COMPETITION RULES
Below are the competition rules for BAM Jam 2025. Special events such as Rookie-Vet, Fun Dances, and Special Abilities can be found under "Levels."
Below are the competition rules for BAM Jam 2025. Special events such as Rookie-Vet, Fun Dances, and Special Abilities can be found under "Levels."
Levels
- Newcomer I -- Started dancing no earlier than January 2025. While there is no syllabus restriction for this level, we recommend that you attempt only steps in the Bronze syllabus.
- Newcomer II -- Started dancing no earlier than September 2024. While there is no syllabus restriction for this level, we recommend that you attempt only steps in the Bronze syllabus.
- Bronze -- Started dancing no earlier than January 2023. Only Bronze syllabus steps may be danced.
- Silver -- Only Bronze and Silver syllabus steps may be danced.
- Gold -- Only Bronze, Silver, and Gold syllabus steps may be danced. No open work.
- Special Abilities -- One or more members of the partnership must have a disability. This event is intended for those with intellectual disabilities. Moves will be restricted to Bronze, Silver, and Gold syllabus steps.
- Fun events -- No syllabus restriction, anyone can dance (and is encouraged to do so).
- Rookie/Vet events -- One member of the partnership must be a Newcomer I or Newcomer II dancer. It is the newcomer's responsibility to register for these events. All rookies should register their partner as TBA for the rookie/vet events.
Level time outs do not reset for switching roles or trying a new style.
In addition, level eligibility during this competition is in accordance with the Amateur Points System (APS) used for DCDI.
DOUBLE REGISTRATION
You may compete in two consecutive levels for a particular dance/style.
However, you cannot dance down to any level that you are not qualified to dance at (you can only dance up). This means that:
However, you cannot dance down to any level that you are not qualified to dance at (you can only dance up). This means that:
- If you started dancing between September and December 2024, you can dance Newcomer II and Bronze, (or Bronze/Silver, etc.) but CANNOT dance Newcomer I and Newcomer II.
- If you started dancing between January 2023 and August 2024, you can dance Bronze and Silver (or Silver/Gold), but CANNOT dance Newcomer II and Bronze.
- If you have placed out of Bronze, you can dance Silver/Gold, but not Bronze/Silver.
- If you have placed out of Silver, you can only dance Gold.
TBA COMPETITORS
Everyone dances at BAM Jam! If you don't have a partner to register with, we will try our best to make sure you get to dance. Please join this discord and post under "other comps" to try and find a partner. If you find someone, please update your registration accordingly!
If you are registered as TBA and cannot find a partner ahead of time, please report to the dais an hour before your scheduled event times, and we will match you with a partner there. Bronze and Newcomer II leaders who do not get called back after the first round of their events are invited to compete with Newcomer II and Newcomer I TBA followers, respectively, without getting a yellow TBA number.
If you are registered as TBA and cannot find a partner ahead of time, please report to the dais an hour before your scheduled event times, and we will match you with a partner there. Bronze and Newcomer II leaders who do not get called back after the first round of their events are invited to compete with Newcomer II and Newcomer I TBA followers, respectively, without getting a yellow TBA number.
Partnerships
(These rules do not apply to fun events)
- All partnerships are gender neutral.
- Non-traditionally gendered partnerships must register the same way any other couple would register, with a designated leader and follower.
- The same level restrictions apply - i.e. if you are a Bronze follow, you may not dance in Newcomer, either as a leader or as a follower. A Newcomer may dance up to Bronze if their leader is Bronze, but that leader may not dance down to Newcomer.
- Role switching is permitted.
- We will try to match any Bronze leaders who do not get called back with Newcomer followers who need partners.
- Bronze leaders may NOT also register to dance with Newcomer followers. You may only dance in Newcomer in that style pending lack of callbacks the day of the competition.
INVIGILATION
The competition will be strictly invigilated!
BAM Jam uses both the WDSF and ISTD syllabi for the International styles. We also use USA Dance's syllabus for the American styles, as it covers most studios' syllabi. All dancers competing in syllabus events must abide by these syllabi and rules. Copies of the syllabi can be found below:
BAM Jam uses both the WDSF and ISTD syllabi for the International styles. We also use USA Dance's syllabus for the American styles, as it covers most studios' syllabi. All dancers competing in syllabus events must abide by these syllabi and rules. Copies of the syllabi can be found below:
- USA Dance Syllabus (Includes American, ISTD, and WDSF syllabi)
COSTUMES
Costumes are permitted in Silver, Gold, Special Abilities, and Syllabus events.
BAM Jam defines costumes for follows as any dancewear with feathers, floats, or light-reflecting materials (e.g. rhinestones). Leader's costumes include dancewear with light-reflecting materials, non-black or white colors, tailsuits, and Latin/Rhythm shirts open below the sternum.
All costume decisions will be left to the discretion of the BAM Jam organizers.
BAM Jam defines costumes for follows as any dancewear with feathers, floats, or light-reflecting materials (e.g. rhinestones). Leader's costumes include dancewear with light-reflecting materials, non-black or white colors, tailsuits, and Latin/Rhythm shirts open below the sternum.
All costume decisions will be left to the discretion of the BAM Jam organizers.
COMPETITION POLICIES
Below are the competition policies for BAM Jam 2025.
Below are the competition policies for BAM Jam 2025.
SPECTATORS
There are no admissions fees for BAM Jam. The competition is free and open to the public for spectating.
refunds and payments
For current registration fees and payment policies, please consult the registration page.
Refunds requested before the close of regular registration are given in full. Refunds requested after the close of regular registration will be refunded 50% and the remaining 50% will be saved as a credit towards the following year's BAM Jam.
Please contact the treasurer at [email protected] for any refund questions.
Refunds requested before the close of regular registration are given in full. Refunds requested after the close of regular registration will be refunded 50% and the remaining 50% will be saved as a credit towards the following year's BAM Jam.
Please contact the treasurer at [email protected] for any refund questions.
Ballroom at maryland disclaimer
The organizers of this event have the right to cancel or combine events as deemed necessary.
The organizers of this event, University of Maryland-College Park, and RecWell are not responsible or liable for any lost or stolen items or injury.
The organizers of this event, University of Maryland-College Park, and RecWell are not responsible or liable for any lost or stolen items or injury.