Introduction to Competitions
For the most part, competitions are segregated into Amateur and Professional categories, although in the USA in particular, Pro/Am competitions in which pupils dance with their teacher are common.

Amateur competitions are divided into different age categories. In the UK, these consist of Juvenile (under 12 years), Junior (12 and under 16), Adult (16 years and over) and Senior (over 35).

Participants in such 'open' competitions as they are often referred to, must register with the English Amateur Dancesport Association (EADA) in England, Scottish Amateur Dancesport Association (SADA) in Scotland, or the Welsh Amateur Dance Sport Association (WADSA) in Wales.

Judging of competitions is done using a panel of adjudicators with a specially appointed Chairman of Adjudicators, whose responsibility it is to ensure that the music is played to the correct tempo and duration to give all adjudicators sufficient time to mark all the competitors. In the UK, all adjudicators must be registered with the British Dance Council (BDC) before they are allowed to judge competitions. Depending on their level of qualifications and experience they may be approved to judge Championship events.

The panel of adjudicators marks are assessed collectively using a process known as the Skating System, a system of marking based on achieving a final result based on the majority decision of the panel.

Whilst attractive costumes and good grooming are essential factors in drawing the attention of the judges, couples are primarily assessed on the execution of the technique, combined with the complexity of movement and interpretation of the dance.

The number of dances to be danced in each style at a competition may vary depending on the event and the nature of the competition. In an event granted 'Championship' status by the British Dance Council (BDC), it is normal to dance all five dances in each separate style. If the event is a '10 dance' Championship then all 10 dances i.e. all five dances in both styles (Standard and Latin) are danced.

Competitions are organised into heats in which a large number of initial entrants are progressively reduced down in numbers to a final, which normally consists of the best six couples. The music for each dance in each round is usually played for a duration of between 1.5 and 2 minutes.