Amateur Event Rules
Eligibility
Adult/Senior competitors: Must be Ballroom Amateur DanceSport Athlete members in good standing of USA Dance.
Pre-Teen/Junior/Youth competitors: Must be Ballroom Amateur DanceSport Minor Athlete members in good standing of USA Dance.
Collegiate competitors: Must be Ballroom Amateur DanceSport Student Athlete or Ballroom Amateur DanceSport Athlete members of USA Dance in good standing. Must be currently enrolled in a collegiate program leading to a degree or have graduated from a collegiate degree program within the past 6 months and no older than 35.
Solo Proficiency competitors: Must be a Ballroom Amateur DanceSport Minor Athlete member in good standing of USA Dance. Solo Proficiency events offered will include Pre-Teen through Adult events Pre-Bronze through Championship.
Teacher/Student competitors: Teacher/student judged competitors must be Ballroom Amateur DanceSport Minor Athlete, Ballroom Amateur DanceSport Student Athlete, Ballroom Amateur DanceSport Athlete, or Ballroom Pro/Am Amateur DanceSport Athlete member in good standing of USA Dance. The unjudged partner must be 18 years of age or older and may be either a Ballroom Amateur DanceSport Student Athlete or a Ballroom Amateur DanceSport Athlete member in good standing of USA Dance. The Teacher/Student couple may not compete together as an amateur couple at this competition. Teacher/Student events will include all Amateur events offered except Nine Dance, Ten Dance, and ShowDance.
Mixed Proficiency competitors: Mixed Proficiency judged competitors must be Ballroom Amateur DanceSport Minor Athlete, Ballroom Amateur DanceSport Student Athlete, Ballroom Amateur DanceSport Athlete, or Ballroom Pro/Am Amateur DanceSport Athlete member in good standing of USA Dance. The unjudged partner must be less than 18 years of age and a Ballroom Amateur DanceSport Minor Athlete in good standing of USA Dance. The Mixed Proficiency couple may not compete together as an amateur couple at this competition. Mixed Proficiency events will include all Amateur events offered except Nine Dance, Ten Dance, and ShowDance.
Competitors shall not compete in any classification below the minimum proficiency level for which they are eligible.
All events at this competition are gender neutral. This means that regardless of a dancer’s gender, they are welcome to compete in the role that best suits them and all amateur couples of any configuration will compete on the floor together.
For USA Dance membership registration, visit www.usadance.org/membership.
Qualifying for Nationals
In order to dance in Amateur events at the 2025 National Championships, a couple must
- Compete and place in the Top 50% at any Regional Championship held during the 2024-2025 cycle
- Attend one Regional and compete in each age/level/style you want to dance, without reaching the top 50%, = 4 points, to gain an additional 2 points (sanctioned Local, Collegiate Challenge, Challenge, or another Regional Championship) – Qualified regardless of placement
- Attend any 3 competitions and compete in each age/level/style in which you want to compete to reach 6 points (sanctioned Local, Collegiate Challenge, Challenge, or another Regional Championship) – Qualified regardless of placement
- Those members from the states of Hawaii / Alaska must compete at any 1 recognized competition (eligible sanctioned competitions include recognized Local, Collegiate Challenge, Challenge, Regional Championship) regardless of your placement. The athletes must be a DanceSport Ballroom Division member in good standing at the time of competing in those events for them to count.
- Full time Collegiate Students (35 and under) automatically qualify, without attending a qualifying event, for one collegiate level/style and will get the same level/style in adult categories, this is considered your “registration fee events”
- For a second level/style of collegiate events, which must be consecutive to your “registration fee events” level, you will have to qualify by achieving at least 6 qualifying points in each style in which you want to compete. If you achieve 6 qualifying points/style, this will also entitle you to dance in both the Collegiate and Adult events. The second collegiate level is not part of your registration fee, and you will be charged the per dance collegiate fee. You would still be able to dance in the second adult level for no additional charge.
- Exception is Amateur Adult Championship Level events where the Full-time Collegiate students must qualify like all other couples for the non-collegiate Championship events.
- Those couples with mixed (1 full time college student and 1 non-college student) must qualify like all other amateur couples for the non-collegiate events. Mixed couples are not eligible to participate in collegiate events.
- Must qualify like all other amateur couples for the second syllabus level in Adult and will get that second level in Collegiate as well.
- Senior V events do not require qualification. However, those athletes do need to qualify for any other age groups they wish to dance in.
- No qualifications for Show dance, Solo Proficiency, Pro/Am, Teacher/Student, Mixed Proficiency, and Professional events.
