What is competitive dancing?

In the world of ballroom dance, there are two main styles: American and International. Each style has a newcomer, bronze, silver and gold level of dance. When you join the competition team, you will learn to master the syllabus steps and techniques, and then dance against other schools in adjudicated competitions across the Midwest to bring glory to Northwestern.

We have recently moved from American to International. In American, waltz, foxtrot, Viennese waltz and tango are known as the “smooth” dances, while rumba, cha cha and swing are the “rhythm” dances. In International, waltz, foxtrot, Vwaltz, quickstep and tango are “standard” dances, and rumba, cha cha, paso doble, samba and jive are “latin.”

The styles differ in the basic step and particular technical aspects. Today the majority of universities concentrate their efforts on learning the international style, since it is more widespread and often considered to be more difficult.

In our social classes we teach the American style, which helps develop a good foundation for learning International. We encourage our students to become proficient in both styles, as it will greatly increase your appreciation for ballroom dancing.

You can see the full sylibus for all stlyes of dance at usistd.org

How do I join the competitive team?

Come to lessons, practice, and pay dues!

It's really that simple. Come to a lesson and check us out for free. If you like us, join us! The more the merrier.

If you have no prior dance experience, it's best to begin with our beginner lessons. This is where members of the team prepare you for the coached classes during the week. It is important that you know the basic of the dances that will be taught each week.

You are encouraged to join the open practices with the rest of the team. At practice, don't be shy, the older members will be happy to help you review steps and work on your technique!

Do I need special shoes or dance wear?

If you decide to seriously pursue dance, you will need ballroom shoes. Ballroom shoes have flexible toes and the arch/ankle support to keep your feet safe. The bottoms are lined with suede to provide the best grip on the dance floor. Before purchasing shoes (there are many choices, and it can be difficult to know what to get), please ask one of the captains or other team members for advice.

At the newcomer and bronze levels you will not need costumes. In order to compete, ladies only need a ballgown (prom dress) or a loose, long skirt with a nice shirt. Gentlemen should wear a collared shirt and tie with nice pants.

Dance Shoes: how and where to purchase

Here are some tips to keep in mind.

Don't forget a shoe brush! Some shoes come with their own bag, like Supadance (recommended) and International. Otherwise you can carry them around in a Border's bag like Jen did for a year. Some places will take a couple of weeks to find and ship your shoes, so be aware of the delay.

Also subtract 2.5 sizes from your regular size to get your English shoe size. You'll have these shoes for a long time, so be conscientious about your decision in terms of style. Also be prepared to protect your investment.

Please don't purchase Capezio shoes; the cheaper price isn't worth the immense loss in quality. Also there have been problems reported with the buckle snapping on easy-buckle shoes from the Dancesportshoes.com Dancesport brand.

Remember:
Shoes should fit snugly without pinching. They will stretch, but only slightly. Do dance moves in them before you decide whether or not you want to keep them. Be aware of where the shoe rubs on the back of your ankle and the bones in your foot. You know where you can build up calluses, and where repeated irritation will become a big problem.

Be careful, most stores will not accept any shoes that have been worn on hard floors or have been scuffed in any way.

General care tips: Never wear your shoes outside or on really dirty floors. The suede bottoms shall never recover. Have a team member show you how to brush your shoes. Vigorous brushing will cause the suede to go flat much faster than it should.

Ladies: Buy nude or tan colored shoes. They will elongate your leg and create the illusion of unity. Strive for 2.5" heels, but ultimately comfort comes first. Get what you feel good dancing in.

Satin gets dirtier faster, but generally looks nicer because of its sheen. With latin shoes, your toes should actually hang over the edge slightly. If this is your first pair, buy Latin ­ it's easier to dance Standard in Latin shoes, than Latin in Standard shoes. You want plenty of support over the top of your foot ­ it's more important than having straps that wrap around your ankle.

Heel guards are great if you don't want to be replacing the heel all the time. Try to buy the same brand as your shoe ­ they'll fit better.

Gentlemen: Buy black shoes. Saddle shoes might look cool, but they don't really cut it when it comes to the Latin or Standard look. Standard shoes have a 1" heel (approx.) and come in patent leather and regular leather. Get regular if you want to dance Latin in them too. Latin shoes have a higher heel ­ 1.5" to 2" ­ that makes it hard to do some Standard moves in, but they have greater flexibility in the toes.

