Riverfront Dancesport Festival

2026 Judges/Officials

Sam Sodano
Chairman

Bonita Brockert
Judge

Elena Bersten
Judge/Lecturer

Gene Bersten
Judge/Lecturer

Linda Jackson
Judge

Donald Johnson
Judge

Kimberley Mitchell
Judge

Cindy Bruce
Scruitineer

Brenda Burger
Registrar

Rick Popp
Music Director

Daniel Tackett
MC

Amanda Ances
Marketing/ Promotion

2026 Prizes/Awards

2022 Top Studio

2022 Top Students

2022 Top Teacher

 2022 Top Teacher “Pot of Gold"

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Note: For Scholarship Categories, competitors must be entered in the same single dance events. If less than 3 contestants participate, the organizer reserves the right to combine age levels and divisions. Prize money may also be pro-rated.

Closed Scholarship Categories

1. Closed Bronze American Rhythm - 3 dance
2. Closed Silver American Rhythm - 3 dance
3. Closed Bronze American Smooth - 3 dance
4. Closed Silver American Smooth - 3 dance
5. Closed Bronze International Standard - 3 dance
6. Closed Silver International Standard - 3 dance
7. Closed Bronze International Latin - 3 dance
8. Closed Silver International Latin - 3 dance

Closed Scholarship Awards

1. $75
2. $50
3. $25

Open Scholarship Categories

1. Open American Rhythm - 5 dance
2. Open American Smooth - 4 dance
3. Open International Standard - 5 dance
4. Open International Latin - 5 dance

Open Scholarship Awards

1. $75
2. $50
3. $25

Early Entry Rewards

Receive 1 point for every single dance entry and 3 points for each multi dance towards Top Teacher for the Riverfront Top Teacher prize money! Please see the Rules/Policies page for details.

Teacher’s $$$ Pot of Gold $$$

Note: Teachers and their students must be on any package (A, B) to qualify for “Pot of Gold”.

Teachers, we value the contribution you bring to our competition, and we want to reward you for supporting The Riverfront Dancesport Festival. Qualifying teachers will receive $$$ CASH BACK $$$ based on the number of paid adult Pro/Am entries danced.

* The $$$ Pot of Gold $$$ teacher incentive:

With 1-2 students:
- 50 to 99 adult Pro/Am entries – earn $2.00 on each entry
- 100 to 149 adult Pro/Am entries – earn $3.00 on each entry
- 150 to 199 adult Pro/Am entries – earn $4.00 on each entry
- 200 or more adult Pro/Am entries – earn $5.00 on each entry

With 3-4 students:
- 50 to 99 adult Pro/Am entries – earn $4.00 on each entry
- 100 to 149 adult Pro/Am entries – earn $5.00 on each entry
- 150 to 199 adult Pro/Am entries – earn $6.00 on each entry
- 200 or more adult Pro/Am entries – earn $7.00 on each entry

With 5+ students:
- 50 to 99 adult Pro/Am entries – earn $5.00 on each entry
- 100 to 149 adult Pro/Am entries – earn $6.00 on each entry
- 150 to 199 adult Pro/Am entries – earn $7.00 on each entry
- 200 or more adult Pro/Am entries – earn $8.00 on each entry

* Pot of Gold added Bonus

- 150 adult Pro/Am entries earns $300

* Only Single Dance and Multi Dance entries count as one entry toward
the Teacher’s $$$ Pot of Gold $$$ award money.

* Solo's, Formations, Junior entries, and scholarship entries Do Not count toward the Teacher’s $$$ Pot of Gold $$$ award money.

Riverfront Top Teacher

Note: Teachers and their students must be on any package (A, B) to qualify for Top Teacher.

Top Teacher money is paid as shown below, in addition to the lucrative Pot of Gold.

Place	<100 Entries	100+ Entries	150+ Entries	200+ Entries
1st	$600	$1000	$1500	$2000
2nd	$400	$500	$800	$1000
3rd	$200	$300	$600	$800
4th	$100	$200	$400	$500
5th	$75	$100	$200	$300

Riverfront Top Female Teacher

Note: To qualify for Top Female Teacher, the teacher and her students must be on any package (A, B) and submit a minimum of 50+ Entries.

1st Place - $500

Top Student Awards

An award will be presented to the Top Newcomer, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Amateur Couple. Calculations are based on number of entries and placement points.

Top Studio Awards

An award will be presented to the Top 3 Studios. Calculations are based on the number of packages, entries, and placement points.

Please see the Rules/Policies page for details on Top Studio.

World Pro Am Dancesport Series Vouchers

Top 10 students who quality will receive a $50 World Pro Am Dancesport Series voucher!

2026 Rules/Policies

* Please note that we ask that every teacher, student, and amateur; everyone must sign the Waiver form prior to entering the ballroom. This form is available on the Registration page of our web site and must be submitted along with your entry forms.

