The Rochester DanceSport Festival returned to Rochester, New York, on October 25–26, marking its second year as an official USA Dance Collegiate Challenge—and once again proving why it’s becoming a favorite in the collegiate ballroom community. Nearly 200 competitors filled the floor this year, yet the University of Rochester-hosted event still felt intimate and familiar, thanks in large part to organizer James Chin. His warm, unflappable enthusiasm set the tone for a weekend that felt less like a high-pressure competition and more like a celebration of shared passion.
The schedule offered the familiar ballroom weekend—open events lighting up the floor on Saturday night, followed by a full slate of syllabus rounds on Sunday. But Rochester DanceSport doesn’t stop at “the usual.” Dancers were treated to technique workshops, practice rounds, and a lively mix of novelty and fun dances that kept energy high throughout the weekend. Competitors also enjoyed a group dinner, and newcomers were especially celebrated through a dedicated scholarship awards pool designed to support and encourage those just stepping into the ballroom world.
The venues added their own magic. Saturday’s events took place at the Lilac Dance Center, a cozy, ballroom dance studio in Rochester. On Sunday, the competition moved to the stunning Memorial Art Gallery, a civic art museum in Rochester, where competitors not only danced beneath soaring architecture but also received free access to explore the museum’s exhibits—a rare and memorable perk in the ballroom landscape.
For many attendees, the weekend was transformative. Lyd Meyer, a new competitor from Cornell, shared reflections on his very first ballroom competition—what surprised him, what challenged him, and what it meant to step onto the floor for the first time surrounded by such a supportive community.
A Newcomer’s Point of View
The Rochester DanceSport Festival was incredibly welcoming to newcomers! I know that I, and the other newcomer couples with Cornell, were very nervous (and of course, excited) to be at our first competition, but attending workshops the day before and meeting so many of the people we would see the next day made everything feel much more comfortable.
The talent and energy of the other dancers were incredible. Including the “fun dance intermissions” was something I never thought to consider doing (but it was so much fun). The emcee’s humor made things feel lighthearted and helped alleviate some of the stress that I know we were all feeling.
I never thought I would start ballroom in college, but I am so grateful to have discovered it and all the wonderful, supportive people who do it.
—Lyd Meyer
