DanceSport is the term used for professional dancing that is sanctioned and regulated by USA Dance, Inc., a member organization of the United States Olympic Committee. DanceSports encompasses dancing on a competitive scale, and USA Dance governs the dress, rules, regulations, code of ethics and technical requirements for the sport. If you're thinking about joining a dance team or dancing competitively, understanding the basic rules of the sport will give you a better idea of the requirements and commitment involved in DanceSport.
Technical Rules and Scoring
While each event has its own scoring requirements, the scoring follows the basic rules for figure skating. Points are assigned for difficulty, creativity and skill, with a 6.0 being a high score for any one component of the event. In couples dancing, lifts are forbidden except in Freestyle-Showdance, Cabaret and Theatrical Arts-style dances. Dancers are allowed 30 seconds before and after a performance in order to enter and exit the stage in a style of their choosing. Each style of dance has a time limit, which is usually between 90 and 120 seconds, except for in paso doble, where the dance should end between the second and third highlight.
Dress Code
A code of good taste governs the dress code for DressSport. It's understood that dance costumes are sometimes revealing to enhance the style of the dance, but a competitor's judgment may be called into question if a costume is needlessly so. Props are only allowed for Cabaret dancing, and any piece of clothing that comes off during the routine is considered a prop once it is removed. Intimate areas, which include the chest and panty area, must be covered, while sheer fabric can be used elsewhere.
Code of Ethics
The DanceSport Code of Ethics governs the Members of the Governing Council of USA Dance to judge fairly and without prejudice to a competitors' race, socioeconomic status, religion or political affiliations. Members are to fully disclose any possible conflict of interest when judging or presiding over a competition. A heavy emphasis is placed on diversity in DanceSport, so various backgrounds are to be welcomed to the stage.
Dance Events
Dance USA allows a variety of events in competitive DanceSport, which entices a large group of competitors. Some of the events in DanceSport include Cabaret, Paso Doble, Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Swing, Bolero, Mambo, Salsa, ChaCha and Rumba. Each event is scored according to the regulations for that specific event, including the difficulty and skill involved. Competitions are organized according to the style and location of the events, along with the number of competitors.
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