World Championships Guidelines
2008 Rules

 In the event of any discrepancy, the English version of the most current rules, as published by Hip Hop International will stand.

The Routine’s Length

1. The routine’s length is two (2) minutes. A grace period of five (5) seconds plus or minus is allowed resulting in a minimum of one minute fifty five seconds (1:55) and a maximum of two minutes five seconds (2:05). Timing begins with the first audible sound (includes cueing beep) and ends with the last audible sound.
2. Routine length (music) that is less than (<) one minute fifty-five seconds (1:55) or is greater than (>) two minutes five seconds (2:05) will result in a deduction.

The Routine’s Evaluation

1. The Hip Hop Crew performance is evaluated according to the Performance and Skill criteria defined herein for a total possible score of 10 points.

Performance criteria and value:

Performance = 60% or six points of the total score
The judges will reward crew choreography incorporating unique and original/creative moves, a balance of hip-hop styles from Old School and New School and music usage.
Choreography (40%)
Creativity (10%)
Choreographing and presenting your two-minute routine in a unique and one of a kind way with old school and new school combinations that are yours alone. Original ways to go to the floor, getting up from the floor, transitions, moves, music editing, clothing and a unique look and style that sets you apart from the other routines. Be special, different and fresh with all aspects of your routine.

Variety of Old School Hip Hop Styles (10%)

The ability of the crew to perform a broad selection of Old School Hip Hop styles without excessive use of the same move or patterns or just one style. A range of styles should be shown in the choreography of arm, leg, and body movements.
The following are Old School Hip Hop Styles*:
Bboying/Bgirling (break dancing)
Locking
Popping
Wacking-punking
Vogueing

Variety of New School Hip Hop Styles (10%)

The ability of the crew to perform a broad selection of New School Hip Hop styles bringing new disciplines and styles with a hip-hop theme, without excessive use of the same move or patterns or just using one style. A range of styles and disciplines should be shown in the choreography of arm, leg, and body movement.
The following are New School Hip Hop Styles*:
Hip Hop
New Jack Swing
House Dance
New Style
Clowning/Krumping
Ragga-Reggaeton
Steppin-Stomp-Gumboots

*See attached reference page for websites containing information and descriptions of the above-mentioned dance styles
Note: Gymnastic or acrobatic moves performed in a routine will be considered as tricks with no old school or new school values awarded unless they are preceded, followed and integrated within a hip hop dance style.

Musicality (10%)

Performance and choreography corresponding to timing and music usage and the crew’s ability to perform simultaneously to the music. Movements and patterns performed to the simulated sounds of the crewmembers in the absence of recorded music (e.g., foot stomping, hand clapping, vocals, etc.) will also be considered musicality and judged similarly. Musicality - Beat Technique/Syncopation The movements within the routine must demonstrate musical structure and style, i.e., using rhythmic variations emphasizing upbeat, downbeat, tempo and accents in single, double, halftime and syncopated musical patterns. Musicality - Moves Related to Music Staying in time with the music, moving to the beat of the music, and using identifiable phrases to construct the routine’s choreography.

Showmanship (20%)

Street Presence (10%)

Street presence is the capability of the crewmembers to demonstrate an authentic and uninhibited representation of hip-hop dance. Street presence includes attitude, energy, posture and street style.

Intensity, Confidence, Projection & Presence (10%)

The routine contains dynamic movements from beginning to end by the crew as a whole and as individuals containing minimal pauses and poses. During featured performances by one or more members of the team, the remaining members must continue performing movements that add to the overall intensity of the routine. Projection of the crewmembers is consistently strong throughout the entire routine with an uninterrupted display of confidence measured by facial expression, eye contact and body movement. The crewmembers and their routine should connect with the audience and evoke emotional responses, i.e., excitement, joy, laughter, involvement and/or sense of drama relative to the style presented.

Please note:
Crews originating and utilizing one of a kind “signature” moves in their routines to increase creativity and audience response are cautioned to limit their use and set up time to avoid the risk of not performing a sufficient amount of hip hop dance choreography necessary for a high scoring routine.

Crews are encouraged to be fresh and imaginative and to follow their own style and identity when creating a routine. Avoid emulating or being influenced by past World Champions’ routines, as there is no distinct style of a winning routine. HHI has the most knowledgeable and experienced judges who look for performances that are different, new, original and showcase authentic urban street dance. Be yourself and express your crew’s diversity with passion, intensity and style.

