{"id":8200,"date":"2026-11-03T10:00:53","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T15:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/?p=8200"},"modified":"2026-11-03T10:37:22","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T15:37:22","slug":"ballroom-dance-competition-what-pro-am-is-and-how-it-works","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/blog\/dance-competitions\/ballroom-dance-competition-what-pro-am-is-and-how-it-works\/","title":{"rendered":"Ballroom Dance Competition: What Pro-Am Is and How It Works"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"8200\" class=\"elementor elementor-8200\" data-elementor-settings=\"{&quot;ha_cmc_init_switcher&quot;:&quot;no&quot;}\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e5ce21 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7e5ce21\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e25be51 elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"e25be51\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h3&quot;],&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;No headings were found on this page.&quot;,&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;numbers&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_laptop&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of Contents\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__e25be51\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__e25be51\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__e25be51\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M500 975V858C696 858 858 696 858 500S696 142 500 142 142 304 142 500H25C25 237 238 25 500 25S975 237 975 500 763 975 500 975Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-20e60aa2 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"20e60aa2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-198b2c1f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"198b2c1f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u00a0<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/192\/2026\/11\/ballroom-dance-competition.webp\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-8201 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/192\/2026\/11\/ballroom-dance-competition.webp\" alt=\"Ballroom dance competition: a gray-haired man in a black suit and a woman in a flowing green-and-black gown dance in an open hold on a wooden floor, with other couples in colorful gowns and red, white, and blue curtains behind them.\" width=\"666\" height=\"666\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/192\/2026\/11\/ballroom-dance-competition.webp 1077w, https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/192\/2026\/11\/ballroom-dance-competition-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/192\/2026\/11\/ballroom-dance-competition-1024x1024.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/192\/2026\/11\/ballroom-dance-competition-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/192\/2026\/11\/ballroom-dance-competition-768x768.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px\" \/><\/a><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><b>Ballroom Dance Competition: What Pro-Am Is and How It Works<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">At a ballroom dance competition, couples dance in front of judges and earn a placement in their category and level. At Fred Astaire Dance Studios \u2013 South Windsor, we help students compete in Pro-Am, short for Professional-Amateur, where each student dances with their own instructor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Competing might seem like something only professionals do, bu<\/span><b>t there are divisions for dancers who are just starting out<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and you decide if and when to enter.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><b>Inside a Ballroom Dance Competition<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A competition day has many short rounds, sorted by style, level and age group. Your job is to show up on time and perform what you&#8217;ve practiced.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h3><b>Heats, Judges and Placements<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A <\/span><b>heat<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is where several couples dance the same style on the floor at the same time. A panel of judges watches all of them and ranks each couple, and those rankings decide your placement.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You\u2019ll be placed only against dancers at your own level, so a <\/span><b>beginner competes with other beginners<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, not with experienced competitors. And because several couples share the floor, the spotlight isn\u2019t on you alone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h3><b>Smooth, Rhythm, Standard and Latin\u00a0<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">At a ballroom competition, events are organized by style. There are two systems, American and International, and each one splits its dances into two categories:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>American Smooth:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot and Viennese Waltz<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>American Rhythm:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Cha-Cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Bolero and Mambo<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>International Standard:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot and Quickstep<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>International Latin:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Cha-Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble and Jive<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The main difference is in the technique. In American Smooth, partners can separate and dance open figures, while International Standard is danced entirely in a closed hold. The Latin and Rhythm categories share some dances, but their steps and timing differ. <\/span><b>If you\u2019re drawn to a Latin dance competition, you\u2019ll enter either International Latin or American Rhythm events, depending on which style you\u2019ve learned.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As we explain on our<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/types-of-dance\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">types of dance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> page, International style is used more on the competitive circuit, while American style is danced both socially and in competition. In US Pro-Am events, American style is very common, so many students compete in the same style they learned in their first lessons.