Editor’s Note: USA Dance announced a new Proficiency Point System (PPS) in May 2024, and the rollout phase began after the 2025 USA Dance National Ballroom DanceSport Championships in March 2025. To ensure a smooth rollout, the USA Dance Ballroom Committee will continue to implement all changes over time, and only as appropriate for the USA Dance competitive community.
USA Dance Proficiency Points System – a Primer
Competing in Ballroom Dancing is a lot of fun. It’s a fantastic opportunity to express yourself to music, compete at all ages in something you love, be supported by friends, and grow as an individual.
Yet over the years, there have been concerns among DanceSport Athletes. Syllabus dancers believe there isn’t a clear system that ensures fair play amongst competitors. There is consternation generated by the misperception that syllabus “moves” are directly linked with progression, setting sometimes unrealistic development targets. Some dancers mistakenly believe that doing more advanced moves makes someone a better dancer; they focus on steps and patterns over the quality of movement at the risk of underperforming or even injury. Lastly, organizers are restricted and unable to provide more opportunities for dancers to dance and have fun at the events.
To elevate USA Dance events beyond these limitations, a task force spent the last two years developing an easy-to-use approach to take USA Dance events to the next level. Known as the USA Dance Proficiency Points System, the project has reached the point where we are ready to share it with dancers and begin the process of adoption.
We believe this system will be simple to understand. However, it helps to recognize this is a break from tradition, and dancers are asked to come with an open mind. The details can be found in the full rule set. The primer we’ve prepared below will answer most of your questions and should be read first.
Key Elements
1) The proficiency system is intended to ensure dancers who clearly are more proficient than their peers are ultimately required to advance to a higher category. The point of any proficiency system is to ensure that someone who has won their category and proven they are more skilled must move to face couples that are closer to their skill level.
2) The proficiency system makes progression more fun by earning the points at each competition. This gives competitors a better sense of their progress from competition to competition, as well as a clear sense of when it is appropriate to challenge yourself in the next level. Existing dancers were seeded with a minimum class typically below their current levels, as our goal is to prevent “down-dancing”. Dancers competing for their first time in a PPS proficiency competition will be seeded based on the levels they initially dance.
A guideline of what event you should register for is below. Your personal proficiency class is the lowest event level you are able to register for:
- N-Class Event – Pre-Bronze Event
- E-Class Event – Bronze Events
- D-Class Event – Silver Events
- C-Class (Closed) Event – Gold Events
- C-Class (Open) Event – Novice Events
- B-Class Event – Pre-Championship Events
- A-Class Event* – Championship Events
- S-class Event – Championship Events
Important*: A-class events do not qualify you at the Championship level for Nationals. Athletes hoping to qualify at the Championship level must compete and qualify at the S-class. A-class will not be offered as a traditional event level at the 2026 Nationals. S-Class will be used to determine which couples become our National Champions or selected as our representatives to go to World Championships, and B-Class will be considered consecutive to S-class for purposes of the ‘two consecutive levels’ rule. For more details, please see the FAQ below.
3) The USA Dance proficiency classes are compatible with our sister federations within the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) and align well with the existing systems within the United States. A similar ‘class’ system is commonly used in Europe. The historical syllabus system in the United States also has a progression much like the class system and aligns well with this new system, so you won’t feel lost as we migrate. However, please note that the class system makes no statements about what syllabus a given class should be expected to know. It largely makes a statement about the progress of your quality of movement.
You earn points by doing the things that imply you have more skill than your competitors. Points are awarded for competing against and placing above couples who are in the same or higher class, but no points are awarded for placing above couples who are in a lower class. Couples within the top 12 in the class in a competitive event also earn points.
- Extra points are awarded for placing above couples who are in a higher class.
- Extra points are awarded for first place in a class.
- Points are also earned for each round danced
The USA Dance Proficiency Points System will eventually give organizers more flexibility to provide interesting ways to compete. Because proficiency is focused on the quality of movement, this system gives organizers the opportunity to have more flexibility with events. Though all the traditional categories and dances are available to organizers as before, they can choose to offer events:
- By Class
- By Syllabus Level (Bronze, Silver, Gold) or Open
- By Age Category
- By Dances
When registering for events in the future, you can expect it will list the class, syllabus level (if invigilated), age category, and dances available. For example, an event might read: Senior III – American Smooth (Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz) – Gold Syllabus – Class C.
The Rollout Process
To ensure a smooth Proficiency Points System rollout, we will be instituting these changes over time and only as they feel appropriate to the USA Dance competitive community. Presently, we are in the ‘transition phase’ of implementation.
