How do comps work?

[pygmalion]

Okay. So now I'm looking into the merits of going into amateur competion, so I decided to look up some comps and get the info. And I must say, I'm now completely baffled. The pro-am forms are confusing enough, but at least you have a pro to interpret all the gibberish. With the am forms, you're on your own. ... Unless you have dance forums. Let's start with a simple question. What are the levels of proficiency/competition, and how do they work? Are they in any way related to the medal system?

Meaning, in pro-am, you can compete at bronze I, full bronze, silver and so on. How does this relate to newcomer, novice, etc. of am/am competition?

[cl5814]

I speak under correction, but isn't newcomer for someone that has never competed before and i thought novice category is specific to international standard heats/events.

[pygmalion]

Also, in the franchise experiences thread, we had some discussion about in-franchise comps versus independent comps, and how to get information.

Just because I'm curious, I randomly looked up half a dozen independent competitions. Only one freely provided pricing information for am/am, pro-am and pro entries. Most provided information about am/am and pro/pro, but concealed the prices for pro/am.

Interestingly, one comp provided a great discount package for amateurs -- a one day special with ten entries and spectator tickets for the couple for only $100. Most comps had lower prices for amatuers than pro-am or pro, but not all.

I guess my point is that it pays to shop around. The only rule appears to be that there is no rule. :?

[pygmalion]

I speak under correction, but isn't newcomer for someone that has never competed before and i thought novice category is specific to international standard heats/events.

I'm not sure, but of course, I'll try to google and find out. Unless, of course, oneof our illustrious members decides to enlighten us. 8) :)

[Porfirio Landeros]

Welcome to the world of Am/Am!

As far as levels go, it's not too much different than Pro/Am with respect to the medal dances. You have your bronze, silver, gold, all with closed/open or whatever spin they put on it. You usually dance in the same heats as the Pro/Am's, but you're not judged against them. Another thing that I have noticed, that at the NDCA comps, you're not going to have that much Am/Am competition in the medal dances. You'll have to join USABDA and attend amateur-only comps or even go to open collegiate comps for a chance at some populated events (from my experience).

A lot of comps have the Am/Am freestyle (single-dance) form on the same page as the Pro/Am form, or there's a separate one for you that looks exactly the same, it just has the space for both partners instead of a teacher. Generally, you pay per dance, and you may also have to pay for your ticket in the ballroom.

The upper half of amateur competitions are the multi-dance events. Those levels consist of Pre-Novice, Novice, Pre-Champ, and Championship. These are the levels that usually have choreography and costuming. Most of the time, costumes are not "required" until pre-champ. Otherwise, they're optional, and sometimes prohibitted in the lower levels.

You register for these events on a separate form, usually called Amateur Multi-Dance Events. You're allowed to enter into two consecutive levels (dance up a level), so if you were a Pre-Novice dancer, you could also enter into Novice to get more floor-time. The levels start with fewer dances, and as you work your way up to higher levels they add dances until you finally do the same set the professionals do - open championship.

Multi-dance events are generally better-populated that the Am/Am medal dances at NDCA comps, but at USABDA and Collegiate comps, it can be the other way around, in fact, many amateur/collegiate comps scratch champ events due to no entries. You'll find that you have to bounce between both NDCA and USABDA to experience a range of competition.

Anyway, that was the quick and dirty. I can check back if you have any specific questions. :)

[Adwiz]

isn't newcomer for someone that has never competed before and i thought novice category is specific to international standard heats/events.

There are different rules depending on the governing body under which the competition falls. For example, DanceSport BC, the governing body in my location, sets Newcomer as a category of its own. You're allowed to compete in that level up to two times as long as you don't come in first place the first time. However, you can compete in Bronze or even Silver at the same competition without any issues. In other jurisdictions it is restricted to one time entry and the organizers may decide that you can't compete in any other level if doing Newcomer. Also, in some jurisdictions it allows costumes and in others costumes are prohibited. Pays to check first.

