Athletes will compete at the age they will be on August 31, 2023.

Music & time limits for events:

*COSTUME MODELING 1 min max; model in costume w/baton, all patterns and styles welcome

BASIC STRUT 32 Count Square – USTA Basic/Military/Parade Music

MILITARY “L” STRUT 32 Count L-shaped pattern – USTA Basic/Military/Parade Music

*MILITARY BOX March in Box, all styles welcome – USTA Basic/Military/Parade Music

PARADE MARCH 40-count music with 32-count forward progression

march beginning on second count of 8 – USTA Basic/Military/Parade Music

PRESENTATION 32 Count open pattern - USTA Presentation Music

STRUT (USTA) 1 ½ min – USTA Strut Music

*X-STRUT 2 min max – IBTF X-Strut Music

*FANCY (LINE) STRUT 2 ½ min max – Twirl Mania “Time After Time” Music

ARTISTIC TWIRL 1:40 – USTA Artistic Twirl Music

SOLO (Nov, Beg, Int) 1 ½ min – USTA Beg/Int Solo Music

SOLO (Adv) Adv – 2 min – USTA Adv Solo Music

*OPEN SOLO 2 ½ min max – WFNBTA Music; There are NO point penalties for timing

(under or over) for 2.5 min solo. Athletes may finish before the music ends and pose. Athletes are expected to finish when the music ends (judging will stop when the music ends.)

TWO BATON 1 ½ min – USTA Beg/Int Solo Music

THREE BATON 1 ½ min – USTA Beg/Int Solo Music

*HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP time limit 2:30 – music of athlete’s choice

*COLLEGE CHAMPIONSHIP time limit 2:30 – music of athlete’s choice

COLLEGIATE EVENT (critique only) time limit 2:30 – music of athlete’s choice

FREESTYLE/*RHYTHMIC (critique only) 2:30 min max – 1 baton routine – music of athlete’s choice

*indicates a non-USTA event

USTA Competitive Achievement System (CAS) Events:

SHORT PROGRAM (critique only) Women's SP Music Men's SP Music

MOVEMENT TECHNIQUE (evaluation or critique only)

COMPULSORIES (evaluation or critique only)

DUET (Nov, Beg, Int) 1 ½ min – USTA Beg/Int Solo Music

DUET (Adv) 2 min – USTA Adv Solo Music

ARTISTIC TWIRL PAIR 1:40 – USTA Artistic Twirl Music

FREESTYLE PAIR 2 ½ min max – music of athlete’s choice

Group (ages) Competes In These Events

Dolly’s Sweetheart (0-9, 10-13, 14-17, 18+) Basic Strut, Open Solo, & Costume Modeling

Opry Sweetheart (0-9, 10-13, 14-17, 18+) Basic Strut, Open Solo, & Costume Modeling

Smoky Mountain Sweetheart (0-9, 10-13, 14-17, 18+) 2 Baton, Open Solo, & Costume Modeling

Blue Suede Sweetheart (0-9, 10-13, 14-17, 18+) 2 Baton, Open Solo, & Costume Modeling Music City Sweetheart (14-17, 18+) 2 Baton, Open Solo, & Costume Modeling Athletes may not enter more than one pageant.

What level are you for the Music City Sweetheart Pageant?

Below is a guide to choose the appropriate level for the pageant based on twirling skill level:

• Dolly’s Sweetheart: these athletes are new to twirling, working on basic twirling skills, and are not completing more than a one spin (may be working on, but have not mastered, 2 spins).

• Opry Sweetheart: these athletes have at least one year of twirling experience, can complete basic single or double rolls (two elbows, elbow extension, etc.), and are not completing more than a two spin and single element tricks (toss illusion, toss cartwheel, etc.).

• Smoky Mountain Sweetheart: these athletes have several years of twirling experience, can complete rolls in continuous combinations, are completing a maximum of 3 or 4 spins, and may be working on, but are not consistently completing any double element tricks.

• Blue Suede Sweetheart: these athletes are consistently completing multiple roll combinations, 4+ spins, and double element tricks or higher.

• Music City Sweetheart: these athletes are consistently completing advanced/elite roll combinations, 4+ spins w/variety of catches, and competing at the elite level in their organization by placing in the top 7 at the national level.

Determining the winner:

The overall winner in each group will be determined using a place points: 1st Place = 1 points, 2nd Place = 2 points, 3rd Place = 3 points, etc. For example, an athlete placing 1st in Solo (1 points), 4th in Basic Strut (4 points), and 2nd in Costume Modeling (2 points) would have a total of 1+4+2=7 points. The athlete with the fewest place points in each division will be the Sweetheart winner. A tie in place points will be broken by combining total scores in all events.

Awards:

The overall winner of each group will receive a Music City Sweetheart Sash and custom cowgirl hat with tiara.

