Newcomer Program Policy
The Newcomer Program is a curated experience for new dancers (less than 1 year of experience, and still learning the basics). We design it as a progressive, holistic program to get you started in this wonderful community in a safe, supportive, and (less) intimidating environment. We control the number of attendees to give you a better experience, and balance leads and follows.
Even if they have been dancing less than one year, those who have ever competed in a BZDC Zouk Jack and Jill, taught Zouk formally or informally, attended and participated in another Zouk congress, or have assisted in a workshop, are not eligible for the Newcomer program unless you get a written exemption from CZC. If you are unsure if you qualify for a Newcomer pass or are seeking an exemption, please contact CZC directly.
Newcomer workshop attendance on Saturday and Sunday is mandatory. If you enroll in this program, we expect you to actually be a newcomer who intends to attend workshops and learn Zouk. It is NOT a party or night pass for experienced Zouk dancers. We will be taking attendance in the workshops. If we determine that you are using the pass as a party or night pass (for example, if we see you attended no workshops), you may be banned from future editions of CZC.
Newcomers are not eligible for Novice + levels for Jack and Jill competitions, but we will have a Newcomer for-fun JnJ competition – where you might win a Weekend Pass to next year!
Lead/Follow Policy
Regular Weekend Passes
CZC does maintain a balance of lead and follow/switch passes, and expects people to social dance primarily in the role they purchased. We don’t care what your gender is – but we do care about balancing dance roles for a better event experience!
Please note that every person who purchases their non-dominant role actually unbalances the roles x2. First, they add an extra person in the overbalanced role. Second, they take away one of the other role’s positions. So, if even 10 people do this, it can really impact the overall balance of leads and follows!
We expect people to honestly purchase the pass that reflects their role. If no passes are available or are out of your price range, we expect you to join our waitlist. If we determine that you are not honest in selecting your role, we may decide to ban you from CZC.
You are permitted to switch it up in workshops. However, if your level in the other role is lower, we expect you to attend workshops that are at your skill level.
Newcomer Weekend Passes
For Newcomers, we expect you to select the ticket that reflects your intention for the workshops. Since you have your own dedicated and limited capacity program, it is important that your accurate workshop role is reflected in your ticket purchase.
Workshop & Workshop Levelling/Assessment Policy
Workshop Policy
Non-Newcomer Weekend Passes include access to all weekend (Fri-Sun) workshops, except for separately ticketed workshops series and Newcomer only workshops.
Open, Open/Newcomer, and Intermediate workshops are open to all non-Newcomer Weekend Pass holders. Admittance to Advanced and Challenge workshops is by level assessment or pre-qualification only – no exceptions.
Newcomer Weekend passes may only attend Newcomer workshops, and are not eligible to take Thursday intensives or daytime Friday workshops.
Workshop Levelling/Assessment Policy
Canada Zouk Congress strives to create a balanced educational schedule with something to benefit dancers at every stage of their journey. We need your help and cooperation to make this a success.
We use workshop level assessments for Advanced and Challenge level workshops. This is not in place to penalize you for not being “good enough” – you are good the way you are! Rather, it is designed to give you and others material that you can actually use and learn. If you want to take these workshops, you must qualify either through BZDC points or CZC’s level assessment system.
All participants are welcome to attend classes at or lower than their placement level. However, we will monitor Advanced and Challenge classes for the appropriate wristbands. This is our policy for if you are found in a class you are not qualified for:
- Your first time, you will be given a warning. The second time, you may be banned from the event without refund.
- If you are found using a stolen, found, scavenged, or “donated” wristband (or, if you give your wristband to someone else), you will be banned immediately.
- If you lie about your audition number to obtain an advanced or challenge wristband, you will be banned immediately.
We hope we do not need to enforce this policy. Most attendees do respect the policy – please be part of that most. It makes the experience better for everyone. You can find more information on the Level Assessments page.
Ticket Changes, Transfer, and Refund Policy
Changes
Changes are permitted to things like contact information. For role or ticket type, changes are permitted if the requested ticket is still available and the tickets are the same price (for example, changing the role). Transfers to another individual are not considered changes, and the Transfers policy will apply.
Refunds
Tickets purchased by an individual are refundable until January 31, 2025. Tickets purchased as part of a group deal are not refundable, but are transferrable. No refunds will be provided after January 31, 2025. A refund request can be sent with the subject REFUND – Ticket # to events@dzouk.com.
CZC reserves the right to refund any ticket for any reason, including for behavioural concern reasons or if the attendee does not meet the requirements for that pass (for example, a non-newcomer purchasing a Newcomer pass).
Transfers
Participants are strongly encouraged to use the Transfer Tool on our Danceplace page to facilitate transfers. The pass holder can list the ticket for sale, and the buyer can buy the pass through there without a need to message CZC. Once the seller marks the transfer as complete, the ticket will be transferred.
Tickets are transferrable until April 15, 2024. All transfers must be for the same role (for example, lead or follow). No attendee may sell a pass for more than they paid for the pass. Scalping or making a profit off of pass resales is strictly prohibited and will result in a permanent ban from CZC at the organizer’s discretion. Passes posted for sale on the Transfer Board are already pre-cleared as legitimate by Danceplace. Buyers should contact CZC if buying a pass using another avenue to ensure it is legitimate.
Transfers before January 31, 2025 are free of charge, unless the pass was purchased as part of a group deal and is being transferred to someone outside the group area (in which case a transfer fee will apply). All other weekend pass ticket transfers are subject to a transfer fee of $40 CAD.
Add-on passes are not subject to a transfer fee, and can be transferred freely to someone else holding a Full Pass. While there is no deadline for these transfers, transfers initiated in May can have some processing delays as we are deep in planning, and participants may need to spend extra time at check-in.
Competition Policy
You are responsible for ensuring you accurately register for the right division, provide accurate information (including your BZDC number and spelling your name as recorded in the registry), and register in your preferred role. You are also responsible for ensuring you arrive on time for your division’s check-in. You acknowledge that by registering for a competition, your name (psuedonyms are permitted) and competition results will appear on CZC’s website and/or other communication channels, and on the Brazilian Zouk Dance Council registry.
Refunds are not provided on competition registration. If you do not arrive on time for check-in, you may be scratched (removed) from the competition without refund. If you register for a division you are not qualified for in the BZDC registry, you are responsible for making a petition to BZDC and communicating the results to us, or communicating why you have an exemption. Otherwise, CZC may reassign your competition designation without contacting you. If you need further information on competitions, please visit our Competitions page.