2013 NDCA Updates: American Style

Today's topic gets a double post!  One post covers new American Style Restrictions for NDCA, the other covers International Style.  This is the American Style version.

  

When I said before that NDCA and USA Dance Syllabi were largely the same, this was both true and a bit of a lie.  Due to the recent changes of the NDCA Syllabus, the two organizations have diverged a bit.  In July of this year, NDCA released a collection of updates – primarily updates in wording and consistency, but there were some changes to what is and isn’t allowed.  Bronze changes became effective immediately; Silver changes go into effect on January 1^st, 2014.  I encourage everyone to use the links to the NDCA and USA Dance Rulebooks that I’ve provided, but I also want to address some of the content-based changes that came out from the NDCA this year.  (I will have a post comparing NDCA and USA Dance Restrictions next time.)

The first noticeable change pops up on the first page of Approved Figures, Elements, & Restrictions, under General Restrictions: “No embellishments.  No level changes, head rolls, foot flicks, syncopations, or delayed timings.”  I find this restriction a little confusing – something that will be a common theme in this post and its International Style companion.  I understand the logic behind it.  Too much embellishment of a figure can render it unrecognizable from its Syllabus form.  However, though the restriction mentions some specific embellishments, the wording is still frustratingly general. 

Change number two shows up in American Style Bronze Swing.  Previously, no swivel action figures were allowed at all.  With the updates, Bronze dancers may dance Sugarfoot swivels of no more than four quicks.  The exact language used in the restrictions is, “No swivel action figures, except for Sugar foot swivels e.g. Toe-Heel Swivels.”  That’s…confusingly worded.  I am fairly certain that what they mean is that Sugar foot is the ONLY swivel action allowed and that other swivels, like Toe-Heel Swivels, are not permitted at Bronze.    

Silver American Style changes are the biggest component of the new information release.  Previously, American Style Silver was a short list of Restrictions for each dance and that was it.  Now the Silver Level is a series of suggested Figures with Restrictions attached, much like the Bronze Level.  I do want to point out a few key changes that represent a real departure from previous versions.

In Smooth:

1. Standing spins, which were previously entirely prohibited, are now allowed for up to two measures, with one syncopation.
2. Nothing was previously said about aerial actions such as kicks, rondes, and developes.  Now NDCA specifies that they are allowed up to waist high (and still prohibited at Bronze). 
3. Picture lines were previously permitted up to two measures without specification of which lines.  New rules state that Oversway, Same Foot Lunge, Right and Left Lunges, and Explosions are allowed in all Smooth dances.  Hovers are allowed in Waltz, Foxtrot, and Viennese Waltz, Spanish Drag is allowed in Tango, and X-Lines are allowed in Viennese Waltz. 

3a. Picture lines that are now prohibited even in Silver are: Hinges, Left Whisks, X-Lines (W/T/F), Eros Lines, Throwaway Oversways, Contra Checks.  Some confusion does remain, as Viennese Waltz lists X-Lines as both specifically permitted and specifically prohibited. 

In Rhythm:

1. Partners may completely separate for two measures, where previously they were allowed only one.
2. Body lines allowed in Bolero: Oversway, Contra Check, Same Foot Lunge, Right and Left Side Lunges, Explosion.  (Basically very much like the Smooth allowances, but with Contra Check added.)

One last little confusion.  General Restrictions about elements “unique” to a dance or style suggest, specifically, that the Aida from International Rumba may not be danced in American Rumba.  In the new Silver rules, Aida is given as a suggested figure for American Rumba.  Not sure what’s going on there! 

This is just a general glance at the NDCA changes.  For full information, please look at the Rulebook online.  Next time I will address how Rules for NDCA and USA Dance differ so that dancers wanting to compete in both arenas have a better idea of how to craft routines.