Contest Info – Camp Hollywood

Contest Changes Coming in 2025!

2024 National Jitterbug Championships Divisions

Contest Core Staff

Master of Ceremonies: Tim “Wolfman” Wollman
Head Judge: Tise Chao
Tabulator: Scott Angelius

Pass Requirements

You must be a full weekend or party pass holder to compete in all contests, including Teams. In addition, all contests require a separate entry fee per contest.

What we mean by Jitterbug

Although this is technically a Lindy (Shag, and Balboa) competition, the main focus of this event is the concept of “jitterbug”—the idea is to have fun, dance to the music, work with your partner, and capture the joy of swing music and swing dancing that we all experience. We’ll make no distinctions as to what is or is not “lindy hop”—as long as you have the spirit of the jitterbug, this contest is for you!

Relative Placement Scoring

“Where it’s not winning or losing, but who places above you that counts”

We use the “Relative Placement” system of tabulating scores. To view a comprehensive explanation of this system, click here.

Unconscious Bias in Judging Contests

At Camp Hollywood, we’ve always encouraged creativity and individuality in dancing, and are working towards creating a place where people feel safe to dance as their authentic selves. Adam Brozowski has kindly put together this document on tackling unconscious bias in contest judging that all our instructors and judges are given – you can read it here.

Pro/Am Definitions and Participation Restrictions

Amateur / “AM”

An Amateur is defined as someone who does not regularly teach dance and has not placed 1st in any major three day swing dance weekend contest (ie, LindyFest, Lindy Focus, ULHS, ILHC, CalBal, Camp Jitterbug, etc). If you competed as an Amateur in any previous NJC and placed 1st, you must now move on to the Open or Advanced division – if you have placed 2nd or 3rd in any major weekend contest or previous NJC, you MAY opt to move up to the Open or Advanced division but can continue to compete as an amateur if you prefer.

Professional / “Pro”

A Professional is defined as someone who has placed 1st in any of the above 3 day swing weekends, 1st in any Pro or Amateur Lindy NJC divisions, and/or is a regular dance instructor. You may consider yourself a Pro if you have placed top 3 in any of the above mentioned contests; you MUST compete as a Pro if you have placed 1st.

With regards to the Mix & Match contests

If you have won the Amateur Mix & Match but not placed in any other contest, you are not required to then be a Pro in all other divisions although you must move up to the Advanced Mix & Match. If you have won or placed in previous Pro/Ams, you are not required to then be a Pro in all other divisions from now on. You should only participate in the Advanced Mix & Match if you placed 1st in the Amateur Mix & Match, are a seasoned competitor and/or are an advanced dancer. You can dance in both Mix & Matches providing you switch roles (lead or follow) and are a Pro as one role and an Amateur as the other.

Not permitted

Being in both the Advanced and Amateur Mix & Matches unless dancing a different role (as in, you can’t be both an Amateur Lead and an Advanced Lead)
Dancing in both Open and Am Classic, Open and Am Showcase, or Open and Am Lindy or Balboa divisions unless dancing a different role
Being a Pro dancer and participating in Amateur divisions unless dancing a different role.

Teams and Showcases

You may participate in more than one Team or do a maximum of two routines in a Showcase division.

Not sure if you’re a Pro or an Am?

E-mail us at info@camphollywood.net – we’ll be happy to help!

NJC Division Rules & Formats

Please note these are preliminary formats & music tempos for the following contests – be sure to check back in as these may change.

Our Open divisions are to allow for more flexibility for Pros and Ams to dance together and keep the Amateur divisions truly Amateur. We only ask that you be in only one of the same type of division – as in, you can be an amateur that dances in the Open Lindy, but you can’t also be in the Am Lindy (but you can be in the Open or Am Classic Lindy) unless you are dancing a different role (an advanced follow can be an amateur leader, and vice versa).

Showcase and Team competitors – please submit your music file (.mp3 only) to chcontestmusic@gmail.com before September 1st labeled with your division and names (if Showcases) or Team name. If you miss the deadline you can still email your file during the event, or provide us with a thumb drive.

Additional information to be aware of:

Fees are:
- $40 per couple for couples contests.
- $20 per individual for Mix & Matches.
- $150 flat fee for entire team for Open and Student Teams.
- $75 flat fee for entire team for Solo Team.
Contests are generally “anything goes”, meaning lifts, drops, and aerials are permitted – except where noted for specific contests.
We reserve the right to cancel any contest that does not have at least five couples as of the day of the event.
Please note formats of all contests are subject to change without notice, as determined by number of competitors.
Creative clothing is encouraged and appreciated!
We may promote some Pro couples to the finals of the Open Lindy, Balboa or Classic divisions at the organizer’s discretion

Showcase Contests

Open Showcase

This division is open to Pro couples, Amateur couples, or Pro/Am couples to perform a routine to their own music, song length to be between 2 and 3 1/2 minutes. Dance order to be determined by random computer draw. Limited to 15 couples, but additional couples may be added at the discretion of the Head Judge. Each participant may dance no more than twice in this division.

