Dues
Dues for team will be $80 per semester. Paid dues entitles members to attend weekly classes taught by professionals on Mondays and Wednesdays. For more cost information, go to the Costs and Fundraising section of this packet.
The Ballroom and Latin Dances
In competitive ballroom dancing, there are several different styles. These styles are separated into two different sets: American Style and International Style. These styles have similar dances, but with many differences in choreography.
Within each school of dance, there are two distinct categories of dance the Ballroom (or smooth) dances as well as the Latin-American dances.
International Style
Standard Dances (ballroom dances)Latin (Latin-American inspired dances)
- Waltz
- Tango
- Foxtrot
- Viennese Waltz
- Quickstep
- Cha Cha
- Rumba
- Samba
- Paso Doble
- Jive
American Style
Smooth (ballroom dances)Rhythm (Latin-American inspired dances)
- Waltz
- Tango
- Foxtrot
- Viennese Waltz
- Cha Cha
- Rumba
- Mambo
- Bolero
- Swing
The Skill Levels
Often when newcomers join, there is a concern about whether they will be at a disadvantage because they have just begun dancing. In competitive ballroom dancing, there are different levels of skills that dancers may compete in. The syllabus levels are levels in which the dancers may only compete from a dictated set of moves. Each level higher than the last adds more complicated moves that the dancers may compete.
Above that, experienced dancers may compete in open choreography levels, which demand a refined technique and experience with the syllabus levels.
Syllabus LevelsOpen Choreography Levels
- Newcomer (for those dancing a year or less)
- Bronze
- Silver
- Gold
- Novice (3 dances)
- Pre-Champion (4 dances)
- Champion (4 or 5 dances)
What to wear at competition
Men’s Attire
For the Latin dances, men should wear a black dress shirt, black dress pants, and black socks. For the Smooth dances, attire should consist of a white dress shirt, black dress pants, black socks, a bow tie or long tie, and a vest (optional).Ladies’ Attire
Ladies’ Latin attire should consist of an above-theknee dress or shirt/skirt combination. For Smooth dances, ladies should wear of calf-length dresses and dance shoes.
No sequins, sparkles, crystals, or floaters (decorative pieces of material that attach from the dress to the wrist or hand) are allowed in the syllabus levels. This is to promote affordable collegiate ballroom dancing and prevent beginning dancers from purchasing expensive dresses, which often give an unfair aesthetic advantage.
