Modifications to the HHI Rules for 2020/2021

The 2020 World Hip Hop Dance Championship and World Battles have been postponed until 2021 due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. The events will be conducted in Phoenix, August 8-14, 2021. This will result in the implementation of several modifications to the HHI Rules & Regulations affecting participating crews and battle dancers. The modifications are for 2021 only. They are as follows:

1. Crews and battlers who competed in a 2020 national championship or battle and qualified for the 2020 World Hip Hop Dance Championship or World Battles are now qualified to compete in the 2021 World Hip Hop Dance Championship or 2021 World Battles. These crews, although already qualified, must compete in their country’s 2021 national championship or battle.
2. Crews and battlers who qualified in 2020 are qualified for the 2021 World Hip Hop Dance Championship or World Battles regardless of their placement in their 2021 national championship or battle. As a result, there may be more than 3 crews per division representing a country in the 2021 World Hip Hop Dance Championship.
3. In the rare instance that a country’s three (3) 2020 qualified crews place 1st, 2nd and 3rd again in their 2021 national championship, HHI will allow one additional crew who ranked 4th place to compete in the 2021 World Hip Hop Dance Championship. This is per division (Junior, Varsity, Adult, MiniCrew & MegaCrew).
4. All 2019 Gold Medalists who could not defend their titles in 2020 due to a postponement of their national championships may do so in 2021.
5. The 2019 World Hip Hop Dance Champions & 2019 World Battle Champions may defend their titles in the 2021 World Hip Hop Dance Championship and 2021 World Battles but must compete in their national championships and battles for 2021.
6. Dancers in Junior and Varsity crews who would have aged out of their division by the end of 2020 will be permitted to remain with their crew and compete through the 2021 World Hip Hop Dance Championship. For example, dancers who are 14 at any time through the completion of the 2021 World Championship may still compete in a Junior Crew and dancers who are 19 through completion of the 2021 World Championship can compete in a Varsity Crew.
7. Adjusting the age restrictions to permit Junior and Varsity crew members aging out to remain with their crews through the 2021 World Championship is applicable to all HHI Championships in all countries. Following the conclusion of the 2021 World Championship the age restrictions will revert to the standard HHI Rules & Guidelines.
8. It is the decision of every HHI country whether to conduct a 2020 national championship. Due to the COVID-19, HHI is not mandating one.
9. A 2020 and 2021 national championship cannot be conducted as one event. A decision can be made not to conduct or to postpone a championship in 2020 but one must be conducted in 2021, assuming government restrictions are followed, and conditions are safe.
10. A 2020 national championship can be organized on any date that is reasonable and safe for the dance community before the end of 2020.
11. A country in which a national championship was presented in 2020 and in 2021 can bring up to 6 crews per division (maximum 30 crews) to the 2021 World Hip Hop Dance Championship. A country conducting a national championship in 2021 only, can bring up to 3 crews per division (maximum 15 crews).
12. Due to worldwide safety and health concerns the use of protective face masks by HHI participants is acceptable for all 2020 and 2021 HHI Championships.
13. All HHI championships and events will adhere to all governmental regulations enacted within their countries to ensure the safety, health and well-being of all participants, staff and spectators.
14. Crews qualified to compete in the 2021 World Hip Hop Dance Championship who request to add, delete, or replace members in their crew may do so if they follow the guidelines as stated on page 7 of HHI Rules & Regulations, entitled “Defending Champion Entry Changes, Additions and/or Substitutions”.