1. Organiser

SHOUT 'N FEEL IT is the Organizer of this event. Final decisions on all matters pertaining to these competitions rest solely with the Organiser.

2. Responsibilities of the Organiser.

SCHEDULE: the Organiser will determine the date, time and location for each competition, and the daily Competitors' Meeting, and will announce this information prior to the event.

The Organisers reserves the right to cancel a division if the number of entire is below the minimum of three (3) couples or six (6) dancers, and to rearrange the schedule if necessary.

Cancellation of a division would result in the refund of any applicable competitor entry fees.

Any schedule or location changes will be noted on the website (www.swingfestival.it) if they occur prior to the event. If the changes occur during the event, they will be publicly announced and/or posted on noticeboards at the event, as well as announced at the Competitors' Meetings.

AWARDS: The Organiser will determine and award all prizes and money. Monetary awards will be given in cash, in the Euro currency, at the Awards Ceremony. No other form of payment can be provided.

POSTING OF SCORES: The results of the competitions will be posted for review after the Awards Ceremony, at the event and on the webiste (http://www.swingfestival.it)

COMPETITION FORMAT: The Organiser reserves the right to determine the format of each competition division, including whether it consists of preliminary heats and/or finals, and whether the competition is danced in all-skate, phrase-battle or spotlight formats. These decisions will be communicated on the website before the event, and any changes will be announced as soon as possible on the website or though announcemenents at the event.

3. Age requirements

Competitor must be at least 14 years old to compete in any division, except the Solo Charleston division, where they must be at least 18 years old.

The competitors must meet the age requirement specified in thee rules on ot before Friday May 25th. Proof of age is required.

Competitors under 18 years of age must have a parent or guardian sign thei Competition Waiver form, before they will be allowed to compete.

4. Eligibility to Compete

Competitions are open to dancers of all nationalities, worldwide.

A "couple" consists of one"leader" and one "follower". Leaders and Followers may be of any gender.

REQUIREMENTS: in order to be eligible to compete, each coompetitor must meet ALL of the following requirements:

1. Hold one of the workshop passes or pay the entrance fees for NOT attendees.
2. Have paid the required competition entry fees.
3. Have signed a Competition Waiver form. No Competitor will be allowed to compete without a signed Waiver and every member of a Team must sign the Competition Waiver. Competitors under 18-years of age must have a parent or guardian sign their Waiver and any other required forms. Competition Waivers forms will be available at the registration desk when you arrive at the event, and also at the daily Competitor Meetings.
4. Register by the official entry deadline, using the official registration system at  www.swingfestival.it
5. Meet the entry requirements of each individual competition division /eg: as regards to dance level, lenghth of routine, etc.)
6. Meet all the specific requirements outlined in these rules.

5. Responsibilities of Competitors

Rules: All Competitors are responsible for reading and understanding the rules prior to Shout 'n Feel it.

Competitors are responsible for adhering to these rules whether or not they have been read.

BEHAVIOR: All Competitors must demonstrate safe, respecful and courteous behaviour at all time at the event, both on and off the competition floor. Failure to adhere to these standards, could cause disciplinary action by the Organiser, or penalties from the Judges.

COMPETITORS' MEETING: Unless prior arrangements are made with the Event Organisers, Competitors are required to attend the Competitors' Meeting on each day they are competing (including both preliminary and final rounds). Attendance at the Competitors' Meetings in compulsory. A single representative of a team or a couple is acceptable.

DANCE ORDER: Drawing for dance order will take place at the Competitors' Meeting and will be posted on the Competitors' noticeboards. Competitors are required to be familiar with their assigned dance order and be prepared to be announced and to compete in this order.

PUNCTUALITY: Competitors are required to be in attendance at the competition venue, and ready to compete, 15 minutes before the scheduled start time of each competition division. Competitors must check-in with the competition staff for each competition division, and failure to do so may result in disqualification from competing in that division, without a refund of entry fee.

DEADLINES: failure to comply with deadlines and attendance at mandatory meetings may result in disqualification from competing in the event without a refund of entry fee. These decisions will be made solely at the discretion on the Organiser.

6. Costumes

Costumes are not mandatory, however tasteful, neat and appropriate clothing and safe footwear is required. For the appreciation of the audience and judges, we encourage you to dress in a vintage (from 20s to 40s) style, or in colorful or dramatic dance attire, but this is not compulsory.

7. Competition music

COMPETITION MUSIC: Music played during all competition divisions (except fro showcase divisions), will be selected by the official Competition Dj, appointed by the event Otganisers. Music will be swinging jazz music, predominantly from the 20s, 30s and 40s, in a variety of tempos. Musical phrasing may be 32-bar swing phrasing or 12-bar blues phrasing.

SUBMITTING YOUR MUSIC: for showcase divisions, it is your responsibility to submit your music to the Competition Dj, no later than the competitors' meeting on the day of your division. You can submit your music during the competitors' meeting that day (or in a prior meeting), either on a one-track CD or USB thumb-drive.

8. Judging

JUDGING SYSTEM: the Relative Placement System will be used to judge all the competitions . Judges decisions are final.

JUDGING CRITERIA: The judges will be looking at a range of criteria, including how well you improvise and respond to the music, how you work as a partnership, your repertoire, your creativity, your connection, if you can recognise phrasing in the music, and how the audience responds. The value placed on each of these criteria is at the discretion if individual judges. The judges decision are final. Swing dancing is about having fun social dancing, connecting with your partner and engaging with the music, and IJC judges will be looking for couples that embody these values.

9. Competition Cancellations and Withdrawals

Entry fees will only be refunded to a competitor who withdraws, if a replacement  competitor registers in that competition division. If no replacement competitor registers in that competition division, then you will receive the amont of your entry fees as a credit towards the following year's event, but no refund will be given.