Skill criteria and value:

Skill = 40% or four points of the total score
The judges will evaluate the style of movements in the routine and the execution and difficulty of the style(s); Old School e.g., popping, locking, break dancing, and New School, street, funk, club, video dance, etc. The judges will consider the quality of movement throughout the routine, including arm, leg and body placement, combinations of three levels-floor, standing and air, and synchronization of the crewmembers.

Execution/Controlled Mobility and Stabilization (10%)
The crew must maintain control of the speed, direction, momentum and body placement throughout the routine.

Spacing, Formations, and Level changes (10%)

The crew must demonstrate awareness of spacing between the members through a full range of unique, complicated and challenging formations, interactive partner moves and patterns. The full use of stage will also be considered. The routine should include three (3) levels of movement (low/mid/high) utilizing arm, hand, leg, foot, torso, and head movements with transitions that are creative and unpredictable.

Synchronization (10%)

The movements of the crewmembers are performed in sync; the range of movement, speed, timing and execution of moves are performed by all members in unison. Peel off or in cannon movements are allowable.

Difficulty (10%)

Difficulty is measured by the levels of ability demonstrated by all the crewmembers and the diversity of styles they perform throughout the routine. Consideration is given to the number of crewmembers who attempt and successfully complete complex choreography including old school moves and new school moves and who demonstrate through their execution an understanding of the foundation and origin of hip hop.
Further consideration and awarding of points is given to crews who incorporate multiple styles of old school and new school moves. Example: a crew of five who all attempt and clearly accomplish a breaking move will score higher than if only two members attempt and complete the move. Further, if the same crew incorporates locking, popping and several new school styles they will score higher in difficulty than a crew of five who only demonstrate the new school styles and a breaking move.

Incidences of Extraordinary Circumstances

An extraordinary circumstance is an occurrence beyond the control of a crew that affects the crew’s ability to perform at the beginning or at any time in a routine. An extraordinary circumstance is not limited to the examples listed below and may be declared at the discretion of the Judicial Director.
1. Incorrect music is played or cued.
2. Music problems due to equipment malfunction.
3. Disturbances caused by general equipment failure, i.e. lighting, stage, venue or sound.
4. The realization of or introduction of any foreign object or disturbance into the performance area, just before or during a performance, by an individual or means other than the crew(s).

Management of Extraordinary Circumstance

1. It is the responsibility of the crew to immediately stop the routine if an extraordinary circumstance occurs.
2. The competition organizer, Judiciary Director and/or event committee will review the situation, and upon a confirming decision and correction of the problem, the crew will be reintroduced, return to the stage and restart their routine. If the crew’s claim is determined to be unfounded by the Judiciary Director, the crew will not be allowed to restart the performance resulting in a default.
3. Claim of an extraordinary circumstance presented by the crew after the routine has been completed will not be accepted or reviewed.

Full Crew Start
All crewmembers must start together on stage and remain on stage for the full 2:00 minutes of the routine. There is no entering or exiting the stage by crewmembers at any time. A deduction will be taken for failure to adhere to this.

Late Start

A crew who fails to appear on stage and strike a starting position within twenty (20) seconds after being called will be deemed a late start and receive a deduction.

Pre Start

A pre start occurs when prior to taking the start position; the crew demonstrates excessive introductions or displays for longer than ten (10) seconds after all crewmembers have entered the stage. A deduction will be given.

Walk Over

A crew who fails to appear on the stage and initiate the starting position within sixty (60) seconds after being called will be declared a “no show” and disqualified.
Grandstanding
Grandstanding is a post performance display or posing at the end of the routine. A deduction will be given.

Falls

1. Major Fall
a. A Crewmember(s) falls from a lift or support that is unrecoverable.
b. A Crewmember falls during the performance that is unrecoverable.
2. Minor Fall
a. A highly noticeable, accidental error during the performance that is recoverable.
b. A Crewmember stumbles, trips, or falls during the performance that is recoverable.

