Adjudication
Judging Information
Our championship is scored by an experienced international panel against a clear, weighted set of criteria. Here is who judges and how it works.
2026 Panel
Meet the Judges
A world-class panel from across New Zealand and abroad — more to be announced soon! Full biographies and photos will be published closer to competition day. Tap any judge for details.
How Scores Are Awarded
Scoring Criteria
Each judge scores every criterion out of 10, multiplied by (weighting ÷ 10), giving a final score out of 100.
Swipe the table sideways to see all entry types
| Scoring Criteria | Solos | Duets & Shine Teams | Couples & Partnered Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timing | 25% | 20% | 20% |
| Musicality | 15% | 15% | 15% |
| Technique | 15% | 15% | 15% |
| Difficulty | 15% | 15% | 15% |
| Partnership/Connection & SynchronicityDuets & Shine Teams: Synchronicity only. Couples & Partnered Teams: combined. | – | 15% | 15% |
| Choreography | 15% | 10% | 10% |
| Overall Presentation | 15% | 10% | 10% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
What Each Criterion Means
- Timing
- Recognisable timing for the majority of the performance — correct, consistent rhythm and syncopation for the relevant Latin style. Deductions for interchanging 1/5 (On1) or 2/6 (On2) unless a temporary break is purposeful and intentional. For teams, synchronisation of timing across the group is also scrutinised.
- Musicality
- Ability to creatively interpret the timing and phrasing of the music through patterns, footwork, hits and tricks.
- Technique
- Balance, placement and line; grounded movement with clear weight changes; technique and styling specific to the dance style. Movement should look clear and effortless.
- Difficulty
- Difficulty of patterns, turns, intricacy of shines, tricks, dips, drops and flares — credit only given where successfully executed.
- Partnering/Connection
- The lead and follow quality of the partnership — genuine connection versus merely executing choreography while holding hands.
- Synchronicity
- Unison of a team in side-by-side movement, line placement, footwork, styling, and the use and transition of formations.
- Choreography
- Use of floor space, interpretation of music, pattern and shine combinations, formation changes, and use of height levels.
- Overall Presentation
- Aesthetic and professionalism of costuming and appearance, entrance, exit and sportsmanship. Costume malfunctions carry tiered deductions — 2 points for a complete loss, 2 for a distracting mishap, 1 for a minor mishap and 0 for an event wristband issue (see the full Deductions Table on Competitor Info).