Ballroom is a whole world, and every expert was once a complete beginner. Here's the lay of the land — how dancing is organized, the styles you'll hear about, and the levels you'll move through.
02The four styles
Competitions are grouped into styles. International Standard and International Latin are danced worldwide; American Smooth and American Rhythm are especially popular in the United States. Standard and Smooth are the elegant, gliding dances; Latin and Rhythm are the rhythmic, expressive ones. You don't have to pick just one — many dancers do several.
- International Standard — Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep
- International Latin — Cha-Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, Jive
- American Smooth — Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz
- American Rhythm — Cha-Cha, Rumba, Swing, Bolero, Mambo
03Levels, from Newcomer to Open
You compete against people at your own stage, not the champions you see online. Newcomer events are usually for those who started within the past year. From there you progress through Bronze (beginner), Silver (some experience), and Gold (more advanced), and eventually the open levels — Novice, Pre-Championship, and Championship — for the most experienced.
Bronze, Silver, and Gold are 'syllabus' levels built on a defined set of steps; the open levels let you choreograph freely. Exact names and rules vary by organization and competition, so your teacher will enter you where you fit.
04Single dances, multi-dance, and heats
Within an event you might enter individual single dances, or a multi-dance event that combines several. When lots of couples enter, the field is split into rounds (or 'heats') that narrow down to a final. There's more on a typical day in 'Your first competition.'
01Social, Pro-Am, and Amateur
Most people start out social — dancing for fun at studios and parties, with no competition required at all. You can happily stay here forever.
When you're ready to compete, there are two main paths. In Pro-Am, a student dances with their professional teacher — by far the most common way adults enter competition. In Amateur (often called 'Am-Am'), two non-professionals partner together, the format you'll see in Olympic-style DanceSport. You can do any of these, or mix them.