PALM SPRINGS WINTER BREAK CHOREOGRAPHY CONTEST
PALM SPRINGS WINTER BREAK
CHOREOGRAPHY CONTEST
Open
Division
WINNING
DANCE
TAUGHT
SATURDAY
Beginner-Improver
Division
WINNING
DANCE
TAUGHT
SUNDAY
Each winner prize package also includes:
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Customized t-shirt or jacket (winner’s choice)
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Free pass to PS Winter Break 2027
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Free pass to PS Winter Break 2028
Each winning dance will be taught by one of the headlining flockstars during the weekend!
Thank you for your interest in the
Palm Springs Winter Break Choreography Contest!
Entries will be accepted
through September 30, 2026.
Email your entry to PSWBcontest@gmail.com
OR fill out this Google Form.
A general description of the contest is below;
detailed contest rules (Sept 1, 2026 update)
7 Arrow Media has a tutorial here
on how to upload videos to YouTube.
Questions? We’ve Got Answers! 🦩
Check out our Contest FAQ and real questions from this year’s contestants and our responses.
General Info
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Open to any choreographer.
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Entry must be original choreography (or original co-choreography).
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Each contestant is allowed to enter a maximum of three dances in each division. $10 per entry.
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Entries are to include stepsheet, demo video link, and instructional video link by 9/30/26.
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Email your entry to PSWBcontest@gmail.com OR fill out this Google Form.
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Winners will be announced in December.
Our headlining flockstars will teach the Open Division Winner on Saturday at the 2027 event.
Our headlining flockstars will teach the Beginner-Improver Division Winner on Sunday at the 2027 event. -
Questions and submissions are to go to: PSWBcontest@gmail.com
Winners!
Beginner-Improver Division
Keychain
by Brenda Shatto
Stepsheet, Demo Video
Oh Hi! (Nice to Meet You)
by Terri Dungan
Stepsheet, Demo Video
Open Division
Hate Myself for Loving You
by Stacey Snyder
Hotel Party
by Cole Carson
Beginner-Improver Division
Spicy Margarita (Shot for Shot)
by Miranda Mitchell
Stepsheet, Demo Video
Get a Guitar
by Brenda Shatto
Stepsheet, Demo Video
JEN MICHELE
Beginner-Improver Division
Baby, All I Need Is You
Beginner-Improver Division
Favorite Kind of High
by Lynn Mayer
Helderberg Stampede
by Kate Irons
Open Division
Pink Guitar
by Lynn Mayer
With No Body
by Jen Michele
Beginner-Improver Division
Somethin Somethin
by Britt Beresik
Take Me (Country) Dancing
by Rob Holley
Open Division
Feel You Over Here
by Jeffrey Callejo
I See Perfection
by Rob Holley
🦩 Contestant Questions, Answered!
Q
Is everybody no longer being asked to submit a teach video of the same designated dance?
For 2027, we’ve made a few changes to the choreography contest based on feedback from participants, instructors, and attendees.
One of the biggest changes is exactly what you noticed: there is no longer a requirement for all entrants to submit a teach video of the same designated dance. Instead, choreographers submit a teaching video for the dance they’re entering.
Q
I also see it clearly highlighted as "NEW for 2027" that the winning dance will be taught by one of the Flockstar staff - will there be any option for the winner to teach their dance themselves, assuming they are in attendance?
For 2027, we’ve made a few changes to the choreography contest based on feedback from participants, instructors, and attendees.
The winning dances will now be taught by one of our Flockstar instructors. Having a Flockstar teach the winning choreography has a higher potential of introducing the dance to a wider audience. Of course, the Flockstar teaching the dance will highlight and recognize the choreographer in the room, and we’ll be celebrating the winners and their accomplishments throughout the event. Our hope is that this approach gives the winning choreography the benefit of a nationally recognized instructor’s platform while still keeping the spotlight firmly on the creator.
That said, I’d encourage you not to read too much into that particular change just yet. We have a new 2027 opportunity that will be announced this week that will be of interest to community instructors who enjoy being in front of the room. 🦩
Q
A dance I entered at another competition is labeled as High Beginner on Copperknob. What does open division mean?
