Shanghai Balboa Weekend 7th

COMPETITION

Competition Descriptions

New Comer Mix & Match

New Comer Level

  • Prelims: Each competitor will dance to three songs of 1 minute and 30 seconds duration. For each song, the dance partners will be randomly rotated.
  • Finals: Finalists will dance to DJed music. They will first warm up; then in a dual spotlight round for about 1 minute and 30 seconds. Each couple will only perform once. And in a final all-skate round where all competitors will dance together.

Open Mix & Match

Open Level

  • Prelims: Each competitor will dance to three songs of 1 minute and 30 seconds duration. For each song, the dance partners will be randomly rotated.
  • Finals: Finalists will dance to DJed music. They will first warm up ; then in a dual spotlight round for about 1 minute and 30 seconds. Each couple will only perform once. And in a final all-skate round where all competitors will dance together.

Open Strictly

Open Level

  • Prelims: Each couple will dance to three songs of 1 minute and 30 seconds duration. Partners will not be rotated during the competition.
  • Finals: Finalists will dance to DJed music. They will first warm up; then in a dual spotlight round for about 1 minute and 30 seconds. Each couple will only perform once. And in a final all-skate round where all competitors will dance together.

Advanced Mix & Match

Advanced Level

  • Prelims: Each competitor will dance to three songs of 1 minute and 30 seconds duration. For each song, the dance partners will be randomly rotated.
  • Finals: Finalists will dance to live music. They will first warm up with a song; then in a spotlight round. Each couple will only perform once. And in a final all-skate round where all competitors will dance together.

Advanced Strictly

Advanced Level

  • Prelims: Each couple will dance to two songs of 1 minute and 30 seconds duration. Partners will not be rotated during the competition.
  • Finals: Finalists will dance to live music. They will first warm up; then in a spotlight round. Each couple will only perform once. And in a final all-skate round where all competitors will dance together.

Pure Bal Strictly

Open Level

  • Prelims: Each couple will dance to three songs of 1 minute and 30 seconds duration. Partners will not be rotated during the competition.
  • Finals: Finalists will dance to live music. They will first warm up; then in a dual spotlight to fast music for about 1 minute and 30 seconds. Each couple will only perform once. And in a final all-skate round where all competitors will dance together.

General Rules and Guidelines for Competitors

  • Competitors in the New Comer level should have a Balboa dancing experience of no more than 2 years.
  • Competitors can only compete as either a Leader or a Follower in each level of the competition. In both the Mix & Match and Strictly competitions, judges will evaluate the overall performance of each couple of dancers. Both Bal-Swing or Pure Balboa are allowed in all competitions. Aerials are not allowed in the Mix & Match competition.
  • Competitors who have previously won awards in the Open level at SBW competitions or equivalent competitions domestically or internationally in the same category (Mix & Match or Strictly) cannot continue to participate in the Open level competitions unless they switch roles (Leader or Follower). For instance, if the competition is categorized as Amateur and Open levels, it will be similar to SBW’s Open and Advanced levels. A competitor who won a prize in the 2024 SBW Open Mix & Match can continue to participate in the 2025 SBW Open Strictly competition.
  • Competitors are allowed to register for different levels of the same competition format simultaneously. If a competitor qualifies for finals in multiple levels of the same competition type, they will be entered into the final of the highest-level category they qualified for, while their lower-level final spots will be canceled. Please note that no refunds will be issued for canceled entries in such cases.
    Example: A Competitor who qualifies for the 2025 SBW Open Mixed Couples, Adv Mixed Couples, and Open Strictly finals may only compete in the Adv Mixed Couples and Open Strictly finals.

Competition Prizes

  • Cash: New Comer level as a couple:
    • 1st place: 500 CNY
    • 2nd place: 400 CNY
    • 3rd place: 300 CNY
  • Cash: Open level as a couple:
    • 1st place: 1000 CNY
    • 2nd place: 500 CNY
    • 3rd place: 300 CNY
  • Cash: Advanced level as a couple:
    • 1st place: 1500 CNY
    • 2nd place: 800 CNY
    • 3rd place: 500 CNY
  • Event passes: giving away Party Passes for 10+ domestic and international events
    • Shanghai Balboa Weekend 2026
    • Hot Rhythm Holiday 2026
    • Fast Pete Festival 2026
    • Balboa Delight 2026
    • Valencia Balboa Fest 2026
    • Tokyo Balboa Weekend 2025
    • Great Lakes Balboa Escape 2026
    • Balboario 2026
    • Moscow comesaround 2026
    • Sitges Balboa Beach 2026
    • Camp Swing it 2026

Competition Fees

All Levels: 20 USD per person or 40 USD per couple