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h3><b>Night Club and Showcase Events\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Besides Smooth, Rhythm, Standard and Latin, many competitions offer extra divisions. Our nationals also include a <\/span><b>Night Club Division<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> for social dances like Salsa and Bachata, which are judged and placed in their own heats, just like the other styles. If you\u2019d like a social Latin dance to start with, see our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/blog\/dance-lessons\/bachata-dance-for-beginners-steps-styles-and-roots\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">introduction to Bachata dance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Many events also include solo and showcase divisions, where you perform a routine on your own with your instructor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><b>DanceSport, the Competitive Side of Ballroom<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When partner dancing is treated as a sport, with rules, judges and rankings, it\u2019s called DanceSport. It\u2019s organized by federations around the world, with competitions at every level, from local events to world championships.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h3><b>A Sport With Olympic Recognition<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">DanceSport received full recognition from the International Olympic Committee on 4 September 1997. As the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.worlddancesport.org\/About\/Olympic\/Part-of-the-Olympic-Movement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">World DanceSport Federation\u2019s page on the Olympic Movement<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> explains, it had to meet strict criteria to earn that status, including universality, popularity, governance, athlete welfare and development.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Recognition means DanceSport is officially part of the Olympic Movement, but ballroom dancing isn\u2019t currently an event at the Olympic Games themselves.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h3><b>Amateur, Professional and Pro-Am Divisions\u00a0<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ballroom competitions are divided by who\u2019s in the couple. In the <\/span><b>Amateur division<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, two amateur dancers compete together. In the <\/span><b>Professional division<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, two professionals do. In <\/span><b>Pro-Am<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, an amateur student dances with a professional, their own instructor, and the judges score the student\u2019s dancing.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For adults learning at a studio, Pro-Am is usually the most natural place to start. You don\u2019t need a partner, and you compete against other students at your own level.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><b>How Pro-Am Dancing Works<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pro-Am is built around the partnership between you and your instructor, and preparing for a competition together is a big part of the experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><b>Choosing Your Dances and Level<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You and your instructor decide which dances you\u2019ll enter and at which level. Most students start at the beginner levels, with steps they already know from their lessons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><b>Preparing in Your Lessons<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In your private lessons, you\u2019ll practice your routine until it feels natural, polish your timing and posture, and get used to dancing it at full performance energy. Your instructor knows the routine inside out, which takes a lot of pressure off.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/192\/2026\/11\/ballroom-dance-competition-2.webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-8202 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/192\/2026\/11\/ballroom-dance-competition-2.webp\" alt=\"Ballroom dance competition: couples in black outfits with competitor numbers dance across a large wooden floor in a ballroom with purple stage lighting, while a man and a woman in a red-shoed Latin outfit extend their arms in the foreground.\" width=\"855\" height=\"641\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/192\/2026\/11\/ballroom-dance-competition-2.webp 2048w, https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/192\/2026\/11\/ballroom-dance-competition-2-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/192\/2026\/11\/ballroom-dance-competition-2-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/192\/2026\/11\/ballroom-dance-competition-2-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/192\/2026\/11\/ballroom-dance-competition-2-1536x1152.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 855px) 100vw, 855px\" \/><\/a><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><b>Ballroom Dance Championships Worth Knowing<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some championships go back more than a century. Others belong to a single studio network. Both kinds show how far your dancing can go.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h3><b>Blackpool and Its Long History<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">According to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blackpooldancefestival.com\/history\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Blackpool Dance Festival&#8217;s history page<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the first festival took place during Easter week in 1920. The venue was the Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens. The page notes that the <\/span><b>Skating System<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, which turns all the judges&#8217; rankings into final results, arrived in 1937.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h3><b>Our National and World Championships<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/national-ballroom-dance-competitions\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fred Astaire Dance Studios national competitions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> are where we crown our <\/span><b>National (NDC) and World (FAWC) Champions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Each ballroom dance competition in the series is open to all students and pros across our studios.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Students compete against dancers at their level from all over the country. Our post on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/blog\/uncategorized\/13-behaviors-of-a-world-dance-champion-you-can-incorporate-into-your-daily-life\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">13 behaviors of a world dance champion<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> shows how top dancers think off the floor.