COMPETITIONS

Competitive dancing is not as scary as it seems. Ballroom competitions are exhilarating events. The experience dancers have create memories that last a lifetime. All level dancers can compete. All ages too! Yes ALL ages and levels. From novice to pro from 8 to 80 (or more) anyone is welcome in the world of ballroom and that’s part of the beauty! There are MANY competitions nationally (and internationally) each week. The great thing is Ballroom is ALWAYS in season. This provides fun flexibility for dancers to pick and choose when and where and the frequency of competitions. It can be a lot to think about at first. But we take it one step at a time. The door is completely open to you…step in.

(Can you do this? Yes, yes you can!)

HOW TO COMPETE?

You can compete at any level, age, dance style. You can chose to compete in the amateur circuit or pro-am or both.

There are many circuits and competitions to chose from.

If you would like to dance in amateur let me know and I will help you find a partner. If you’d like to compete in pro-am I’m happy to help as well

BALLROOM DANCE STYLES

These four style blocks are considered the main styles of Ballroom Dance. The American styles consist of 9 dance styles and the International styles consist of 10. Don’t let the words confuse you. The wording of AMERICAN or INTERNATIONAL are just categories to organize styling of technique and competitions . ALL styles are recognized now on a global scale. When any of the below blocks are danced consecutively at a competition it’s called a “round”. Dancers of any levels or styles may enter competitions as single dances if they would like to enjoy ballroom dancing without the commitment of full rounds. Please contact me for information. Professional dance competitions always dance in full rounds which is why we also maintain these categorical distributions.

AMERICAN SMOOTH

WALTZ

TANGO

FOXTROT

VIENNESE WALTZ

INTERNATIONAL/STANDARD BALLROOM

WALTZ

TANGO

VIENNESE WALTZ

FOXTROT

QUICKSTEP

AMERICAN RHYTHM

CHA CHA

RUMBA

EAST COAST SWING

BOLERO

MAMBO

INTERNATIONAL LATIN

CHA CHA

SAMBA

RUMBA

PASO DOBLE

JIVE

NEWCOMER

A newcomer competitor is one who is competing within their first 6 months. You may compete in any style and will stay within the basic steps on the syllabus sometimes referred to as newcomer bronze level steps.

BRONZE

A bronze level dancer may compete in any style of dance at the bronze level. The bronze level is an important level consisting of all foundational figures that are often woven into higher levels in some styles. Many people use bronze steps for a lifetime of social dancing. Competitions can often break the bronze level into different sub-categories (ex: pre-bronze, bronze 1, bronze 2 etc)

SILVER

A silver dancer has worked their way through bronze and has competed successfully at that level. In some circuits like collegiate for example, you can time out of Bronze and enter in Silver. Silver level consists of different and advancing techniques and dance figures.

GOLD

Gold is considered the highest level of syllabus dancing for ballroom. The figures are more intricate and the technique is of a more demanding level.

OPEN LEVELS

Open levels can refer to any open choreography depending the competition or circuit you may also see open styles referred to as pre-champ and champ. You will know when you are ready or have advanced to open level dancing.