For the PS Winter Break Choreography Contest, we use specific guidelines rather than relying solely on the level a dance is given on CopperKnob. For the Beginner/Improver Division, the dance can be up to 64 counts and should be a single repeating sequence rather than distinctly phrased (ABC) choreography. It may have either one restart OR one tag of 8 counts or less, but not both. We also have guidelines regarding certain steps and the amount of rotation allowed in turns.
You can review the detailed guidelines here: PSWB Choreography Contest Guidelines
The Open Division simply removes the level of dance restrictions. All dances - absolute beginner through advanced - can be entered in the Open Division. They will be judged appropriate to their level.
The divisions are separated because PS Winter Break on Sundays is for beginner/improver dances only, so the winning dance from the Beginner/Improver Division is taught on Sunday at the event. Thursday night through Saturday at the event, all levels are taught, so the winning dance from the Open Division is taught on Saturday at the event.
Q
My question is ... is there a separate contest entry form for choreography aside from the regular registration form? I can't seem to find one.
There is a fillable PDF form on the website (https://www.palmspringswinterbreak.com/_files/ugd/283d70_bf7e9d0734c04bf5a7e151a756029603.pdf) , or you can use the Google Form (https://forms.gle/LjKi7xTYQP5FqqrN8)
Q
I definitely plan on competing again, but I would rather teach my own dance. Is that completely off the table?
For the choreography contest itself, yes—the plan this year is for the winning dances to be taught by one of the PS Winter Break Flockstars rather than by the winning choreographer. That change was intentional because we wanted to separate the two things we were really recognizing before: great choreography and great instruction.
The choreography contest is now completely focused on the dance itself. But we haven’t forgotten about the instructors! The teaching spots previously associated with the choreography contest have been moved to our new Flamingo Fortune Lucky Draw: Rising Stars program. That gives instructors a separate opportunity to teach at PS Winter Break, without their chances depending on whether they also happen to write the winning choreography.
So, if you’d like the opportunity to teach at PS Winter Break, I’d absolutely encourage you to enter Flamingo Fortune, too! You can find all the details here:
https://www.palmspringswinterbreak.com/flamingo-fortune
Q
Q
Can a dance that has already won in another competition for eligible to enter?
Yes, a dance that has already won in another competition is still eligible to enter this one. :)
In the rules it states that a beginner/improver dance can have a tag or a restart but not both. What if it has two restarts? Then it would have to move to open right?
Yes, if a dance has two restarts, it goes into the Open Division.
Q
I've already registered for 2027. If I happen to win, would I get a refund?
Since you already registered for 2027, if you win, you would have two options:
1. Sell your 2027 pass to an unregistered dancer.
2. Push your 2027 free pass to 2028 and your 2028 free pass to 2029.
As a nonprofit, we don't do refunds (keeps finances clear), but I am authorized to push free passes (no exchange of funds) to future years.
Q
I do have one question....regarding the time length of the demo.
The guidelines state:
With respect to time length: 1. If the dance does not have a tag, restart, or phrasing, then the video is to show at least four walls, from the beginning of the music track.
I have uploaded my demo video, however it is done to the full song (2.33 minutes); no tags/restarts. The dance is a two-wall choreography. Can I submit the full video, or do I need to retape it to only show 2 walls?
Full length demo video is all good. :)
The demo has to include at LEAST four walls, more walls are no issue. The judges can choose to watch the whole thing or stop after four walls. The video length in the rules is to ensure we don’t get demo videos where they show one wall and stop.
Q
How recent does the choreography need to be? Is something that was published in October of 2025 recent enough?
There is no restriction on how recent the choreography needs to be. A dance published in October 2025 is perfectly eligible!
Q
Is a 1/2 turn Jazzbox allowed in an improver level dance?
Yes. A 1/2 Turning Jazz Box is allowed in an Improver-level dance. The guidelines specifically list a “Greater than 1/4 Turning Jazz Box” as an allowed Improver-level element. So, a dance containing a 1/2 Turning Jazz Box may still be entered in the Beginner/Improver Division, assuming the rest of the choreography meets the division requirements.
Q
Is there a time limit on when the dances were choreographed? For example, could a dance from three years ago be submitted?
Yes, absolutely—a dance choreographed in the past is still eligible to enter. There is no time limit on when the dance was created.