When Is the Competition?
The competition will take place on Saturday, August 22nd at 11:00 am.
Please be in the competition area, ready to compete, no later than 10:45 am (15 minutes before the competition begins).
Competitors will need to check in with the competition coordinator.

How Much Does it Cost to Compete?
Entries are $25 per dance. Entries are non-refundable unless we have reached our entry cap.
All competitors must have a WWLA 2026 Weekend Pass.

How Do I Enter?
Add competition entries to your cart from the registration page. When you select the appropriate division, you will be prompted to fill out a form about your dance before the entry can be found in your cart.

For 2026, we will have a cap of 35 total entries across all 3 divisions. If we approach or reach our entry cap, we reserve the right to ask choreographers who have submitted multiple entries to select only one entry to compete. In the case choreographers are asked to select only one entry of multiple, the choreographer(s) will have entry fees refunded for any entries not selected to enter.

Do I Need to Submit Anything Else?
In addition to filling out the form(s) during registration, you will need to send your step sheet and music to info@thelawranglers.org no later than August 19th.
Entries submitted after this date will be classified as “on‑site entries.” These participants must bring their music on a flash drive and provide six (6) printed copies of their step sheets IN ADDITION TO emailing the step sheets to info@thelawranglers.org.
All on‑site entries must be fully submitted (meaning all required materials written above are handed to WWLA staff) by August 21st at 5:00 PM. If we have not received your materials by this deadline, we will refund your entry fee, your dance(s) will be considered uneligible to compete, and your place will be given to someone on the waitlist.
For 2026 we will have a cap of 35 total entries across all 3 categories. IF we approach or reach our entry cap and you’ve submitted multiple routines, we may ask you to select only one to compete (the unselected pieces will have their entry fees refunded).

What Divisions Are Available?
There are three divisions available:
Corral A includes non-phrased Beginner and Improver level dances.
Corral B includes non-phrased Intermediate and Advanced level dances.
Corral C includes phrased dances of any level.
Detailed division guidance is available further down this page.

Does My Dance Have to Be Recently Choreographed?
The dance should have been created after September of 2025. Additionally, the dance cannot have been entered in a competition previously.
The spirit of this competition is to showcase fresh, original choreography, so entries should feature music and dances that are new to the bar scene and not already in regular rotation.

Can I Enter More Than One Dance?
For 2026, each choreographer may enter one (1) dance per division, for a maximum of three dances per choreographer.
Co-choreographed dances count as the one (1) dance in that division for each choreographer.

How Will the Competition Run?
·Competitors will arrive at the competition area no later than 15 minutes prior to the start time.
·Competitors will check in with the competition coordinator.
·The competition will begin with Corral A, then Corral B, then Corral C.
·Competitors will be called to the floor by name, entry number, and dance title.
·Corral A and Corral B will demo four (4) walls of their dances.
·Corral C will demo until they’ve shown all phrases of their dance.

Can I Have Someone Else Demo for Me?
Choreographers are expected to participate in the demo of their own dance - but please reach out if this is an issue.
Competitors may bring friends and co-choreographers onto the floor to demo the dance with them.
While competitors must have a Weekend Pass to compete, any additional dancers demoing are only required to have an All-Day Saturday pass.

Who Will Be Judging?
There will be a non-even number of judges, with the minimum being five (5).
The judges panel will consist of WWLA Instructors or experienced dance professionals who are invited by WWLA.

How Will the Competition Be Scored?
Relative Placement scoring will be used.

What Is the Judging Criteria?
Musicality: Correctly identifying the rhythms in the music and using step sequences that reflect them. Choreography that may hit more than just the beat; correctly identifying rhythms, accents, etc.
Originality & Flow: Original step sequences, arm motions, interpretation of music, with each sequence comfortably transitioning from one to the next.
Step Sheet: Being able to correctly identify and communicate step descriptions, level of difficulty, and sequences (tags, restarts, phrasing) of the dance.

What Placements and Awards Are Available?
1st place in each corral will receive a trophy and a WWLA merchandise certificate.
2nd place in each corral will receive a trophy.

One of the three first place dances will be selected as the overall winner and, in addition to the prizes above, will receive a WWLA 2027 Weekend Pass and their dance will be taught during WWLA 2026!

We encourage recognizing every choreographer who worked on the dance, and applicants are welcome to list all choreographers in the entry. However, please note that for prizes and awards, only choreographers who competed their winning dances and have purchased a weekend pass can receive the trophy, merchandise cerificate, and the 2027 weekend pass.

Music
Music should be free of inappropriate language. If it’s not something you could potentially play on the radio, you’ll likely need to find a clean version.

Dress Code
There are no requirements for what to wear however, clothing should be presentable and appropriate. No costumes or props. It is recommended that dance shoes (of any style) be worn. Any shoe that can damage the dance floors will not be allowed. Inappropriate clothing or shoes can result in disqualification. If an outfit or article of clothing is called into question, the judges and/or representatives of WWLA will have final say.