Rules

Mixed Proficiency Event Rules

• Important: USA Dance doesn’t support Teacher/Student category as the separate type of events. Teacher/Student and Mixed Proficiency (MxP) categories are merged under Mixed Proficiency umbrella.
• Judged Partner: The registered amateur athlete of any age and either sex.
• Non-judged Partner: The registered amateur athlete of any age and either sex, regardless of the age and sex of the Judged Partner. The Non-judged Partner must have higher proficiency than the Judged Partner.
• A Non-judged Partner may partner with multiple Judged Partners in multiple age divisions and levels lower than their proficiency level, but not the same event with more than one Judged Partner.
• The Judged Partner will be judged against other Judged Partner in the same age, role, invigilation and proficiency categories that are also dancing with Non-judged Partners.

Amateur (Student/Student) Event Rules

Eligibility

• The couple’s Proficiency Level in a style is determined as the Proficiency Level of the partner with higher proficiency in this style. For example, if one partner has class D in the style and other partner has class C, the couple will be treated as a C-class couple. If one of the partners doesn’t have a class in style yet, the couple’s level will be defined by the proficiency level of the partner with already assigned proficiency class. See the current Proficiency Levels for USA Dance DanceSport members.
• In 9 and 10 dance events the couple’s proficiency level is determined by the partner with the highest proficiency class across both styles.
• If an athlete doesn’t have an assigned Proficiency Level in a style yet, the Proficiency Level will be assigned according to the event of this style with the lowest proficiency level entered by the athlete at the competition. For example, if the athlete entered events of D- and C-class in Latin at the competition, they will be assigned to class D in Latin starting from this competition.
• A couple cannot compete in any event with a Proficiency Level below the couple’s Proficiency level in the event’s style.
• If an event description mentions an Invigilated (Syllabus) Level, the couple must dance only steps of this level or lower irrelevant of their or event’s proficiency level. The Invigilator will report any violations in restricted syllabus events to the Chairman of Judges.  The couple involved will be given a verbal warning if the violation occurs in a round prior to the final round or may be reduced to last place in that dance in a final round.
• Competitors can dance in two consecutive proficiency levels and two consecutive age groups and are encouraged to do so.  The Adult age (19-34) competitor is not allowed to dance in two age groups, only in Adult category.  The “Fun/Nightclub” dance events combine all ages and proficiency levels into one event.  All competitor couples can dance in them, and we encourage you to sign up for them.
• Dancers don’t need to dance with the same partner for all events; however, they may dance with only one partner per event.  Dancers may compete in as many events as they are eligible to enter but must abide by the rules of each event. Entry into multiple age, proficiency and invigilation levels may result in shorter than normal break times between heats.

The current USA DanceSport Rulebook sets the guidelines for this competition.
Age Categories and Dances

Prior written approval of a parent or legal guardian is required for all athletes under the age of 18.

The competition is organized into events as combinations of Proficiency Levels and Invigilated (Syllabus and Open) levels.

Events Required for Regional and National Championships for 2025-2026 season

Kansas City Dance Classic may add more dances in all proficiency levels as well as more syllabus levels at the N, E and D-class levels than required by USA Dance rulebook.  For example, E-class Standard may have a chance to dance Viennese Waltz, Tango and Foxtrot, not just Waltz and Quickstep. D-class may have Gold Syllabus events in addition to the Silver events required by USA Dance rulebook.

Kansas City Dance Classic will also hold some “Fun/Nightclub Dances” where there is not a breakout by age group or skill level.  Everyone competes together in the same event and dances on the floor together.  There are no defined “syllabus” steps in these dances.  When you go to the Kansas City Dance Classic Registration Page you’ll see these dances listed under Age Group “Open” and Skill Level “Open”.  The “Fun Dances” currently consist of West Coast Swing, Night Club 2-Step, Salsa, Hustle and Argentine Tango.  More may be added.

General Format and Entry Divisions

Events consist of one, two, three, four or five dances in succession without leaving the dance floor.   The best combined score for all dances in each event will determine places in that event.  The scoring system used is the skating system.  For all multi-dance events, couples must dance each dance in the event.  Events may be separated into two or more heats at the discretion of the Chairman of Judges. Depending upon the number of couples entered, some age groups may dance at the same time as others, even though each group is being judged as a separate event.  The competition chairperson reserves the right to combine or cancel events for which there are an insufficient number of entries.

The on-deck system will be used for all events.  Competitors must be in the ballroom and ready to dance 30 minutes prior to the scheduled time for the event in which they are competing.  They must report to the Deck Captain two heats prior to their event.  Any competitor who does not take the floor by the time the music begins will be disqualified from that event.

Awards

Ribbons will be presented to the top six couples in each event.  Awards ceremonies will be held following final heats throughout the competition.