Jack and Jill (dance)

Jack and Jill (J&J) or Dance with a Stranger (DWAS) is a format of competition in partner dancing, where the competing couples are the result of random matching of leaders and followers. Rules of matching vary. The name comes from the popular English nursery rhyme, Jack and Jill.

Jack and Jill is the US term, whereas Dance with a Stranger is the UK term.

In dance competitons J&J is included as a separate division (or divisions, with additional gradations). J&J is popular at Swing conventions, as well as at ballroom dance competitions in the USA.

J&J competitions are intended to test social dance skills, whereas fixed partner competitions test performance dance skills.

Rules

In the UK, it is normal to randomly assign fixed couples, and then keep those couples fixed throughout the competition (for example, if there are multiple rounds). Thus, the winner is largely decided by luck of the draw, with the winning couple often being regular dance partners who were lucky enough to be paired together. As a result, DWAS competitions are not taken as seriously as fixed partner competitions.

In the US, it is normal for couples to be changed between rounds. Thus, the luck factor is reduced, and as a result, J&J competitions are taken more seriously.