Largest Dance Competitions in the United States

[Enthusiast]

I was curious which ballroom competitions are the largest in North America. For example, I'm pretty sure the Ohio Star Ball is the largest, but what are the top 5 or so?

Also, what about swing competitions? Argentine Tango? Salsa? Hustle?

[Anonymous]

I guess I would have to say that the larger of the comps include Ohio, USDSC, Heritage, and Emerald.

Larinda

[Laura]

"Largest" can have different meanings. If you mean largest number of entries, then definitely competitions like the Ohio Star Ball and Emerald Ball are near the top. But largest number of entries does not mean largest number of people competing: for example, if someone enters 50 single-dance events and 4 scholarships then that generates 54 entries for just one couple. I suspect that the "largest number of people" competing title might go to the Manhatten Amateur Classic or to the USABDA National Dancesport Championships. There were over 350 couples competing at last year's Nationals. In terms of "largest number of spectators" that would probably be one of the big comps at BYU. They host the NDCA National Youth/Junior/Pre-teen championships along with the NDCA US Professional Standard championships, and I hear the venue is packed with 10,000 spectators.

I don't have exact numbers, so what I've written is based on personal observation and guessing, but you get my point that 'largest' can mean a few different things.