Novice category covers Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. Costumes are usually allowed, but most competitors in Bronze and Silver tone them down even when they are allowed. For example, in Standard you will rarely see someone competing at Bronze level in tails. However, to disallow costumes creates problems because a Bronze competitor may also be competing in Gold level where costumes are common. Asking the couple to change between heats that may be minutes apart doesn't work, so most organizers don't set restrictions on this. The Bronze competitor who is also doing Gold will just remove his jacket to fit in better.

[twodance]

Isn't all the different words used on forms fun? After a while you get used to it. Bronze level is broken down in to different levels. ie. Bronze 1, Bronze 2. This is the same as Associate Bronze and Full Bronze. The same goes for Silver and Gold. Each medal level has 10 basic steps in it.(for American style, a different number for International style). Newcomers level is for people who have never competed before and have had less the 25 lessons of instruction. You may enter this catagory only once. Then you have to move up to the next level. At most Newcomer levels you don't need costumes. However at the next levels you do (if you want to win ) :wink: There are also closed catagories and open catagories. Closed are for school figures in that particular level. The open catagories are for routines or where there are no rules to what you may do. With the exception of lifts and drops. Multi dance catagories are where you stay on the floor and dance 2 or more dances in a row. These are great price break because you get to dance a lot more for one price. The confusion is that every organizor can make up his own rules and language about his comp. on top of the NDCA rules. So with each comp. paperwork things can change a little. If you need help with any other questions just PM me.

[DancingMommy]

I'll weigh in here:

You can have 3 distinct types of competition at an NDCA comp.

Pro/Am - you & a teacher
Student/Student - you and another student or AM partner (this is danced during Pro/Am heats). You do not need NDCA/USABDA registration for this/
-These can have one-dance and multi-dance events-

Am/Am - Amateur partnership danced in multi-dance rounds. You *must* have an NDCA or USABDA (or both) registration for this.
-This is strictly multi-dance-

If you want more floor time for practice before hitting the floor for Am/Am, you can enter the corresponding one dance events as Student/Student. This was our coach's advice. He said it can do two things: 1) give you more exposure (good) and 2) give you actual practice time (great).

Pro/Am & Student/Student are broken down into medal classifications. Some are more broken down than others. See the indivdual registration paperwork for details.

Am/Am is broken down into Novice, Pre-Champ. & Champ. Usually speaking, you can't advance from one level to the next without gaining a certain number of "proficiency points". These also determine who wins in the "circuit" events.

Typically, Novice is 2 dances ie Waltz/Foxtrot and Tango/Quickstep. You can enter both Novice events, you just won't dance more than 2 dances at a time.

Pre-Champ. is 4 dances & Champ. is 5 (assuming International Style). This is generally the same for American/Interntaional across all 4 disciplines of dance.

I'll add more later, but I have to run out for a doctor's appt. :) HTH

[pygmalion]

Thanks for the inputs, everyone. The light bulb is starting to come on, albeit dimly. :oops: :lol:

I guess I'd better go check the NDCA web site, to figure out how to get registered. Hmm.

[Porfirio Landeros]

Usually speaking, you can't advance from one level to the next without gaining a certain number of "proficiency points". These also determine who wins in the "circuit" events.

For the Amateur circuit, it's kind of the opposite, but you have the right idea. You can't go back a level once you've pointed out. There's nothing to stop any amateur from entering in the highest level offered at a comp, even if they're not "qualified." The point rules are mainly setup to keep dancers from "sandbagging," where they stay in a level for years without advancing because they like collecting plastic trophies [and scratching out the "pre" in pre-championship ;)].

I guess I'd better go check the NDCA web site, to figure out how to get registered. Hmm.

You can register on-line, for sure, but also check the competition calendars for both the USABDA and NDCA circuits before joining either. You may find out that there are enough of one of the circuits comps around for you to only join one org (at first). The NDCA registration needs to be renewed each January, whereas USABDA is every year from the date you joined.

[pygmalion]

Oh. Cool. I may just wait until my USABDA membership is up for renewal in April, then upgrade from social to competitive dancer. This is going to be so fun!