CDA American Rhythm Invigilation Rules – Collegiate DanceSport Association

For all American Rhythm syllabus events:

No entrances are allowed. Partners must start in a closed or open facing hold on opposite feet.
Posing or Poses prior to taking hold will be considered an entrance.
All figures must be from an official syllabus, be from the correct level, and must not violate any of the restrictions bellow.

American Rhythm Invigilation Rules	Holds	Feet	Timing	Restrictions and Allowances
Bronze	• Closed or open hold only • Partners may not completely separate • No R to R or L to L holds Exceptions: • R to R hold allowed for Sweetheart • Partners may fully release on spot or walk around turns in cha cha, rumba, bolero, and mambo, and American Spin and Tuck Turn in ECS • Partners may fully separate for Chase in Cha Cha and Mambo, and Lindy Side Passes in ECS	• Feet must remain close to the ground. No areal rondes, developés, knee lifts, etc. • No same foot figures • No swivels or Chicken Walks • No flicks, kicks • No holds or freezes • No deviations from the basic timings • No spirals • No more than a single turn at a time • No dips, drops, standing spins, horse and cart, etc • No lifts Exceptions: • Sweetheart may be danced on same foot • Hitch kicks allowed in ECS	• No holds or freezes • No deviations from the basic timings Exceptions: • Timing may deviate from the basic rhythms for extended chases and walks, such as 3 Cha Chas, or Continuous Tuck and Promenade Walks/Chases in ECS, etc.	• No spirals • No more than a single turn at a time • No dips, drops, standing spins, horse and cart, etc • No lifts
Silver	• Same as Bronze, but R-R and L-L holds allowed • Shadow, Side-by-Side and Apart allowed, but for a maximum of 16 consecutive counts	• Same as Bronze, plus: • flicks and swivels allowed • No aeral rondes, but floor rondes allowed • developés allowed • Knee lift alllowed	• Same as Bronze plus: Guabacha timing allowed in Cha Cha	• Same as Bronze plus: • Spirals allowed • continuous pivots allowed up to two measures, but only one syncopation • Double turns allowed • Sailor Shuffles allowed in ECS
Gold	Same as Silver, but there is no time restriction on side-by-side or apart figures	Same as Silver, but aerial rondes allowed	Same as Silver, but freezes of up to 8 counts allowed	• Same as Silver, but back bend dip to left or right, staying a over the waist is allowed • Around the world dip is allowed • Continuous pivots allowed • No more than double turn allowed