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ALHC 2024 Contest Information

A couple in a contest

Contestants please note:

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. Competition entry is complimentary for Dance/Weekend passholders. Competitiors, however, will need to fill out in additional contest entry forms. At least one member of a team or couple must attend a competitors' meeting at 7:45pm on Friday evening.

Tricia Reneau Iverson & Jeff BoothIf a band has granted you permission to use their music. Click here to use to the BAND PERMISSION FORM as a Word doc. Click here for a PDF.

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:

http://www.archive.org/index.php or http://www.jazz-on-line.com

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.
2025 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.

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.

The Match Game
Lindy leaders and followers have a blind draw on a partner.

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.

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. The Match Game and Strictly Lindy have complimentary entry fees but dancers must sign up pne-hour prior to the division's start.at the event, Cash prize divisions like Classic, Open Showcase and American Showcase have a $50/couple entry fee 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. Check the schedule, once it is announced, so you can attend the mandatory Competitors' Meeting.

Prizes & Awards

Prefer a minimum of 3 to 5 entries per division
The Match Game - Prizes and awards include weekend passes to Summer Swing Fest in Phoenix AZ
Strictly Lindy - Prizes and awards included weekend passes to Boston Tea Party in Boston, MA

Awards include medals and weekend passes ALHC 2026 and:

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