EINZLPREISPLATTELN (EP) RULES

OF THE GAUVERBAND NORDAMERIKA

(As at February 1, 2004)

Article I - General Rules

A.                 An EP competition shall only be held in conjunction with a sanctioned Gaufest, at a time and location to be determined by the host Verein.

B.                 If a competition is held, rules and regulations as outlined in the current EP Rules of the Gauverband Nordamerika shall be followed.  Changes to the EP rules can be made by proposing them at a Delegates meeting, and having a simple majority in favor of the proposed change.

C.                 All arrangements for the proper conduct of the EP shall be the responsibility of the Dance Officers of the Gauverband Board, who are the 1.Vorplattler, 2.Vorplattler and Vortänzerin.

D.                 The dance floor shall accommodate a 4.0 metre diameter circle with an inner concentric circle of 1.0 metre in diameter.

E.                  EP is for dancers 16 and up.  There are no age categories.

F.                  In order for a couple to be eligible to perform in the EP competition they must:

‑ be a Buam and a Dirndl of a Member Verein in good standing, of the Gauverband;

- individuals do not need the permission of their Verein to register, nor does a couple

              performing together, have to be from the same Verein;

‑ register with the host Verein no later than thirty days prior to the relevant Gaufest EP

  date.

G.                 The dance performed shall be the couples’ choice from either the Haushamer, Heitauer, or Reit-im-Winkl.

J.                   At the Gau Judges Training weekend, names of couples will be randomly drawn by the Dance Officers.  Couples will dance in the order drawn.  The Dance Officers reserve the right to limit the total number of participating couples and/or the number of couples per Verein.  No individual may register for EP more than once.  Couples will be notified of their status (selected, or not selected). 

K.                The atmosphere is intended to be relaxed and informal.  There will be no routing of couples through practice rooms, no holding areas, no locked doors, etc.  Spectators will be welcome.

L.                  At the EP, the judges will indicate they are ready.  The announcer will ask couples in rotation to take the floor, with no music or march in.  The couples will be asked before they start the dance, whether they are ready.  After a Yes reply from the Bua, the dance will begin.  Taped music will not be permitted.

M.               Couples will leave the floor without music.  Each individual will be given a Certificate of Participation, inscribed with his and her names, along with their scores and ranking, at the Sunday picnic.  Subject to a Gauverband decision, prizes may be awarded.

Article II - EP Richter and Training

A.                 Under the supervision of the Dance Officers,  three EP Richter will be selected.  They will be accompanied by recording secretaries. 

B.                 Any member in good standing, of a Gau Member Verein in good standing, is eligible to be an EP Gaurichter.

C.                 The Dance Officers will meet with the EP Richter and their secretaries, prior to the Gaufest for the purpose of the EP Gaurichter training.  Unless otherwise agreed upon, this meeting shall be run in conjunction with the GP Richter training. 

D.                 The Gauverband will pay the travel expenses of the EP Gaurichter as may be required.   The Dance Officer will disseminate minutes of this training session and mail these to the Gauverband membership.

Article III -  Scoring

A.                 Only the Gauverband’s official EP score sheet, and infractions, shall be used (see Score Sheet - Appendix A).

B.                 Every infraction shall result in loss of one point.  Total infractions will be subtracted from 75. 

C.                 Under “Impression”, up to 25 points will be given by each Judge for overall appearance, Tracht, liveliness, dance, Juchezen.

D.                 The TOTAL, is the sum of all points lost for the various infractions deducted from 75 (as calculated in (B), plus the points for Impression.

E.                  All three EP Richter’ scores will be used, with no elimination of high and low scores.

F.                  If a tie occurs, the highest score for Artistic Impression will be the tie-breaker.  If there is still a tie, the highest total score will be removed.  Similarly, then the lowest total score will be removed.  If a tie still exists, the manner of a tie breaker will be left to the Dance Officers.

G.                 Any mathematical errors in the scoring sheets must be brought to the attention of the Dance Officers for action, within twenty‑four hours after receiving score sheets.  The action to be taken will be determined by the Dance Officers.

H.                 The Gaubibliothekar shall have the responsibility of maintaining on file, the final scoresheets of each competition.

Article IV - General Dance Rules

I.                    The style in which the EP is performed, is at the discretion of each individual couple, but there must be continuous motion throughout the Plattler. Pauses no longer than three beats, or one measure of music at any one time, are permitted.

J.                   The minimum requirement for each performance in the EP shall be:

            ‑ two Aufsprunge per Eingang, and two Aufsprunge per Aufgang;

            ‑ two trios (waltz sequences) of sixteen measures each;

            ‑ one Plattler sequence of sixteen measures; and

            ‑ one Plattler sequence of thirty‑two measures.

K.                The couple shall dance a "Landler‑Waltz" to the waltz sequence, which unlike the ballroom waltz, is done almost flatfooted with no hop. The waltz motion must be smooth and continuous, a momentary stop of one beat at the end of the waltz leading into the Ausdrehen is permissible.

L.                  Juchezen will be permitted during EP.

M.               Once a couple is on the floor, adjusting of the Tracht is not allowed.

N.                There should be no talking during EP.  The couple can only stop the music once, only up to the first trio, and only if the wrong music is played.

O.                Taunting of the girls such as kicking the skirts or lifting of skirts is forbidden.

P.                  Uneven or light stamps are not permitted. 

Q.                Personal appearance must be neat and presentable.

R.                 There must be one musician only, who is positioned outside the circles, and does not march on or off.

S.                  The Buam must plattl within the inner circle, and continuously face the Dirndl.  The Dirndl must remain between the circles at all times.

T.                  The Catch and Rundtanz must take place between the circles.

U.                 Inner circle line crossing for Einholen (staulking) will not be judged.

Article V ‑ Judging Tracht

A.                 EP participants must wear Gebirgstracht.

Symbols to Record EP Infractions

BC - Bell collapsed (due to slow, uneven turning)

BT - Bell touched other dancer

CR - Catch rough (appearance, shuffle, missed step, etc.)

CT - Catch timing (early or late)

FG - Facing girl (boy not facing girl while plattln)

GS - Girl stopped (turning)

MA - Missed aufsprung

P - Posture of couple

PB - Posture of boy

PG - Posture of girl

T - Timing of couple (during turnout, schlussfigur, etc.)

TB - Timing boys (plattln hits, stamping, etc.)

TG - Timing girls (turning speed in, out)

TOG - Turnout of girl (girl made less than one full turn)

WB - Wandering of boy while plattln (stepping on or over line)

WC - Wandering couple (stepping on or over line)

WG - Wandering of girl while turning (stepping on or over line)

WT - Waltz timing