Editing Swing (dance) (section)

==Competition==

=== Formats ===
The swing dance competitions use one of the few formats ("categories"):
* '''Showcase''' and '''classic''' are formats that are close to the ones used in [[ballroom dancing]]: pairs that had trained together perform pre-choreographed dances. Showcase format allows [[lift (dance move)|lifts]], [[Drop (dance move)|drops]], and [[Aerial (dance move)|aerials]].  Classic competition allows few drops, but otherwise limits moves to the ones that can be used in social dancing.{{sfn|Callahan|2005|p=7}}
* '''Strictly swing''' and [[Jack-and-Jill]] competitions, in contrast, demand spontaneity and lead/follow communications. Pre-choreographed dance patterns are prohibited and are penalized if discovered. Strictly swing competition feature dance couples performing to the randomly selected music. In the Jack-and-Jill category the couples are also randomly selected and rotated.{{sfn|Callahan|2005|p=8}}

===Levels===
In West Coast Swing the competitions are divided into sections by level of experience.
The levels are Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced and All-Star. There is no official system in the United States to ensure that couples dance at the appropriate level of experience. The World Swing Dance Council holds a [https://www.worldsdc.com/registry-points/ Registry] of all points attained at different levels of competition.<ref>WSDC Points Registry Rules – World Swing Dance Council, March 2019. https://www.worldsdc.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2019.1A-WSDC-Points-Registry-Rules_Final.pdf</ref>

There is no points system for the majority of Lindy Hop competitions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Competition Rules |url=https://www.swingdanceamerica.com/competition-rules.html |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=Swing Dance America |language=en}}</ref>

===Judging criteria===
Swing dancing falls under the American Rhythm category. There are several different categories at competitions depending on what type of dance you do.<ref name="usadance.org">"DanceSport - Competition Guides - For the Competitor - USADance.org." DanceSport - Competition Guides - For the Competitor - USADance.org. Accessed April 10, 2015. http://usadance.org/dancesport/competition-guides/for-the-competitor/.</ref>

Judging for competition is based on the three "T's" as well as showmanship.<ref name = "swungover">{{cite web|url=http://swungover.wordpress.com/2012/01/05/on-judging-part-3-swing-judging-philosophy-101/|title=On Judging, Part 3: Swing Judging Philosophy 101|year=2012|access-date=2012-11-04}}</ref>

===Heats===
Most competition dance floors can only hold about 12 couples dancing at a time. If the number of participants is larger than what the floor can hold, the competition will hold qualifying rounds. Once they get to 24 couples there will then be the quarterfinal round (2 separate rounds of about 12 each), then the semifinal (1 round of about 12), and finally the final round (1 round, usually 6 or 7 couples).<ref name="usadance.org"/>