Pro-Am Event Rules

A large range of events is available to Pro-Am couples. A Pro-Am couple consists of a judged USA Dance Athlete and a Professional partner. Lead and Follow Pro-Am Student competitors will be judged together in their respective age groups and skill levels. Pro-Am couples may not compete in non-Pro-Am events. 

Eligibility

Adult/Senior amateur competitors: Must be a Ballroom Pro/Am Amateur DanceSport Athlete or a Ballroom Amateur DanceSport Athlete member in good standing of USA Dance. Ballroom Pro/Am Amateur DanceSport Athlete members cannot dance in Amateur  events with an Amateur partner unless they upgrade to a Ballroom Amateur DanceSport Athlete membership.

Pre-Teen/Junior/Youth/Collegiate competitors: Must be a Ballroom Amateur DanceSport Minor Athlete, Ballroom Amateur DanceSport Student Athlete, or Ballroom Pro/Am Amateur DanceSport Athlete member in good standing of USA Dance. Ballroom Pro/Am Amateur DanceSport Athlete members cannot dance in Amateur  events with an Amateur partner unless they upgrade to a Ballroom Amateur DanceSport Minor Athlete or a Ballroom Amateur DanceSport Student Athlete membership.

Professional competitors:  Must be Ballroom Professional DanceSport Athlete, Ballroom Professional DanceSport Coach, or Ballroom Professional DanceSport Official member in good standing of USA Dance.

Pro-Am Student competitors are eligible to enter the Newcomer division for a period of one year commencing with their first USA Dance sanctioned event regardless of style. The Newcomer Division is restricted to Closed Syllabus only.

For USA Dance membership registration, visit www.usadance.org/membership.

Pro-Am Dance Events

American Smooth

Dance Events*

  • Newcomer (WT) (TF)
  • Pre-Bronze (WT) (FV)
  • Bronze (WT) (FV)
  • Open Bronze (WTFV)
  • Silver (WTF) (V)
  • Open Silver (WTFV)
  • Gold (WTFV)
  • Open Gold (WTFV)

Championships

  • Junior/Youth Open Bronze (WTFV)
  • Junior/Youth Open Silver (WTFV)
  • Junior/Youth Open Gold (WTFV)


Scholarships Adult

  • Open Bronze (WTFV)
  • Open Silver (WTFV)
  • Open Gold (WTFV)

American Rhythm

Dance Events*

  • Newcomer (CR) (SwB) (M)
  • Pre-Bronze (CR) (SwB) (M)
  • Bronze (CR) (SwB) (M) 
  • Open Bronze (CRSwB) (M)
  • Silver (CRSw) (B) (M)
  • Open Silver (CRSwB) (M)
  • Gold (CRSwB) (M)


Championships

  • Junior/Youth Open Bronze (CRSwB)
  • Junior/Youth Open Silver (CRSwB)
  • Junior/Youth Open Gold (CRSwBM)


Scholarships Adult

  • Open Bronze (CRSwB)
  • Open Silver (CRSwB)
  • Open Gold (CRSwBM

International Standard

Dance Events*

  • Newcomer (WT) (FQ)
  • Pre-Bronze (WT) (FQ)
  • Bronze (WT) (FQ) (V)
  • Open Bronze (WTFQ) (V)
  • Silver (WTQ) (F) (V)
  • Open Silver (WTFQ) (V)
  • Gold (WTFQ) (V)
  • Open Gold (WTVFQ)


Championships

  • Junior/Youth Open Bronze (WTFQ)
  • Junior/Youth Open Silver (WTFQ)
  • Junior/Youth Open Gold (WTVFQ)


Scholarships Adult

  • Open Bronze (WTFQ)
  • Open Silver (WTFQ)
  • Open Gold (WTVFQ)

International Latin

Dance Events*

  • Newcomer (CS) (RJ)
  • Pre-Bronze (CS) (RJ) 
  • Bronze (CS) (RJ)
  • Open Bronze (SCRJ) (P)
  • Silver (SCR) (P) (J)
  • Open Silver (CSRJ) (P)
  • Gold (SCRJ) (P)


Championships

  • Junior/Youth Open Bronze (CSRJ)
  • Junior/Youth Open Silver (CSRJ)
  • Junior/Youth Open Gold (CSRPJ)


Scholarships Adult

  • Open Bronze (CSRJ)
  • Open Silver (CSRJ)
  • Open Gold (CSRPJ)

*Pro-Am Events are not invigilated for syllabus infractions.

Pro-Am Awards and Scholarships

The top three competitors in all scholarship/championship events in each style and the top three competitors based on overall results and entries throughout the entire competition will be awarded prize money.

Top 3 Competitors in all scholarship/championship events: 1st: $200   2nd: $150   3rd: $100
Top 3 Competitors overall: 1st: $200   2nd: $150   3rd: $100
*Scholarships may be reduced if minimum number of entries are not met

Pro-Am Professional Teacher Pot of Gold
Professional teachers competing with their amateur students will receive entrance to the ballroom all weekend, preferred seating in the ballroom, and the following per entry amount for participating:

Number of Entries
(1 dance=1 entry) 		Payment Amount
1 - 50 entries $3
51 - 100 entries $5
101 - 199 entries $7
200+ entries $10

Finalists in Bronze through Gold events will receive ribbons.

In Adult Scholarship and Youth Championships events medals will be awarded through the first three places. Ribbons will be awarded to finalists.

Scholarships will be awarded in the Youth Championship and Adult Scholarship events.

Award ceremonies will be held throughout the competition.

Pro/Am Age Categories

Classifications Age
Youth Dances 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
Junior/Youth Championships
12 - 18
Adult Dances
Adult Scholarships 19+ 		A1 19 - 30
A2 31 - 40
B1 41 - 50
B2 51 - 60
C1 61 - 70
C2 71+

Parental or Guardian Approval Required 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:  A Pro-Am Student may compete in only two consecutive age classifications in a particular dance style at a given competition.

Proficiency levels:  A Pro-Am Student may enter up to four consecutive proficiency levels in each style at the minimum level for which the athlete is qualified and three higher. 

Pro/Am events: Proficiency levels are considered to be Newcomer, Pre-Bronze, Bronze, Open Bronze, Silver, Open Silver, Gold, and Open Gold.

Pro-Am Athletes must enter the single dance events in a given style in order to be eligible to compete in the Championship or Scholarship events in that style.

Rest time will be allowed 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.

Registration and Pricing

Studio or Professional Partner please email Daphna Locker at nationals-registrar@usadance.org for registration forms and pricing information.

Entry fees include entry into the ballroom for all sessions throughout the weekend for Amateur Pro-Am Athletes and admission to the Social Dance to be held on Friday 5:00-7:00 PM.

Refund Policy

Competitors who cancel by Friday, February 16, 2024, will receive a 75% refund of their entry fees; those cancelling between February 16, 2024, and March 1, 2024, will receive a 50% refund. Those cancelling after March 1, 2024, will not receive refunds.

Scoring

The scoring system used is the skating system.  The best combined score for all dances determines placement in the event. Should there be any uncontested events, the judges will be using the O2CM Single Evaluation System. This allows the judges to evaluate the student’s performance by using a 1-10 score that provides valuable feedback to motivate students to the next level.

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.