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><b>Ballroom Competition Dresses and Men&#8217;s Attire<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A costume is part of the show. Its look depends on the category you enter. What looks great in one style can get in the way in another.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h3><b>Gowns for Standard and Smooth<\/b><\/h3><p><b>Standard and Smooth gowns are long and flowing.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> In International Standard, they often have floats, light strips of fabric attached at the arms or wrists that move with the dance. Because partners in American Smooth often separate for open figures, Smooth gowns usually have smaller floats or none at all, so they don\u2019t get in the way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h3><b>Dresses for Latin and Rhythm<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For Latin and Rhythm, women usually wear shorter, fitted dresses, often with fringe that highlights hip and leg action.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h3><b>Men\u2019s Attire and Shoes<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For Standard, men usually wear a tailsuit. In Smooth, a tailsuit, a tuxedo or a fitted vest and pants are all common. For Latin and Rhythm, men wear fitted pants with a shirt. For footwear, see our<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/blog\/dance-lessons\/dance-shoes-guide-choosing-your-first-pair\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">guide to choosing dance shoes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">First-time competitors don\u2019t need a custom costume. Many students rent or borrow one.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/192\/2026\/11\/ballroom-dance-competition-3.webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-8203 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/192\/2026\/11\/ballroom-dance-competition-3.webp\" alt=\"Ballroom dance competition: a smiling man in a dark shirt and gold tie playfully bites a medal while posing with a woman in a black fringed Latin dress with gold chains, on the dance floor of a ballroom with a trophy table behind them.\" width=\"645\" height=\"860\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/192\/2026\/11\/ballroom-dance-competition-3.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/192\/2026\/11\/ballroom-dance-competition-3-225x300.webp 225w, https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/192\/2026\/11\/ballroom-dance-competition-3-768x1024.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/192\/2026\/11\/ballroom-dance-competition-3-1152x1536.webp 1152w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 645px) 100vw, 645px\" \/><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><b>Prepare for Your First Ballroom Dance Competition in South Windsor, CT\u00a0<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Owners <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/member\/viktor-tkachenko-owner-instructor\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Viktor Tkachenko<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/member\/yuliya-lukina-owner-instructor\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Yuliya Lukina<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, professional dance partners since 2005, lead our studio,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fred Astaire Dance Studios \u2013 South Windsor<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Together with our team of instructors, they\u2019ll help you prepare at your own pace, from your first basic steps to a polished routine you feel confident performing.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You don\u2019t need any experience or a partner to get started. Whether competing is your goal or just something you\u2019re curious about, it all begins with your first lesson.<\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/dance-lessons\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Book your intro lesson<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and start dancing in South Windsor, CT, today!<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><b>Frequently Asked Questions<\/b><\/h2><p>\u00a0<\/p><h3><b>Can You Watch a Ballroom Dance Competition Before Competing?<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Yes. Spectators are welcome at most ballroom competitions, including our nationals, where tickets are usually available at the registration desk. Evening sessions often call for semi-formal or formal wear. Watching a few heats is a great way to see the different styles in action and decide which one you\u2019d like to train in with us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h3><b>How Do Ballroom Dance Levels Work?<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most Pro-Am competitions group dancers into levels, usually starting with a newcomer or bronze level and moving up through silver and gold. Each level adds more advanced figures, so you always compete against dancers with similar experience. In your lessons, we help you prepare for the next level, and your instructor can tell you which one fits you.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h3><b>What Does Closed Syllabus Mean?<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Every level comes with a syllabus, a list of figures approved for that level. In closed syllabus events, you can only use figures from that list. Couples still choose and arrange different figures from it, so routines aren\u2019t identical, but everyone at that level dances within the same limits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h3><b>Are Pro-Am Ballroom Competitions Only National?<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">No. Fred Astaire Dance Studios runs Pro-Am competitions at <\/span><b>regional, inter-regional, national and international levels<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Many students start at a regional event and work their way up. We can help you choose which event to enter first.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At a ballroom dance competition, couples dance in front of judges and earn a placement in their category and level. At Fred Astaire Dance Studios \u2013 South Windsor, we help students compete in Pro-Am, short for Professional-Amateur, where each student dances with their own instructor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":461,"featured_media":8204,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8200","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dance-competitions"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8200","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/461"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8200"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8200\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/south-windsor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}