2026 Competitions
Competition questions? Please write us: contests@calbalclassic.com
New For 2026
- Competitors can only dance in one division per role. You must choose the division that best matches your experience and dance only in that division during the entire weekend.
- If your Classic partner is a higher level than you, then you must dance up to their level for the classic. You can compete at your own level for the Mixed Couples contest.
- For the Classic contests, competitors must dance in the higher-level division if both partners do not qualify for the same division.
- This is not new, just misunderstood previously.
- Definitions for Amateur, Advanced, and Open have been slightly adjusted; please review.
- Advanced division competitors are required to compete in the Open/Wildcard Classic and are not eligible to compete in the Amateur Classic this year.
- The Pure Balboa Classic finals will be danced to DJ music this year and will have more time given to the fast round.
- The format for the Open Classic finals is changing – TBA by Sept. 1.
- The Amateur Classic finals will now be solo spotlights (no longer dual).
- The Amateur Mixed Couples finals will now be dual spotlights.
PLEASE NOTE: CalBal does not track competitor qualifications for each division. We trust everyone to choose the division that best reflects their skills and experience. If you’re unsure about which level is right for you—or if you have concerns about someone competing in a division that may not be a good fit—please reach out to us at contests@calbalclassic.com. We’re happy to help.
Passes & Registration
Each competitor must have either a Full Weekend pass, a Crash Course pass, an Invitational pass, or a Party Pass to enter competitions.
Mixed Couples: Each participant must register separately.
Classic contests: Only one participant should register and list their partner’s name.
Competition Fees
Classics:
$50/couple/competition
Mixed Couples:
$25/competitor/competition
Competition Descriptions
The Open Classic
Open to couples of any skill level.
Prizes include:
Cash: $1000 first prize — $500 second prize — $250 third prize
Other: Trophies, merchandise vouchers, and/or event passes.
Description:
- This Balboa and Bal-Swing competition is designed to showcase the intricacies of partnering and musicality in the mid-tempo round, as well as the excitement of Bal-Swing and LA Swing in the fast round.
- Competitors in the Open Classic are automatically entered into the Wild Card.
- Prelims: Couples will dance in heats to a minimum of three songs at three different tempos. The Open Classic and the Wildcard share a single preliminary round—anyone competing in the Open Classic prelims is eligible to compete in the Wildcard finals.
- Finals to live music: Finals will consist of a maximum of 8 couples. FORMAT TBA by Sept. 1, 2025
The Pure Balboa Classic
Open to couples of any skill level.
Prizes include:
Cash: $500 first prize — $250 second prize — $125 third prize
Other: Trophies, merchandise vouchers, and/or event passes.
Description:
- This partnered contest is geared toward featuring today’s Balboa dancers dancing Pure Balboa, also known as closed-position Balboa.
- The judges will be asked to evaluate competitors based on their personal judging criteria and preferences.
- Prelims: Couples will dance in heats to a minimum of three songs of three different tempos.
- Finals to DJ music: Finalists will dance one dual spotlight to a slow song, two dual spotlights to a fast song, and one final all-skate.
The Wildcard Classic
Open to couples of any skill level.
Prizes include:
Cash: $700 first prize — $350 second prize — $150 third prize
Other: Trophies, merchandise vouchers, and/or event passes.
Description:
- Entering the Open Classic prelims automatically qualifies you for the Wildcard.
- Prelims: The Open Classic and the Wildcard share a single preliminary round—anyone competing in the Open Classic prelims is eligible to compete in the Wildcard finals.
- Finals to DJ music: Finalists are selected from the top couples (based on relative placement scoring) who did not make the Open Classic finals. Couples will get a 90-second spotlight and fast all-skate.
The Amateur Classic
Open to couples with an amateur or advanced skill level.
Prizes include:
Cash: $200 first prize — $100 second prize — $50 third prize
Other: Trophies, merchandise vouchers, and/or event passes.
Description:
- This Balboa and Bal-Swing competition is designed to showcase the intricacies of partnering and musicality, as well as the excitement and energy of Bal-Swing and LA Swing.
- Prelims: Couples will dance in heats to a minimum of three songs of three different tempos.
- Finals to DJ music: Finalists will dance to DJ’d music. They will dance to one all-skate warm-up song; then, in a spotlight round, showcase their diverse skills, partnering, and musicality; and conclude with a final all-skate round.
Amateur Mixed Couples
Open to dancers meeting the amateur definition (see rules below).
Prizes include:
Cash: $200 first prize — $100 second prize — $50 third prize
Other: Trophies, merchandise vouchers, and/or event passes.
Description:
- Competitors will sign up individually as a lead or follow and will randomly draw partners for each round of this competition.
- Prelims will be danced in heats with competitors changing partners a minimum of three times.
- Finals to DJ music: Finalists will draw a partner, and they will be judged as a couple for the entire final round.
- Finalists will dance a warm-up all-skate and will dance in dual spotlights to DJed music. Couples may dance further all-skates as deemed necessary by the judges.
Advanced Mixed Couples
Open to dancers meeting the advanced definition (see rules below).