List of Deductions

PERFORMANCE
All crewmembers not on stage for open of routine or exiting during or re-entering stage during the routine 1.0
Late Start - failure to appear on stage within 20 seconds of being announced .05
Grandstanding .05
Pre start - pre-performance display greater than ten (10) seconds .05
Fall trip or stumble/per occurrence – Major .1
Fall trip or stumble/per occurrence – Minor .05
False start/unsubstantiated .1

MUSIC

Routine length (not 1:55-2:05) .1
Contains inappropriate language .1

PROHIBITED MOVES

Lewd gestures, comments or movements .1

ATTIRE

Use of props .1
Clothing or props tossed into audience .05
Costume/shoes inappropriate .05
Attire not intact (untied laces /clothing articles) .05
Use of body oils, paints or other substances that affect the performance area .05

Judging and Scoring the Routine

Judges Panel
A panel of judges will consist of either six (6) or eight (8) persons. If extenuating circumstances exist the judiciary director may adjust the number of the judges.
1. All judges must meet the eligibility, training, judge skill level and certification requirements set forth by HHI. Judges are assigned to either the Artistic or Technical position, and score in their assigned area only.
2. Local, Citywide, Regional and Open competitions; minimum number of judges required:
a. Three (3) Technical Merit judges
b. Three (3) Artistic Merit judges
c. One (1) Judiciary Director
3. National, International and World Class competitions; minimum number of judges required:
a. Four (4) Technical Merit judges
b. Four (4) Artistic Merit judges
c. One (1) Judiciary Director

Judges Seating at the Championship

The panel judges and the Judiciary Director will be seated at a table placed parallel to the front of the competition stage, distanced to provide a clear and unobstructed view of each crew from “head to toe.” Adequate lighting must be provided. The Artistic and Technical judges will be seated in alternating position i.e., Artistic, Technical, Artistic, Technical, etc.

Duties of the Judges

1. Artistic Merit Judges
a. Evaluate and score the routine according to the criteria for Hip Hop Content, Creativity, Choreography, Musicality and Showmanship.

2. Technical Merit Judges
a. Evaluate and score the routine according to Hip-Hop criteria for Execution, Synchronization and Difficulty.

3. Judiciary Director
a. The Judiciary Director does not score the crews’ routines. The Judiciary Director’s overall duty is to manage, train, and oversee the fair and accurate performance of all members of the judges’ panel and assess all discrepancies, penalties, deductions, and disqualifications. A judge may be removed from the panel by the Judiciary Director.
b. The Judiciary Director’s duties specific to the performance of a routine:
i. Evaluate stage entry and exit, late start, pre start, grand standing and routine interruption.
ii. Assess if there are attire violations
iii. Assess music violations including inappropriate language and music length
iv. Identify and evaluate minor and/or major “falls”
v. Assess if prohibited moves are performed

Calculating the Final Score
1. The highest possible score is ten (10).
2. In a panel of six (6) judges the artistic scores and the technical scores will each be averaged and then totaled in the calculation of the final score. In a panel of eight (8) judges the highest and lowest artistic and technical scores will be discarded and the remainder averaged and then totaled in the calculation of the final score.
3. Any point deductions given by the Judiciary Director are deducted from the total score, to equal the final score.
4. The final score shall be rounded to the nearest hundredth point.

Tie Scores
Tie scores will be broken by the following order:
1. The crew(s) with the highest Performance score
2. The crew(s) with the highest Skill score.
3. An analysis of the panel judges’ ordinal ranking.

Scoring and Ranking

1. The Preliminary and/or Semifinal score is not factored with the total score to arrive at the Final score. The Preliminary score is discarded prior to the Semifinal round and the Semifinal score is discarded prior to the Final round.
2. The Final ranking of crews is determined by their scores in the Final round only.
3. The judges’ scores will be displayed to the public following the Preliminary, Semifinal and Final rounds.
4. When deductions are given, the judges will inform the crew through a deduction card following the preliminary round of competition.
5. The final score determines the crew’s final, official ranking.

Discrepancies in the Rules and/or Competition

1. Any problem or discrepancy during a competition will be brought to the attention of the competition organizer who will address it with the Judiciary Director, and/or event committee, and the respective decision(s) made will be final.
2. Misinterpretation due to the translation or interpretation of the rules will be resolved according to the English version. In the event of any discrepancy, the English version of the most current rules will stand.

Protests
Protests are prohibited and will not be accepted regarding any score or result of a decision.

Awards Ceremony
The competition will conclude with a ceremony honoring the crews with the highest total scores. Medals, ribbons, and/or prizes will be awarded to at least the top three crews in each category of competition.

*The defending champion(s) may return to defend a title if the crew members are the same with not more than two substitute members. Defending World Champions will be permitted to defend their World title at the World Championships, regardless of final results of the Nigeria Championships, however, World Champion status does not automatically result in a bursary to defend a title. Eligibility for the bursary must be earned through winning overall (Grand Prize) status at the Nigeria Dare 2 Dance Championships.