During the Transition phase, the DanceSport Council expects to be generous when competitors contest or request changes to their classes. Old and new terminology for events will appear side by side. We will not utilize the full flexibility offered by the system, to give people a more comfortable grounding. Seeding and which classes are danced at Nationals will be a little different from the final format (“Gold” is C-Closed, “Novice” is C-Open, and A-Class is not a qualifying class for 2026). More details for applying for class changes and other transition details are listed in the frequently asked questions below.
We are eager for feedback and questions, which should be sent to proficiency@usadance.org .
Qualifying for Nationals
USA Dance aims to support all dancers, ensuring a fair and transparent path to competition. We recognize the need to provide clear guidance regarding the qualification process for the 2026 USA Dance Nationals. We received feedback, over the past month, that there is confusion among both Athletes and Organizers about what constitutes a “qualification event”. To ensure that every competitor and organizer can proceed with confidence and clarity, we’ve written the following explanations and updates to help everyone prepare for Nationals with greater certainty and enthusiasm.
Notes
- If dancers qualified at a particular proficiency level, they are automatically eligible to enter all events at that level, regardless of the invigilation level applied. For instance, qualifying in D-class Standard (W, F, Q) means you may participate in D-class Standard (W, F, Q) & (T)(V) at Nationals, provided these events are offered. Note: Qualifying in either C-class Gold or C-class Open allows dancers to enter any C-class events, but the invigilation for C-class Gold will be different than for the invigilation for C-class Open.
- Two consecutive proficiency levels rule still applies, but it must be read as “two consecutive qualification levels”. If an A-class event is offered by the organizer, it will not be counted toward the two consecutive levels rule. C-class Gold and Open levels are counted as one level.
- A couple may not compete in an event if one partner has a proficiency class higher than that required for the event. If a couple has already qualified for a certain proficiency level but one partner advances in proficiency before Nationals, the couple is then qualified for events at the higher proficiency level in the same style.
- Example. A couple qualified in D-class in Latin, prior to Nationals they exceeded the maximum points for D-class, and they were automatically leveled up to C-class in Latin. This couple is eligible to compete in C-class Gold and/or Open events at the Nationals.
- Example . An E-class couple qualified in E and D classes in Standard. One of the partners danced with more than one partner and leveled up from E-class to D-class before the Nationals. This couple will be eligible to participate in D-class Standard events only. If this couple wants to participate in C-class events in Standard, they need to acquire the qualification for C-class.
IMPORTANT. We encourage dancers to plan their qualification competitions according to their situation with proficiency points.
- The organizers of Regional or Challenge competitions may offer additional events with any combination of Proficiency Level, Invigilation Level and set of dances.
- For example, A-class Open, B-class 5-dance, D-class Gold 5 dance, etc. These events, however, do not count toward Nationals qualification.
- If the Nationals Committee finds it appropriate, these types of events can also be held at Nationals as “non-qualification-required” events. Qualified dancers who have entered any “qualification-required” event in the same style are eligible to participate in these, if their proficiency level allows.
- A dancer’s proficiency level is determined by their class as of the first day of the National Championships.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Why is PPS important?
A proficiency point system ensures fair play and prevents “dancing down.” It also shifts focus from the difficulty of steps to the quality of movement. The old system equated progress with learning more difficult figures, which could lead to unrealistic expectations and even injury. The new system sets clear, consistent standards for when and how to advance.
Over time, this system might expand to include areas that competitors have long requested and could give organizers more flexibility to create more engaging events.
- How do you earn PPS points?
At any competition using PPS, you earn points by demonstrating more skill than your competitors. Specifically, points are awarded for:
- Placing in the top 12 above couples who are in the same or higher class
- Placing first in a class
- Points are earned for each round danced
- Extra points for placing above couples who are in a higher class.
No points are awarded for placing above couples who are in a lower class. For all the details, please see Appendix D of the rulebook.
- What does being a certain class in a style mean?
Your class sets the lowest-class event you may enter in that style across all age categories. For example, a B-class competitor may enter B-class or higher, but not lower. In that sense, it may be helpful to think of your assigned class in each style as your minimum class for that style. You may still dance up to two consecutive classes in each style. A partnership must dance at a level both dancers are eligible for (a C-class and B-class dancer must dance B-class or higher together).
- How were competitor classes determined?
Initial placement was based on the lowest level you danced at the 2024 Nationals, with conservative downward adjustments to avoid under-dancing. If you did not dance at the 2024 Nationals, the class was assigned based on the lowest level you danced in your first competition since then. Since then, we have tracked proficiency points from Nationals 2024 onward.
- What does the current ‘transition period’ for PPS mean for me?
