What Is Pro-Am?

Today is Day One of dance competition explanation. I will start out with "Pro-Am" divisions, and have included links to video clips of country pro-am divisions.

All partner dance genres (ballroom, latin, country, swing, etc.) offer pro-am divisions. Pro-Am stands for professional-amateur. In these divisions, amateurs dance with professionals and compete against other amateurs.

Pro-Am divisions are for amateurs who are unable to find a partner to compete in the couples divisions with, or for amateurs who want to improve their personal dance skills.

I have two male students who compete in the pro-am divisions with me. One of them also competes in a couples division with his wife, the other only competes in pro-am. They work with me throughout the year, and travel to competitions to compete with me.

Pro-Am divisions are separated by gender, age and skill level. For instance, one of my students competes in Male Diamond (40-49 yrs. old) Novice, the other in Male Silver (50-59 yrs. old) Newcomer. Some ams compete in more than one age division; you are allowed to dance below your age, but not above your age. So if you are 45 but think you can compete against the young folks, you may compete in the Silver division as well as the Open division. ("Open" is the division for all adults, ages 18+.)

The amateurs are judged personally, as well as against the other amateurs in their division. They are awarded a medal placement (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Gold w/Honors, Gold Graduate) in each dance, as well as a numeric placement.

In country competition, there are 8 dances to choose from. You may dance all 8, or you can pick and choose. In order to qualify for an overall placement, you must dance at least 5 dances. Also in country, if you want to dance at the World Championships, you must compete in at least 3 events throughout the year.

Top teacher awards are given at most events, usually to the pros with the most ams and/or with the ams who place the highest at the event. Having a student who places high at events is the best advertisement for a pro, so most pros take Pro-Am competition very seriously.

So that's my quick tutorial on Pro-Am divisions. Any questions?

We'll tackle Jack and Jills next time.