Amateur Dance Events
American Smooth
Closed Syllabus
- Pre-Bronze (WT) (FV)
- Bronze (WT) (FV)
- Silver (WTF)
- Gold (WTFV)
Open
- Novice (WTF)
(NA for Pre-Teen) - Pre-Championship (WTFV)
(NA for Pre-Teen) - Championship (WTFV)
(NA for Pre-Teen) - Adult ShowDance**
(NA for Solo Proficiency, Teacher/Student, & Mixed Proficiency)
American Rhythm
Closed Syllabus
- Pre-Bronze (CR) (SwB)
- Bronze (CR) (SwB)
- Silver (CRSw) (B)
- Gold (CRSwBM)
Open
- Novice (CRSw)
(NA for Pre-Teen) - Pre-Championship (CRSwB)
(NA for Pre-Teen) - Championship (CRSwBM)
(NA for Pre-Teen) - Adult ShowDance**
(NA for Solo Proficiency & Teacher/Student)
International Standard
Closed Syllabus
- Pre-Bronze (WQ) (FT)
- Bronze (WQ) (FT)
- Silver (WFQ) (T)
- Gold (WTVFQ)
Open
- Novice (WFQ)
(NA for Pre-Teen) - Pre-Championship (WTFQ)
(NA for Pre-Teen) - Championship (WTVFQ)
(NA for Pre-Teen) - Junior 2, Youth, Under 21, Adult, Senior I Ten Dance (WTVFQ/SCRPJ)
(NA for Solo Proficiency, Teacher/Student, & Mixed Proficiency) - Adult ShowDance**
(NA for Solo Proficiency, Teacher/Student, & Mixed Proficiency)
International Latin
Closed Syllabus
- Pre-Bronze (CR) (SJ)
- Bronze (CR) (SJ)
- Silver (SCR) (J)
- Gold (SCRPJ)
Open
- Novice (SCR)
(NA for Pre-Teen) - Pre-Championship (SCRJ)
(NA for Pre-Teen) - Championship (SCRPJ)
(NA for Pre-Teen) - Adult ShowDance**
(NA for Solo Proficiency, Teacher/Student, & Mixed Proficiency)
Collegiate Team Matches
- Collegiate Combined American & International Team Match (6 couples/6 dances, dances to TBD)
Senior Best of the Best Showdance
- Couples will compete against each other regardless of selected style
- No lifts are required. All other rules apply.
- Please note practice will take place Thursday evening.
Senior 1 – 5 Nine Dance & Senior 3 – 5 Ten Dance
- Will be based on cumulative scoring with awards presented in the evening session following the last style
- Must dance both championship style events in the same age category to qualify
- No per dance fee is required for these events
**All ShowDance couples must submit a video of their ShowDance entry by February 19, 2025, to the Vice President of DanceSport – Ballroom Division.
ALL CLOSED SYLLABUS EVENTS WILL BE INVIGILATED USING THE CURRENT USA DANCE SYLLABUS LIST OF ELEMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS. PENALTIES MAY BE GIVEN WITHOUT WARNING FOR ANY SYLLABUS INFRACTIONS.
Awards and Scholarships
Finalists in Bronze through Gold events will receive ribbons.
In Novice through Championship events medals will be awarded through the first three places. Ribbons will be awarded to finalists.
Scholarships will be awarded in designated events.
Award ceremonies will be held throughout the competition.
Age Classifications (As of December 31, 2025)
| Classifications | Age |
|---|---|
| Pre-Teen I | 9 or less |
| Pre-Teen II | 10 or 11 |
| Junior I | 12 or 13 |
| Junior I | 14 or 15 |
| Youth | 16, 17, or 18 |
| Under 21* | 16 - 20 |
| Adult | 19 or greater |
| Senior I | 35 or greater (one partner 35, other partner must be 30) |
| Senior II | 45 or greater (one partner 45, other partner must be 40) |
| Senior III | 55 or greater (one partner 55, other partner must be 50) |
| Senior IV | 65 or greater (one partner 65, other partner must be 60) |
| Senior V | 70 or greater (both partners must be at least 70) |
*Only Championship Standard, Latin, and Ten Dance will be offered in the Under 21 age category. Under 21 is not part of the consecutive age category system and older dancers cannot dance down into it.
Approval Required of Parent or Guardian for Minors
Written approval of a parent or legal guardian is required for all athletes under the age of 18. This must be presented at time of package pick up.
Age and Proficiency Requirements
Age classifications: Couples Pre-Teen through Youth may dance two consecutive age classifications in a given dance style. Under 21 does not count as part of the consecutive age classification system. Couples Senior I through Senior V in proficiency levels other than Championship may dance as many age categories Adult through Senior V as they wish provided they are age eligible for those age categories within the calendar year of the competition; the age categories need not be consecutive.
Proficiency levels: An athlete may enter as an amateur up to two consecutive proficiency levels in each style or discipline at the minimum level for which the athlete is qualified and one higher.
Rest time will be scheduled between rounds of any one event. In the interim, other events will be run. Competitors who register for more than one age group or proficiency level may find some of their events run back-to-back.
