RULES
UKEDC Competition Rules
Click here to download the UKEDC Competition Rules, valid from May 2020.
ESSDA Showdance Rules
Click here to view the latest ESSDA Showdance Rules.
New to competing?
Ever wondered about how to get started with same-sex competitions? Scroll down to view a handy guide which we’ve put together or click here to download the ‘Competing with the UKEDC Guide’ or click here to download the ESSDA new starters guide.
Grants & Scholarships
The UKEDC is delighted to announce the launch of its new grants and scholarships scheme to support individuals and events within the equality dance community. These are open to both members and non-members of the UKEDC.
UKEDC Dance Scholarships
The UKEDC is offering two scholarships of £250 each to individuals who intend to compete in equality dance events. The initital round of applications closed on 30th April 2202. We will consider reopening aplications later in the year.
Please read these documents carefully as they set out the eligibility criteria and the terms and conditions for the scholarships.
The applications will be reviewed by the UKEDC Scholarship Panel:
• Tom Dane (UKEDC Chair)
• Jo Hunt (UKEDC Communications)
• Marius Stankiewicz (UKEDC Committee Member)
The final awards will be made at our committee meeting following the AGM.
UKEDC Community Grants
As well as the individual scholarships, the UKEDC is providing two grants of £250 each to support events and projects that help promote equality dancing. These can be applied for at any time, but ideally at least 90 days before the event is to be held. We will do our best to consider applications made with shorter notice, but we cannot guarantee that we will do so.
If you have any questions about either the grants or the scholarships, please contact treasurer@ukedc.org.

The basics of competing
Ballroom and Latin equality dance competitions will normally follow this structure:
First classification:
All couples will dance and be placed into the categories A, B, C, or D
Second classification:
A chance for the judges to review the categories, and make any changes as necessary
Competition rounds and semi-finals:
The couples will compete in their categories, with the judges selecting who will make it through to the next round
Finals:
Normally up to 6 couples will compete in the final of the Ballroom and Latin competitions
The dances required for each category are as follows, and usually danced in this order:
Ballroom:
A – Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot and Quickstep
B – Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot and Quickstep
C – Waltz, Tango and Quickstep
D – Waltz, Tango and Quickstep
Latin American:
A – Cha Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, Jive
B – Cha Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Jive
C – Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Jive
D – Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Jive
Usually, the All-Male couples with compete against each other in their own competition, and the All-Female couples will compete against each other in their own competition. But please note, on occasion the organisers may decide to combine the All-Male and All-Female couples into one competition if the total number of entrants is low. There may also be Open / Mixed categories where couples of any make up, irrelevant of gender may enter.