Every competitor must be an amateur.  Every adult competitor, with the exception of Newcomer (see below), must be a currently registered DanceSport Athlete member of USA Dance or other member organization of the IDSF in good standing.  Every preteen, junior, youth competitor must be a registered Student member of USA Dance in good standing.

Newcomers are defined as couples in which neither member has ever danced as an amateur couple in a ballroom competition.  They are restricted to the first five steps of the Bronze level. Newcomers may choose to dance both the Newcomer events and the Bronze syllabus events.  Competitors who sign up for Bronze events must be registered as Athlete members.  Otherwise, Newcomers need only be registered USA Dance members in good standing of any type (Social member, Ballroom Dancer or Athlete).

Dancers need not dance with the same partner for all events; however they may dance with only one partner per event.  Dancers may compete in as many events as they are eligible to enter, but must abide by the rules of each event.  For instance, Gold steps are not allowed in Silver or Bronze.  Entry into multiple age and skill levels may result in shorter than normal break times between heats.  They may not compete in any classification below the minimum proficiency level for which they are eligible.

The current USA DanceSport Rulebook sets the guidelines for this competition and is available for viewing and/or printing on the USA DANCE web site at:

www.usadance.org. 

(Click Competition Dancing then USA Dance

Dancesport Rulebook.)

This is a national qualifying event.

As such, athletes can earn proficiency points and are subject to anti-doping controls.  Both partners must be eligible for each event they enter and shall not compete in any classification below the minimum proficiency level for which they are eligible (see Rulebook, Rule 4.6).  Competitors are responsible for verifying their proficiency points, so please check your accumulated proficiency points before registering.

Age Categories

Pre-Teen:  The elder partner is 11 years old or younger.
Junior:       The elder partner is 12 to 15 years old.
Youth:        The elder partner is 16 to 18 years old.
Adult: The elder partner is 19 years old or older.
Senior I:     Both partners must be 35 years old or older.
Senior II:     Both partners must be 45 years old or older.
Senior III:   Both partners must be 55 years old or older.
Senior IV:   Both partners must be 65 years old or older.
Theater Arts/Cabaret: Both partners must be 16 years old or older.

Eligible athletes may only compete in two consecutive age categories held at a given competition in any given style and proficiency level.

Prior written approval of a parent or legal guardian is required for all athletes under the age of 18.

Awards and Scholarships

Medals will be presented to the top three couples in each event. Ribbons will be presented through 6th place and to couples in noncompetitive heats.  Winners of the Nine and Ten Dance and other Championship level winners will receive special recognition. Scholarships will be awarded to winners of selected events.  Awards ceremonies will be held following final heats throughout the competition. 

General Format and Entry Divisions

Events consist of one, two, three, four or five dances in succession without leaving the dance floor.  Nine and ten dance events will also be offered, but the dances are divided between Smooth/Standard and Rhythm/Latin and not danced consecutively. As part of the fun dance events, an International Seven Dance event and an American Six Dance event are offered to dancers whose highest proficiency level is silver.  (Fun dances are open non-sanctioned events.)  The best combined score for all dances in each event will determine places in that event.  The scoring system used is the skating system.  For all multi-dance events, couples must dance each dance in the event.  Events may be separated into two or more heats at the discretion of the Chairman of Judges. Depending upon the number of couples entered, some age groups may dance at the same time as others, even though each group is being judged as a separate event.  The competition chairperson reserves the right to combine or cancel events for which there are an insufficient number of entries. 

The on-deck system will be used for all events.  Competitors must be in the ballroom and ready to dance 30 minutes prior to the scheduled time for the event in which they are competing.  They must report to the Deck Captain two heats prior to their event.  Any competitor who does not take the floor by the time the music begins will be disqualified from that event.

The competition is organized into Syllabus and Open events. Syllabus events are offered in the following proficiency levels: Newcomer (1st five steps of Bronze), Bronze, Silver and Gold.  Open events are offered in proficiency levels of Novice, Pre-Championship and Championship.  (International Ten Dance, American Nine Dance and Theater Arts are Championship level events.)  Designated fun dance events are also open and are not sanctioned events.

Syllabus Events are restricted to the approved syllabus of the DanceSport Council, located in the Appendix of the current Rulebook.  Competitors must limit their figures to those of the approved syllabus and ability classifications.  The Invigilator will report any violations in restricted syllabus events to the Chairman of Judges.  The couple involved will be given a verbal warning if the violation occurs in a round prior to the final round or reduced to last place in that dance in a final round

As a general rule, athletes may participate in a maximum of two proficiency levels and they must be consecutive.  Since there are some complexities in this rule, competitors are encouraged to read the rulebook regarding proficiency levels.

NOTE:  Events offered in the Senior IV age group are not sanctioned events.