Amateur Showcase

This division is open to Amateur couples only to perform a routine to their own music, song length to be between 2 and 3 1/2 minutes. Dance order to be determined by random computer draw. Limited to 15 couples, but additional couples may be added at the discretion of the Head Judge. Each participant may dance no more than twice in this division.

Junior Showcase

This division is open to junior couples only (must be 18 or under as of the event weekend) to perform a routine to their own music, song length to be between 2 and 3 1/2 minutes. Dance order to be determined by random computer draw. Limited to 15 couples, but additional couples may be added at the discretion of the Head Judge. Each participant may dance no more than twice in this division.

Team Contests

Open Team

Minimum of three couples to perform a routine to their own music, song length to be between 2 and 4 1/2 minutes. Open Teams may comprise any combination of pro and amateur dancers. Team leaders must submit music and a roster of dancers for the team by 8/25/23. Open Team division is limited to 12 teams but more may be added at the discretion of the Head Judge. All team members must be at least party pass holders to participate.

Student Team

Minimum of three couples to perform a routine to their own music, song length to be between 2 and 4 1/2 minutes. Student Teams may consist of no more than four “pro” competitors within the group (teachers, top placing competitors, etc). This division is for dance instructors or studios to compile teams of their students but can also include all-amateur teams, junior teams, etc not connected to a studio or set of instructors. Team leaders must submit music and a roster of dancers for the team by 8/25/23. Student Team division is limited to 12 teams but more may be added at the discretion of the Head Judge. All team members must be at least party pass holders to participate.

Solo Team

Minimum of three dancers to perform a routine to their own music, song length to be between 2 and 3 minutes. Solo Team may be comprised of any combination of pro and amateur dancers. Some partnered content is allowed but the majority of the choreography must be solo. If you prefer to do a partner dance team routine, please see the Open or Student Team definitions above. Team leaders must submit music and a roster of dancers for the team by 8/25/23. Solo Team division is limited to 12 teams but more may be added at the discretion of the Head Judge. All team members must be at least party pass holders to participate.

Balboa and Shag Contests

Open Balboa

This division is open to Pro couples, Amateur couples, or Pro/Am couples. For prelims, dancers to dance in groups to two 1 1/2 minute songs, first song about 210 bpm, second about 235 bpm. Finals to start with a short warm up song at about 220 BPM, followed by a phrase battle with one couple out at a time for 16 8 counts, twice (tempo 240). Bal-swing or pure Balboa permitted. Dancers in this division may not also participate in the Am Balboa division unless they are dancing a different role (lead or follow).

Amateur Balboa

This division is open to Amateur couples only. For prelims, dancers to dance in groups to two 1 1/2 minute songs, first song about 195 bpm, second about 220 bpm. Finals to start with a short warm up song at about 210 BPM, followed by a phrase battle with two couples out at a time for 16 8 counts, twice (tempo 220). Bal-swing or pure Balboa permitted. Dancers in this division may not also participate in the Open Balboa division unless they are dancing a different role (lead or follow).

Shag

This division is for collegiate shag or double rhythm shag. For prelims, dancers to dance in groups to two 1 1/2 minute songs, first song about 205 bpm, second about 230 bpm. Finals to start with a short warm up song (tempo around 210), then 2 couples out at a time for 16 8 counts, twice, tempo 230 with a possible final song after the phrase battle.

Lindy Contests

Open Lindy

This division is open to Pro couples, Amateur couples, or Pro/Am couples. We pick the music, you pick the moves. Dancers to dance in group heats to three songs for 1 1/2 minutes each, slow to fast. Finals will consist of a warm up dance followed by a “phrase battle” to one song where couples will enter the circle for 8 eight counts twice to show off their stuff, followed by an allskate if there’s any song left. Prelim tempos 160/190/220, final tempo 250 – 260. Dancers in this division may not also participate in the Am Lindy division unless they are dancing a different role (lead or follow). This division is now a qualifier for the Savoy Cup in Montpelier, France.

Amateur Lindy

Dancers to dance in group heats to three songs for 1 1/2 minutes each, slow to fast. We pick the music, you pick the moves. Finals will consist of a warm up dance followed by a “phrase battle” to live music where couples will enter the circle for 8 eight counts twice to show off their stuff, followed by an allskate if there’s any song left. Prelim tempos 130/185/205, final tempo 220. Dancers in this division may not also participate in the Open Lindy division unless they are dancing a different role (lead or follow).

Open Classic Lindy

This division is open to Pro couples, Amateur couples, or Pro/Am couples. This is a “just dance” division intended to focus on musicality & style rather than flash. Dancers will dance in group heats to slow to mid tempo music in prelims (prelim tempos 130/155). Finals will consist of a warm up dance followed by a “phrase battle” to live music (160 bpm) where couples will enter the circle for 8 eight counts twice to show off their stuff, followed by an allskate if there’s any song left. Dancers in this division may not also participate in the Am Classic Lindy division unless they are dancing a different role (lead or follow).

Amateur Classic Lindy

This is a “just dance” division open to Am dancers intended to focus on musicality & style rather than flash. Dancers will dance in group heats to slow to mid tempo music in prelims (prelim tempos 130/155). Finals will consist of a warm up dance followed by a “phrase battle” to live music (160 bpm) where couples will enter the circle for 8 eight counts twice to show off their stuff, followed by an allskate if there’s any song left. Dancers in this division may not also participate in the Open Classic Lindy division unless they are dancing a different role (lead or follow).

