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Yes – One major reason NextGen runs contests at its monthly dances is to let competitors gain experience and confidence dancing for an audience.

The NextGen Monthly Dance often includes a “Luck of the Draw” contest, which is open to all skill levels. Dancers sign up as individuals (either as a leader or follower), and partnerships are chosen randomly (eg. rolling dice, picking cards, drawing names out of a hat, lining up facing each other and then being told to move down the line by a random number). This is also known as a “Mix & Match” or “Jack & Jill” style competition.

Each pairing must demonstrate good social dancing skills, as they dance to 2-4 songs selected by the DJ, and will be judged as a couple.

NextGen often runs these Luck of the Draw contests as a “Progressive”, with open preliminary rounds for about 7 months, concluding in a Final where all previous winners are invited to compete for passes to our annual convention, Boogie by the Bay.

New for 2023: High-low twist! All-Stars and above will be randomly re-shuffled if they draw one another!

Occasionally, the Club may run a “Strictly Swing” style contest, where dancers sign up as a partnership. This is still an improvisational competition, where good social dancing skills are expected to be demonstrated, with music chosen by the DJ. 

Less frequently, choreographed routines may be performed, however these are not judged and are not part of the competitions run by the NextGen club.

All of our West Coast Swing competitions are gender neutral, which means that anyone can choose to compete as leader or follower. 

Yes. The rules and definitions used for our monthly contests are generally consistent with national rules and/or publications because many of those who participate in our monthly contests also compete at regional and national dance conventions.

1. All dancing in our Luck of the Draw competitions should be lead/follow. Pre-choreographed routines are not allowed.

2. Our judges will expect to see at least 90% recognizable swing content. (See NASDE’s “statement of swing” below).

3. You and your partner must maintain physical contact except for spins, turns, short breakaways, and recoveries.

4. “In the air” partner weight support moves (lifts, aerials) and acrobatic maneuvers are not allowed. “On the ground” support moves (such as drops) are allowed. However, you and your partner must both maintain physical contact with the floor during support moves. Support moves must be lead/follow social dance patterns that take the safety of your partner and other couples into consideration. Any moves that the judges deem unsafe may earn a violation penalty. When in doubt, leave it out.

Note: In the interest of safety, we request competitors to use discretion if using “on the ground” support moves. While not prohibited, our judges may impose a penalty violation for any move deemed unsafe.

Updated February 2012

NASDE Statement of Swing 

Swing is an American rhythm dance based on a foundation of 6-beat and 8-beat patterns that incorporate a wide variety of rhythms built on 2-beat single, delayed, double, triple, and blank rhythm units. The 6-beat patterns include (but are not limited to) passes, underarm turns, push breaks, open-toclosed, and closed-to-open position patterns. The 8-beat patterns include (but are not limited to) whips, swing-outs, Lindy circles, and Shag pivots. Although they are not part of the foundation of the dance as stated above, 2-beat and 4-beat extension rhythm breaks may be incorporated to extend a pattern, to phrase the music, and/or to accent breaks.

An open contest encourages competitors of all levels to mix with each other, and demonstrate good social dance skills regardless of the partner’s “level”. It also more accurately reflects the social dance floor. This mix is closer to the original spirit of the Jack & Jill contest, which was invented by Jack Carey to encourage competitors to dance with everyone, rather than just with their selected dance partner.

While separate divisions make sense at large weekend events, they don’t work as well at our Club dances, especially for novice competitors. Whenever the Club has offered a Novice-specific contest in the past, we’ve had very few sign-ups. Additionally, Clubs or Organizations that offer several Jack & Jill divisions typically have weekly dances rather than monthly dances. That way, a different division can compete each week.

Each contest is a stand-alone competition as well as part of the series. Competitors will dance differently with different partners, to different music, and on a different day. We want each contest to be the best it can be, and limiting sign-ups may mean that those who compete later in the series would not have the same opportunity to draw an experienced partner. This would make the contests less appealing (to both competitors and spectators).

Some people who have qualified for the finals choose not to sign up again, but they do offer to participate if we need extra people to balance the number of leaders and followers.

Although some people believe that “the same people always win,” our historical data shows that most people don’t place in the top five (to qualify for the finals) more than 2 times during the series.

Juniors are welcome to compete because they are an important part of our dance community. Our mission statement encourages us to live up to our Club name and welcome the “next generation” of dancers.

We provide one complimentary dance pass (value: $10-$15) to the top five leaders and followers each month. This minimizes the Club’s costs in holding competitions. For the finals, the Club also contributes Boogie by the Bay tickets for the 1st place winners.

The DJ for each dance selects the competition music for the competition that night after consulting with the competition coordinator.

The Contest Team, the judges, and the Club president do not compete to prevent any appearance of a conflict of interest.

An individual may not judge a contest in which his or her significant other or family member are entering that contest.

DJs play a variety of styles and speeds of music.

The partner rotation method used makes sure that each competitor has an equal chance of drawing any other partner (New exception for 2023 – All-Stars and above will be randomly re-shuffled if they draw one another!)

The partner rotation method changes throughout the Luck of the Draw series.

We always try to have seven judges, and never use less than five judges.

Scoring is always done by at least two people.

Contestants may ask to view the tally sheet of scores after the competition to see how they did.

Feedback from contestants, judges, spectators, and board members is always welcome.