Dance Competition Styles
People from all different backgrounds get into dance for different reasons. Whether they are learning for a wedding, to exercise, or just for fun, there are different types of dance competitions all over the world!
Dancing competitions are held all over the world, from your local bar to the international finals. More formal than your average suds joint where you can win $50 or a t-shirt, international awards are bigger and so is the prestige. Dancing competitions are not for the casual dancer, however, as they require a great amount of training, determination, practice, discipline and creativity.
Competitive dancing is a journey. You will most likely start at your local studio. Even the most famous dancers like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers had to be taught by someone at first. You can start at small local competitions until you move on to national and international competitions.
Expect to pay entry fees, travel costs, and spend perhaps hundreds of dollars on costumes. Money isn’t the only expenditure, as you will need to spend many, many hours developing and working on your routine with your teacher and practicing with your partner. You can’t do something like this motivated by ego alone, you have to love it! You have to love to dance, love to perform, love a challenge, and love to win.
Unfortunately, spending a lot of time and money isn’t enough either. Dancing is an art, not a science, and true talent on the dance floor must come from inside. Steps can be taught, but talent and true style? Never! You can teach anyone to dance, but you can’t teach anyone to be great. Some of the greatest dancers in the world can make the simplest steps look impressive and make the most difficult steps look easy.
There are different categories for competitive ballroom and latin dancing. You will compete based on age, style of dance, and level. There are lists of moves that you have to avoid. The only category that allows lifts is theater arts. There are 10 International Style categories: five International Standard: Slow Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, Quickstep, and five International Latin: Cha-cha-cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, Jive. The American Style includes four American Smooth: Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz, and five American Rhythm: Cha Cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Bolero, Mambo categories. You will be judged by a panel that consists of great dancers that have won championships in their past.
Tony and Melanie have been dancing for 25 years and manage a lucrative ballroom and latin dance studio in the heart of times square. Make sure you see their breakdown on becoming a competitive dancer How to Dance Competitively