COMPETE WITH A PROFESSIONAL DANCE PARTNER

PROFESSIONAL-AMATEUR COMPETITIONS

 

Have you watched the wildly successful television show “Dancing with the Stars” and thought, “Hey, I can do that?” If you are a serious ballroom dance student, and you thrive on competition, you will definitely want to compete in one or more of the over 50 competitions nationwide for Professional-Amateur couples, referred to as Pro-Am Couples and Pro-Am Competitions—the most popular way to get involved in ballroom dance competitions and the quickest way to.

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As an amateur taking private lessons and dancing in competitions with a professional partner, you learn to dance and compete with a seasoned professional whose experience and expertise contributes directly to your success.

 

Beyond being your partner, your professional instructor acts as your coach and mentor, your cheerleader, advocate, and support in lessons and competitions. Together, you participate in Pro-Am competitions where you are judged against other Pro-Am couples, just as on “Dancing with the Stars.”

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Staged at large hotels near urban areas, competitions typically take place over three to four consecutive days, with each day featuring a different style of dance—American Rhythm, American Smooth, International Latin, and International Standard. The judging panel consists of retired ballroom dance professionals who are certified as judges in all styles of ballroom dancing.

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Pro-Am competitions are categorized by gender, age, and level of experience to make the competition floor fair and equal for everyone. For example, a fifty-year-old female student who has been taking lessons for three months competes in the Newcomer division against other women in the same age range.

 

Competitions start with the Newcomer division and a beginner’s level Bronze division, followed by the higher level Silver and Gold divisions. The final Pro-Am competitive events are the open scholarship dances that combine both female and male dancers to vie for monetary awards.