Pro/Am Nationals?

[laylamah]

How do Pro/Am Nationals differ from other Pro/Am comps? It seems like you don't have to qualify to dance Pro/Am nationals... so what defining quality besides the name makes them Nationals? :confused:

[danceronice]

Welcome to DF, Layla. Nice icon. Looks familiar. ;)

I don't know about any Nationals per se, just that OSB I think has the rights to the "World Championship" name.

[laylamah]

Thanks, it's good to see you on here! Will I get to run into you at Manhattan? :)

About the comp:

USDC at Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando®
September 7th-11th, 2010

United States Dance Championships® featuring
United States National Open & Pro/Am Championships

United States National Professional Championships

The winners and runners-up from the U.S. National Professional International Standard and Latin will represent the USA in the WDC World Professional Dance Championships.

United States Grand Championships® featuring
The U.S. Pro/Am Grand Championship
The winners of the U.S. Pro/Am "Open" Latin, Rhythm, Standard, Smooth and the winners of the U.S. Pro/Am Ten Dance and Nine Dance Championships will compete on Saturday afternoon to determine the U.S. Pro/Am Grand Champion.

United States Open Dance Championships™ featuring
The U.S. Open to the World Professional Standard Championship

The U.S. Open to the World Professional Latin American Championship

Both events are WDC World Series Events. The WDC World Series combines the premiere Professional dancing competitions for Standard & Latin in the World to form the foundation for the World Ranking for Professional Dancers in their respective styles.

[laylamah]

So clearly, for professionals, it means something - the chance to go to the WDC Worlds - and for Pro/Am, it looks like there is going to be a cross-style competition for "Grand Champion" - where the winners of the open events for all styles will compete against each other (how on earth will they judge that?)

But it seems to me like the actual Pro/Am comp won't be all that different than any other big Pro/Am comp? Since it doesn't require a qualifier, it seems that it's no more a "national" level event than any other event that draws lots of competition... (And on the same token, is OSB any more a "World" level event than anything else? There are still no qualifiers to compete in the Pro/Am "World Championships", at OSB, are there?)

[danceronice]

No Manhattan for me--Windy City is a possibility with NP and then Ohio, I hope. Manhattan's too rich for my blood, I'd be commuting from my brother's place in Mamaroneck every day!

As far as competitions that have external qualifiers, there are more informed people on here than me but I don't know of any. The way pro/am works it might be a hard sell. Of course even Blackpool--you want to enter, you can enter, no qualifiers. OSB is ironically enough I think a North America-only competition.

I can't really see a pro/am comp that you have to qualify for (outside something like the Dancesport Series) going over too well. People who do pro-am want to dance as much as possible. It would have to be a huge competition (and therefore not especially exclusive) to make it worth the organizers' while, that or very expensive for the qualifying entrants.

[fascination]

pro/am is a different beast...not alot of use looking for parallels IMO

[ChaChaMama]

OP, I see where you are coming from.

I think the way I would put it is that the people who are most serious about their dancing ALL attend either USDSC or Ohio (and some do both, though that depends on pocketbook, not just seriousness). So while you do not have to qualify to be there--theoretically, it could be your first comp--you will be up against some of the best pro-ammers in the U.S.

I personally would have equal respect for a pro-am couple placing in the finals of USDSC or OSB, and that respect would have nothing to do with what label is slapped on the title. It's an impressive accomplishment to do that well at either of the two premier U.S. pro-am events.

[etp777]

In some respects, what is any championship worth? Hawks won their first championship in decades. What does that mean? We have a big shiny cup and bragging rights. Not much different than the national champs at USDC.

[fascination]

I think the people who win it know what it has meant to them...and generally that has meant a helluvalotta work

[etp777]

Oh, absolutely. Just feeling a little cynical tonight. :)

[laylamah]

OP, I see where you are coming from.

I think the way I would put it is that the people who are most serious about their dancing ALL attend either USDSC or Ohio (and some do both, though that depends on pocketbook, not just seriousness). So while you do not have to qualify to be there--theoretically, it could be your first comp--you will be up against some of the best pro-ammers in the U.S.

I personally would have equal respect for a pro-am couple placing in the finals of USDSC or OSB, and that respect would have nothing to do with what label is slapped on the title. It's an impressive accomplishment to do that well at either of the two premier U.S. pro-am events.

Thanks ChaChaMama, it's good to at least know the relative competitiveness of this comp stands up somewhere near the name they give it! By the sounds of it, it would be a very exciting comp to compete at! Maybe I will try to save my $$$ for this or OSB! :D

[danceronice]

OSB. You have to go at least once. It's a whole 'nother planet. (And the dress-shopping is great!)

[fascination]

they are both great comps and have their own different strengths...I would be hard pressed to have to choose...but yes, everyone should go to ohio at least once

[latingal]

I think the people who win it know what it has meant to them...and generally that has meant a helluvalotta work

LOL....oh so very true...

[latingal]

As for the caliber of the competitions between the Pro-am comps - USDC (National title) and Ohio Star Ball (World Championship title), I do believe the highest level pro-am competitors do try to make it to both.

Both comps are quite enjoyable. I think OSB ends up having a slightly larger field in my division.

And I am told it is a feat to win both titles in the same year.

[Natalka]

As for the caliber of the competitions between the Pro-am comps - USDC (National title) and Ohio Star Ball (World Championship title), I do believe the highest level pro-am competitors do try to make it to both.

Both comps are quite enjoyable. I think OSB ends up having a slightly larger field in my division.

And I am told it is a feat to win both titles in the same year.

In my experience, EVERYONE shows up at Ohio.

For most of the pro-ams I know, if they have to choose based on funding, they choose Ohio.

Both are great comps!!! I love them both!:p

Plus... you learn by osmosis when going to either of these two if you are able to stay and watch the pro events! They're awesome!