Whether you’re a competitor, social dancer, or bar dancer, the Honky Tonk division is for you. This division features popular (bar) line dances and offers a fun, exciting environment to compete at UCWDC events. Open to all ages, it’s the perfect way to bring the energy of your favorite bar dances to the competition floor.

The Starter division is designed for dancers just starting their competitive dance journey. With beginner-friendly line dances and a welcoming competition environment, new dancers of all ages—including juniors and adults—can gain confidence and enjoy the thrill of competition.

In Classic Line Dance competition, dancers are evenly spaced in lines and required to dance the step descriptions, as written, on the first dance-through. Then, in Novice and above divisions, competitors can vary from the step descriptions using their own choreography to highlight the music, as long as the steps follow the original flow of the dance.

Classic rules are quite strict and do not allow any floor work or acrobatics. You can compete from Newcomer through Advanced, and then must win points to graduate to the top Star divisions. Review the complete line dance rules for more information.

In Showcase Line Dance competition, music is chosen and released based on musicality and story line, and used for two dance seasons. Dancers choose their own choreography based on the repetitive phrasing of the music and the spatial structure and flow of the dance. They are not required to stay in lines.

The most successful Showcase programs have choreography that tells a story and accents all aspects of the music. Jumps, splits and other tricks are allowed.

There are several dances per motion and these rotate usage. For example, smooth would have Nightclub for two dance seasons, then change to West Coast Swing for two dance seasons. Dancers must be Intermediate or Advanced level, as these division winners receive graduation points towards the Star divisions.

To graduate to ascension Star divisions, you must have points from both Classic and Showcase divisions.

This is a Classic Line Dance division that follows Classic rules referenced above. However, Star competitors have slightly more relaxed rules. These dances change every dance season by the called motions used. Dance A is always a slower dance, and Dance B is a faster dance.

In this division, competitors choose their own music and follow UCWDC Line Dance rules. Dancers present a theme or story around a medley of music while dancing in a solo format. A solo medley is more showcase than classic. Successful medleys use a variety of dances, and musicality is of utmost importance. Download the complete line dance rules on the UCWDC website for more information.

This division was designed to give newer line dance competitors the opportunity to be on the floor with their instructor dancing in front of them. There are two divisions, Newcomer/Novice and Intermediate/Advanced and the instructor chooses the dances to be competed.

Placements are not given in these divisions, only medal grades and there are no overall titles awarded. Dancers are allowed to do variations, however, the instructor cannot.

There are seven categories in the Teams Line Dance division. Teams select their own music and assemble a medley. Teams must be three or more people. There are no age divisions.

• Team Line Dance Classic Country must use 100% country music and 100% line dance.
• Team Line Dance Open can use any music, 100% line dance, and may use props.
• Team Combo must show at least 90 seconds each of both line and couples dancing to any music and may use props.
• Team Cabaret is any music, any combination of line and/or couples dancing, has more relaxed movement limitations and are allowed props.
• Team International is for demonstration of the dancing indigenous to a country. There are no costume, music, or movement limitations.

In the Choreography Line Dance division, a competitor choreographs their own dance, chooses music, and creates a step sheet. The choreography itself is judged, not the dancers. The steps should match the motion given in the step sheet and the choreographer must be present in the room when the dance is performed.

The possible divisions are Newcomer/Novice and Intermediate/Advanced in both country and non-country music. The final division is ABC where the dance has multiple parts and is executed to match the repetitive phrasing of the music.