FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I get my event on the National Country Dance Circuit?
For an event to qualify for the National Country Dance Circuit, the event must use relative point placement scoring for prelims, semis, and finals and have multiple leveled divisions. Other than that, we are a pretty welcoming group! There is no cost to join the National Country Dance Circuit.
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When I first enter to compete in the National Country Dance Circuit, where do I place myself?
First time NCDC competitors are allowed to enter Newcomer, Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced after consulting with their event director for the best division placement that is being offered at that event. Due to the nature of the system’s flexibility, your true current division will be revealed through the process of competing—whether that means moving up, moving down, or staying in the same division.
Why can’t I enter directly into All-Star?
We believe the title of All-Star is something you earn through the process of competing. We want to encourage a focus on growth and progress rather than just bestowing titles upon dancers.
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What do the Placement letters and/or numbers mean in the Points Registry?​
P = Competed in Prelims but did not move past Prelims
Q = Competed in Quarterfinals but did not move past Quarterfinals
S = Competed in Semifinals but did not move past Semifinals
A = Alternate / Next in line to make Finals
# = Placement rank in Finals
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What does a -1 point allocation mean?
This means in the competition no prelim judge gave a “yes” to go to semis or finals. The -1 is deducted from your total points calculation for that division ranking. In a rare fringe case, you could have received 3 “maybe/alternate” and no “yeses” from the judges and not receive a -1 point allocation because 3 “maybe/alternate" is scored above the threshold for 1 "yes".
A -1 score isn't about penalizing the competitor, but more so about identifying the dancer's current level relative to the other competitors in that division.
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What is Relative Placement?
Relative placement is a fair and transparent judging system used in competitive events, including dance competitions, to determine a competitor's ranking based on their performance in relation to others. Instead of relying on raw scores, this method focuses on how competitors rank relative to one another, ensuring that the results reflect the overall consensus of the judging panel.
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How Does Relative Placement Work?
Prelims placement involves judges ranking competitors yes, no, or maybe/alternate based on individual performance after each round of prelims and semifinals. Finals placement is determined by the majority of rankings across the judging panel. For example, if Competitor A is ranked 1st by 2 out of 3 judges, they secure 1st place overall. In the event of a tie, further rankings, such as 2nd place votes and head judge rankings, are analyzed to break the tie and assign final placements.
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Why Use Relative Placement?
Relative placement ensures fairness by balancing out any potential bias or discrepancy from individual judges through majority consensus. It provides transparent results that competitors and audiences can clearly understand. The system also reduces outliers, minimizing the impact of extreme or inconsistent scores that could skew the results. At Forever Country-hosted competitions, we use the relative placement system to ensure that every competitor is judged fairly and consistently. Whether you're competing in Line Dance, Country Swing, Two-Step, or Traditional Progressive Jack & Jill categories, this system guarantees that rankings are based on a balanced evaluation of your performance. By prioritizing fairness and clarity, we aim to elevate the competitive dance experience for all participants.
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What are the Competition Types?
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Certified
A certified National Country Dance Circuit competition is a competition that is using vetted relative placement scoring software to compute competitor scores. The official relative placement scoring software for the National Country Dance Circuit is danceplace.
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Non-Certified
A non-certified National Country Dance Circuit competition is a competition that is using relative placement scoring software to compute competitor scores, but the RPS software has not been vetted by the NCDC.