Dance Universe

A great site with a ton of shoe choices. Also they have a really great photo gallery ­ so if you want to look at the styles of shoes that the pros are wearing, or procrastinate from homework for hours, check it out.

Zappos

All Freed shoes, but they have free shipping both ways. Be aware that if you buy the shoes with the tapered heel, you will NOT be able to put a heel guard on it.

DanceSport UK

Run out of Britain, but even with $20 of shipping charges (11 pounds), it's still cheaper than most every other site. Check out the DANSport shoes if you want an even less pricey option. Just be aware that if the shoe doesn't fit, shipping it back can get expensive.

DanceSport Shoes

Free shipping TO you, but not back. They have a wide selection.

eBay

Cheaper, just as good (maybe a little worn, but really, who cares?)

www.Dance-Shop.com

cheaper than dancesport.uk.co

Rosy Cheeks & Co

3840 Atwood Ave.
(608) 222-9262
Ballroom shoes, Salsa costumes, and dance accessories
Hours M-R 4-7, Sat 10-1
Between Michael's and Walgreen's on Monona Dr.

Is it ok if I don't compete?

Yes. Most team members end up competing at some point, but if you think competition isn't for you, you're still welcome to join the team.

What are competitions like? Won't I embarrass myself competing against advanced dancers?

Competitions are divided by level, so newcomers only compete against other newcomers, not advanced dancers. As you progress, you'll compete at higher levels named bronze, silver, gold, and open levels (novice, prechamp, and champ).

What is the time committment?

This really depends on how much time you want to put in. We have two hours of professional coached Latin time, and two hours of coached Standard. If you chose to compete in one or the other, the minimum commitment is to attend one of those classes every week. However, most of our dancers compete in both latin and standard. We strongly, strongly suggest you attend at least one open practice a week for at least an hour.

Aside from the two or four hours per week of coaching, there will also be other practices with the team to review and improve any technique learned during coachings. There is also the extra (and optional) practice time you will spend with your partner outside of coaching and group practice.

In addition to classes and practices, there are also the competitions! There can be anywhere from 2-4 competitions scheduled per quarter and you are encouraged to attend all of them. Even if you don’t dance it’s a great way to gain exposure to the dance world, and to cheer on your teammates! These events are typically on weekends at various universities, so you will need to be available Friday evening through Saturday evening, or Sunday morning depending on the travel distance.

In total, you can expect to spend between 4 and 10 hours per week being involved with the competitive team.

Do I need a partner?

Absolutely not. While we recommend that you compete and practice privately with one person, there are many people on the team who have not yet found a compatible partner or prefer to rotate. Once you become comfortable with the rest of the team, we can match you up with someone, or you can pick your own partner.

How do I use practice sessions to get better faster?

Although it is good to dance as much as possible, practice should have some structure. Otherwise, bad habits may be reinforced as opposed to developing new and better ones. Start each hour with ten minutes of warm up dancing and stretching. If you are competing, you need to be at practice on time and at a session your partner is attending. If your partner is not there work on your own, developing muscle memory for your step patterns, timing and dance frame.

Try to have a specific goal to work on whilst you are practicing and ask for advice from more senior dancers as to how this is progressing. Key elements to work on should be: frame, partnering, timing, footwork and placement, rise and fall, Cuban motion/hips, arm styling, presentation, emotion. Try not to learn new step patterns. At competition you are better off repeating one step you know well thirty times than dancing ten patterns badly.

These easy steps help quickly improve your dancing. Attending as many classes as possible is an obvious given. If you have time constraints, you are better off going to a Bronze class instead of a more advanced class regardless of how long you have been dancing.

How much does joining the comp team cost?

Dues per quarter are $90 for first time members, $120 for students, and $140 for non-students for both standard and latin. With your quarterly payment, you will receive:
* 2 - 4 hours of professional coaching per week for 10 weeks
* experience in dance performance and competition
* new friends from Universities around the country
* fully paid travel expenses to ballroom competitions
* increased confidence on and off the dance floor
* excellent source of exercise and fitness

We understand the financial restraints of students and have tried to make being part of the competitive team as affordable as possible. That said, we are willing to work with you if you are unable to make the payment right away. Dancing always comes first to us, so do not let this stop you from reaching your goals.