Jack and Jill Swing Dance Contests

What's a Jack 'n Jill?

Swing dancers have a special kind of dance contest that is very common at swing dance competitions of all styles, including Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, Balboa and even Blues dance contests. What makes it special is the emphasis on social dancing skills: the ability to dance well with randomly selected partners, to music chosen by the organizers of the competition. This is different from other styles of contests where the competitors choose their own dance partners, and in some cases even their own music.

How it works

Thinking of trying out your first Jack & Jill? Here's how a typical Jack & Jill contest works:

  1. Leads and follows sign up separately. In some very traditional contests, leaders are required to be men, and followers women, although this is becoming less common today. The organizers are charged with keeping the registration ratios as even as possible, and limiting registrations if necessary.
  2. When the contest starts, the leaders and followers will be called out opposite a person who will usually not be their partner for the first dance.
  3. For the prelims and semi-finals, the MC uses some method to call a random rotation of partners--often by rolling a big, colourful die.
  4. Contestants find a spot on the floor. The DJ (or in some cases, the band) begins to play a song.
  5. Contestants begin to dance. Judges will evaluate them on their dance technique, musicality, and above all, their ability to adapt to and work with different partners.
  6. For prelims and semi-finals, dancers will usually dance one song with each of several partners, and each dancer is judged individually.
  7. For the finals, each dancer is matched with a single partner for the duration of the finals, and they are judged together as a couple.

Tips for Jack 'n Jill Contests

There are some pieces of advice that can help a lot for your first Jack 'n Jill!

  1. Don't expect to win. Jack 'n Jill contests involve so much randomness that you should never go in with any expectations. World-respected dance teacher and top swing judge Sylvia Sykes often points out that it says more about your dancing if you consistently make finals and place in the top 5, than winning first place in one particular contest.
  2. Have fun! Swing Dynamite founder Byron Alley says he evaluates Jack & Jill dancers on how much fun it looks like it would be to dance with them! And of course, since you don't expect to win, it's all about the fun, right? Think of Jack 'n Jill contets as giant mixers that get you dancing with lots of new people, with a few awards to some of the best dance partners!
  3. Watch what you wear: the judges probably don't know you, and when they make their decisions they may be trying to remember which "blonde girl in the black dress" or "short guy with the blazer" it was that they wanted to put in the finals. In terms of clothing, wear something distinctive enough that you won't blend in with everyone else, but more importantly, wear something that makes your movements look good! The wrong clothing can actually make your posture and movements look sloppy, even if they're not! Make sure you wear clothes that fit properly. Girls should pay attention to how dresses move as they dance, and guys should make sure their shirts, jackets and suits are tailored if necessary.
  4. And the right footwear! Each dance works well with a different style of shoe. Guys can get away with a Cuban heel in WCS but not in Lindy Hop; guys and girls can both wear certain types of dance sneakers in Lindy Hop contests but not for WCS. And girls dancing Balboa need to wear heels.
  5. Smile! Smiling a lot will put your partner more at ease, and you'll dance better. Start by pretending to have fun and eventually you'll have real fun.

Jack and Jill Swing Contests in Ottawa

Many of our Swing Dynamite events here in Ottawa include beginner-friendly competitions: