A: On July 19, 2009, the UCWDC® log-in process for Associate Members will change. Because of errors created by the use of duplicate usernames (typically caused by shared eMail addresses), our upgraded system will now require each Associate Member to create a new, unique username and password. Beginning July 19, 2009, your current username and password will no longer work. You should have received an eMail on July 13 from the UCWDC that included a temporary username and password for you to use to access your personal profile where you may create a new, unique username and password. To obtain a TEMPORARY Username and Password, click here.

Q: Why is the Associate Membership page changing?

A: The upgraded Associate Membership Website will allow you to renew your annual Associate Membership, view your Points Championship totals, verify your Worlds eligibility and track your progress toward graduation to the next competitive level. You may now also indicate your willingness to volunteer to help the UCWDC provide more and better service to dance enthusiasts worldwide.

Q: Once I receive my TEMPORARY Username and Password, how do I update them?

A: Here are the steps you need to take:

1. Go to http://www.ucwdc.org/wordpress
2. Enter your TEMPORARY Username and Password in the appropriate boxes and then click the Login button.
3. Click on Change Password/Edit Profile
4. Type in your preferred Username, any combination of letters and numbers that is unique to you ( 4-32 letters, digits or _ )
5. Scroll down 11 lines and type in your preferred Password, any combination of letters and numbers that is unique to you ( 4-32 letters, digits or _ )
6. Record your new Username and Password somewhere safe.
7. Review all remaining personal contact information in your profile. Make whatever corrections are necessary and update all of the required fields.  Please make sure that your record includes
   1. Your correct date of birth as some divisions are defined by age ranges
   2. Your phone number(s) and your personal eMail address
   3. Your parcel mailing (street) address
8. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the Save Profile button.

That’s it, you’re done! Good job!

The confidentiality of your personal data has always been a very high priority. As in the past, only you and the UCWDC Event Administrators can view your data.

We receive many eMail requests to recommend teachers. If you wish to be listed here as a UCWDC Professional Dance Instructor, and your Associate Membeship dues are current, you may purchase a full, one year listing here for $20.00 which includes a link directly to the eMail address in your profile. Simply select the Web Site Listing product. Click the Order button, then complete the transaction.

I am so happy to announce that the Film I produced with Tom Malloy will be released in theaters May 8th in seven cities, San Antonio, Atlanta, San Diego, LA, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, and Nashville. Our plan is to expand to more cites in weeks following the opening. This film focuses on West Coast Swing, but there are many, many UCWDC dancers in it, and there is even some Two Step!!!
Some UCWDC Dancers you will see on camera: Nicola Royston, Rex and Rachel Jones, Ronnie DeBenedetta, Brandi Tobias, Gary McIntyre, Christine Wetzel, Monty and Kristen Ham, Toby and Harmony Monroe, Bob Bahrs and Paula Graves, Sam Arvidson, Mona Brandt Arvidson, Steve Stevens, Mike Haley, Melissa Foti Packer, Chris and Emily Bailey, Lisa King, Barb Schuler and many, many more who came as extras during the big dance scenes.
From the Swing world you will see pros like, Jordan Frisbee, Tatiana Mollman, Parker Dearborn, Jessica Cox, Benji Schwimmer, Heidi Groskreutz, Arjay Centeno, Melissa Rutz, Kyle Redd, Sarah Vann Drake, John Lindo, Marcus Smith, Deonna Ball, Laureen Baldovi, Ben Morris, Carla Heiney, Pete Green, Sarah Breck, Bill Cameron, and Michael and Dawn Kiehm.
So check out lovendancing.com for more info. You can help get it to your city by calling your local theater managers and asking “When is Love N’ Dancing coming to your theater?”

Thanks for all of your support!!!
Robert Royston

A sample of the Videos is below:

1. Beth’s Overview of the 2009 Rules Changes

2. 2009 Rules

Go ahead, browse, sort.check out all the features of our interactive interface page. Easy to use and LIVE !!!!

Browse The UCWDC(R) 2009 POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP and WORLDS(C) ELIGIBILITY STANDINGS to see if you have qualified yet for WORLDS XVIII(C) in Nashville in your favorite divisions. Discover answers to your questions. Who else is dancing in my Division? At what event did I earn my points? How many more points do I need to win? . exciting and informative don’t you think?

Disclaimer: The information included in this database is for consultation only, if any discrepancy is noted, please tell us about it. This database will not ever supersede the original event scoring documents. Our source of information is based on the results file we received from the event directors.

• Two new UCWDC® entry level divisions, e.g., Divisions VI and V for Couples and Starter A and B for ProAm and Line Dance, and accompanying Syllabi were created to attract new dancers to the sport of Country Dancing. These are limited divisions in that only those patterns in the UCWDC® Syllabus will be allowed. Each syllabus level will have approximately five (5) patterns in each of our eight (8) Worlds dances. This way, truly ‘new’ dancers will be enabled to join our sport. Starter A and Division VI will have the patterns for each dance from their syllabus. Starter B and Division V dancers will be able to use all the lower level syllabus patterns, plus all the additional patterns from their own higher level syllabus. These new divisions will be separated into Junior and Adult divisions only (no other age divisions) and placed by dance. No overalls will be offered. Starter B and Division V will be Worlds divisions. Starter A and Division VI will not be offered at Worlds.

• With the new divisions, the ProAm Levels names from lowest to highest are: Starter A, Starter B, Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced. The Line Dance Level names are: Starter A, Starter B, Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced. The Couples Levels names are: VI, V, IV, III, II, I.

• Divisions VI, V and Starter will have the same rules (including costume rules) as Division IV and Newcomer. The Contest Coordinator will serve as the invigilator, monitor the patterns and warn the Couple, Line Dancer, or Pro when a first (1st) violation arises. A second (2nd) violation for same person or couple will result in graduation. Otherwise Starter Divisions as well as VI and V will not need Graduation. We will not award Points Championships certificates to Starters and Div V, VI, but we will still track them online. Couples V and VI eligibility will be restricted to couples who have either not competed before at all, or when one is a true beginner and the other partner has competed at the IV level or lower. To be eligible for Starter Line Dance and ProAm, the competitor may not have competed Newcomer or above.

• Graduation has been separated across Dance Types. See Appendix H in the rules for details about crossover between Dance Types.

• Showcase music use dates will be modified. Currently the last use date is November. In 2009, the last Showcase music use date will be no later than September 1st, and earlier Showcase music release dates will be adjusted to earlier dates accordingly.

• Showcase music will become available for download on our website contingent upon acceptance of a legal End User Licensing Agreement in which the downloader attests that he(she) already owns a legally obtained copy of the trac(s) prior to downloading. We also hope to add a way to legally purchase Classic music online.

• Some time ago the UCWDC® reserved the right to combine or cancel divisions with fewer than three (3) entries in two (2) consecutive World Championships. Thus we have eliminated the Couples Showcase II and Couples Showcase Diamond II divisions.

• We have deleted the rule that forced Line Dancers to ascend to SuperStars with twelve (12) wins.

• Division III and Novice will have warm-ups, not music previews, and different songs for each heat. Divisions below III in Couples and Novice in ProAm will still have previews.

• Troupe Program music will require 50% Country content (it is 100% Country now) and the costume rules will relax so that if Funky or Novelty choreography is performed, the costume allowances for those portions of the routine will apply.

• In the statement concerning competitors who judge: ‘or the division that graduates to his division.’ Has been deleted. This means Masters and SuperStars are now permitted to judge Division I and Advanced.

• Classic Waltz music will be required to be Country or sound Country (West Coast still will not be.) This means self selected Waltz music will need to be Country as well as Classic Waltz music, plus all self selected music will be required to be Country or sound Country except West Coast Swing, including the music used for Solo Medleys.

• We will request that DJ’s make every possible effort to play phrased music for the Phrased Dances (Polka, Cha Cha, Nightclub, Waltz) and Nightclub is required to be 4/4 time.

• We are clarifying language allowing couples and line dancers to dance up a level as long as they do not dance overall at the higher level. A reminder was added that Two Step is required for Couples and ProAm when dancing up.

• Language was added limiting competitors to dancing two divisions at Worlds.

• Line Dancers, ProAm Competitors and Couples IV & V will be required to wear hats and boots for Worlds. Hats and boots will still be encouraged, but not required, at local UCWDC® Events.

• Costume language now says the yoke is a guideline, and emphasizes that each costume must look country and be appropriate to the dance and person. This will be addressed in 2009 CEU’s.

• If Newcomer and Starter ProAm is held as a separate session, the Pros must adhere to Newcomer costume rules except Pros must still wear hats & boots.

• Juniors are allowed to dance down one level when they move up in age. In addition, we will now allow Advanced Juniors who cross an age hurdle to dance down to Novice (except when a Teen crosses over to Adult.)

• Jazz, modern and lyrical will be deleted from the Funky language and added to Novelty. The rules will now state: SuperStars, RisingStars and Crown Competitors may use stage dancing (jazz, modern, lyrical, ballet) as one of their 4 required motions in their Solo Medleys.

• Couples and ProAm Music Tempo targets have been separated in some dances by level. See the Dance Categories section of the rules for details.

• Advance notice: Crown Solos will change in 2010 (not 2009.) The Solo Medley will become 2-4 minutes with internal requirements of at least two (2) dances for Couples or two (2) motions for Line Dancers.

• “Legends” division has been added for Couples and Line Dance. To be eligible, one Competitor must have been a Master or SuperStar (in couples the 2nd partner need only have been a UCWDC® competitor.) Each competitor must have been retired from the competition floor at least five (5) dance seasons and must be forty (40) years of age or over. The Crown rules will apply: Classic Two Step and Waltz and a 2-4 minute Solo Medley with a two dance requirement for Couples. For Line Dance there will just be a solo with internal requirements of at least 2 dances. Line Dance Legends will not be gender specific. All retired Crown World Champions may go to Legends if they so choose, just as
retired Masters may. If they elect to do so, they lose their Crown or Masters status and may never return to their former division.

MUSIC DOWNLOADER’S LEGAL OBLIGATION AND INDEMNIFICATION OF THE UCWDC(R)

All recorded music is protected by US and other patent and copyright laws. It is unfair and illegal to copy or use music for which the authors have not been compensated for their intellectual property.

UCWDC(R) Showcase, Masters, SuperStars, Crown and RisingStars Division competition dance routines are required to be choreographed to specific songs or music medleys. In order to enhance the duration, showmanship and musicality of those competition dance performances, Special Cut competition music was created by the United Country Western Dance Council(R) Music Committee. All of the music used in the creation of the Special Cut competition music was assembled and edited by the committee from legally obtained sources.

Before downloading and opening the file and using this Special Cut track of music for the creation of dance choreography, practice, competition, or any other purpose, the downloader must expressly agree that he or she understands his or her obligation under US and other patent and copyright laws to first legally obtain and purchase, from any music track provider of their choice, the original track(s) or CD(s) that were used in the creation of the Special Cut needed for dance competition.

By downloading this Special Cut, the downloader stipulates to the United Country Western Dance Council(R), with intent to be legally bound, that he or she is already the owner of a legally obtained copy of all of the original source music used in its creation and further indemnifies the UCWDC(R) against all blame and responsibility for any failure on the part of the downloader to obtain and use legally purchased music.

If the downloader prefers to edit and cut his or her own practice music from his or her personal copy of the original track(s), the UCWDC(R) will gladly provide a compilation of the edits and cuts the dancer needs to make the tune usable as a Showcase competition number.