Editor’s Note: The USA Dance 2025 DanceSport Rulebook went into effect on April 1, 2025. Here you will find the most recent updates, as approved by the Ballroom DanceSport Council. The 2025B Rulebook will be in effect until the 2026 Nationals, March 27-29, 2026.
The Chair of Rules Committee, Sterling Sightler, has posted the official 2025B Rulebook on the USA Dance website. The following information is provided to keep our athletes informed.
The following are the motions for rule changes that were approved by the Board of Directors:
Motion 7a.1: For the remainder of the 2025-2026 competition season, to allow non-USA Dance members to dance at Challenges and Regionals but not Nationals. The competition will be required to pay the USA Dance National organization for each non-USA Dance competitor an extra $40.00/competitor for Adult & Senior competitors and an extra $10.00/competitor for Pre-Teen, Junior, Youth, and Collegiate non-DanceSport members.
Motion 7a.2: For the remainder of the 2025-2026 competition season, to allow non-USA Dance members to dance at Chapter/Collegiate Club and Provisional Challenges. The competition will be required to pay the USA Dance National organization for each non-USA Dance competitor an extra $40.00/competitor for Adult & Senior competitors and an extra $10.00/competitor for Pre-Teen, Junior, Youth, and Collegiate non-members.
Motion 7d: For the remainder of the 2025-2026 competition season, should the non-member couple decide that they are interested in dancing at Nationals, they will have to become USA Dance members. Regardless of placement in an event at a USA Dance Regional competition, a non-USA Dance member will not accrue more than 4 National Qualifying points at a Regional Competition. If a non-USA Dance member competes in any other designated USA Dance competition, they will accrue the same number of National Qualifying points as a member. A non-USA Dance member will not accrue Ranking Points or Proficiency Points.
Motion: For the remainder of the 2025-2026 competition season, Adult and Senior competitors who participate in Collegiate Challenges will each receive 2 qualifying points for Nationals.
The following is a list of where the changes appear in the 2025B Rulebook:
4.2 Registration Requirements
4.3.6.1.2 Table 8: Change to 2 qualifying points for Adults and Seniors at Collegiate Challenges
4.3.6.1.3, 4, 5 How non-member competitors qualify for Nationals
4.4.1.1.2 Pros dancing as non-members
4.7.5.1 Table 11: Pros in Pro/Am dancing as non-members
4.9.2.2 Proof of membership under Athletes’ Responsibilities
5.2.2.6 Participation in Chapter/Collegiate Club competitions.
5.3.6.2 Table 15: Non-members will not accrue Ranking Points or Proficiency Points.
5.3.10.10.4 Participation in Provisional Challenge Competitions
5.3.12.3 No Ranking Points or Proficiency Points for non-members at Challenge Competitions.
5.3.12.6.5 Participation in Challenge Competitions
5.3.13.7 No Ranking Points or Proficiency Points for non-members at Regional Championships
5.3.13.9.5 Participation in Regional Championships
5.9.1.7 Rules for competitors – providing proof of membership
10.2.10 Ranking Points: No Ranking Points for non-members
Table 3 lists the required dances for Provisional Challenge, Collegiate Challenge, and Challenge competitions and Table 19 lists the required dances for Regional and National Championships. They are similar but not identical. Table 3 was modified to require all 5 dances (4 dances in Smooth) for C-class (Gold, Open).
An Athlete can qualify for Nationals by achieving six (6) points in the same event (same proficiency class, same age category) based on the following table:
Competition Level | Points received by dancing at Competition |
Chapter/Collegiate Club Competition | 0 |
State Competition | 0 |
Provisional Challenge Competition | 0 |
Collegiate Challenge Competition* | 2 |
Challenge Competition | 2 |
Regional Championship | 4 |
Regional Championship placing in the top 50% | 6 |
USA Dance Rulebook
USA Dance Rulebook, v.30 contains the rules and regulations that govern DanceSport competitions, competitor eligibility, and conduct. The rulebook governs USA Dance DanceSport competitions, Athletes, and Officials.
USA Dance Rulebook Appendix A: Dress Code (2025) – contains revisions to the costume rules in effect on 4-22-2025.
USA Dance Rulebook Appendix B: Syllabus Guidebook (2025) – A supplement to the DanceSport Rulebook provided by USA Dance Academy for developing Syllabus Compliant Competition Choreography and Groupings for all Medalist Levels and Disciplines.
USA Dance Rulebook Appendix C: Code of Conduct (2025) – provides a framework of standards for conduct and ethics for participants in DanceSport competitions.
USA Dance Rulebook Appendix D: Proficiency System Pilot (2025) – provides a framework of the proficiency system for participants in DanceSport competitions. Proficiency Points Quick Overview
To see your current Proficiency Points, please click here.
USA Dance Rulebook Appendix E: Marketing (2025) – Provides guidelines for the marketing of competitions.
