Photo by Alex Ren
What is a competition like?
Competitions are generally all day (or even all weekend) events. The different styles are scheduled at different parts of the day, i.e. Standard will be in the morning and Latin will be in the afternoon.
Each event consists of one or more dances.
Couples who are dancing prepare to enter the floor before their dance starts, sometimes in a designated area. When the dance and their number is called, they enter the floor and choose a place to start dancing. When the music starts, the leader invites the follower in, and everyone dances their own routines. Each of these dances last between 60 and 90 seconds (one minute to one & a half minutes).
Depending on the number of couples, there may be multiple rounds per event. Through elimination rounds, the number of couples taking part in a DanceSport competition is reduced to a final round, usually comprising six couples. In prior rounds, and up to the semi-final, the judges compare the performance of the couples in each dance and select those couples whom they consider should pass into the next round because of their superior performance. Each judge’s selections of couples (also known as “callbacks”) in each dance are marked on their judging cards, and at the end of the round all the marks for all judges in all dances are totaled and the specified number of couples passing to the next round are selected based on the total of their number of selection marks (the highest number of selection marks is the best).
In the final round of each dance, the judges individually rank each couple in their considered order of merit, and mark their ranking on their judging cards. For example, in a six couple final, the judges would be ranking from 1 to 6, with number 1 being the best mark (1st place).
A judge may not give two couples the same ranking in the final round.
How do teams compete?
Often, the most exciting part of a college dance competition is the team match. Typically, a team consists of four couples, each dancing a different dance. Four typical team match dances are Waltz, Rumba, Quickstep, and Cha Cha. Each team sends out one couple for each dance, and they are given a grade by the judges, which is added to the aggregate team score. The team with the highest score after all four dances wins.
Watching a dance competition (and especially team match) is much like watching any other sporting event – there’s lots of cheering and yelling out names and numbers. Teams often sit together in one place, with a team banner.
How is a competition judged?
DanceSport judges are professional ballroom dancers qualified to judge by the Professional Ballroom Dance Association. There are usually three or more judges and a scrutineer that collates the scores.
Judges must make observations of the competing couples, and apply some criteria to that observation to form a judgment. All judgments are comparative assessments of the couples in the competition, rather than assessments against a hypothetical standard.
Couples are compared on their performances in a number of areas, including but not limited to:
Timing and basic rhythm: In all dances, timing and basic rhythm take precedence over the other concerns, so that if a couple repeatedly makes mistakes in this area, their comparative assessment must be downgraded.
Body lines: The term “body lines” relates to the couple as a unit, both during movement and in static positions.
Movement: The judge must determine whether movement is in keeping with the character of the dance being performed.
Rhythmic Interpretation: The judge must assess the quality of the rhythmic interpretation of the music, so as to ascertain a couple’s capacity for choreography and musical interpretation in each dance.
Footwork: The judge must assess the quality and control of applied footwork.
Floorcraft: The judge must assess the ability of the couple to maneuver their choreography so as to avoid interruption to their own progression and that of other couples.
What can I dance at a competition?
Almost all DanceSport competitions feature ten International Style dances, which are taught in our DanceSport training program. College competitions also sometimes offer “fun” dances such as Salsa, West Coast Swing, Hustle, Nightclub Two-Step, and other club dances, as well as “Jack-and-Jill” (random partnering) events and others.
Some DanceSport competitions also include the American Style Dances.
What are the levels?
Competitions have one or more events for each level of dancing. These levels are usually categorized by syllabus restrictions (Bronze, Silver, Gold and Open), skill (Newcomer, Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced), or other factors (Pre-Novice, Novice, Pre-Championship, Championship). Usually the level is determined by the more advanced dancer in the couple: an advanced dancer cannot pair-up with a newcomer and enter a Newcomer event, but the same couple can enter an Advanced event. People who dance steps from a level higher than the level of the event (e.g. Silver or Gold steps in a Bronze level) can be disqualified.
Most common levels in collegiate competitions are:
Newcomer level is for people who have only danced a short while (typically less than one year), and have never competed before. The newcomer dances are usually Waltz and Quickstep for International Standard, and Rumba and Cha Cha for International Latin, with all dance moves restricted to Bronze syllabus figures.
Beginner level is similar to Newcomer in dances offered and restrictions, but generally also include Tango and Foxtrot for International Standard, and Jive and Samba for International Latin. Generally dancers in the Beginner level have danced longer than those in the Newcomer level.
Intermediate level allows Silver, and sometimes Gold, syllabus figures. This level is best for couples who have competed several times and feel solid in their syllabus technique.
Advanced level allows all syllabus (Bronze, Silver and Gold) figures and sometimes even open-level steps, depending on the competition. It is intended for more advanced dancers who would dance Pre-Novice or Novice levels at an amateur competition. Dances are grouped in threes or fours, and each couple is given one ranking for all dances in a group.
Open level is for the highest-level dancers, including those dancing at Pre-Championship and Championship levels at amateur competitions. Usually all dances in each category (Standard and Latin) are judged together, and couples are given one overall ranking.
