This year The American Lindy Hop Championships will be based at the Renaissance New York Harlem Hotel. ALHC offers 2 types of passes which allow you to compete. Choose the Weekend Pass or the Dance/Competitor Pass. The Weekend Pass admits you to each of the dances plus grants you entrance to all classes. The Dance/Competitor Pass is for people who do not want to take classes but want to save by buying the dances in advance.Please be aware that contest entry is $25 per person per contest (higher at the door) which needs to be paid in addition to filling out the contest entry form. At least one member of a team or couple must attend a competitors' meeting. Times will be announced.
In keeping with the spirit of the Swing Era contestants are asked to wear upscale casual clothing. This does not mean that you have to wear vintage clothing. ALHC asks you not to wear jeans or sweat clothes while competing.
You need a different partner in each division. Don't worry it make the weekend much more fun. ProAm is the only exception.
Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
Consider using public domain music from one of two following sites for vintage music:
Using music from one of these sites helps avoid copyright conflicts on YouTube and Facebook. Other options include iTunes, Facebook Creator Studio & YouTube's Audio Library. Or ask a local band for a song.
2023 Contest Divisions
(other divisions may be added depending upon dancer interest)
The American Showcase Harvest Moon Ball Division
This division has been redesigned a few times. This iteration of the division came with our 20th anniversary in 2017. This division has 3 rounds.
Round 1 is Strictly Lindy. All couples dance at once as they did at the original HMB Lindy/Jitterbug Division in Madison Square Garden. Contestants are asked to dance with no movement restrictions.
This is not a jam wherein couples take turns dancing. Each couple must dance the complete song making use of all manner of lead/follow steps, jazz steps, slow motion, lifts, drops, airsteps and acrobatics to successfully navigate the song. (See video example below.) The event chooses the music. You will be notified of the song once you've entered.
Round 2 is an unchoreographed Classic Division. Couples may not do air steps but dance to show off musicality, footwork and teamwork. The event chooses the music.
Round 3 is like Open Showcase. It will be held as part of the Battle of the Big Bands so you are free to make combinations and then use them as they fit the music that is played. To guarantee that you will do your routine asdesigned you might consider doing Open Showcase where you can choose your music.
Cabaret and Pro/Am Cabaret
Dancers perform any dance style except couples’ swing. So Blues, jazz, Latin, adagio, Tango, Chop, Hip Hop, Salsa, Latin Hustle, Tap Dance, etc. should be in this division. Time limits are 2-4 minutes for each act.
Classic
Couples’ are judged on timing, technique, teamwork, musicality and choreographic content. No throws, air steps or aerials are permitted in this division. Any kind of swing dance is allowed.
Cutting Contest
In the 1920-1940s a cutting contest was a musical battle between various stride piano players, and to a lesser extent in improvisational contests on other jazz instruments during the Swing Era.
At ALHC your body is your instrument. At the beginning of each round a number of musical bars will be established that the dancers will dance and sets the tempo. Then, 2 dancers trade improvisational sequences. If both dancers lose time or exceed the number of bars set, they are each out. It's a one-on-one battle.
Junior Swing Championship
Couples aged 10-17 are eligible for this division. 18 year olds are allowed if they are still in high school. This is a showcase division but lifts, drops, throws, air steps and/or aerials are optional. Any kind of swing dance is permitted.
Masters
Mature couples over 40 perform any kind of swing. This is a showcase division, but tricks are not required. 3:00 max.
The Match Game
Lindy leaders and followers have a blind draw
on a partner.
Open Showcase
Couples are judged on timing, technique, teamwork, musicality and choreographic content. All manner of tricks are allowed. All types of swing is permitted. 2-3:00 max.
Pro-Am
Amateur leaders and followers dance with their teacher or other professional dancer. It is open to any dance style - Balboa, Shag, Lindy, West Coast, Blues, etc. 3:00 max.
Showtime Not At The
Apollo
Is open to all weekend passholders
who dance (clothes on), perform multidisciplinary acts and variety acts. Acts may no exceed four minutes. The winner is determined by the audience's voice vote.
Strictly Lindy
Couples show off their best Lindy lead/follow skills to music chosen by the event.
Team
A minimum of 2 couples are judged on timing, teamwork, technique, musicality and choreographic content while doing formations. Couples may not do continuous breaks or use this division as a jam session. Any genre of swing is permitted. 2-4:00 max
Truckin'
This division is basically a solo jazz competition with a twist.
Truckin', the dance, first came in to wide popularity in the 1920s after, we believe, it was introduced to audience in a Connie's Inn show. It is our undertanding that waiters took up delivering orders using dance to get bigger tips from wealthy New Yorkers who came north to party. It is a strutting dance that, like cakewalk, uses ANY vernacular steps available to the mover as fair game. Feel free to be as inventive as possible - while carrying a tray. Something needs to be on your tray. If you drop the tray or something falls off - oops no tip. If you successfully outshine the others you'll take home the prize. (You are not required to dance to the Truckin' song.) 1:45-3:00 max time
To Enter: All in-person contestants must have either a Dance/Competitor Pass or a Weekend Pass which includes your choice of all classes and contests to enter. Enter fees, at $25/person are paid in addition to your dance or weekend pass. Click here for the Contest Entry Form as a Word document.Click here for the Contest Entry Form as a PDF. Ceck the schedule, once it is announced, so you can attend the mandatory Competitors' Meeting.
Prizes & Awards
(Awarded with a minimum of 5 entries in the division)
If a band has granted you