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 competitors: Must be Pro/Am Amateur Ballroom Athlete or Adult Ballroom Athlete members in good standing of USA Dance. Pro-Am Amateur Ballroom Athlete members cannot dance in Amateur events with an Amateur partner unless they upgrade to an Adult Ballroom Athlete membership.
Pre-Teen/Junior/Youth/Collegiate competitors: Must be Pro-Am Amateur Ballroom Athlete, Minor Ballroom Athlete, Adult Ballroom Athlete, or Student Ballroom Athlete members in good standing of USA Dance. Pro-Am Amateur Ballroom Athlete members cannot dance in Amateur events with an Amateur partner unless they upgrade to a Minor Ballroom Athlete, Student Ballroom Athlete, or Adult Ballroom Athlete membership.
Professional competitors: Must be Professional Ballroom Athlete or Ballroom DanceSport Official members 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
Single Dance Events*
- Newcomer (W,T,F,V)
- Pre-Bronze (W,T,F,V)
- Intermediate Bronze (W,T,F,V)
- Open Bronze (W,T,F,V)
- Silver (W,T,F,V)
- Open Silver (W,T,F,V)
- Gold (W,T,F,V)
- Open Gold (W,T,F,V)
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
Single Dance Events*
- Newcomer (C,R,Sw,B,M)
- Pre-Bronze (C,R,Sw,B,M)
- Intermediate Bronze (C,R,Sw,B,M)
- Open Bronze (C,R,Sw,B,M)
- Silver (C,R,Sw,B,M)
- Open Silver (C,R,Sw,B,M)
- Gold (C,R,Sw,B,M)
- Open Gold (C,R,Sw,B,M)
Championships
- Junior/Youth Open Bronze (CRSwBM)
- Junior/Youth Open Silver (CRSwBM)
- Junior/Youth Open Gold (CRSwBM)
Scholarships Adult
- Open Bronze (CRSwBM)
- Open Silver (CRSwBM)
- Open Gold (CRSwBM)
Nightclub (Adult Only)
Single Dance Events*
- Newcomer (Me, WCS, Hus, Sal)
- Pre-Bronze (Me, WCS, Hus, Sal)
- Intermediate Bronze (Me, WCS, Hus, Sal)
- Open Bronze (Me, WCS, Hus, Sal)
- Silver (Me, WCS, Hus, Sal)
- Open Silver (Me, WCS, Hus, Sal)
- Gold (Me, WCS, Hus, Sal)
- Open Gold (Me, WCS, Hus, Sal)
Scholarship Adult
- Open (Me/WCS/Hus/Sal)
International Standard
Single Dance Events*
- Newcomer (W,T,V,F,Q)
- Pre-Bronze (W,T,V,F,Q)
- Intermediate Bronze (W,T,V,F,Q)
- Open Bronze (W,T,V,F,Q)
- Silver (W,T,V,F,Q)
- Open Silver (W,T,V,F,Q)
- Gold (W,T,V,F,Q)
- Open Gold (W,T,V,F,Q)
Championships
- Junior/Youth Open Bronze (WTVFQ)
- Junior/Youth Open Silver (WTVFQ)
- Junior/Youth Open Gold (WTVFQ)
Scholarships Adult
- Open Bronze (WTVFQ)
- Open Silver (WTVFQ)
- Open Gold (WTVFQ)
International
Latin
Single Dance Events*
- Newcomer (C,S,R,P,J)
- Pre-Bronze (C,S,R,P,J)
- Intermediate Bronze (C,S,R,P,J)
- Open Bronze (C,S,R,P,J)
- Silver (C,S,R,P,J)
- Open Silver (C,S,R,P,J)
- Gold (C,S,R,P,J)
- Open Gold (C,S,R,P,J)
Championships
- Junior/Youth Open Bronze (CSRPJ)
- Junior/Youth Open Silver (CSRPJ)
- Junior/Youth Open Gold (CSRPJ)
Scholarships Adult
- Open Bronze (CSRPJ)
- Open Silver (CSRPJ)
- Open Gold (CSRPJ)
*Pro-Am Events are not invigilated for syllabus infractions.
Pro-Am Awards and Scholarships
The top three competitors in all multi-dance 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 multi-dance 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.
Thank you gifts and Preferred seating throughout the weekend are provided to Amateur Pro-Am Athletes.
Pro/Am Age Categories
Classifications | Age | |
---|---|---|
Youth Single 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 Single 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, Intermediate 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 Sterling Sightler at nationals-registrar@usadance.org for registration forms and pricing information.
Entry fees include entry into the ballroom with VIP seating throughout the weekend for Amateur Pro-Am Athletes; admission to the Social Dance to be held on Friday 5:00-7:00 PM; and a program for each competitor.
Workshops on various ballroom topics will be offered throughout the weekend at a cost of $15 per workshop.
Refund Policy
Competitors who cancel by Wednesday, February 15, 2023, will receive a 75% refund of their entry fees; those cancelling between February 15, 2023, and March 2, 2023, will receive a 50% refund. Those cancelling after March 2, 2023, 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.