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These regulations set out the rules of the “Christmas Magic” dancesport festival: the competition formats and how competitors are divided by type, age, dance style and level, including the restrictions on figures, costumes, make-up and hairstyles that apply at each level. The festival is open to everyone.

Definitions

Participant Types

Solo. One dancer — a boy or a girl.

Couple. Two dancers — always a boy and a girl.

Synchro Duo. Two female dancers who dance in perfect synchrony as a single unit.

Synchro Team. A team of dancers (boys, girls or mixed) who dance in synchrony, keeping the same formation from start to finish — 2 or more dancers, with no upper limit. Unlike a synchro duo, a synchro team performs a single routine.

Formation. A team of 2 or more dancers (no upper limit) performing a group routine — either an open formation (boys, girls or mixed) or a couples formation.

Participant and dancer. Each of the above — solo, couple, synchro duo, synchro team or formation — has its own start number and counts as one participant. A dancer is an individual person: a couple is one participant with two dancers, and a 20-member formation is one participant with 20 dancers. The same dancer may be part of several participants (for example a solo, a couple and a formation).

Costumes and Make-up

• Costumes must be in good taste, meet accepted ethical standards and suit the style being danced.
• Costumes must fully cover the intimate parts of the body at all times, whatever the movements of the dance.
• Skin-coloured briefs, bras or any other garments that create the illusion of nudity in intimate areas are not allowed.
• In all categories up to age 9 (Mini Kids 1, Mini Kids 2 and Juveniles 1), make-up and glittering hair accessories are not allowed.

General Rules and Restrictions

• Solo events are open to both girls and boys.
• Dancers who compete as a couple may also compete solo.
• Dancers from “First Steps” couples may also enter solo events, but only in “First Steps”.
• Competitors may dance Latin and Standard at different levels (for example, Basic 2 in LA and Basic 1 in ST). This does not apply to “First Steps”.
• “First Steps” is an exclusive category: a dancer entered in it may not enter any other class (including Synchro Duo Basic). The only exceptions are Synchro Team, formations, Show Dance, Seniors and Pro-Am, which never conflict with any class (see “Compatibility Between Classes”).

Moving Up an Age Group

A competitor may enter either their own age group or the next age group up.

• Moving up is allowed in: First Steps, Basic 1, Basic 2, Open, Synchro Duo (Basic and Open) and Single Dance Cup.
• Moving up is not allowed (competitors dance only in their own age group) in: Basic Cup, Open Cup, Synchro Team, Show Dance, Seniors and all types of formation — Salsa Formations, Bachata Formations, Other Dance Styles, Sport Dance LA/ST Formation, Modern Styles Formation and Majorette Dance. These already have wide, combined age groups, and Seniors do not follow the age ladder. Pro-Am has no age limit.

Compatibility Between Classes

General rule: a competitor who is already entered in one class may not enter another class in the same style (LA or ST), except in the cases listed below. Latin and Standard never conflict with each other: a competitor may be Basic 1 in LA and Basic 2 in ST at the same time.

Six classes are fully compatible with each other: Basic 2, Open, Single Dance Cup, Basic Cup, Open Cup and Synchro Duo Open. A competitor entered in any of them may also enter the other five on the same day, as long as it is in the same style. Example: a child entered in Basic 2 (LA) may also dance Open (LA), the Single Dance Cup (LA) and the Basic Cup (LA).

Synchro Duo Basic has wider rights: in addition to the six classes above, it is the only class that can also be combined with Basic 1. Example: a dancer entered in Basic 1 may also dance Synchro Duo Basic.

“First Steps” is fully closed: it cannot be combined with any other class, including Synchro Duo Basic. The only exceptions are Synchro Team, formations, Show Dance, Seniors and Pro-Am (see the next point).

Synchro Team and all types of formation never conflict with any other class: they are team events and say nothing about a dancer’s individual level, so they can be combined freely with any individual class (even “First Steps”). Example: a child in “First Steps” may also dance in a formation. The same applies to Show Dance, Seniors and Pro-Am.

Any combination not listed above is not allowed. Example: a Basic 1 competitor may not also enter Basic 2 or the Single Dance Cup, and an Open competitor may not also enter Basic 1.

1. First Steps

A competition for complete beginners (up to one year of dancing). Competitors dance a compulsory two-dance event: Cha Cha Cha and Slow Waltz.

• Age groups for Solo: up to 5, up to 7, up to 9, up to 11, over 11.
• Age groups for Couples: up to 5, up to 7, up to 9, up to 11, over 11.
• May move up one age group.

