Rules & Regulations
Competition Rules
The rules for each collegiate competition are a little different, so please be sure to read the rules prior to registration!
Syllabus Restrictions
We adhere to the ISTD syllabus for the International Ballroom and Latin styles. For the American Smooth and Rhythm styles, any major syllabus is accepted. Syllabus violations may result in a warning, lower placement, or disqualification from placement, as determined by the head judge.
Contestants in International style categories must dance International style, and contestants in American style categories must dance American style.
No lifts, drops, or aerials are allowed in any event at this competition.
Specific questions about eligibility should be directed to ucsbdancesport@gmail.com
Eligibility
Events are open to all amateur competitors. Although the event is collegiate in nature, competitors do not have to be students and there are no age restrictions for any events.
Professional dancers are not allowed to compete in regular proficiency or open events at UCSB Beach Ball, however, they may compete in Team Match events. An individual will be considered a Professional and ineligible for competition if they have ever registered as a professional with any dance association, declared themself professional, or competed as a professional.
Specific questions about eligibility should be directed to ucsbdancesport@gmail.com
Registration
American and International style events are offered in Newcomer through Open levels. Please read and understand the eligibility guidelines and choose your level accordingly. Eligibility restrictions will be enforced in all levels. Couples in violation of eligibility rules may be moved to a higher level or disqualified without advance notice.
Both dancers in a partnership must be eligible to dance at the same level - regardless of lead or follow.
Each competitor may dance in the level appropriate for their skill level and one level higher within the same dance style regardless of lead or follow. A competitor may not enter in more than two consecutive levels in any dance. Check out the Level Structure page below for more information!
In the Nightclub category, a competitor may only enter one level (Beginner OR Intermediate/Advanced) for all Nightclub dances.
Syllabus violations may result in a warning, lower placement, or disqualification from placement, as determined by the head judge. The decisions of the Invigilator and Head Judge shall be final.
UCSB's Beach Ball is a CDA Fair Level competition and will use fair level points to determine when couples are entered in a level that is too low for their calculated proficiency. You can look up your fair level points using the Fair Level Point Lookup Tool. Dancers who do not have fair level points should refer to the guidelines below to determine their appropriate level.
Single Dance Events are events where the competitors are judged based on one dance at a time.
Multi-Dance Events, events separated with a slash, are events where the competitors are judged based on two, three, four, or five dances combined. In a multi-dance event you must dance all dances in the event with the same partner. Contestants in multi-dance events will be judged collectively in all listed dances. Be sure that you read the registration form carefully.
The Newcomer level is for competitors who have been dancing for one year or less. Both partners in the couple must be eligible in order to compete at the Newcomer Level. Newcomer level dancers are restricted to Bronze syllabus steps.
Each competitor may only dance one level in the nightclub category. The Beginner level is for competitors who have been dancing for 2 years or less, regardless of style. The Intermediate/Advanced level is for competitors who have been dancing for over 2 years, regardless of style.
Fees and Deadlines
Registration must be submitted prior to May 1st at 11:59 PM in order to qualify for the Early Registration price of $40 per competitor. A late fee of $10 per competitor will be added for late registrations.
Registration will close on May 12th at 11:59PM. After this, you may only add dances via the Add/Drop form.
Fees may be paid via Venmo, Zelle, or cash on the day of the competition.
| Deadline |
May 1, 2026 |
May 16, 2026 |
| Competitors |
$40 |
$50 |
| Nightclub Only |
$15 |
$25 |
| Spectators - UCSB students with ID |
Free |
| Spectators - Non-UCSB students |
$10 |
Costumes
All dancers must have non-marking, suede-soled shoes while on the dance floor. High-heeled shoes must have heel protectors or suede stars. Competitors may not apply powder or oil to the floor or to the soles of their shoes. Shoe violations will generally be required to be corrected before being allowed to dance (which may incur the risk of missing an event). Please keep our floor beautiful!
Costumes are not allowed in Newcomer or Bronze level, but are allowed in Silver and above, Rookie/Veteran, and all nightclub levels. Costume violations will generally be required to be corrected before being allowed to dance (which may incur the risk of missing an event).
We follow the CDA Costume Guidelines which consider the following items to be costumes:
- Jackets of any kind, including tail suits, tuxedo jackets, and off-the-rack suit jackets.
- Floats, streamers, scarves, cords hanging from sleeves, sashes, or any other non-structural material that flows behind while a dancer is in motion.
- Shirts or tops that are open to below the breastbone.
- Skirts or dresses with more than two layers in the skirting.
-
Any article of clothing incorporating rhinestones, gemstones, sequins, or actual lights.
("Articles of clothing" include shirts, pants, vests, skirts, socks, ties, pocket squares,
belts, suspenders, etc. Jewelry items are not considered articles of clothing and may include
stoning, etc. These include: rings, necklaces, belt buckles, tie pins & clips, bracelets,
earrings, other piercings, hairpieces, cufflinks, watches, and lapel pins. For this year's
event, face masks will also be considered jewelry items and may include stoning, etc, provided
the integrity and function of the mask is unaffected.)
-
The heavy use of feathering, glitter, metallic fabric, metallic threading, and related decorative
effects constitute a costume when more than 10% (cumulative) of the area of the article of clothing
is covered by these effects.
-
The heavy use of fringing constitutes a costume when more than 25% of the total area of all clothing
is covered by fringe.
-
Shoes are excluded from these costume guidelines since they present an unavoidable expense regardless
of their appearance. Nevertheless, dancers are expected to honor the spirit of costuming restrictions
and not augment (e.g. add stoning to) shoes for levels of competition in which costuming restrictions apply.
If you have questions about a particular item of clothing, please e-mail your question along with photos of the clothing item to ucsbdancesport@gmail.com
Rookie/Vet
Rookies are defined as Newcomer/Bronze and Bronze/Silver level dancers. Veterans are defined as Silver/Gold and above level dancers. Costumes are optional.
Novice through Open are open syllabus; costumes are optional.
Other Miscellaneous Rules
Please refrain from using gym equipment.
Food is only permitted on the tarped areas. Food will not be permitted on the dance floor or in the bleachers.
Competitors should be ready at least 30 minutes prior to their first scheduled event.
Disclaimers
UCSB and the Dancesport Club at UCSB are not responsible for any injuries that may occur during the course of this event, nor for any property that is lost, stolen, or damaged. All persons at this event compete and attend at their own risk and are responsible for their own belongings.
Dancesport at UCSB reserves the right to cancel any events and/or change the schedule at any time.
Photography and videography are allowed. Competitors and spectators should be aware that during the course of the competition, anyone in the ballroom may be photographed or videotaped by any variety of people for private or public viewing. Everyone attending this competition hereby consents by their attendance at the competition to be photographed or videotaped.
Team Match
The gimmicks for Team Match will be revealed at the time of the round (no spoilers!).
There will be 4 rounds total, each with a different dance. More information will be updated closer to the competition date!
The winning team will receive a special prize!
Nightclub
Nightclub events are open to all competitors and carry no restrictions on costumes or choreography. However, lifts, drops, and aerials are not permitted in any event. The nightclub events have been separated into two-level categories:
Beginner, for couples with little to no competitive experience (less than 2 years total competitive experience)
Intermediate/Advanced, for couples with more competitive experience.
You may only sign up for one level for all nightclub dances.