Format and Entry Divisions
Events consist of one, two, three, four or five dances in succession without leaving the dance floor.
Nine dance events are divided between Smooth and Rhythm and are not danced consecutively.
Ten dance events are divided between Standard and Latin and are not danced consecutively.
Collegiate Team Matches
There will be one team match consisting of six dances and six couples. There will be one dance from each style at the syllabus level, and a combined Latin/Rhythm & Standard/Smooth dance at the open level. The dances will be: Standard Tango, Smooth Foxtrot, Latin Rumba, Rhythm Swing, Standard/Smooth Waltz, and Latin/Rhythm Cha Cha. The final two-dances are multi-style – dance them whichever way you prefer!
Each team will include 6 couples/12 dancers. A dancer can only dance as part of one couple. Two dances are RESTRICTED to bronze dancers only. The couples dancing in the bronze events in the Team Match must enter at least one Bronze heat in the style they are dancing in the team match.
For purposes of determining syllabus, the team matches are considered open. Invigilation is suspended for the team matches. Lifts are not allowed at any level.
There are no limitations on the number of entries from a given college.
To enter a Collegiate Team Match, only one member of the Team will register for the Team match entry. That person will be the Team Captain. This competitor will then submit the names of the 12 team members including the partnerships, which dance each couple is dancing, and which dancers are the Bronze dancers to nationals-registrar@usadance.org on the Team Match Entry Form.
Competitor Fees
Competitor fees for Nationals participants include a per person nonrefundable Competitor Pass fee and a per couples entry fee for each event entered. Entrance to the ballroom for all sessions, and admission to the Friday afternoon Social Dance to be held on Friday from 5:00pm – 7:00pm is included as part of the Competitive Pass.
Workshops on various ballroom topics will be offered throughout the weekend at a cost of $15 per workshop. Workshops are free for collegiate competitors.
College competitors will pay a per person non-refundable Competitive Pass fee with includes entrance to the ballroom throughout the entire event, the Friday night social from 5:00pm – 7:00pm, workshops, Collegiate entries and your corresponding Adult entries.
Competitor Pass Prices / Person
| Type | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Early Bird Special Dec - Jan 22 |
Regular Pricing Jan 23-Feb 19 |
Procrastinator Special Feb 20 - Mar 14 |
|
| Child Competitor Pass | $45 | $50 | $55 |
| Collegiate Competitor Pass | $45 | $50 | $70 |
| Adult & Senior 1, 2 & 3 Competitor Pass | $55 | $75 | $90 |
| Adult Competitor* dancing ONLY 1 Championship event, no competitor pass needed, (including not doing any T/S &/or M/P) | |||
| Seniors 4 & 5 Competitor Pass | $45 | $65 | $75 |
| Pro Competitor Pass dancing Pro/Am | $30 | $55 | $80 |
| Am Adult dancing Pro/Am, T/S & M/P | $65 | $75 | $85 |
| Amateur Teacher, or unjudged M/P (not dancing Am/Am) | $55 | $75 | $90 |
| Professional Competitor dancing ONLY Pro/Pro Events, no competitor pass needed | |||
| After close of registration on March 8, 2024, an additional $25 will be added to every unpaid account regardless, if Amateur or Professional, College Teams will be $25.00/team | |||
*Adult Competitor is a competitor 21-35.
Cost Per Dance or Event
| Type | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Early Bird Special Dec - Jan 22 |
Regular Pricing Jan 23 - Feb 19 |
Procrastinator Special Feb 20 - Mar 14 |
|
| Am/Am Events – Cost per Dance or Event | |||
| Cost per dance: Child Am/Am | $20 | $25 | $30 |
| Cost per dance: Adult Am/Am | $20 | $25 | $35 |
| 9-Dance / 10-Dance Events | $150 / $155 | $160 / $165 | $170 / $175 |
| ShowDance | $125 | $135 | $145 |
|
Adult Competitor dancing ONLY 1 Championship event, no competitor pass needed, (including no T/S &/or M/P) You MUST contact the registrar for a price adjustment |
$100 | $115 | $125 |
Refund Policy
Competitors who cancel by Friday, March 21, 2025 will receive a refund, minus a 10% administrative charge. Competitors who cancel after March 21, 2025 will need to inform the Registrar via email why they are cancelling and may need to present material backing up their reason for cancelling. Refunds may be offered at the rate of 65% minus the 10% administrative charge. Refunds will only be given for Competitor Passes and Dance Fee. There will be no refunds for Spectator Tickets, Workshop or Party tickets.
Scoring
The scoring system used is the skating system. The best combined score for all dances determines placement in the event.
Competition Efficiency
Depending upon the number of couples entered, some groups or proficiency levels may dance at the same time as others, even though each group is judged separately.
The organizer reserves the right to cancel events for which there are an insufficient number of entries.
