Ceremonial Team Competition
Purpose
The Purpose of ceremonial competition is to improve ceremony standards
in lodges by providing an opportunity for teams to view each other in action,
allowing for a sharing of performance techniques. Teams should constantly
be motivated by the desire to improve.
Guidelines
1. All team members must be from the lodge entering the team with their
current dues paid, and be registered members of the Boy Scouts of America.
2. Each team member must be under the age of twenty-one.
3. Lodges may submit more than one team for competition. However, individuals
may perform with only one team on each category. An individual may compete
in more than one ceremony if he is from a different category. Multiple
teams will be judged as time permits.
4. The ceremony team must be an active team participating in ceremonies
within the lodge. “All- Star” teams are not allowed.
5. Each participant in the ceremony competition must be in American-style
dress. All characters should be of the same tribe so as to blend in with
each other. No face or body paint or wigs will be allowed.
6. The following props will be provided for lodges to use during the
ceremony competition: candles, fire lays, and rope. Other props, as required,
are to be provided by the lodge at the time of competition. Teams may provide
any extra props they might need to enhance the ceremony.
7. Parts must be fully memorized. Individual team members may be disqualified
for evidence of omitting or garbling the text. Omissions or garbling may
also result in points being deducted from the score.
8. In order to be eligible for competition, each lodge entering a team
must also provide a judge to assist in running of the competition event.
These individuals will be assigned to serve but will not judge their own
lodge. See Judging requirements below.
9. Each lodge team is required to send a team representative to the
competition briefing meeting. Check the schedules for the time and place
of the meeting. Judges are also required to attend this meeting. Failure
to do so will disqualify the team from competition.
10. Judging on the teams will be based on the following: expressiveness,
speech, motion, and mannerisms, understandability, and accuracy and memorization.
In addition, lodges will be evaluated on teamwork, smoothness and effectiveness
of staging techniques, costuming and the composite impression the team
creates.
Competition Judge Eligibility Requirements
1. Good working knowledge of the ceremony so that he will notice deviations
from the text without having to refer to the ceremony pamphlet.
2. Worked with a ceremony team at least two years.
3. Attend the ceremonial competition briefing meeting as scheduled.
Competition Categories
1. Pre-Ordeal
Competition will cover the Pre-Ordeal Ceremony and will be judged upon
the most recent version of the ceremony.
2. Ordeal
Competition will cover the Ordeal Ceremony and will be judged upon
the most recent version of the ceremony.
3. Brotherhood
Competition will cover the Brotherhood Ceremony and will be judged
upon the most recent version of the ceremony.
Competition Awards
Three categories of awards are presented. Each team is eligible for an
“Honor,” “Merit,” or “Standard” rating based on the total points earned.
In addition the top three teams will receive additional recognition. Individuals
will also be recognized for best performances in each of the positions.
Ceremony Time Slots
Saturday -
1:15 - 5:15 All Teams
Location of Pre-Ordeal and Ordeal Ceremonies will be at {location}.
The Brotherhood ceremony competition will be held at {a different location}.
Expect the competition to last approximately one hour.
See the Ceremony Team Registration Form on
Individual Dance Contest
Rules
1. Dancers must wear appropriate authentic clothing. There are many styles,
but they may include the basic elements: a hair roach, neck/back bustles,
moccasins, bells, apron, and other miscellaneous accessories. War bonnets
and chief’s clothing may only be acceptable in the Old Style.
2. No parts of any protected species may appear on the costume. The
dancers can not wear face paint, body paint, or wigs. This is an automatic
disqualification.
3. Dancers must dance in the dance style of their clothing. There are
several styles of dancing. It does not matter what kind of dance you do
as long as you dance in the style dictated by your costume. Do not mix
styles. Dancers may not compete in the finals in more than one dance style.
If you are eliminated in one style you may change outfits and dance in
another as long as scheduling permits.
4. Losing an article off the attire during the contest means automatic
disqualification. This problem is easily eliminated as long as everything
is properly maintained and tightened.
5. All contestants must confirm their registration when they arrive
at the competition site.
6. All dances must be under twenty-one.
7. All dancers must be members of the Order of the Arrow and the BSA.
8. Dancers must be prepared to dance inside and outside.
9. No dance outfit construction will be permitted at the Conclave.
10. All dancers must wear their contestant numbers while dancing.
11. Overstepping a song is automatic disqualification.
12. The dance categories are: Northern Fancy, Southern Feathers, Straight
Dance, Old Style, and Traditional. Awards will be given to the top finishing
dancers according to the judges.
All dancers are encouraged to participate in the clothing judging. This
competition will be held immediately before the dancing competition. Awards
and constructive critiques will be given out by a panel of selected judges.
All dancers are encouraged to dance in the Pow Wow.
Team Dancing Competiton
Definition
1. A dance team shall consist of Arrowmen from one lodge performing up
to a total of three specific group dances as they were performed by a specific
tribe from a specific time in history.
2. Judging preference will be given to those teams who perform more
than one dance.
3. All the members of the team must be from the same lodge.
4. All the participants must be under twenty-one, members of the BSA
and the OA, and registered Conclave participants.
