2026 Contest Guidelines

This page is for contest descriptions and guidelines.  For Contest Registration click here.

We offer more than the usual divisions… dancers of all levels and all ages get the chance to dance not just in their own divisions but with each other as well!!! With more chances to dance than any other event every competitor can enter at least 6 divisions if they want!

Take the Carlito Rofoli challenge!
Dance in as many divisions as you can and earn points by placing top 5 or making finals in ANY division. At the end of the weekend we’ll add up the points from EVERY division and the…
*Top Dancer gets a FREE pass and FREE competition fees for JJO 2025
*2nd Place Dancer gets a FREE pass for JJO 2025
*3rd Place Dancer gets FREE competition fees for JJO 2025

We have several simultaneous contests that competitors may enter both of however…

For 2026 we might have to cap contest entries in order to maintain our schedule.
However, we did not hit these caps in 2025, and our attendance cap for 2026 is the same as 2025, so it’s very unlikely this will be necessary. 
For transparency, we have listed tentative 2026 caps for each division below compared to the number of entries in 2025.
For WSDC divisions sign up for your current level…if your level changes after signing up we will let you move even if we hit a hypothetical cap. 

Due to our insane schedule and us wanting to maintain plenty of social dancing time be aware that:
There will be NO Quarterfinals for any division during the weekend regardless of the size of any divisions.
There will be NO Semifinals for Country Swing, Newbie, Role Reversal J&J, Sophisticated J&J, All American/60s Era J&J, Pro-Am J&J, Open Strictly, or All Star/Champions Strictly despite these being potentially large divisions.

Non-WSDC Jack and Jills…

• Open Jackpot: T
  he ULTIMATE Jack and Jill competition. All levels and all ages. Competitors randomly draw one partner and stay with that partner through all rounds. PLUS, all the entry fees for this division go back into the jackpot prize fund.
  – We sort this division to minimize the number of All Stars & Champions that draw each other, minimize the number of dancers drawing another dancer from their same O’Rama cup house
• All American/60s Era:
  All levels and all ages. Competitors randomly draw one partner and stay with that partner through all rounds. Music will be 60s themed! And no, you don’t have to be American to dance in this division haha.
  
• Pro/Am:
  Each Amateur competitor will randomly draw one Professional competitor to dance with who they stay with if they make finals (similar to All American).  Ams will likely dance 2 songs with their pro in prelims and 2 songs if they make finals.  Professionals will dance multiple times with multiple Amateur partners. If you are dancing in the All Star or Champions Jack & Jill you must sign up as a professional, otherwise sign up as an amateur according to your WSDC level (Nov, Int, or Adv).  See the rule below about what happens if a pro makes finals twice or doesn’t show for finals.
  Only the amateur is judged in this division, not the pro; however,  if an amateur makes finals their pro stays with them.
• Sophisticated:
  All levels, competitors must be 35 or older. In preliminary round competitors will dance with multiple partners. In finals competitors will randomly draw one partner to dance with.
• Role Reversal:
  Competitors sign up to dance in the opposite role (leader or follower) from their primary role (if you compete in both roles then the opposite of whichever role is your primary role). In preliminary round competitors will dance with multiple partners. In finals competitors will randomly draw one partner to dance with. This division is intended to be about good dancing and not comedic or inappropriate behavior.
• Newbie:
  Just for fun with no entry fees, WSDC points, or money at stake, but the winners get passes to Jack & Jill O’Rama next year.  You must not have any WSDC points in the role you are entering or any WSDC points in Intermediate or higher in the opposite role.
  This division is intended to be a fun, welcoming opportunity for new dancers to get their feet wet.  You ARE allowed to enter BOTH Newbie & WSDC Novice in the SAME role if you DON’T have any WSDC points in that role.
  In preliminary round competitors will dance with multiple partners. In finals competitors will randomly draw one partner to dance with.
  
• Country Swing:
  For our Country Swing friends.  Just for fun with no entry fees or money at stake, but the winners get passes to Jack & Jill O’Rama next year.
  In preliminary round competitors will dance with multiple partners. In finals competitors will randomly draw one partner to dance with.
  

WSDC Jack and Jills…

• Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, All Star:
  Qualification is based off points and guidelines set by the World Swing Dance Council. If you don’t know what that is or don’t already have a WSDC # you would enter Novice even if you consider yourself a more “advanced” social dancer.
• Masters:
  All Levels, competitors must be 50 or older. In preliminary round competitors will dance with multiple partners. In finals competitors will randomly draw one partner to dance with.
• Champions:
  Qualification is based off points and guidelines set by the WSDC however:
  Our Champions division is intended to be a high level division for dancers who are capable of not only quality dancing, but putting on a show and doing it safely.
  If you have the option to dance in All Stars still we recommend you do so. 
  If you no longer have the option to automatically dance in All Stars but do not feel comfortable entering Champions we recommend you petition down to All Stars.
• For all WSDC J&Js:
  In preliminary/semis round competitors will dance with multiple partners. In finals competitors will randomly draw one partner to dance with.