Other important information:

The events for the Music City Sweetheart Pageant are separate from the “regular” NashTwirl individual events. So, an entry in the MCS Pageant enters an athlete in the events listed above for their level, and ONLY athletes entered in the pageant will compete in each of those events. Athletes entered in the pageant may also choose to enter the same events in the NashTwirl competition. For example, an athlete who enters the Dolly’s Sweetheart pageant will be entered in MCS Basic Strut, Open Solo & Costume Modeling; this athlete may also choose to enter the separate events of Basic Strut, Solo and/or Costume Modeling.

Open Solo competition - the top 5 athletes in each age group will advance to NashTwirl Cup Solo finals. The winning athlete in each age group (0-9, 10-13, 14-17, 18-21, 22+) will be awarded the title of NashTwirl Cup Champion.

Awards:

Each NashTwirl Cup Champion will receive a custom NashTwirl Cup Champion denim jacket and custom- blinged cowboy boot award perfect for displaying at home.

High School – Enrolled in high school or a member of their high school marching band

Collegiate – Accepted to College

Athletes twirl to music of their choice showcasing their school. Athletes may use multiple batons or other twirling equipment.

Awards:

The High School and Collegiate Event winner will be awarded with a guitar (revolving award).

REMINDER OF USTA TEAM/GROUP RULES THAT WENT IN EFFECT IN 2020:

• Team/group athletes’ ages on August 31, 2023, will be used to determine age categories (either the average age or age of oldest team member may be used).

• A Dance Twirl team may only enter one level above their current classification/proficiency level. For instance, a team may only enter Beginner Dance Twirl team and Intermediate Dance Twirl team (if the Intermediate level of competition is offered). They may NOT enter Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. If a team chooses to compete at a higher level, they are still limited to enter two consecutive classifications (for example, Beginner and Intermediate, or Intermediate and Advanced). A team may not enter Beginner and Advanced if the Intermediate level of competition is offered. The Intermediate level of competition for Dance Twirl teams is optional.

• Important Twirl Team rules:

o Twirl teams will compete at the levels of Novice, A, AA, AAA, and Elite.

o Novice, A, and AA levels will be considered “open” or “Festival of the Future” level events. AAA and Elite levels will be considered “State,” “Regional,” or “National” level events.

o Each level (with the exception of Elite) has content restrictions.

o See the USTA Rulebook for the full Twirl Team rules and content restrictions chart.

• Important Parade Corps, Entertainment Corps (formerly Show Corps), and Show Team rules:

o There will only be one level for Parade Corps, Entertainment Corps, and Show Teams. The levels of A Class and Open Class are no longer be offered.

o There are no longer age divisions for Parade and Entertainment Corps. Show Teams will still have the following age divisions: Primary, Juvenile, Junior, and Senior.

o Member requirement for Parade and Entertainment Corps is a minimum of 10 members.

General team size, time limit, level and age info:

(age used for competition is the age the athlete will be on 8/31/2023)

DANCE TWIRL TEAMS (2:00-3:00 minutes)

GROUP SIZE

SMALL TEAM: 4-8 members

LARGE TEAM: 9 or more members

LEVELS

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

AGE DIVISIONS

TINY TOT (only Beg. & Int): All members are 7 years or younger

PRIMARY: Members are an average age of 0-9.99 years

JUVENILE: Members are an average age of 10-13.99 years

JUNIOR: Members are an average age of 14-17.99 years

SENIOR: Members are an average age of 18 years or older

TWIRL TEAMS (2:00-3:30 minutes)

GROUP SIZE

SMALL TEAM: 4-8 members

LARGE TEAM: 9 or more members

LEVELS & AGE DIVISIONS

PRIMARY: Members are an average age of 0-9.99 years

Levels: Novice, A

JUVENILE: Members are an average age of 10-13.99 years

Levels: Novice, A, AA

JUNIOR: Members are an average age of 14-17.99 years

Levels: Novice, A, AA, AAA, Elite

SENIOR: Members are an average age of 18 years or older

Levels: Novice, A, AA, AAA, Elite

TRIOS (2:00-3:00 minutes)

GROUP SIZE: 3 members

AGE DIVISIONS

PRIMARY: Members are an average age of 0-9.99 years

JUVENILE: Members are an average age of 10-13.99 years

JUNIOR: Members are an average age of 14-17.99 years

SENIOR: Members are an average age of 18 years or older

SHOW TEAMS (2:00-3:00 minutes)

GROUP SIZE

SMALL TEAM: 4-8 members

LARGE TEAM: 9 or more members

ONE LEVEL

AGE DIVISIONS

PRIMARY: Members are an average age of 0-9.99 years

JUVENILE: Members are an average age of 10-13.99 years

JUNIOR: Members are an average age of 14-17.99 years

SENIOR: Members are an average age of 18 years or older

PARADE CORPS (2:00-4:00 minutes)

GROUP SIZE: 10 or more members

ONE LEVEL: NO AGE DIVISIONS

ARTISTIC GROUPS (2:00-3:00 minutes)

GROUP SIZE: 10 or more members

ONE LEVEL: NO AGE DIVISIONS

ENTERTAINMENT CORPS (2:00-3:00 minutes)

(formerly Show Corps)

GROUP SIZE: 10 or more members

ONE LEVEL: NO AGE DIVISION