Information, Rules & Entry Forms
PDF Forms (Entry Forms)
Click on the following links to view PDF files with contestant entry forms.
**Deadline for applications in ALL DIVISIONS must arrive, by mail, before January 20th, 2027. Any application beyond January 20th will not be accepted.**
Dancers please email Thursday night music preservation song choice to nationalshagdance@gmail.com
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Divisions:
PROFESSIONAL DIVISION:
Any person who has danced in a Professional Shag contest, specifically in the Competitive Shaggers Association.
Masters and Senior-Pro can enter this division but must be 21.
NON-PROFESSIONAL DIVISION:
This division is open to novice, amateur, and beginner dancers who are 21 years of age or older and have never competed in a professional Shag contest.
Dancers who have previously competed in the NSDC Senior-Pro, Masters, or Pro divisions, or who have won a Junior Overall title, are NOT eligible to participate in the Non-Pro division.
MASTERS DIVISION:
Each dancer must be at least 45 years of age before the last night of Finals in March.
This division is not open to Novice or Amateur dancers. At least one partner must be a Hall of Fame member.
Competitors will be judged by Hall of Fame dancers based on smoothness, togetherness, and showmanship.
SENIOR-PRO DIVISION:
Each dancer must be at least 45 years of age by the last day of finals. This division is open to professional dancers only.
JUNIOR DIVISION I:
Any competitors that are 14 years of age and under.
JUNIOR DIVISION II:
Any competitors ages 15-20. Anyone who wins Junior Overall will be ineligible to dance in the Non-Pro Division.
*All age requirements by the last night of the finals in March.
Rules:
1. Non-Pro winners, upon their next nationals, will dance in the Pro or Senior-Pro divisions.
2. To enter the Pro or Senior-Pro division one member of the couple must have moved to Pro status.
3. Attendance at the pre-contest meeting is mandatory by at least one of the competing partners.
4. Should there not be enough qualified dancers in either Junior division then both shall become one division. The overall Junior award is given to the couple placing the highest of both divisions.
5. Each couple will be composed of one male and one female.
6. The overall winner from Non-Pro, Pro, Senior-Pro and Juniors Divisions will be determined by the judges ranking the divisional winner #1- #4 in preference.
7. Any contest rulings will be governed by a majority vote by the N.S.D.C. Committee Members.
8. Juniors must not have reached their 21st birthday by the last night of competition for Division II and not reached their 15th birthday by the last night of competition for Division I.
9. The Nationals committee reserves the right to disqualify or give a year’s probation — disallowing him/her to compete the following year (s) for exemplifying un-sportsman-like conduct.
10. Requirement steps – Compulsory! – For 1st Round – Thursday night (Finals), Masters are exempt – The following shag steps must be done by male and female at the same time:
Basic – Facing each other.
Pivot – full
Duck Walk – on one foot, the other – male and female simultaneously.
Boogie Walk – kick and boogie, boogie – male and female simultaneously.
Belly Roll – at least one complete belly roll; with male lead (his left on a 1-2
count, then 3-4 count on his right, then 5-6).
A Judging auditor(s) will check off requirement steps.
For each step not performed – each judge’s placement will drop the couple one position for the first night’s score. Example: If a judge places you third and you omit the belly-roll and a pivot, you would be placed fifth on the judge’s ballot.
11. Each dancer is limited to dance in one division.
12. Even though a Non-Pro dancer wins his or her third C.S.A. contest, they MAY dance in the Non-Pro Division of the Nationals. Once you dance Pro in C.S.A., then you dance Pro or Sr.-Pro in N.S.D.C.
13. ROUTINES are strongly discouraged, and judges reserve the right to judge couples down if they determine a couple has performed a routine.
Judging:
2027 FINALS JUDGES
Categories (except Masters):
Smoothness – Degree of Difficulty – Togetherness – Execution – Repertoire
Song time limit is 3 minutes max for all Divisions
Masters Categories:
Smoothness – Togetherness – Style – Showmanship
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