Strictly Swing Divisions…

• All Star/Champions Strictly Swing:
  If either or both partners are a WSDC All Star or Champions in the role they are dancing in for the strictly then enter the All Star/Champions Strictly. 
  This is NOT a crossover strictly where Champions are required to partner with an All Star.  Champions are allowed (and encouraged) to partner with another Champion, All Stars are allowed to partner with another All Star, or Champions and All Stars are allowed to partner with each other.
  
• Open Strictly Swing: 
  If neither partner is a WSDC All Star or Champion in the role they are dancing in for the strictly then enter the Open Strictly.
  If you are eligible (but not required) to move up to All Stars but still currently dance in Advanced then you are considered Advanced for the Strictly.
• If you are eligible for Open you ARE allowed to enter both Open and All Star/Champions with  different partners who are each eligible for that division.

Be aware that updates to these rules may be made at any time prior to the start of a competition. It is the competitor’s responsibility to make sure they are familiar with the rules prior to the start of their contest.  We recommend familiarizing yourself with the rules prior to the star of the event.  If for some reason it is deemed necessary to update the rules during the weekend we will notify the relevant competitors.

To Compete At Jack & Jill O’Rama you are required to:

• Have a full weekend pass (except for Newbie & Country Swing)
• Register for each competition by the official entry deadline. (See the weekend schedule.)
• Pay any required entry fees (none for Newbie or Country Swing)
• Sign a legal waiver. (If you are under 18, your parent or guardian must sign for you.)

Staging: If the schedule says STAGED next to a division, heat 1 will line up in staging area 15 minutes prior to start time.
Every other heat will line up when the prior heat begins. If you are late for staging for your heat you may be scratched from the division.  We will not necessarily call your name and/or move you to another heat.
If a division does not stage and you are not present at the start time for a contest you may be scratched from the division.

Role/Gender Inclusivity: Jack & Jill O’Rama welcomes persons of any gender to dance as a leader or follower.

Bib Number Location: We ask that you were your number on your upper back if you are a leader and you’re lower back/hips if you are a follower.  This is not a requirement, just a guideline that makes it easier for our judges.  If your outfit, hair, etc. means that doesn’t work for you then you are welcome to wear your number in an alternative location.

Eligibility: Make sure you read and abide by the eligibility requirements for each division before entering.

Age Requirement: We allow competitors 13 years of age and older to enter our contests. For dancers under 13 years old eligibility is at our discretion and on a case by case basis so reach out to us.

Dance Requirements for Competitions: The following dance requirements apply to all our competitions. If our judges determine that you have failed to meet one or more of these requirements, they may assign a violation penalty.

1. West Coast Swing content. This is a West Coast Swing dance event. Therefore, our judges will expect to see recognizable West Coast Swing content from both partners in all our divisions except Country Swing.
2. Dangerous and/or inappropriate movements may result in a violation/penalty/drop in scoring or other action.

Submitting a Petition: For WSDC divisions we follow the WSDC guidelines regarding petitions.

Alternates for Pro/Am: If two different Ams make finals with the same Pro in the same level/role then we will pair an alternate Pro with whichever Am was lower in prelims.  If a Pro is missing for finals we will pair their Am with an alternate Pro so we don’t have to scratch the am.

Alternates for All American/60s era & Open Jackpot: If one partner is missing for semi-finals or finals we will bring up one of the alternates and pair them with the finalist/semi-finalist who is missing their partner which will create a new partnership.

Requesting a Restart: You may request a restart during a spotlight if something happens during your dance that could impact safety. Our chief judge may also call for a restart without a request from you if our chief judge believes it is fair to all and in your best interest. If our chief judge allows a restart, your previous scores will be voided. If our chief judge denies your request for a restart, or you decline an offer to restart, your prior performance will be scored.

If you signed up but don’t see your name: Let us know ASAP.  If you do not inform us immediately it’s unlikely but possible that we won’t be able to correct the issue in time to include you in the contest in which case we would issue a refund.

Scoring Error/Glitch: In the event of a scoring error or glitch that results in someone being incorrectly excluded from (and/or included in) a contest round it might not be practical for us to rerun the contest round.  In this case we may choose to not rerun the round and issue a refund for the contest fee to the excluded competitor(s).

Picking Up Awards: You are responsible for collecting your trophy and/or prize money at awards.  If you are not going to be there please designate someone to pick it up for you if you place.

Meme Points: WCS Meme points cannot be used as WSDC points, Carlito Challenge Points, or O’Rama Cup Points.  However, at the discretion of the event staff, creating or referencing WCS Memes may result in receiving O’Rama Cup Points.  It could also result in O’Rama Cup Points being taken away depending on the context and the staff member.  It could also potentially result in points being given by one staff member but subtracted by another.  It’s very unpredictable.

Ben’s Tablet: Thankfully Ben Morris does not MC or Judge at JJO so all tablets should be safe from him. Hopefully.