The new rules are out from the DanceSport Committee. This is how you qualify for Nationals. Know the rules.
ELIGIBILITY TO COMPETE IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
4.3.6.1 An Amateur Athlete will be eligible to compete in the USA Dance National Ballroom DanceSport Championships provided they are a USA Dance member in good standing and have satisfied at least one of the following qualifying criteria for each event:
4.3.6.1.1 The athlete has competed in a minimum of one USA Dance Regional Championship competition since the end of the last USA Dance National Ballroom DanceSport Championships placing in the top 50% of USA Dance Athletes in that event at the Regional Championship.
4.3.6.1.1.1 The total number of USA Dance Athlete s is measured by the actual number that dance in the event.
4.3.6.1.1.2 Mathematical rounding-up is applied, based at .50 (point-five-zero) and above. For example: In an event with 7 USA Dance Athlete couples entered, 4 couples will qualify (7 x 50% = 3.5).
4.3.6.1.1.3 In events with only 3 USA Dance Athlete couples or fewer, all couples qualify.
4.3.6.1.2 In addition, dancing at a Regional and achieving a placement of at least 50%, an athlete can qualify for Nationals by achieving six (6) points in the same event (same proficiency level, same age category), based on the following table:
Competitions Level | Points Received by Dancing at Competition |
Studio/Collegiate Club Competition | 0 |
State Competition | 0 |
Local Competition | 1 |
Challenge Competition (Collegiate and non-Collegiate) | 2 |
Regional Championships | 4 |
Regional Championship Placing in Top 50% | 6 |
4.3.6.3.4 At the discretion of the Board of Directors, Collegiate competitors must qualify to dance in non-Collegiate amateur events. Collegiate competitors are automatically qualified to dance in one level of Collegiate Events at the USA Dance National Collegiate DanceSport Championships. Provided that the National Collegiate DanceSport Championships are held alongside the USA Dance National Ballroom DanceSport Championships, Collegiate competitors are automatically qualified to dance in the same level of Adult amateur events except for the Championship level. At the discretion of the Nationals Organizing Committee, Collegiate competitors may participate in additional amateur events. Additional participation shall be clearly described on the website for the USA Dance National Ballroom DanceSport Championships.
4.3.6.4 If an Adult or Senior Athlete qualifies for Nationals in one age category and becomes eligible in the next higher age category before the next USA Dance National Ballroom DanceSport Championships, they will be considered to be qualified for the next USA Dance National Ballroom DanceSport Championships in both the age category in which they actually qualified and in the next higher age category for which they are now eligible.
4.3.6.5 If a Preteen/Junior/Youth Athlete qualifies for Nationals in one age category and becomes eligible in the next higher age category before the next USA Dance National Ballroom DanceSport Championships, they will be considered to be qualified for the next USA Dance National Ballroom DanceSport Championships in the age category for which they are now eligible. If the Athlete also qualified in a higher age category directly, they will be allowed to dance in both their new age category and the next higher age category at the next USA Dance National Ballroom DanceSport Championships provided they meet all other age eligibility qualifications. The athlete will not be allowed to compete in the younger age category at Nationals if they no longer meet the age restriction of that category.