* All persons attending this event, whether as Spectators, Officials, Competitors or as Guests of the Organizer, shall be bound by N.D.C.A. rules and by participating in the RIVERFRONT DANCESPORT FESTIVAL automatically become obliged to adhere to them.

The dress code for spectators is as follows: casual for daytime, dressy for evening.

All Pro/Am teachers, professionals, Pro/Am students, and amateur couples are required to have a 2025 Registration Number with the National Dance Council of America.

Register online: www.ndca.org/registration

For further information:
Lee Wakefield, PO Box 22018, Provo, UT, 84602-20186.

* Every person attending the Riverfront Dancesport Festival does so at his or her own risk and expressly and irrevocably waves any claim or claims against the NDCA, Riverfront Dancesport Festival, its organizers, employees and representatives arising from any loss, personal injury, death or damage associated with this event. No responsibility for loss or theft of articles left in changing rooms, ballroom, or hotel rooms can be accepted by the organizer or the N.D.C.A.

Please review this downloadable Waiver/Release Notice which provides additional details. This Notice will also be posted for your review near the Registration desk during the Riverfront Dancesport Festival event.

* Material used should be based on the N.D.C.A. syllabus, Fred Astaire, Arthur Murray, and DVIDA social step lists or any approved syllabi of member organizations of the N.D.C.A.

* Following categories pertain to Pro-Am and Amateur American and International Free Styles only:

Newcomer- (has taken less than 50 lessons)
Pre-Bronze
Beginner Bronze
Intermediate Bronze
Full Bronze
Open Bronze
Pre-Silver
Beginner Silver
Intermediate Silver
Full Silver
Open Silver
Pre-Gold
Intermediate Gold
Full Gold
Open Gold I
Open Gold II

* If you are entering a Latin, Rhythm, or Standard scholarship, you must dance a minimum of 5 freestyles per scholarship of the same corresponding dance style. If you are entering the Smooth Scholarships, you must dance a minimum of four Smooth freestyles per scholarship. For the 3 Dance Scholarships, students are still required to dance a minimum of 5 freestyles per scholarship of same corresponding style, with the exception of Smooth 3 Dance Scholarship where 4 Smooth freestyles per scholarship are needed to be eligible.

Example: Closed Silver International Standard 3 Dance Scholarship - the required 5 freestyle dances for this scholarship would be an International Standard Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot and Quickstep.

Pro/Am & Amateur Age Division for single dances, Multi Dance events., and Scholarships. - you may enter in up to TWO age divisions. The age level must be your current age, and optionally the age level below that. See entry forms for applicable age groups.

* In American and International Styles, Pro/Am or Amateur:

Students may dance up to 3 consecutive levels in each style. For example, 3 levels would be Newcomer Bronze, Pre Bronze, Intermediate Bronze. Adult students may dance their actual age group, plus one age group lower. Junior couples may dance their actual age plus one age group higher.

* American Style, Pro/Am, and International Style Dress Code

Pro/Am - costumes are permitted at any level. Costumes are not required for Newcomers. Under 18 should adhere to N.D.C.A costume regulations.

* In any category with fewer than three entries, the organizer reserves the right to eliminate the age and sex divisions and merge competitors into one open division. Events with less than 3 entries may be canceled or combined across age and/or gender divisions. Prize monies may be reduced in events with fewer than 3 entries.

* Solo exhibitions critique sheets and scores will be available to studio personnel at the registration desk.

* Formations: Maximum time limited to three (3) minutes for a single dance. Timing of routine shall begin and end with the accompaniment. CDs cannot be accepted. All music must be brought to the music director in a non-protected MP3 format on a Flash drive.

Teams must consist of at least four (4) couples.

* One (1) Solo Exhibition per student will be accepted.

* No Solo Exhibition is to exceed two (2) minutes. Music will be faded out after two (2) minutes. CDs cannot be accepted. All music must be brought to the music director in a non-protected MP3 format on a Flash drive.

* Two teachers dancing with one student are entered as a regular exhibition.

* Two amateurs dancing together can have two entries on Solo Exhibition (one per amateur solo listing and one per Pro/Am solo listing), plus the two in Pro/Am.

* Drops are permitted in levels Gold Pro/Am freestyles only. Drops are
permitted in all levels of Solo Exhibitions.

* Lifts are permitted in all levels of Solo Exhibitions only.

* There will be no substituting of a student with another student during the event.

* Invigilation will be used for all restricted categories. These categories will be strictly supervised and competitors committing infraction will be given notification. If adjustments are not made, final placement will be adjusted.

* The Riverfront Dancesport Festival will post its final schedule and heat lists before the event starts.

* Top Student - An award will be presented to the Top Newcomer, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Amateur Couple. Calculations are based on number of entries and placement points.