Not allowed:

• Entering any other class — the category is exclusive; the only exceptions are Synchro Team, formations, Show Dance, Seniors and Pro-Am (see “Compatibility Between Classes”).
• Extra figures used as decoration at the start of the routine.

Finals of up to 8 participants, with full placings from 1st to 8th. Participants who dance figures that are not allowed are disqualified and placed last in the final.

2. Basic 1 (closed basic)

Latin and Standard are danced as separate events.

• Mini Kids 1, Mini Kids 2 and Juveniles 1 — LA: Cha Cha Cha and Jive; ST: Slow Waltz and Quickstep.
• Older age groups — LA: Cha Cha Cha, Rumba and Jive; ST: Slow Waltz, Tango and Quickstep.
• May move up one age group.

Not allowed:

• Entering another class in the same style, except as permitted under “Compatibility Between Classes”. Routines must use only the permitted figures (see the tables below).
• Extra figures used as decoration at the start of the routine.
• Using parts of figures, borrowing figures from one dance into another, or syncopated timing.

Finals of up to 8 participants, with full placings from 1st to 8th. Participants who dance figures that are not allowed are disqualified and placed last in the final.

Latin Dances

Standard Dances

3. Basic 2 (open basic)

Latin and Standard are danced as separate events.

• Juveniles 1 and Juveniles 2 — LA: Cha Cha Cha, Rumba and Jive; ST: Slow Waltz, Tango and Quickstep.
• Juniors I and Juniors II — LA: Samba, Cha Cha Cha, Rumba and Jive; ST: Slow Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz and Quickstep.
• Youth and Adults — LA: Samba, Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Paso Doble and Jive; ST: Slow Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot and Quickstep.
• May move up one age group.
• All basic figures may be used, as well as parts of figures, borrowing figures from one dance into another, and syncopated timing.
• The permitted figures for Basic 2 are listed dance by dance in the “Allowed Figures — Basic 2 / Basic Cup” section below.
• Extra figures, actions and movements are allowed in the introduction — up to the first eight counts of the music.
• May also enter Open, Single Dance Cup, Basic Cup, Open Cup and Synchro Duo (see “Compatibility Between Classes”).

Not allowed:

• Figures outside the Basic 2 syllabus (see “Allowed Figures”).
• Extra figures, actions and movements outside the introduction (after the first eight counts of the music).

Penalties:

• Participants who dance figures outside the Basic 2 syllabus receive a warning; if they do so again in the next round, they are disqualified.

Finals of up to 8 participants, with full placings from 1st to 8th.

4. Open

The same rules as for Basic 2 (open basic) apply, but with no restriction on figures.

Preliminary rounds lead to a final.

5. Basic Cup

Solo and couples. Wide, combined age groups — no moving up.

• Juveniles 1 + Juveniles 2 — up to 11: LA — Samba, Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Jive (4 dances); ST — Slow Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Quickstep (4 dances).
• Juniors I + Juniors II — up to 15: LA — Samba, Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Jive (4 dances); ST — Slow Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Quickstep (4 dances).
• Youth + Adults — over 15: LA and ST — all five dances.
• Placed on the combined result of all dances (not dance by dance), using only the figures permitted for Basic 2.
• May also enter Basic 2, Open, Single Dance Cup, Open Cup and Synchro Duo (see “Compatibility Between Classes”).

6. Open Cup

Solo and couples. The same combined age groups as the Basic Cup — no moving up.

• Juveniles 1 + Juveniles 2 — up to 11: LA — Samba, Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Jive (4 dances); ST — Slow Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Quickstep (4 dances).
• Juniors I + Juniors II — up to 15, and Youth + Adults — over 15: LA and ST — all five dances.
• Placed on the combined result of all dances, with no restriction on figures.
• May also enter Basic 2, Open, Single Dance Cup, Basic Cup and Synchro Duo (see “Compatibility Between Classes”).

Allowed Figures — “Basic 2” / “Basic Cup”

Full list of allowed figures for Basic 2, dance by dance (also applies to the Basic Cup). There is no restriction on figures in Open and the Open Cup.

Latin Dances

Standard Dances

Event Formats

Solo

• Open to boys and girls; categories may be for boys, girls or mixed.
• Divided into categories by age and level, as described above.

Dance Couple

• A couple entry — always a boy and a girl.
• Divided into categories by age and level, as described above.

Seniors

• A couple of two amateurs, at least one of whom is 35 or older.
• Multi-dance event; couples choose from the following:
• Latin (3 dances) — Samba, Cha Cha Cha, Rumba.
• Standard (3 dances) — Slow Waltz, Tango, Quickstep.
• Latin, all five dances — Samba, Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Paso Doble, Jive.
• Standard, all five dances — Slow Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, Quickstep.

