Dancesport Competition:

From the classy tuxedos and riveted dresses to the stately European music, dancesport competitions are a fantastic visual and aural spectator treat.  While all of the ballroom dances teach poise, refine social graces and help develop dance technique and skills, competitive dancing offers dancers the opportunity to share these refinements and newfound skills with audiences at events that are held almost every weekend throughout the United States. 

Although it is permitted to compete in lower age divisions, most dancers chose to compete in a division with dancers of similar age and experience.

Age divisions:

• Pre-teen I: 9 years.
  Pre-teen II: 10 -11 years.
  Junior I: 12, 13 years.
  Junior II: 14, 15 years.
  Youth: 16-18 years.
  Adult: 19 years.
  Adult B: 35-49 years.
  Senior: 50 + years.

There are three main competition levels listed as “A,” “B” and “C” below.  Competition level A is restricted to syllabus figures while levels B and C allow open choreography.

Competition Levels:
A) Pro-am and student: student partnerships:

• Pro-am partnerships—a professional teacher competes with his / her amateur student.
• Student: student partnerships—two amateur dancers, who are new to dancesport and dancesport competition, compete.
  

Regardless of partnership type, choreography in level A is restricted to syllabus figures.  For example, if you compete in Bronze, then only Bronze syllabus figures can be used.

Syllabus levels include Bronze, Silver and Gold.

B) Open amateur partnerships: open choreography is allowed.

• Novice: beginner to intermediate.
• Pre-Championship: intermediate to advanced.
• Championship: advanced—the highest level of amateur competition.

C) Professional partnerships: open choreography is allowed. This is the highest level of dancesport competition.

In addition, each competition has many events consisting of four main dance styles.

Dance Styles:
International (English) Standard — couples must stay in closed position.
Waltz
Tango
Viennese Waltz
Slow Foxtrot
Quickstep

American (United States) Smooth — couples may separate.
Waltz
Tango
Foxtrot
Viennese Waltz

International Latin — internationally recognized Latin-style dancing.
Cha Cha
Samba
Rumba
Paso Doble
Jive 

American (U.S.) Rhythm — a Latin dance style that is offered at U.S. competitions.
Cha Cha
Rumba
East Coast Swing
Bolero
Mambo
 
More Styles
Salsa
Theater Arts / Cabaret — exhibition dancing that allows lifts and drops.

Argentine Tango

In competition, each couple performs single dances or may perform all dances of a certain style. For instance, a dancer may select to only compete in the American Smooth Waltz and Foxtrot while another may dance all five of the International Standard dances including the Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot and Quickstep. Your professional instructor will help you decide which is best for you. Some couples compete in two styles such as International Standard and American Smooth.

Competition License:
Some competitions require membership with USABDA or NDCA — competition-governing bodies. USABDA seeks to provide amateur events while the NDCA desires to provide top-level amateur and professional ones.

Judging:
Judges (Adjudicators) rank dance couples based on footwork, dance technique and skills as well as showmanship and presentation. Because judging can be subjective, there are several judges scoring each event. These scores are then added together from all of the judges by a scrutineer who gives the final result. If there are many competitors in a category, elimination rounds may be necessary. For example, an event may start with early rounds followed by a quarterfinal, semi-final and then a final round where six or seven couples are recalled. After the final round, placements one through six or seven are given along with awards.

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