QMJC 2026
Rules & Guidelines

In categories where aerials are allowed, they must be performed cleanly and safely, with appropriate timing and musical interpretation. The number of full aerials allowed per round (heat/semi/final) is capped, so that Modern Jive fundamentals remain more of a focal-point than big tricks.

Safety First

Allowed Aerials

The Fundamentals

Modern Jive is an inherently adaptable dance style that combines elements and techniques from countless other dance styles, both partnered and solo. As a baseline however, Modern Jive can usually be defined by a few core fundamentals:

Non-Modern Jive Content

While we have the capacity to incorporate technique from other dance styles, for the purposes of competition, we suggest you do so sparingly. If these 'borrowed' techniques are used too frequently and cause your dancing to look like a different dance style (i.e. not recognisably Modern Jive), this would be subject to review by the Head Judge and/or the Event Directors.

Ideally, any borrowed technique should not 'overpower' our Modern Jive fundamentals.

Some elements that are not fundamentally Modern Jive, but are encouraged for the purpose of enhancing your Modern Jive dancing, include: Breakaway, Aerials, Syncopated Timing, Footwork and Directional Leads, Influencing or Co-piloting, among more. For more information, book a private class with one of our guest teachers ;)

Musical Structure

Modern Jive is traditionally danced to music with a 4/4 time signature; however, there is no hard rule that enforces this at Ignite QMJC. Competitors are welcome to submit music outside of this time signature for routine performances, provided that they use appropriate techniques to maintain a two-step rhythm.

For example, in a song with a 6/8 time signature, competitors would be expected to utilise "third-timing", where dancers are stepping on every third beat, similar to the way that we "half-time" some faster music. Note that this often muddies the waters and makes it more difficult to identify Modern Jive fundamentals, which MAY impact the judge's scoring.

Grounds for Disqualification

1. A competitor will only be considered for disqualification, if their dancing is deemed to be clearly identifiable as a dance style that is entirely distinct from Modern Jive, therefore making it inappropriate for a Modern Jive competition.
2. Procedural Requirements: To ensure fairness, the following protocol must be observed before any action is taken:
   • Reporting: A minimum of two (2) judges must independently report the routine for disqualification.
   • Review: Upon receiving these reports, the Head Judge will consult with the Event Directors to review the performance.
   • Final Determination: The Head Judge and Event Directors hold the absolute authority to determine if disqualification is warranted.

Action on Insufficient Demonstration of Fundamentals

Where a judge interprets that Modern Jive fundamentals are missing from the majority of a dance (in any category), that judge simply marks the entrant below the other competitors.

Judges are asked to flag this with the Head Judge when this drove their score; if two judges individually flag the same concern, a review is triggered, and the Head Judge and/or Event Directors are to decide on appropriate action - the steepest penalty being a drop to an off-podium placing, or a placing that does not receive points in a Tiered category.

If two judges have flagged a lack of Modern Jive content, the Head Judge and/or Event Directors will inform the affected competitors after the event weekend; however, the judge's names and scores will remain anonymous.

Potential Scoring Penalties

Dancing that leans heavily on the following may not score as highly as those demonstrating a higher quota of Modern Jive dancing:

• Non-Musical Narrative: Over-reliance on "theatrical" storytelling at the expense of dancing.
• Excessive Breakaway: Non-connected dancing running beyond two minor phrases back-to-back (8 MJ counts / 16 straight counts).

Video Submission (optional)

1. Preliminary Review: Choreographers are encouraged to submit a video of their routine to the Event Directors prior to official entry. This allows for an informal assessment of whether the routine contains sufficient Modern Jive content. To allow adequate time for any suggested adjustments, videos should be submitted as early as possible.
2. Scope of Feedback: Please note that any feedback provided is general and unofficial - it serves as the personal opinions of the Event Directors, to assist in your preparation. The opinions of the other judges at the actual competition may vary.
3. Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Choreographers submitting videos for review must acknowledge and accept that Event Directors providing feedback may have their own routines entered in the competition, and may be members of the official judging panel for the category on the day.

Judges

Our panel of judges are selected based on a number of factors, including: Experience, Expertise, Competitive Level, Active Status, and Technical Articulation, along with Community Involvement, Reputation, Geographical Representation, and Prior Attendance.

Ultimately, while we value the alignment of a judge's criteria to that of the QMJC, we trust our judging panel to make judicial decisions based on their own criteria, as priorities may vary between schools. This is an opportunity to reward and promote those priorities on an international scale - otherwise, geographical representation becomes a moot point.

Scoring/Ranking

1. In the Heats and Semi Finals, competitors are judged comparatively against ALL competitors across that round. Judges are asked to select a number of 'Definites' and a number of first and second choice 'Alternates' to go through to the next round, based on their own judging criteria and guidelines.
2. Any competitors listed as 'Alternate' after the first round should be on standby to compete in the next round, in case one of the listed competitors withdraws between rounds or can't be found.
3. The quantity of competitors who will progress to the next round is determined when the scores from each complete round have been processed. In all cases, the Event Directors will have provided the Scoring Manager with a desired number, however if this precise number cannot be achieved due to a tie, the Head Judge and/or Event Directors will make the decision on whether to progress more or less competitors to the next round, without looking at competitor names. In cases where this still cannot achieve an appropriate number of competitors, the Head Judge's scores will be used to break the tie.
4. In all Finals and in the Showcase and Team categories, all competitors will be ranked in order 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc based on the judging criteria.

Scores & Results

1. Once submitted, scores become final.
2. After the event, a competitor may email the Event Directors for their own scores and placing. Only that competitor's results are released, and judges are never named.

It's worth competitors keeping in mind that, in the few minutes a judge has to watch the whole floor, they may happen to catch a brilliant moment, or a weaker one, or neither. Judges also bring their own tastes and opinions, so it's entirely normal for six judges to advance a couple while a seventh doesn't — or, in a Final, for one judge to place a couple 1st and another to place the same couple 6th.

We ask competitors to expect and respect this, and to treat their scores as a broad read on how they ranked across the competition, rather than a precise verdict. If the numbers fall short of what you hoped, try not to take it personally — remember that any result only reflects how you danced on the day, and only relative to the rest of the floor.

Scoring Staff

Many of our event staff are volunteers who also have the opportunity to dance in the competition. In cases where a member of the scoring team is in the competition, a procedure is in place to ensure integrity of their own scores and any scores of a spouse or other close contact.

Judge/Competitor Etiquette

Please bear in mind that judging is a demanding role on the day, so our judges may not be free to engage with you, the way they otherwise would. With that in mind:

1. Competitors are to stay out of the judges' seating and breakout areas.
2. During the competition day, please don't approach judges for advice, for the reasoning behind scores or rankings, or for tips on advancing. Feedback can be requested AFTER the event, and whether to provide this, is entirely up to the individual judge.
3. Any judge who does offer post-event feedback will speak only to what they made of the performance and how the competitor might improve next time. Judges aren't expected to comment on where anyone placed, or whether that competitor (or others) deserved their result.
4. Judges are within their rights to keep their scoring decisions private.
5. Scoring rests on what a judge sees on the floor in the time given; how a competitor usually dances, or has danced before, has no bearing.
6. Each judge scores on their own, without conferring with the others.
7. Before the event, judges must declare any conflict of interest for the categories they're assigned (for instance, having helped with choreography, or a close personal connection), and the Event Directors will weigh it accordingly.
8. Most of our judges are teachers or run groups with dancers in the competition. While judging or seated in the judging area, they are welcome to cheer, but won't do so for a particular couple or group. However, away from that area — and during the Awards Ceremony — they'll naturally get behind their people.