Pro-Am

• A couple in which one partner is a professional (or an experienced competitor) and the other an amateur. No age limit — one common group. Only the amateur is judged.
• Multi-dance event; couples choose from the following:
• Latin (3 dances) — Samba, Cha Cha Cha, Rumba.
• Standard (3 dances) — Slow Waltz, Tango, Quickstep.
• Latin, all five dances — Samba, Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Paso Doble, Jive.
• Standard, all five dances — Slow Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, Quickstep.

Synchro Duo

• Two female dancers. The duo is judged as one unit.
• The routine is danced in perfect synchrony throughout; no changes of position and no mirror-image dancing.
• Synchro Duo Basic — age groups: up to 9, up to 11, up to 13, over 13. Dances: up to 9 — Cha Cha Cha and Jive; up to 11, up to 13 and over 13 — Cha Cha Cha, Rumba and Jive.
• Synchro Duo Open — age groups: up to 11, up to 13, over 13. Dances: Cha Cha Cha, Rumba and Jive in all groups.
• May move up one age group.
• Finals of up to 8 participants, with full placings. Basic and Open are separate events.

Synchro Team

• The team keeps the same formation from start to finish; no changes of position within the lines and no mirror-image dancing.
• Age groups: up to 13, over 13.
• Composition: boys, girls or mixed.
• Size: 2 or more dancers, with no upper limit — one single category, not divided by team size.
• Free choice of music and style — a group routine.
• Duration: 3 minutes (10 seconds’ tolerance, after which the music is stopped). Full placings, with preliminary rounds.
• No restrictions on costumes, music or dance styles.
• Never conflicts with any other class — a synchro team is a separate activity, whatever the dancers’ individual level.

Formations — General Rules

• Types: open formation — boys, girls or mixed; couples formation. Both with 2 or more dancers and no upper limit.
• Age groups: up to 11, up to 15, over 15 — no moving up. Children up to 7 compete in the up-to-11 group.
• Formations compete in separate categories by style: Salsa Formations, Bachata Formations, Other Dance Styles, Sport Dance LA Formation, Sport Dance ST Formation, Modern Styles Formation and Majorette Dance (see below).
• No restrictions on costumes.
• Changes of formation, movement within the lines, lifts and other effects are allowed (costume changes during the routine, props on the floor, etc.).
• Never conflicts with any other class — a formation is a separate activity, whatever the dancers’ individual level.

Majorette Dance

• A separate category for majorette formations — open composition (boys, girls or mixed), 2 or more dancers, with no upper limit.
• Age groups: up to 11, up to 15, over 15 — no moving up.
• Duration: up to 3 minutes (15 seconds’ tolerance, after which the music is stopped). Full placings, with preliminary and elimination rounds in each age group.
• Free choice of music.
• Never conflicts with any other class — a majorette formation is a separate activity, whatever the dancers’ individual level.

Salsa Formations

• Age groups: up to 11, up to 15, over 15.
• Duration: up to 3 minutes (15 seconds’ tolerance, after which the music is stopped). Full placings, with preliminary and elimination rounds in each age group.
• Salsa music only — no mixing with other styles.
• Changes of formation, movement within the lines, lifts and other effects are allowed (costume changes during the routine, props, etc.).

Bachata Formations

• Age groups: up to 11, up to 15, over 15.
• Duration: up to 3 minutes (15 seconds’ tolerance, after which the music is stopped). Full placings, with preliminary and elimination rounds in each age group.
• Bachata music only — no mixing with other styles.
• Changes of formation, movement within the lines, lifts and other effects are allowed (costume changes during the routine, props, etc.).

Other Dance Styles

• Age groups: up to 11, up to 15, over 15.
• Duration: up to 3 minutes (15 seconds’ tolerance, after which the music is stopped). Full placings, with preliminary and elimination rounds in each age group.
• Changes of formation, movement within the lines, lifts and other effects are allowed (costume changes during the routine, props, etc.).

Sport Dance LA Formation

• Age groups: up to 11, up to 15, over 15.
• Duration: up to 3 minutes (15 seconds’ tolerance, after which the music is stopped). Full placings, with preliminary and elimination rounds in each age group.
• Free choice of Latin music — Samba, Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Paso Doble, Jive, or a combination of these.
• Changes of formation, movement within the lines, lifts and other effects are allowed (costume changes during the routine, props, etc.).

