Children & Adult DanceSport

According to Wikipedia DanceSport means "competitive ballroom dancing",^[1]as contrasted to social or exhibition dancing. Dancesport events are sanctioned and regulated by dancesport organizations at the national and international level, such as the World Dance Council. The physical demand of dancesport is equally as high in comparison to other sporting activities such as basketball or cross-country running. Ballroom dancing requires a cardiovascular system to be able to work at a high energy level in order to match the given physiological strain.

There are a wide variety of dance competitions. They range from the well known Blackpool Dance Festival, an event open to all, to competitions conducted exclusively for university students.

The World Dance Council (WDC) rules for international competitions are lengthy and detailed.^[16The music for competitions is kept confidential until the event. The music always follows a strict tempo and, for a couples competition, it will have a duration of no less than 90 seconds, and no more than two minutes.

Some elementary competitions are restricted to "basic" steps, but international competitions are open as to choreography, within the limits of the traditional style of the individual dances. Only the Viennese waltz has defined choreography: it is limited to seven well-specified figures. Lifts are not permitted, except for Show Dance titles. The tempo for each dance is defined. In the finals, couples are marked under the skating system and judged by timing, footwork, rise and fall, alignment, direction and floor craft. Competitors must meet World Anti-Doping Agency rules.

We offer Competitive Ballroom/DanceSport programs, tailored to different ages and levels of dancers:

Pre-Ballroom (3-5 years old) - through exersises, games and simple dances children learn to tell left, from right, study how different body parts work. Learn to turn, twist, hop, sit, stand and most importantly make dance friends and get their first stage experience by participating in studio showcases and open classes. Class meets once a week. Additional private instruction may be added, but not necessary at all.

Kinder Ballroom (5-7 years old) and Newcomers (6-9 and 10-14 years old) - first competitive level. Dancers learn their first patterns in dances Waltz and Cha cha cha to perform at their first competitions solo and in couple. The progress to the next level depends on the individual ability to learn steps and patterns, involvement into regular competitive experience. This class meets twice a week. Includes both dance and dance conditioning training (mandatory program) and requires 1 private lesson a week in addition to group class experience.

Pre-teen, Junior and Youth Competitors (age 7 throught under 21) - after successful completion of the Newcomer level program, dancers progress into Syllabus levels (Bronze, then Silver and then Gold). The number of dances increases to 10. Regular competitive experience is the must. Successful completion of a syllabus program by the age of 12 is a key factor to reach Open competitive level and compete at the National Championship level in Juniors. Otherwise dancers stay in Syllabus up until they reach required level of dance and compete at the School league competitions. Class meets twice a week for techincal studies, additional conditioning class is required, as well as competitive rounds class. 2-6 private lessons a week are required to accompany the class program

Open Seminar (Junior to Seniors) - this class is suitable for all experienced competitors age 12 and up. Class meets once a week for Ballroom and once a week for Latin programs. Private instruction is added depending on personal needs of a dancer. Competitive rounds class and self-practice time is a great addition to this class.

What is Syllabus?

In DanceSport we have books with diagrams of steps, timings and recommended patterns for all 19 dances (10 for International program and 9 for American style)- the “syllable”. Each dance has about 30 steps. They are divided into 3 groups based on the level of advancement: Bronze, Silver and Gold. When dancers are competing in Syllabus groups, they can only dance steps from those books: in Newcomer trough Bronze groups, only Bronze movements are allowed. In Silver, only Bronze and Silver movements are allowed, in Gold you can dance all of them.

Now to what is called “Open” groups:

Novice
Pre-Champ
Championship

Use of any movement is allowed. It’s called “open choreography”. Unless you dance in preteen. Then you can only dance choreography "up to gold" even if you are dancing Championship category.

What is the difference between the “CHAMPIONSHIP” and “SCHOOL” leagues for school aged dancers?

Official competitions that give you national and world titles are only organized at the National Council level. In other words, you can only call yourself a champion if you won a championship level event. You cannot be considered a champion if you win a School Syllabus icompetition, even if it was organized at the same time with National championships. Although to win out of 200 couples is still a great achievement.

For a dancer to have a more or less stable career in dance at Championship level, it is important to start dancing at the early age and to finish syllabus with some significant national (possibly international) results or at least experience by the age of 11.5. So, it should be a goal for any preteen competitor to reach championship level by the age of 12.

If for some reason a dancer started dancing later in life, but really wants to be at the championship level, it is still possible, but can be compared to the the child who started school at the age of 12 instead of 6. That way they have to go through much more material in a very short time, so it’s a bit harder, but definitely doable.

You and your dancer can also be saticfied with the pase of school league. And that’s fine too! It’s up to our families to choose how much time and other efforts they have the ability to invest.

School league juniors (12-15)

School league youth (16-18)

Championship pre-teen (10-11)

Championship junior 2 (14-15)

Championship junior 1 (12-13)

Championship youth (16-18)

CHILDREN & ADULT DANCESPORT

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