One song per couple will be chosen. All songs will be selected at random.
- Judges will be selected prior to the contest and are not allowed to compete.
- Dancers will dance 90 seconds randomized song. Organizers reserve the right to group similar dances together or shorten the length of songs in the event of time constraints. The length of the song will be consistent for all competitors and determined by organizers.
- Lifts, drops and aerials are allowed but not required. There are no lift maximums.
- One entry per person. No person can compete twice with different partner.
- Judging begins when music begins.
- The number of couples in the contest will determine the length of the contest.
Judging Criteria
Total possible score is 25 points. All judges’ scores are final. Unsportsmanlike conduct to other contestants, judges, or audience will result in immediate disqualification.
In the event of a tie, organizers will choose one song in which competitors will dance to at the same time as a “dance off.”
****All judging scores are confidential after contest.
- Technique: execution, smooth transitions, complexity, stable framework, spacing (Score 1-5 on a .5 scale)
- Musicality/Timing: movement to music, suitable tempo, overall fluidity of feet, rhythmic, in unison (Score 1-5 on a .5 scale)
- Connection: Lead/follow partnership, coordination, togetherness, body awareness, variety of movements (Score 1-5 on a .5 scale)
- Showmanship: presentation, attire, audience engagement, creativity, teamwork, overall dance styling (Score 1-10, whole numbers only)