Sport Dance ST Formation

• Age groups: up to 11, up to 15, over 15.
• Duration: up to 3 minutes (15 seconds’ tolerance, after which the music is stopped). Full placings, with preliminary and elimination rounds in each age group.
• Free choice of Standard music — Slow Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, Quickstep, or a combination of these.
• Changes of formation, movement within the lines, lifts and other effects are allowed (costume changes during the routine, props, etc.).

Modern Styles Formation

• Age groups: up to 11, up to 15, over 15.
• Duration: up to 3 minutes (15 seconds’ tolerance, after which the music is stopped). Full placings, with preliminary and elimination rounds in each age group.
• Free choice of music and modern style (e.g. contemporary, lyrical, jazz-funk, hip-hop) — excluding the classic Latin/Standard dances and majorette style.
• Changes of formation, movement within the lines, lifts and other effects are allowed (costume changes during the routine, props, etc.).

Show Dance

• Types: solo, couple, formation (2 or more dancers).
• Age groups: up to 11, up to 15, over 15.
• Duration: 3 minutes (10 seconds’ tolerance, after which the music is stopped). Full placings, with preliminary rounds in each age group.
• A Show Dance formation competes under the team’s name with one shared start number — 2 or more dancers, with no upper limit, whatever their individual level.
• No restrictions on costumes. Any props are brought onto the floor by the dancers immediately before the routine.
• No restrictions on music or dance styles.

Single Dance Cup

• Types: solo, couple.
• Placed dance by dance (not on a combined result) — each of the 10 dances (5 LA + 5 ST) is judged separately.
• Age groups: up to 11, up to 13, up to 15, up to 18, over 18.
• The rules and permitted figures of the Basic 2 and Open levels apply.
• May move up one age group.

Organisational Information

Organiser

The “FREEDOM TO DANCE” Dance Festivals Union — a joint initiative of the dancesport clubs Dancing Time and PROdance, part of Dancesport Network Bulgaria.

General correspondence: freedomtodance@abv.bg

Date and Venue

5–6 December 2026, “Arena” Hall, Samokov, Bulgaria.

Age Categories by Birth Year

Entry Fees

How it works: the fee is calculated for each dancer (person) based on their total number of entries across all categories of the festival. If the dancer has at least one solo, couple or synchro duo entry, the first entry costs €20 and each further entry €5 (synchro team and formation entries included). If the dancer dances only in synchro teams, formations or Show Dance formations, each entry costs €10. The total for one dancer never exceeds €80.

Examples: a child entered solo in Basic 1 LA and Basic 1 ST who also dances in a formation has 3 entries: €20 + €5 + €5 = €30 in total. A child who dances only in one formation pays €10; in a formation and a synchro team, €10 + €10 = €20.

For a couple, synchro duo, synchro team or formation, the fee is the sum of the fees of all its dancers, calculated as above.

Fees are paid on site, when the club checks in on the day of the competition, according to the final list of participants. If preferred (for example, when an invoice is needed), fees can also be paid by bank transfer — please ask the organizer for the account details. Fees already transferred are not refunded if a participant does not show up.

Prize Fund

• A trophy for 1st place, plus medals for every dancer, diplomas and prizes for all finalists.
• For Adult (over 18) couples — cash prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the Latin and Standard events, in addition to trophies, medals and prizes.
• Special awards at the discretion of the organiser and the judging panel.

Registration

Entries are submitted through the online registration form at freedom2dance-bg.com/registracia. Registration closes 10 days before the festival (25 November 2026).

Entries may only be submitted by the head of a club, group, studio, school or other organisation, or by a representative they have expressly appointed, who registers all of their participants and is responsible for the accuracy of the data.

The same name and year of birth may not appear twice within one participant (for example, the same dancer listed twice in one synchro team). If the same name appears with a different year of birth in separate entries from the same club, the system shows a warning for review but does not block the registration.

The preliminary programme is published on freedom2dance-bg.com; the final programme will be announced 5 days before the festival.

Judging Panel

The judging panel is appointed by the organiser and announced before the competition. Judges mark independently and their decisions are final.

General Provisions

• All participants and accompanying persons must follow the rules of the venue and the organisers’ instructions.
• The organiser accepts no responsibility for the dancers’ health — each dancer confirms that they are physically fit to compete.
• The organiser may combine age categories if a category does not have enough participants.
• The organiser may amend these regulations and will inform participants of any changes in good time.
• By registering, participants and clubs agree to these regulations.

Organiser: “FREEDOM TO DANCE” Dance Festivals Union

See you on the dance floor — because dance knows no borders!