Laura,
I think I mislead you on the SE regional....

What I meant to say was that you could dance one age level below in your category.

So for instance I am 49. I was able to dance silver(which I have not pointed out in) at the 18-35 age group , and then also the 36-50 age group in the same level.
Sorry for the confusion!

BTY at the SE regional, costumes were allowed at all levels!!!

Okay, then by USA DanceSport rules the SE Regionals was fine. They weren't talking about minimum eligible proficiency level, but rather age group.

The USA Dance age groups are:

Adult (19 and over, but Youth couples may dance up, so in a way it's really 16 and over).

Senior I (35 and over)

Senior II (50 and over)

I'm not sure if an organizer can prevent a Senior I or Senior II couple from dancing in Adult since Adult is 19 and over anyway, but I don't feel like digging through the rules right now to find out.

How rcruel of you to answer in that manner she is confused and unlike you not all of us are rememberization freaks so excuse me for her missinterpritation. and please excuse me for my miss spelling but i am in a hury but i hasd to reply becuase of your horrible manner!!!!!
And if you have any questions feel free to email me at crazymestef92@yahoo.com

And i do mean this in the most respect

Excuse me, but WHO is being horrible here? Everyone on this thread is being very respectful and are LOOKING UP the proper rule references (we're not rememberization freaks) so that we can explain where our arguments are coming from.

If anyone is being horrible here it is you for just jumping in and criticizing myself and anonymous when we were actually helping and just making sure that we all understood what the rules were, where they came from, and what they mean. That is how reasonable adults debate things: they state their points, and they look up and include FACTS (like, the actual rules) to support what they are saying. They also include references to their facts (like, by listing the rule numbers) so that the people they are talking to can go look up the same facts for themselves and read them in their proper contexts for themselves.

I couldnt of asked for better conversations and responses to answer my question. I think I understand pretty well now....

Janet, I've just emailed my Regional VP, Chapter President, and Regional DanceSport Representative to get a final answer for you. I certainly don't want to be telling you the wrong thing if Anonymous is right.

There's no harm in me double-checking, that's for sure! Especially since I often find myself in the position as a Competition Registrar of working with these very rules. If I've got it wrong and don't know it, then it will affect people who look to me to know the right thing to do. I certainly don't want to do that to people!

I'm sorry I don't trust you, Anonymous, but it's the Internet and all. You could be the head of the Rules committee for all I know, or you could be another well-meaning person like myself. That's why I'm checking it all out, just to be sure.

Thanks for your explanations Anonymous. I've directed the people I've emailed to read this thread so that they can see how the rules we've been discussing can be interpreted one way or the other.

Sorry for any confusion, but you can see I'm doing my best to get the official answer.

Thanks Laura for putting all this time into my questions...

I have to say this .. Of course I will always follow the rules in regards to what level I can dance at, but there are rules and than there is this.....

I think that just because you can, by the rules dance at a level, does not mean always, that you should.... I feel as dancers we need to be aware of what we can do on the floor based on our individual skillset... Let me explain...

I have been to comps where heats are combined. So you may have bronze and gold on the same floor... Well the dancng level is worlds apart, and I have felt it unfair to put these 2 groups together... It makes the bronze uncomfortable, while impairs the gold from dancing to thier potential.. This is why I hestiate to dance novice, as I do not want my level to impede another... After my NJ observation, I concluded that I could dance this level along my fellow dancers.

I remember once we were in a comp, and on the floor with bronze... We came upon a corner, and so was a bronze dancer.... My husband held back and let the bronze dance through... This decision blocked us in a corner, and earned us a last place.... I knew what my husband was doing.... It became more important for him to give the floor to the new dancer... For us it was only one mark of many, yet to the new dancer it was much more.... Yes, gave up my frame to look him in the eyes and smile..... Rules are rules, yet on occasion more important people are people!!!

Janet

Janet, you sound like a very gracious competitor, I hope someday to meet you in person.

As for the assorted questions regarding syllabus dress, and when someone can dance Gold and/or Novice, I've heard back from my DanceSport Representative. He tells me that all these issues are being discussed, and in particular agrees that the point that Anonymous and I were discussing is unclear. Right now I'm aware of at least three interpretations, depending on how people look at all the rules -- my Regional VP just came up with another interpretation different from both Anonymous' and mine.

When I find out more, I'll let everyone know!