NDCA vs USA Dance American Style Restrictions

What are the actual differences between NDCA and USA Dance American Style rules?  

Not a lot, which can lead to some potentially confusing situations.  I will separate my comparisons here by Level so that anyone interested only in a specific Level can jump to that part.

Bronze

Firstly, NDCA is VERY clear about “Entrances.”  In Bronze and Silver, American and International Styles, NDCA says “No entrances allowed.  Partners must start in Closed or Open facing hold.”  NDCA does allow for a curtsey in Viennese Waltz.  By contrast, USA Dance only specifically prohibits Entrances in American Rhythm, Bronze and Silver.  Nowhere in the USA Dance Rulebook do they mention anything about Entrances in Smooth (or Standard or Latin). 

Other differences appear in smaller form. 

1. USA Dance restricts Progressive Twinkles in Bronze American Foxtrot to six measures; NDCA offers no such restriction. 
2. In USA Dance, Bronze Tango dancers may use a Corte or Simple Oversway.  NDCA allows only the Corte. 
3. NDCA allows a Bronze dancer to do a syncopated turn LEFT on the 4&1 in American Cha Cha.  USA Dance does not allow any syncopated turns in Bronze Cha Cha. 
4. NDCA specifies that Continuous Tuck in Turns have a maximum of four chasses allowed.  USA Dance gives no restrictions. 
5. USA Dance says nothing about swivel figures in Bronze Swing.  However, Silver Swing has listed that “Figures incorporating Foot Swivels” are permitted, which suggests (but does not explicitly state) that they are not allowed in Bronze at all.  As I mentioned in my last post, NDCA now allows Sugarfoot Swivels up to four quicks in Bronze.

One Restriction worth noting that is the same in USA Dance and NDCA is that partners in Bronze American Style Rhythm may completely separate for one measure but in Bronze Smooth may not completely separate at all.   This means that the popular ending for In and Out Change Steps/Butterfly Step where both partners do a solo turn is NOT ALLOWED in either organization.  As always, whether or not you will be Invigilated for dancing that ending depends on the Invigilator.   

Silver

Due to NDCA’s Silver Level changes, crafting Silver routines that will work for both organizations will get a little harder starting next year.  USA Dance does not provide a Figure List – only some general guidelines to go with their Restrictions. 

1. Standing Spins and Aerial Kicks, Rondes, and Developes are now allowed in NDCA’s Silver Smooth Rules.  USA Dance prohibits both types of actions in Silver.
2. Both organizations have rules about which Picture Lines may be used in which dances, but the rules differ.  USA Dance gives no restrictions at all on Viennese Waltz Picture Lines, and allows only Contra Checks and Overways in Waltz and Foxtrot (Contra Checks are prohibited in both dances in NDCA).  For Tango, USA Dance allows Oversway, Contra Check, Hinge, Chair, Right Lunge, Same Foot Lunge, Open Same Foot Lunge, Throwaway, Open Throwaway.  Please refer back to my previous post for the list of Picture Lines allowed in NDCA – they are almost completely different from USA Dance.
3. In Rhythm, USA Dance and NDCA both allow Aerial Kicks, Rondes, and Developes, though NDCA specifies no more than waist high.
4. NDCA allows partners to completely separate for a maximum of two measures in all Rhythm dances.  USA Dance allows up to four measures of complete separation. 
5. Like NDCA, USA Dance mentions specific Body Lines allowed in Silver Bolero, though as in Smooth, the allowances are slightly different.  USA Dance allows Lunges, Contra Checks, and Eros Lines. 

Gold

There is a very simple difference here.  USA Dance has Gold Restrictions in its Rulebook and NDCA does not.  However, that does not mean you can do whatever you want.  Slashes, lifts, and other potentially dangerous moves are prohibited in all levels of competition except for divisions where only one couple at a time has the floor, even if it is not specifically stated anywhere.

If either organization changes its rules in the future, I will update with more information regarding the changes and the practical effects they have on Syllabus dancers.  For now, my posts will start to focus more on specific Figures and concepts from the Syllabus, and potential Invigilation challenges that they pose.  I will be including videos with some of the posts for clarification.