Acceptable Dances
1. Religious Dances acceptable if permission in writing is grated by the
Tribal Council of the specific tribe to perform the dances.
2. The following Religious or Sacred Dances are not acceptable:
A. Masked dances of: The tribes in the Pueblos, the Apache Mountain
Spirit or Devil Dance, Cherokee, Creek, those of the Longhouse tribes or
false face societies, those from the northwest coast tribes, and the Sioux
Ghost Dance or Pipe Ceremony.
B. Survival: Any dance asking a Supreme Being for aid, a good hunt,
harvest, or needed rain should be avoided.
3. Lack of accurate information on Dances should be avoided.
4. No protected species parts may be worn on the attire.
5. No face paint, body paint, or wigs will be permitted.
Time Limit
1. Twenty Minutes total time on stage begins with the announcement of the
dances and is concluded when the stage is clear.
2. Dance time begins with the first motion of the dances and is concluded
with the last motion.
Registration
The following information must be submitted in advance:
1. A brief description of the dances as you will perform them.
2. Brief historical background of the dances.
3. Brief historical background of the songs used in the dances.
4. Geographic description of any and all props used.
5. Graphic description of the outfits you have made for the dances.
6. Type of musical accompaniment you will use.
7. Complete list of all references you have used to research your dances.
Recognition and Awards
1. Awards will be given to the top finishing teams according to the judges.
2. An award will be given for authenticity.
3. Certificates will be awarded to the entering teams.
4. The top team will be given the opportunity to dance at the show.
Judging Criteria
| Authenticity |
10 Points |
| Research |
25 Points |
| American Indian Attire |
15 Points |
| Performance of Dance |
15 Points |
| Ability to Perform as a Team |
15 Points |
| Music |
20 Points |
| Total Number of Points |
100 Points |
Team Singing Competition
Purpose
Singing will be done in a team fashion. You will be required to sing two
songs which must have written documentation that you will need to send
with your pre-registration. Awards will be given to the top two teams.
All Judging decisions are final. Teams will be divided into either Northern
or Southern Styles.
Rules
1. All singing will be done in a team fashion.
2. Written documentation is required for each song.
3. You will be required to sing a general song, and a song for a special
event.
4. The songs are restricted to Southern of Northern Plains singing.
5. You will be judged on the authenticity ans the quality of presentation
of the songs.
6. Anyone singing must be under twenty-one, a member of the OA and
BSA, and a registered Conclave participant.
7. All team members must be from the same lodge.
8. The songs must be at least 2 minutes but no more than 10 minutes.
9. A representative from each team must be present at the team and
judges meeting. Check the schedule for time and location.
10. Each lodge is required to bring its own drum and sticks.
Indian Crafts
Categories
1. Headgear (bonnets, roaches, hats)
2. Body Apparel (leggings, vests, shirts)
3. Bustles
4. Hand-held items (spears, shields, medicine wheels, fans)
5. Miscellaneous Accessories (breastplates, chokers, belts, moccasins)
Rules
All entries for the competition must be ready for judging fifteen minutes
after the preliminary dance competitions. The participant should bring
a card table or blanket to set the display upon. Extra security will be
provided, but responsibility for the crafts is left to the entree. The
entree must articulately be prepared to describe vocally or written:
1. What the article is.
2.The date from which the article is reproduced.
3.The use and history of the article.
4.The research
5.The materials used to make the article.
Participants should be prepared to answer any questions from the judges
or the participants. If the builder is unable to remain with the work,
he should leave a written report on the above mentioned requirements.
Awards
A first, second, and third place will be awarded to the top three youth
in each of the categories.
Sandpainting
Categories
1. Traditional --
An Indian design is to be painted using only those instruments recorded
to be used by the Indians for Sandpainting--the hands, fingers, a batten,
and a piece of yarn. The four traditional colors are to be used: black,
red, white, and yellow. Other colors can be used only if mixed from the
basic colors.
2. Modern --
The rules from traditional apply to this category with the addition
that other artificial implements may be used as you feel necessary. This
includes the use of folded paper, ball point pen tubes, etc. Colors are
the same as traditional. Artist may use original ideas including patch
designs, scenery, etc.
3. Theme --
Same as modern. The artwork should incorporate the theme of the Conclave.
Levels of Competition
Contestants must honestly classify themselves as:
1. Novice - first time competitor
2. Intermediate - participation in more than one sand painting competition
3. Advanced - participation in several sand painting competitions
Rules
1. All entrants will adhere to the rules set forth for this competition.
2. Decisions of the judges are final.
3. Entrants will be “on thy honor” to fill out the entry form accurately
and honestly.
4. Maximum time for Sandpainting is three hours.
5. All sandpaintings will be done on the ground with a neutral color
sand background provided. Entrants may bring their own colored sand.
If you wish to receive a picture of your painting, give the head Judge
your address and fifty cents for mailing and developing.
Judges Recap
Ceremonial Events: One adult per competing team
Indian Crafts: Three judges per lodge
Sandpainting: Three judges per lodge
Dancing/Singing: Three judges per lodge
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