* Top Teacher - Junior entries receive 1/2 points.

* Top Female Teacher - To qualify for Top Female Teacher, the teacher and her students must be on any package (A, B) and submit a minimum of 50+ Entries.

* Proficiency entries and Solo Exhibitions will be 1 point for the entry.

* Top Studio - An award will be presentated to the Top 3 Studios. Calculations are based on the number of packages, entries, and placement points. To qualify, studios must have a minimum of two teachers competing in Pro/Am. The points will be awarded as follows: Large studio: 5 or more students, Medium Studio: 3-4 students, Small Studio: 1-2 students.

* Teacher's and their students must be on a package (A, B) to qualify for “Pot of Gold” and Top Teacher.

* Teacher's $$$ Pot of Gold $$$ - Teachers, we value the contribution you bring to our competition, and we want to reward you for supporting The Riverfront Dancesport Festival. Qualifying teachers will receive $$$ CASH BACK $$$ based on the number of paid adult Pro/Am entries danced.

* The $$$ Pot of Gold $$$ teacher incentive:

With 1-2 students:
- 50 to 99 adult Pro/Am entries – earn $2.00 on each entry
- 100 to 149 adult Pro/Am entries – earn $3.00 on each entry
- 150 to 199 adult Pro/Am entries – earn $4.00 on each entry
- 200 or more adult Pro/Am entries – earn $5.00 on each entry

With 3-4 students:
- 50 to 99 adult Pro/Am entries – earn $4.00 on each entry
- 100 to 149 adult Pro/Am entries – earn $5.00 on each entry
- 150 to 199 adult Pro/Am entries – earn $6.00 on each entry
- 200 or more adult Pro/Am entries – earn $7.00 on each entry

With 5+ students:
- 50 to 99 adult Pro/Am entries – earn $5.00 on each entry
- 100 to 149 adult Pro/Am entries – earn $6.00 on each entry
- 150 to 199 adult Pro/Am entries – earn $7.00 on each entry
- 200 or more adult Pro/Am entries – earn $8.00 on each entry

* Only Single Dance and Multi Dance entries count as one entry toward
the Teacher’s $$$ Pot of Gold $$$ award money.

* Solo's, Formations, Junior entries, and scholarship entries Do Not count toward the Teacher’s $$$ Pot of Gold $$$ award money.



PURCHASES/CANCELLATION POLICY

* Early Rewards entry deadline rules!

- Earn additional points by getting your entries and payment in by the competition Early Rewards entry deadline Dec 15th and receive 1 point for every single dance entry and 3 points for each multi dance that is received and paid in full by Dec. 15th, 2025.

- Early Rewards Points only count toward the Riverfront Top Teacher prize money.

- These reward points do not count toward Pot of Gold Top Teacher points.

- In order to qualify: Entries and payment must be received by the Early Rewards entry deadline Dec. 15th, 2025.

* Day time session seating will be open seating. Tickets are sold on a first come first served basis with reserved seating going to package holders then single session. Any groups wishing to sit together should order tickets at the same time. All ticket orders will be held at will call under your name at the registration desk in front of the ballroom. The dress code for spectators is as follows: casual for daytime, dressy for evening.

* There are no refunds or exchanges on general admission tickets.

* Ticket purchases made on the day of the event are cash only.

* The deadline for cancellation and refunds is two weeks prior to the event. A letter requesting a refund of payments must follow cancellations. All refunds will be made 30 days following the event. No refunds will be made if cancellation occurs after 12/31/2025.

* Canceled entries taken at the event cannot be substituted by another entry and no refund will be made on such a cancellation.


COMPETITORS CONDUCT

* While on the competition premises, competitors shall conduct themselves in a civil sportsmanlike manner at all times.

* It is the competitor’s responsibility to be in attendance in advance of the advertised time scheduled for the events he is entering. Competitors must be in the ballroom at least 30 minutes before their scheduled event and in the “on deck” area at least 2 heats prior to their scheduled heat. Events will not be delayed for latecomers.

* Competitors entering a RIVERFRONT DANCESPORT FESTIVAL event shall accept as final the individual markings of the Judges and no appeal against them may be made, expect when it can be shown that the actual markings have been incorrectly interpreted.

* No competitor shall harass or question a judge about his/her personal reasons for marking.

* Any competitor who removes any of the master scrutineer sheets without the permission of the Organizer shall render himself liable to disciplinary action.

* The Organizer of the RIVERFRONT DANCESPORT FESTIVAL reserves the right to reject the application of any competitor who has violated any of the above rules of conduct in any recognized N.D.C.A. event.

* Professional videographers will be available to videotape your dancing for a fee. No private videotaping will be allowed.

* Rule 18 of NDCA rules section on Conduct of Competition states: NDCA recognizes that competition/championship organizers own the television and/or video rights to their events.