Information, Rules & Entry Forms
PDF Forms (Entry Form, Song List, & Advertising)
Click on the following links to view PDF files with contestant entry forms, NSDC music preservation list, and NSDC program advertising form.
**Deadline for applications in ALL DIVISIONS needs to be submitted by January 20th, 2027.
Dancers please email Thursday night music preservation song choice to our DJ Craig Jennings at NationalshagDJ@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 Senior-Pro or Pro divisions.
2. To enter 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 Pro, Non-Pro, Juniors and Seniors-Pro 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 of the N.S.D.C. Board of Directors.
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).
Judging auditors (2) 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. N.S.D.C. Board and Committee members are eligible to enter any division, but will not serve on “The Judges Selection Committee”.
13. When a Non-Pro dancer wins his or her third C.S.A. contest they move into the Pro Division of the Nationals even if they have not danced Pro in C.S.A
Judging:
2026 FINALS JUDGES
A two-time Overall and Professional Champion, he traveled and competed on the Nationals Dance Team; won two “Shagging with the Stars” competitions and has served on many Nationals committees. He is a true first responder working as a fireman with the Myrtle Beach Fire Department and a proud papa to son Weston. Please welcome from Myrtle Beach – Jeff Hargett.
A longtime Nationals participant, he with his wife Linda danced their way up the championship ladder. In 1991 they won the Non-Pro Championship; in 2002 they won the Seniors title; and in 2018 they were named “Beach Shaggers Hall of Famers” and Masters Nationals Champions in 2020. They are alumni of the Nationals inaugural Dance Team and both had done “Shagging with the Stars” with him winning in 2020. Please welcome from North Myrtle Beach – Charlie Reese.
She and her husband, the late Ernie Holmes, came onto the Nationals scene in 1988 and for three years were top of the crowd Professional and Overall runners-up. As Dance Team members, they hobnobbed while doing the half time show with the best – Michael Jordan! Their son, current Pro competitor and our 2023 Non-Pro Champion, is Adam Holmes. She has previously judged here, and we welcome back from N.C.– Gail Holmes Wallace.
He came onto the Nationals scene in 2004 and won the Non-Pro title in his first year of competing. Moving to the Pro Division, he was a runner-up in that division for three consecutive years. He has served on our judging panel and was selected to the Nationals Dance Team as part of a winning team competition in New York City. Having his own appraisal company in Wilmington, N.C., we welcome back – Brad White.
Her parents, Brenda & Shad, taught many, many shaggers the basics and fundamentals of the dance. She was one of their students and competed in the Nationals as a three-time runner-up and two-time Junior Overall Champion, and a two-time overall second place for all divisions – and one place behind Jackie McGee. She and Randy are parents of two, reside in Statesville, N.C., and we welcomed back tonight to the Nationals. Hello, Terri Alberty Wilson.
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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