Competitions

DERT runs several competitions over the weekend. Most teams enter the main competition, which is split into Premier, Championship, and Open based on skill level. Every team gets a warm-up dance, then performs in five pubs with two judges per venue.

Judges score sword handling, dance technique, stepping, and music. They’re looking for clean figures, tight timing, good footwork, and whether the music matches what the dancers are doing.

Main Competition

This consists of three classes; Premier, Championship and Open. Every team will have a warm-up dance prior to judging and then will perform in five competition pubs, in front of two judges per pub. Apart from the other individual competition awards, all prizes (music, buzz, character etc.) are based on the results of this competition.

Marking Criteria - Sword Handling & Dance Technique Marking Criteria - Stepping & music Competition Rules

Traditional Competition

By its nature, Rapper is a tradition that is constantly evolving and innovating. There is the danger that, as Rapper changes, it moves further away from its roots in the mining villages of Northumberland and Durham. The purpose of this competition is to act as a reminder of our roots and celebrate the link to these original Rapper dances and the people who danced them.

Spotlight Competition

This is a one-off competition where the best team performance in front of the judges wins the Spotlight competition. It is judged in the same way as the main competition and is designed to have an element of the pre-2003 DERT where competing teams performed one dance for the title. This is an opportunity for teams to perform as if they were on stage, using the space available to create something more spectacular than the standard pub dance.

DERTy

To start the day, competing teams perform once in front of the judges; this dance isn’t scored, but it is an opportunity to receive feedback before having time to work on the comments and shake off the nerves.

Teams will then get the chance to dance a couple of times in one of the pubs, before heading back to the DERTy venue to perform again for the judges. This time it’s a formal judging process with scores and feedback.

At the start of the evening Showcase there will be a prize-giving and an opportunity to perform at the start of the Showcase.

Prizes

Division Winners

Competing teams will be arranged into three divisions (Premier, Championship and Open) with a trophy awarded to the highest-scoring team in each division, excluding character scores.

Steve Marris

Awarded to the team with the highest overall score, including character scores, from any category.

Tyzack Shield

Awarded to the team with the highest marks for buzz factor.

DERTy

Awarded to the highest-scoring team in the Youth competition.

Traditional competition

Awarded to the highest-scoring team in the Traditional competition.

Spotlight

Awarded to the highest-scoring team for their dance in the Spotlight competition.

Music

Awarded to the team with the highest scores for music.

Characters

Awarded to the team with the highest scores for characters: Tommy, Betty or both.

Pearson Trophy

Awarded to the team with highest scores for stepping.

Veterans Trophy (At organiser’s discretion, if there are enough entrants to the competition)

Awarded to the highest-scoring team in the Veterans’ competition.

The Rapperlympic Flame for Best Newcomer

Awarded to the highest-scoring team competing at DERT for the first time.

SDU DERT Award

Awarded to the highest scoring team in the main competition performing rapper as an alternative to their main dance forms.

HOST COMPETITION

Social Competition

  • You will need the mobile app What3Words to take part in this competition
  • On Friday 17th April, we will load up some pictures of local attractions & places of interest in central Birmingham. One is already in place as a taster.
  • If you visit them, send us a photograph of your team at that spot to get 1 point. Email photographs to: [email protected]
  • Send us what you think the What3Words location is of where the photograph was taken. If these 3 Words match the ones that Birmingham Rapper used for this competition, you will gain 1 more point. You may wish to use the form on the Contact Us page.
  • NOTE: Each team will be provided with a secret competition code word in a sealed envelope at Registration. This code word MUST be typed at the beginning of any message sent via the contact us form before supplying any typed answers, OR in the subject field of any email sent with a teams answers.
  • You may suggest up to three “What3Words” for each location to see if you can get the same 3 words as Birmingham Rapper.
  • If there is a tie at the end of the competition then a judgment will be made as to the best “Mary Anne” photograph taken at this location – ///elite.sleeps.really

This is a bit of fun, and the judge’s decision will be final.

Entries need to be received before the start of the Showcase Event. Birmingham Rapper’s What3Words locations will be revealed from a sealed envelope at the Showcase Event.

There will be one small gift for the winners of this Social Competition.

1 – Here’s the first competition image to whet your appetite before the rest of the images appear on this page.

Gibb Street

2 – Sadly closed at the moment. Clue – not far from “The Victoria” OR the steps at the rear entrance to New St. Station. Say hello to these chaps from Aston.

3 – You’ll have to fight to get a clear photograph opportunity here. “Bully” is a well-known feature of central Birmingham, to be fair.

Where Corporation St. meets High St.

4 – Top End of Town. You’ll walk past this venue at least once. The Council House.

5 – Affectionately known in Brum as “The Floozie in the Jacuzzi”. You’ll walk past her several times, too – probably in daylight.

6 – Now you’ll need to take a small detour to get this one. Lunar Society Members. Boulton, Watt and Murdoch. By Symphony Hall and Birmingham Library

7 – With Birmingham Town Hall in the background this Anthony Gormley Sculpture is Birmingham’s most loved and most hated public art piece. Top of New Street.

8 – When you find the Golden Men you won’t miss this place. The largest of the competition places. Centenary Square.

9 – Do you detect a “Bull” Theme? Meet Ozzy. Those of you who arrive by train will definitely notice his presence. [He’s not at Moor Street or Snow Hill Stations].

10 – Birmingham really came into being during this Queen’s reign. Location: She’s a very close neighbour to Anthony’s “Iron Man”.

11 – No – not Jasper Carrot. This Famous Brummie is from an earlier era – plus there isn’t a piece of public art for Jasper, only this one for Tony Hancock. The nearest tournament venue is The Good Intent. Short Walk through The Minories to Old Square

12 – Another one for you to locate whilst down in the Digbeth area. This view is a short walk from Friday Evening’s registration venue, The Old Library. It’s between there and the off-piste venue of The Anchor – Rea Street