Step & Fiddle

ENTRY FEE: $10 per section

IMPORTANT DATES:

All competitions will be held on Saturday, September 13 below are the competition times

Entry Form Closing Date:

Sat, Sept. 6

(Last entry received is the first to dance or play in each class)

Competition will begin at 12pm—Classes will alternate between Step and Fiddle.

A Few Things to Remember:

  • All competitors will receive one (1) pass to the Western Fair for the day of the competition.

  • All entries must be made on the Microsoft Form Online. If entries in any section are not sufficient to ensure competition, the committee reserves the right to cancel any section or incorporate it with another suitable section.

  • A contestant may enter both fiddling and step dancing competitions, but may enter in one section only in each class with the exception of Group Step Dancing and Duet Fiddling

  • When age is a condition of entry it will be calculated as of September 1, 2025.

  • The above judging schedule is tentative and subject to change depending on entries received.

STEP DANCING

1. INDIVIDUAL STEP DANCERS -

8 years of age and under.

One dance only.

1st $50 | 2nd $40 | 3rd $30 | 4th $20 | 5th $10

2. INDIVIDUAL STEP DANCERS - 12 years of age and under. Dance, clog, jig and reel.

1st $60 | 2nd $50 | 3rd $40 | 4th $30

3. JUNIOR GROUP DANCE - 12 years old & under.

1st $100 | 2nd $75 | 3rd $50

4. INDIVIDUAL STEP - 18 years and under

1st $100 | 2nd $75 | 3rd $50

5. INDIVIDUAL STEP - 19 - 39 years of age.

1st $100 | 2nd $75 | 3rd $50

6. INDIVIDUAL STEP DANCERS - 40 years of age and over. Dance one number

1st $100 | 2nd $75 | 3rd $50

7. INDIVIDUAL STEP DANCERS - Open Class

1st $150 | 2nd $100 | 3rd $50

8. SENIOR GROUP DANCE - Open to dancing groups with three or more members. A group may perform any type of dance that is recognized as a group number. There will be a five-minute time limit for each group.

1st $150 | 2nd $100 | 3rd $60

  • Step Dancing

    Scoring will be based on the following criteria: Timing, Precision of Footwork, Quality & Variety of Steps, Showmanship & Personality The Western Fair Association will provide an experienced violin/piano duo. All contestants must dance to live music. A panel of two experienced judges will be provided. In all cases, the judges' decision is final.

    When making an entry in the Group Dance sections, the number of persons in the group and the name of the dance must be recorded on the entry form. To determine in which age category a group must compete, divide the total ages by the number of dancers in the group. ( Average ages of 11.2 or 11.9 for example are considered 11 years of age and under.)

    Any prize money that may be awarded to a group will be paid to the person who makes the entry.

OLD TYME FIDDLING

Scoring for this competition will be on a points basis as follows:

  • Time 25

  • Tone 25

  • Intonation 25

  • Overall Accuracy 25

  • Total 100

1. JUNIOR CLASS

8 years of age and under. To play one tune only, either a waltz, jig or reel.

1st $50 | 2nd $40 | 3rd $30

2. JUNIOR CLASS

12 years of age and under

1st $60 | 2nd $50 | 3rd $40

3. INTERMEDIATE CLASS

18 and under

1st $100 | 2nd $75 | 3rd $50

4. 19-44 years of age

1st $100 | 2nd $75 | 3rd $50

5. 45 and over

1st $100 | 2nd $75 | 3rd $50

6.OPEN CLASS

1st $300 | 2nd $200 | 3rd $100

7.DUET FIDDLING

1st $150 | 2nd $100 |3rd $60

  • All fiddlers, professional or amateur, are eligible to compete. Each contestant will be judged solely on their performance at the Western Fair.

    There will be a time limit of three minutes for each contestant.

    Solo contestants must play a Waltz, a Jig, and a Reel,

    in that order. Duet class must play a Waltz plus a tune of their choice & must play in harmony. Contestants will be disqualified for failure to comply with this rule. The contestant may move the microphone if he/she desires.

    Contestants must play old time style tunes.

    The Western Fair Association will provide a piano and a stand-by pianist for those who do not have their own accompanist.

    In the event a contestant has problems with their instrument (i.e. broken string etc.) a re-play will be allowed. The Western Fair Association will provide a panel of judges who will consider the following in making their decision. Tempo (must be suitable for old time dancing), Tone, Style, Technique and Accuracy.

    In all cases the judges' decision is final.