Mix & Match Contests

As invented by swing dance legend Jack Carey, in the Mix & Match contest (formerly known as Jack & Jill) dancers rotate to partners randomly drawn.

For all Mix & Match contests:

You will be judged as individuals, not as couples.
You do not need to provide a partner.
During prelims, partners will rotate four times, song length about 1:15.
If you choose to dance as both a lead and follow in the prelims of a given contest, and make finals in both roles for the contest, we will ask you to choose one role to final in

Advanced Mix & Match

For advanced dancers who are experienced competitors.
Finals will consist of 3-5 rotations of one heat of music of varying tempos and lengths including a phrase battle style dance where each couple gets an 8 eight count spotlight followed by a 16 8 count spotlight.
Open to 60 leads and 60 follows.

Amateur Mix & Match

This contest is for dancers with little or no contest experience.
No aerials allowed in this contest.
Finals will consist of 3-5 rotations of one heat of music of varying tempos and lengths.
Open to 60 leads and 60 follows.

Shag Mix & Match

This division is for Collegiate Shag or Double Rhythm Shag.
No lifts/aerials allowed in this contest.
Finals will consist of a phrase battle style dance where each couple gets two 16 eight count sections.
Open to 30 leads and 30 follows.

The Switch & Fluid Role Contest

This contest is open to dancers of all levels for both partners to lead and follow within the same dance! You and your partner will be judged on your ability to fluidly move between roles while prioritizing musical social dancing! Switching, backleading, forward following, fleading, lollowing are all celebrated here! Come prepared to bring your most inspired and authentic Switch and Fluid Role dancing onto the floor! Format: couples will dance in groups for the prelim to varying tempos, finals will consist of a warm up dance followed by a “phrase battle” to live music (170 bpm) where couples will enter the circle for 8 eight counts twice to show off their stuff. This contest will take place Monday night after Awards and during the night dance. Open to 30 couples.

Signing Up, Waiting Lists, Prizes

Signing Up

Although we recommend you sign up for contests in advance (in particular, the Amateur and Team divisions, which always fill up shortly after registration opens), you may still sign up, change, or drop contests in front of the ballroom from 11:15-12:00 Saturday and Sunday. Refunds for contests cannot be offered during the event.

Each division limited to 40 couples with the following exceptions:

Mix & Matches: 60 leads & 60 follows
Shag Mix & Match: 30 leads & 30 follows
Amateur Showcase and Open Showcase: 15 couples
Open Role: 30 couples, but additional couples may be added at the discretion of the Head Judge.
Teams are limited to 12 teams.

Waiting Lists

If you are on a waiting list for a contest – Be present in the room as the contest starts. If a couple is not there to dance in their slot, you’re up! Be ready to compete, and have your contest fee for us!

Prizes

1st-3rd place receive trophies, 4th & 5th place medals. Cash prizes are divided up amongst 1st-3rd place. Total cash prize available per contest is as follows:

Showcase Contests
- Open Showcase – $1000
- Amateur Showcase – $500
- Junior Showcase – $300
Team Contests
- Open Team – $1000
- Student Team – $1000
- Solo Team – $500
Balboa/Shag Contests
- Open Balboa – $300
- Amateur Balboa – $300
- Shag – $300
Lindy Contests
- Open Lindy – $500
- Amateur Lindy – $400
- Open Classic Lindy – $400
- Amateur Classic Lindy – $300
Mix & Match Contests
- Advanced Mix & Match – $300
- Amateur Mix & Match – $200
- Shag Mix & Match – $200
Switch & Fluid Role Contest – $300

The Golden Budgie

Don’t forget to go for the Golden Budgie! It’s our Rock the House Award for exceptional performance, given to couples, groups or individuals who exemplify the Spirit of the Jitterbug! Previous winners:

2023: Andry Rakotomalala (CA)
2022: Julie Roman (AZ)
2020: Paul Riding (CA)
2019: Nils Andren & Bianca Locatelli (Sweden)
2018: Adam Brozowski & Mate Csike (Seattle, WA and Budapest, Hungary)
2017: Valerie Salstrom (Cleveland, OH)
2016: AJ Howard & Jennifer Runyan (CA)
2015: Kenny Nelson & Delilah Williams (CO)
2014: James Bennett (CA)
2013: Amy Denissen (CA)
2012: Soochan Lee & Hyunjung Choi (Korea)
2011: Morgan Day & Emily Wigger (CA)
2010: Tip West & Mike Mizgalski (CA)
2009: David Frutos & Kim Clever (CA)
2008: Nick Peterson (NV)
2007: Filippo Bucomino & Titty Sperzagni (Italy)
2006: Joanne Harrold (CA)
2005: Ben Yau & Sheri Kang (CA)
2004: Ben Morris (CA)
2003: Narusi Oki & Naoko Terada (Japan)
2002: Dabney Hopkins and Tracie Jones (AZ)

Make yours the next name on this list!