How ballroom dancesport works

01Social, Pro-Am, and Amateur — the three paths

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.

02The four styles of ballroom dance

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

03Ballroom levels, from Newcomer to Championship

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 events, 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.'

Common questions

What is dancesport?

Dancesport is competitive ballroom dancing — Standard, Latin, Smooth, and Rhythm danced in judged events, from local Newcomer heats to world championships.

What is the difference between Pro-Am and Amateur?

In Pro-Am, a student dances with their professional teacher — by far the most common way adults enter competition. In Amateur (Am-Am), two non-professionals partner together — the format used in Olympic-style DanceSport.

What are the four styles of ballroom dance?

International Standard (Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep), International Latin (Cha-Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, Jive), American Smooth, and American Rhythm.

What do Bronze, Silver, and Gold mean in ballroom?

They are syllabus proficiency levels built on a defined set of steps — Bronze for beginners, Silver for intermediate, Gold for advanced — before the freely choreographed Open levels: Novice, Pre-Championship, and Championship.