Ballroom dance competitions, also known as DanceSport, have regulations from different organizers for the professionals, amateur (couple without being an instructor), and pro-am (meaning student competes with the instructor). Involved with regulation of competitions is the World Dance Council (WDC), the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF), in Britain, the British Dance Council, and in the US, WDC has that National Dance Council of America (NDCA), and the WDSF (USA Dance), that conduct both regional and national competitions. Various countries have their own regulators and guidelines.
Competitors are judged by criteria “such as poise, the hold or frame, posture, musicality, and expression, timing, body alignment and shape, floor craft, foot and leg action, and presentation.” (4) Judging relies on performance, as in sports, has subjectivity in the decisions of final results sometimes creating some issues. Scoring is based on the Skating System approach, with several couples on the floor at once. Competitors (Amateurs-individuals not dancing with a professional; Pro-Am-student competing with a professional instructor, and Professionals) dance in various levels given their level of ability. Pro-Am couples, the student is judged, not the professional, in Professional dancing, the Professionals are judged as a couple similar to the Amateur competitor.
Often is heard, Bronze, Silver, Gold, etc. in dancing, such as I dance or compete, in Bronze, each label is type of advancing dance level, then there are levels within each category, such a “Newcomer Bronze” (a student who has had as few as 10 lessons), “Advanced Silver”, “Gold”. Each level, bronze, silver, and gold have certain syllabi (allowed dance steps) for that specific level. A competitor must dance in the level for which they have learned the steps in the syllabus. This is called “closed” category. Then there is the Open type of category- Bronze, Silver, Gold-which does not restrict moves, as with a certain syllabus, can vary their dancing with more complex routines. For example Silver, may have many Bronze steps, yet also have Silver, as a blend of learned steps. Dancing outside, what is known as the designated level during a competition, creates violations and disqualifications for the competitor.
Music is selected for each type of dance, with specified number of beats per measure (BPM) for the specific level of dance. The music is regulated for the competitor to demonstrate to the judges, usually within 90 seconds, sometimes only 60 seconds, steps learned and executed according to the various performance criteria and syllabus. A very challenging process for the competing couple.
Judges, for competitions, can be at the end of the competition floor, on a stage to see all of the dancers, and sometimes, in more advanced competitions, such as nationals, judges are on the floor in various positions. A Scrutineer (score compiler and reporter) is seated with the judges as it the DJ, as all music is recorded for 90 second or 60 second period of dance.
Each 90 second dance is called a heat. Competitors, in the heat, will generally be competing with other competitors at the same level, for example Bronze, with Bronze at varying levels. The more competitors at a competition, the more “heats”, then Newcomer Bronze will be on the floor with Newcomer Bronze, etc. Smaller competitions may have varying levels of competitors on the floor at the same time.
Competitors are given scores, by the judges, after each heat, which are given to a Scrutineer (score calculator) who tallies all of the scores, then provides final scores to the judges, at the end of the competition for determining how each dance competitor ranked over all in each area of their competing. There are First, Second, Third, etc places, then areas for over all winner, sometimes for Top Female, Top Male, Top Couple, etc.
Heats are set up, during the competition, and numbers of heats can vary depending upon the size of the event, according to the level of the dancers competing, with the Smooth Dances in the First Part of a one day competition, to having Latin/Rhythm in the later part of the day. With a multi-day event, a large national event, this will be held over several days, with rounds and then call backs for those who move up through the event with competency.
Heats, may have only individual dances, in Smooth, for example only Waltz, Viennese Waltz, or Cha-Cha, then proceed to multi-dances events, with dances (Smooth or Rhythm/Latin) meaning 3, 4, or 5 90 second dances at one time, at a particular level. In the American Multi-Dance Challenge, you will have Waltz, Foxtrot, and Tango or Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, and Viennese Waltz. The International Smooth will vary. The same approach applies to the Latin/Rhythm part of the event, with a Multi-Dance Challenge with three dances, would be Cha-Cha, Rumba, and East Coast Swing.
Other dances are added to competitions, such as Salsa, West Coast Swing, Hustle, Merengue, Bachata, Argentine Tango, and some Country type dances, such as Country East Coast Swing, Country Cha Cha or Country Waltz.
Heats are pre-arranged, prior to the competition, with a list created for use, determining when the competitors coming to the floor, for their timed and scheduled heat, they wait, enter the floor when called, the Leader determines the position for the Follower, the space on the floor, the music begins for the particular dance, for 90 seconds, then ends suddenly, the dancing stops, then couple leaves the floor. For Multi-dance events, the couple will remain on the floor for the number of dances in the Multi-Dance challenge, 3, 4, 5, etc. then after all dances are finished, unless there is another heat, they leave the floor. The Multi-Dance events are very demanding, can be tiring, if scheduled back to back.
What is important for the reader to be aware of is the competitor, Pro/Am, Amateur, Professional, begins an early day preparing for the Smooth Dance Event, sometimes at 6:00 am getting ready (for women generally), then going to “warm up” prior to start of the event, around 8 am, some events may start earlier, then may compete until between 5-6 in the evening, sometimes later. During these times, dress changes between Smooth to Latin/Rhythm, with quick meals, and then warm up prior to the start of the competition in the afternoon. The leaving again going to change, for the dress event, to have dinner, then see if they were in the Winner’s Circle during the evening. A very, very long day for all involved.