The DanceSport Council is currently very generous when competitors contest or request changes to their classes. Old and new terminology will appear side by side. More details (such as C-closed vs. C-open or A vs. S) are listed in the answers below.
- How do I review my classes? How do I read the website?
Classes are listed on the USA Dance website under the Ballroom section (Athlete Class and Proficiency Points) as well as this page.
- My class doesn’t seem right, or I’ve had a life-altering event and my class is no longer reflective of my ability (absence, surgery, etc.). How can I have my class reviewed?
You should email proficiency@usadance.org . Please provide your name, the classes you are looking to change, and your rationale for why they aren’t appropriate. Requests for downgrades (or upgrades) will be considered generously. However, “I win in a lower class but not in my current class” may not be accepted as a valid reason unless you have not earned any points in the last year.
- How does Proficiency Work with Qualifying?
You may qualify in any class at or above your minimum class. You must still qualify for Nationals by competing in the combination of age, style, and class events you wish to dance. If your class is adjusted, your qualifications will also adjust, to ensure you can still dance at Nationals. As before, you only need to compete in the specified dances within a class (e.g., Waltz/Tango in E-Class Bronze Smooth) to qualify.
Important: A-class events do not qualify you at the Championship level for Nationals. Athletes hoping to qualify at the Championship level must compete and qualify at the S-class. A-class will not be offered as a traditional event level at the 2026 Nationals. S-Class will be used to determine which couples become our National Champions or selected as our representatives to go to World Championships, and B-Class will be considered consecutive to S-class for purposes of the ‘two consecutive levels’ rule.
Important: Both C-class closed and C-class open are considered one level for the two-consecutive levels rule. As an example, competitors may dance C-closed, C-open, and B-open at Nationals and comply with the two-levels rule. See question 14 for more information.
Important: As in years past, you need only qualify in the qualifying dances to dance all dances of that age, style, and level at Nationals. For example, qualifying in Senior I Bronze Smooth Waltz/Foxtrot is sufficient to dance all Bronze Smooth dances in that age category at Nationals.
- Who do I contact with questions and feedback?
Lev Vesnovskiy and the proficiency team at proficiency@usadance.org.
- Can I compete at a higher level than my class?
Yes. The class you are assigned defines your minimum class. To use old terminology, we’re looking to prevent Championship Dancers from dancing Silver Events, not Silver Dancers from dancing Gold Events.
- Do I have to learn a lot of math? Who enforces registrations?
Good news! The class point tracker handles all of that for you. Points are computer-generated and updated after each competition. Registrars might reach out to you if you register for an event below your class. If you have concerns about your class, just reach out to proficiency@usadance.org, and you may request a class change during this transition period.
- How does this affect qualifying?
See question 8, or information about qualifying for a full explanation.
- Is my class different across age categories?
No. Your class in a style applies across all age categories. This keeps competition fair by ensuring lower-class dancers don’t face higher-class opponents.
You may dance in your assigned class or any higher class. For example, a B-class dancer may also enter A or S-classes.
- Why are there two qualifying events for C-class?
We are aligning the USA Dance proficiency system with WDSF categories. “Novice” exists only in the United States; there is no international equivalent. So, during the transition, Nationals will offer both C-closed and C-open events. After the transition, Nationals will feature only one C-class event and use classes B, A, and S for open class events. S-class events will be at Nationals to determine which couples become selected as our representatives that go to World Championships. During the transition, both C-class closed and C-class open are considered one level for the two-consecutive levels rule. As an example, competitors may dance C-closed, C-open, and B-open at Nationals and comply with the two-levels rule.
- Why is A-class not a qualifying option?
During the transition period, A-class will not be offered as a standard event at Nationals.
Athletes hoping to qualify at the Championship level must compete and qualify at the S-class. For this year, B-Class will be considered consecutive to S-class for purposes of the ‘two consecutive levels’ rule.
- Are PPS points awarded for WDSF competitions?
No. PPS Points are only awarded for USA Dance proficiency competitions.
- What is the S-class used for? Is S-class a professional class? Are there any advantages of gaining an S-class qualification?
S-class represents the highest class you can attain. Going forward, professionals returning to amateur status are usually placed in S-class. At present, S-class offers no formal benefits beyond recognition, but future advantages are anticipated.
- Why require qualifications for Nationals if we have PPS points to determine what levels we should dance?
Proficiency is intended to address fair-play and “dancing down”. Qualifying determines eligibility to compete for National titles. Unlike European PPS systems where dancers may only enter their assigned class, our system allows more flexibility. Both models have strengths and weaknesses, and both still require consistent participation in the competition circuit to vie for titles in your desired class.
