USA Dance on the Move – January 2026

USA Dance on the Move!

As it is important for our members to know and understand the many programs organized and supported by USA Dance, we have combined the USA Dance Digest and Chapter Chatter into one monthly email, to be known as USA Dance on the Move! We invite you to watch for this email, stay updated, and learn more about our great organization. 

USA Dance National Board Meeting, January 8 – Open to All!

The upcoming USA Dance National Board meeting is scheduled for January 8 at 9 PM EST. Watch USA Dance social media for the link to the Zoom meeting.

Stay informed. Follow USA Dance on Facebook:

• USA Dance, Inc. Members-Forum
• USA Dance, Inc
• American Dancer Magazine

American Dancer  

AMERICAN DANCER’s January 2026 cover features Thomas and Tamara Russell. The 2025 American Dancer Cover Contest results are in! Meet USA Dance Senior Vice President Aleh Kulyba. Enjoy some dance humor – My First Dance-On…What? Christine Young stays in the Zone across Time Zones. Daytona Chapter is the 2024 Chapter of the Year. Honolulu’s Synthia Sumukti is the Volunteer of the Year. Want some competition news? Read about Hot Ballroom DanceSport Challenge and Rochester DanceSport. Tom Hufnagel tells of pure ballroom venues and a loved teacher. The Competition Calendar is growing for 2026/2027. Are you reading American Dancer? You should!

2026 USA Dance National DanceSport Championships and National Social Dance Celebration – March 27-29 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• New this year is the National Social Dance Celebration, bringing together chapter dancers from across the United States. Check out the social celebration websiteand American Dancer for updates and details. Chapters and Dancers are already signing up. 
• Highlights include: 36+ Workshops, 2 Social Dances, an expanded schedule, and a huge floor.
• Registration is open and rooms are filling quickly!! Early Registration for Competitors ends January 22!
• Details and registration: www.usadancenationals.org.

The 2025 Chapter and Volunteer of the Year Nominations are due January 15

The official nomination forms and detailed instructions are available on the USA Dance website under the Awards section. The forms are also here:

• Chapter of the Year Award – Nomination Form
• Volunteer of the Year Award – Nomination Form (Membership login required)

Chapter Leaders Zoom Meeting, January 31 – Adaptive Dance

There will be a Chapter Leaders Zoom meeting on Saturday, January 31, at 2pm EDT, hosted by Angel Rafael Braña-López (adaptivedance@usadance.org). Join an interactive session focused on growing and strengthening adaptive dance programs across our chapters. Connect with fellow leaders, share experiences, and help shape future training, resources, and support. Whether your chapter is established or just exploring adaptive dance, your ideas, challenges, and goals matter. Come ready to ask questions, collaborate, and help build more inclusive, accessible dance opportunities for all.

Here is the link: https://zoom.us/j/96263549027?pwd=adkb8597U4HnplTVaisR9m2lhQGT7x.1

Time: Jan 31, 2026 02:00 PM EST (US and Canada); Meeting ID: 962 6354 9027, Passcode: 851702

Member Benefit Spotlight: 

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, USA Dance reinvests its resources into programs that support dancers nationwide. Membership comes with many additional benefits as well—visit theUSA Dance website for the full list. Here is the newest benefit available to members.

• Discounts on the DanceVision Syllabus App! We are pleased to offer a discount to first-time users of the DanceVision syllabus app – 20% to Social members and 40% to DanceSport members. This tool is for dancers who want to learn new moves or reference the syllabus for competition. Members should call (888-841-8465) or email (info@dancevision.com) with their USA Dance membership number. DanceVision will set up your account with an Annual Membership and apply the appropriate discount. The app can be found on Apple and Google app stores, or at app.dancevision.com. 

USA Dance’s Competition Calendar.

Regional Championships: 

• The MAC Regional Championships, (WDSF Events) Jan 16 – 18, in Newark, NJ 
• Southeastern Regional Championships, Feb 27- Mar 1, in Atlanta, GA 
• Kansas City Dance Classic, Jun 6 – 7, in Overland Park, KS (New Dates)

College Challenge Competitions – Check out the College DanceSport Calendar

• OSU DanceSport Classic – Jan 31, in Columbus, OH
• Penn State Snow Ball – Feb 7, in State College, PA (Link TBA)

USA Dance National DanceSport Championships, March 27-29, in Pittsburgh, PA  

Proficiency Points System/Qualifying for 2026 Nationals – Primer and Guide

There is a guide to better explain how qualifying for Nationals and proficiency points work. Competitors, your assigned class is the lowest competitive class you are permitted to enter; you may compete in higher classes. Between now and the 2026 Nationals, requests to downgrade classes will be generously granted; Email proficiency@usadance.org. Dancers currently in classes A and C have special rules. Note that dancing class A does not qualify you at the Championship level. The following links will help:

• Important updates regarding Nationals: https://americandancer.org
• A Primer and FAQ for Proficiency Points – PPS Expanded Primer. 
• AD article on the Primer 
• AD article on qualifying at upcoming USA Dance competitions
• Proficiency Classes and Points Tracker