The Decline of DanceSport in America

[DanceMentor]

This is by no means a scientific study, but I went through some years of Pro standard events at some of the major competitions in America, and I think it is evident there is a pattern that the number of couples competing in Pro standard has declined in the last decade.

Embassy Ball Pro Standard
2008 - 33
2010 - 31
2012 - 32
2018 - 22

USDC Pro Standard
2009 - 25
2013 - 30
2015 - 18
2017 - 18

Ohio Star Ball
2007 - 36
2009 - 38
2012 - 23
2015 - 30
2016 - 13 !!!
2017 - 20

I would estimate this means that there is something like 50% fewer Pros going to these events and they are also not bringing their students with them. either that or they are not competing professionally at these events and just going for the Pro-Am prizes.

I tend to think that overall the numbers at Ballroom competitions are just down across the board. Obviously more study would be needed. It could be that there's more competitions and they are more spread out, but I tend to think not. It could be that there is more Pro-Am and less professional competition going on, and that one more research would be needed.

 

[Joe]

Yeah, if you had the same stats for the other 3 styles that would tell you a lot more.

 

[Loki]

IME many pros from Europe who grew up dancing Standard switch to Smooth once they move to the US. I guess the question is why.

 

[DanceMentor]

IME many pros from Europe who grew up dancing Standard switch to Smooth once they move to the US. I guess the question is why.

Also, if you look at comps like Ohio Star Ball, for some reason the top standard couple have abandoned it since maybe 2011 or so. Heck, it looks like Arunas and Katusha haven't competed in the US for 1 year. The WDC World Pro Standard Championships at USDC this year only had 15 couples!

 

[Mengu]

I don't know where your numbers are from, but OSB 2016 was more like 24 couples. Maybe you looked at RS?
Other international comps are generally the reason for the decline in OSB standard/latin pro entries.

But Smooth has been going strong for for some years now at OSB, it's typically a sea of 3-4 heats for Round 1 for both Pro and Pro RS. Rhythm seems to swing up and down more, for whatever reason.

But Pro attendance is not the best indicator for overall attendance, which I would guess has generally been declining especially at smaller comps, partly due to too many comps too geographically spread out.

 

[tangotime]

IME many pros from Europe who grew up dancing Standard switch to Smooth once they move to the US. I guess the question is why.

Because it gave us more opportunities for teaching, and adjudicating , also the demand used to exceed the Intern style ( and socially light years better !!) .

 

[Joe]

And the political climate surrounding USDC has changed for standard couples.

Are you able to elaborate?

 

[scullystwin42]

If you're speaking only about standard, 3 out of the 6 couples in the pro RS ballroom final at the International were US couples...and the announcer mentioned how many opportunities there were for ballroom couples in the US. I thought that was interesting to hear given this discussion.

 

[scullystwin42]

If you're speaking only about standard, 3 out of the 6 couples in the pro RS ballroom final at the International were US couples...and the announcer mentioned how many opportunities there were for ballroom couples in the US. I thought that was interesting to hear given this discussion.

sorry i meant 3 out of 7

 

[Jon Blankenship]

USA Dance is now doing pro pro.
I'm an amateur going to Chicago this weekend and will spend a total of $150 I think. Plus, I could win money. They also do pro/am .
The issue is with the crazy expensive model I do believe. I must say (sarcasm) I enjoy spending $45 to dance for 40 seconds...anyone else enjoy that?

 

[Joe]

USA Dance has rules regarding minimum music length. NDCA only has such rules for Open Amateur and Pro events.

 

[Jon Blankenship]

I was being sarcastic. I look back at what I spent in pro am and I'm quite disgusted honestly.

 

[DanceMentor]

I was being sarcastic. I look back at what I spent in pro am and I'm quite disgusted honestly.

Indeed. There is that sinking feeling when you realize you spent $50k this year on dancing, and for the most part, the people that rank higher than you simply spent more than you.

 

[Mengu]

Indeed. There is that sinking feeling when you realize you spent $50k this year on dancing, and for the most part, the people that rank higher than you simply spent more than you.

So if I ditched all my bills, lived on the street, didn't eat, didn't spend money on anything but dance, all I would need is a second job to win? Let me work on that...

 

[DanceMentor]

That is like saying women who don't take their makeup off at night also have a higher chance of heart disease. The saying is true yet correlation does not imply causation.

It might be said there is a presence of shared contributing factors. Greater purchasing power indicates a greater likelihood more lessons with top pros, more travel, etc. There are statistical deviations of course, but purchasing power is clearly a leading indicator of success in ballroom dancing.