56th Alma Highland Festival & Games Highland Dance Competitions & Championships

Registration opens at 8:00am, competition will begin at 9:00am.
Primary: Pas de Basques (16), Pas de Basques and Highcuts, Fling (4), Sword (2+1)
Beginner/Novice/Intermediate: Flora (4), Fling (4), Sword (2+1), Seann Triubhas (3+1)

Trophy for each group winner will be awarded, except Primary.
Most Promising Beginner, Novice and Intermediate trophies will be awarded.

Registration opens at 10:30am, competition begins at the end of Pre-Premier competition, approximately 11:00am. Age groups will be determined based on the number of entries. Music must be Celtic in nature and be no more than 1 minute, 30 seconds (1:30).
Please send digital file of music to competition organizer AND bring digital music on the day of the competition.

Awards:
Cash prizes for top six places. Trophy awarded for first place winner.

Registration opens at 12:00pm, Championship will begin at 1:00pm.
Dances will consist of the published 2025 Championship Dances.

Age Groups:
7 and Under 10, 10 and Under 12, 12 and Under 14, 14 and Under 16, 16 and Under 18, 18 and Over. Groups may be combined based on the number of entries.

Championship Order: (Number of steps per RSOBHD)
Highland Fling
Sword
Seann Triubhas
Strathspey and Highland Reel (fill-ins will be utilized as necessary)

Awards:
Cash prizes for all groups. Trophy for overall group winner.
Trophy winners from each group will dance a 4-step Fling for Dancer of the Day.

Registration opens at 9:00am. Championship will begin at approximately 10:00am.

This event will be conducted under RSOBHD rules governing Closed Championships. The Midwest Region Closed Championship/competition is considered by the RSOBHD to be a preliminary heat to the USIR Championship. If there are age groups with fewer than six dancers, championship rules will still apply. In classes with three or fewer dancers, in order to qualify to compete in the USIR Championship, a dancer must gain aggregate points in the Regional Selection Competition. (ScotDance USA P and P, Article V Section A #6).

Age groups are set by ScotDance USA and will not be altered: 7 & Under 10, 10 & U12, 12 &
U14, 14 & U16, 16 & U18, 18 & U22, 22 & Over. A dancer’s age for the regional championship will be as of July 15, 2025.

In order to enter the Midwest Closed Championship a dancer must have been born in the region, lived in the region for a period of six (6) months immediately prior to the championship or temporarily reside in the region for a period of more than six (6) months in a calendar year because they are attending an educational institution in the region or for another legitimate reason. (ScotDance USA’s Policies & Procedures Article V Section C #2).

2024 RSOBHD Championship Steps required for all Premier dances: Fling, Sword, Sean Triubhas,
Strathspey and Highland Reel.

Dancers are expected to fill in for Reels if required.

Entries close 1 month prior to the date of the championship. No late entries will be accepted.

The first three winners (more for those categories with dancers holding a bye from USIR 2024) will be expected to represent the Region at the United States Inter-Regional Championship to be held in Santa Clara, CA July 9-13, 2025. https://nationalchampionship.scotdanceusa.com/. If you qualify as a representative and are unable to attend, please notify your regional delegate before June 1st.

Dancers who win a Perpetual trophy at the USIR are responsible for transport, storage and cleaning of the USIR perpetual trophy. If the dancer is unable to attend the following year’s USIR, it is their responsibility to safely ship the trophy to the required destination.

All dancers must be registered with SDUSA or another registration body in order to dance. DANCERS MUST PRESENT THEIR 2025 DANCER REGISTRATION CARD TO COMPETE! No digital or paper copy of card will be accepted.

All dance competitors, teachers, and parents are expected to comply with the ScotDance USA Code of Ethics.

Video Taping: Please video tape only your dancer. Be respectful of the privacy of others and do not video tape the other dancers. Please do not post videos online of dancers without their or their parent’s permission.

Awards:
Medals given for all placings. Trophies given for top 6 dancers in each group.

Donation of a Medal Set (First through Sixth places, medals and colored ribbons)

Donation of overall group trophy for both Premier and Pre-Premier competitions.