Prizes include:
Cash: $200 first prize — $100 second prize — $50 third prize
Other: Trophies, merchandise vouchers, and/or event passes.
Description:
- Competitors will sign up individually as a lead or follow and will randomly draw partners for each round of this competition.
- Prelims will be danced in heats with competitors changing partners a minimum of three times.
- Finalists will draw a partner, and they will be judged as a couple for the entire final round.
- Finalists will dance a warm-up all-skate and will dance in spotlights to DJed music. Couples may dance further all-skates as deemed necessary by the judges.
Open Mixed Couples
Open to dancers of all ages and skill levels.
Prizes include:
Cash: $500 first prize — $250 second prize — $125 third prize
Other: Trophies, merchandise vouchers, and/or event passes.
Description:
- Competitors will sign up individually as a lead or follow and will randomly draw partners for each round of this competition.
- Prelims will be danced in heats with competitors changing partners a minimum of three times.
- Finals to DJ music: Finalists will draw a partner, and they will be judged as a couple for the entire final round.
- Finalists will dance a warm-up all-skate and will dance in spotlights to DJed music. Couples may dance further all-skates as deemed necessary by the judges
Invitational Mixed Couples
Details coming soon.
General Rules and Guidelines for Competitors
General Rules
- Each competitor must have either a Full Weekend pass, a Crash Course pass, an Invitational pass, or a Party Pass to enter competitions.
- A couple consists of one designated lead and one designated follow*. Dancers will generally be judged in the role for which they registered.
- Competitors are expected to exhibit courteous and respectful behavior at all times during the California Balboa Classic competitions.
- All competitions are in Balboa, Bal-Swing, and/or LA Swing unless otherwise specified. What constitutes these dance styles is left to individual judges’ discretion with respect to definition and score/placement impact. CalBal judges are encouraged to reward a combination of style that represents these dances in the essence of their original forms as well as modern dancers’ interpretation, innovation, and creativity.
- Each competitor must agree to the liability waiver.
- Each competitor must be present at the competitors’ meeting and must check in with the contest coordinator 10 minutes before the prelims and finals or they may be scratched without a refund.
CalBal’s Contest Levels
Please use the guidelines below and your discretion.
Amateur
- You do not travel regularly to teach Balboa, and teaching is not your primary source of income.
- You have not placed in the top 3 at any national or higher-level Balboa competition within the last 5 years.
- If you have made the finals in a non-Amateur Balboa division at a national or higher-level competition, you should compete in the Advanced or Open divisions. Placements in novice, newcomer, or Pro-Am do not disqualify Amateur status.
- These guidelines apply to dancers competing in a specific role (e.g., you may qualify for the Amateur division as a lead but not as a follow).
- If you are unsure whether you fit in this category, or if you prefer a challenge, you are welcome to compete in a higher category.
Advanced
- You may be teaching Balboa locally or regionally, or starting to travel for teaching engagements.
- You might consistently make finals or have placed in regional or national competitions.
- Competitors who have placed in the top 3 at regional or national competitions are encouraged to compete in the Open division.
- If you are uncertain about your level, this category provides a good middle ground, and anyone is welcome to “dance up” by competing here.
Open
- This division is open to all dancers, regardless of teaching experience.
- Dancers who consistently place in national or higher-level Balboa competitions should also compete in this division.
- This level has historically been occupied by professional level Balboa competitors who consistently place or win national and/or international competitions.
- Dancers of any level are welcome to compete in the Open category if they feel ready for the challenge.
For All Levels
- These guidelines apply to dancers competing in a specific role (e.g., you may qualify for the Amateur division as lead but not as a follow).
- If you compete in both lead and follow roles and make finals in both, you must choose one role for the finals.
- If you make finals in more than one competition at different levels, you must compete at the higher level and withdraw from the lower-level competition.
- Examples of a National or higher level competition include but are not limited to: CalBal, Camp Hollywood, Hot Rhythm Holiday, and European Balboa Festival.
Competing as both a lead and a follow
- Dancers may enter any division as both a lead and a follow if they meet the criteria to compete in their registered role in that division.
- If you wish to compete as both a lead and a follow in a single contest division, please contact our team (contests@calbalclassic.com) so that we can register you in both roles and ensure you are placed in different heats for the prelims.
- Dancers who wish to compete as both a lead and a follow in a single contest division must register for each role separately. Contest fees apply per role.
- If you make finals in more than one competition at different levels, you must compete at the higher level and withdraw from the lower-level competition.
- Competitors will be judged for dancing in their registered role for the duration of each heat, round, or spotlight. Any switch dancing done during a contest (dancing in the opposite role from registration) may be disregarded at the judges’ discretion.
Finals Format for competitors who qualify as both a lead and follow:
- Mixed Couples contests: Competitors will have to choose to dance as EITHER a lead OR follow in the finals.
- Classic contests: Competitors may dance in the finals with BOTH of their qualifying partners so long as they inform their partners of the format and divide their dance time in the all-skates evenly between partners (with assistance from the contest team).
All competition rules, description, and prizes are subject to change without notice. Final contest rules, descriptions, and prizes will be available at the event.