Highland Dance Competition 
Colorado Highland Games
Saturday, September 20, 2025
9am - 4:30pm 
Denver Polo Club ~ Sedalia, CO

** Parking will be abundant and ADA accessible parking will be available with ADA placard or plate. There will be a $5 fee for parking. **

Judge: Kyla Groeschel, Fair Oaks, California

USSW - 0503

Primary, Pre-Premier and Premier events 
Registration begins at 8:30am, dancing begins at 9am. Field will not be open for people to arrive until 8am. All groups, except Primary, will dance at the same time with a break for lunch between the morning and afternoon sessions. Fling, Sword and Seann will be danced in the morning with the remaining dances for each group danced in the afternoon. Primary dancers will register at 10:45am and compete at the end of the morning session, around 11/11:15 am. 

Awards presentation for all age groups except Primary will occur at the end of the day’s competitive events, estimated to be around 4:30pm. Primary events will be awarded upon completion of their dances prior to the noonday ceremonies. 

DANCES
Primary – 16 Pas de Basques, Pas de Basques & Highcuts, Fling (4), Sword (2&1)
Beginner – Fling (4), Sword (2&1), Seann (3&1), Strathspey & Highland Reel , Lilt (4), Flora (4)
Novice – Fling (4), Sword (2&1), Seann (3&1), Strathspey & Highland Reel, Lilt (4), Flora (4)
Intermediate – Fling (4), Sword (2&1), Seann (3&1), Laddie (4), Barracks (4), Jig (4)
Premier - Scotch Measure (4), Blue Bonnets (4), Village Maid (4), Lilt (4), Flora (4), Jig (4) 

SPECIAL EVENT CHOREOGRAPHY 
Pre-Premier Duet Choreography (max 2 mins)
Premier Duet Choreography (max 2 mins 30 sec)
Premier Solo Choreography (max 1 min 30 sec)

GENERAL COMPETITION RULES

This competition will be conducted under the rules of the RSOBHD and ScotDance USA.

1. All dancers must have a valid 2025 ScotDance or RSOBHD registration card. No entry will be accepted without a current registration number. 
2. Dancers must bring a valid 2025 RSOBHD registration card to the event. No paper or electronic copy of the card will be accepted. Pre-Premier cards will be collected at registration and returned after the awards.
3. Entry form must be received by September 10, 2025. No phone or fax entries will be accepted. Field entries will be accepted, as space permits, but competitor must pay an additional $20 late fee. 
4. Competition registration includes one weekend gate pass for the competitor. 
5. All registrations are non-refundable. 
6. Age groups will be determined by the number of entries received. Ages will be calculated as age on September 20, 2025.
7. Competitor numbers will be distributed at registration on the day of the competition. 
8. The decisions of the adjudicator are final. Any attempt to talk to the judge during the competition will disqualify that dancer.
9. All dance competitors and teachers and parents are expected to comply with the ScotDance USA Code of Ethics.
10. Medals or ribbons will be awarded to six places, or less if determined by the judge. Cash award for 1st through 3rd place will be awarded in lieu of medals to oldest Premier age group (age split to be determined based on entries received) in the following amounts:  $25 (1^st), $15 (2^nd), $10 (3^rd). 
11. Class trophies will be based on all dances performed during the day, with the exception of choreography. There will be no trophies awarded at the Primary level. 
12. A Most Promising Beginner trophy and a Most Promising Novice trophy will be awarded based on judge’s choice.
13. Highland dress will be worn in accordance with RSOBHD rules. Dancers must remain in full costume until all awards have been presented.
14. Dancers not in the marshalling area when their class is called to dance will forfeit that dance.
15. Judges may not adjudicate any competitor that they have instructed for a period of three months. If a competitor has entered a competition with a judge they have attended a class or workshop with in the last three months, the competitor must step down from the competition.
16. Petitions should be filed to the dance chairman within 7 days of the event. The petition should be in writing and be accompanied by a $25 fee that will be refunded if the petition is warranted. An objection to a person’s eligibility to compete in any competition must be made in writing and shall not be considered unless the complainant gives their full name and address accompanied by a deposit, the amount to be set by the RSOBHD, currently $25. The deposit shall be returned should the objection be sustained. Such objection must be lodged with the Organizer of the event concerned, if possible before the event and not later than seven days after the date of the event.
17. The Southwest Region of ScotDance USA receives $5 from every dancer entry, $4 of which will go to support the USIR 2026 when the event returns to the Southwest Region.

CHOREOGRAPHY RULES

1. The dance must be Celtic in theme, using movements primarily from Highland and National dances, Jig, or Hornpipe, with allowances for individual interpretation & variation. The costume must follow the theme & content of the dance.
2. Solo Choreographies: should not last longer than 1 minute 30 seconds, including entrances & exits, setting up & removal of props.
3. Duet Choreographies: The Duet Choreography should not be longer than 2 minutes for Pre-Premiers, and 2 minutes 30 seconds for Premiers, including entrances & exits, setting up & removal of props.
4. Music may be live or pre-recorded and may include vocal or percussion. Music must be predominantly Scottish or Celtic in style. Music must be submitted to the Competition Organizer at [email protected] no later than September 10, 2025. Music should be cut to the appropriate length for the performance prior to submission. 
5. Teams may use props, either static or non-static, but no live animals may be used. 
6. Pre-Premier Duets must consist of only Pre-Premier dancers & may include Primary dancers. 
7. Premier Solo & Duets must consist of only Premier dancers.
8. Duets should consist of dancers from one school only, or may be from more than one school, in which case the teacher/choreographer must abide by the 3-month teaching/judging rule. Please list the name of the other dancer in your duet on your entry form. 
9. No stamps will be awarded & choreographies do not count toward the class trophy.
10. All dancers competing in the choreography competition must present their 2025 ScotDance or RSOBHD dance card.