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What is Pro-Am?
Pro-Am competition is a category in DanceSport where amateur students partner with a professional dancer, similar to what you see on “Dancing With The Stars.” In these events only the amateur is judged, leaving the professional free to concentrate on helping you look and dance your best! There are several age classifications and level divisions available, allowing professional partners to dance with all their students, and to ensure you compete against other dancers of similar skill. Every dance style is available, so you can choose the dances you want to compete in.
Age Categories
Each competition has slightly different age division breakdowns, and it is often possible to compete in a different age category. Pro-am age categories usually are:
-Pre-Teen: 12 & younger
-Junior: 13-15
-Youth: 16-18
-Adult: 18-35
-Adult B: 35-50
-Senior I: 50-70
-Senior II: 70+
Types of Competition
Dance Styles
Pro-Am competitors choose which style(s) of dance they compete in. They may compete in 1, or many styles of dance. There are four major categories the dances are grouped into: International Latin (cha cha, samba, rumba, paso doble & jive), International Standard (waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, foxtrot & quickstep), American Rhythm (cha cha, rumba, east coast swing, bolero, mambo, west coast swing, salsa, nightclub two-step, merengue & new york hustle), and American Smooth (waltz, tango, viennese waltz, foxtrot & argentine tango).
Group Flights
Most pro-am competitors try group flights for their first competition. This is where you, your instructor, and other couples compete together on the competition floor. You enter a specific age and skill division. Your instructor will help you choose the level right for you.
Skill Divisions
Competitions are usually divided by ‘syllabus,’ meaning competitors are restricted to specific steps appropriate for their experience level. Your instructor will teach you competition choreography in advance, to prepare you for your competition. The levels are: Newcomer, Pre-Bronze, Bronze, Full Bronze, Open Bronze, Pre-Silver, Silver, Full Silver, Open Silver, Pre-Zgold, Gold, Full Gold, Open Gold & Open Championship.
Solos
In solo competition, you and your instructor are the only couple on the floor. Judges usually give you individual feedback, and mark you on a scale of 1-100. Your scores are compared with many other couples who dance solos during the competition. The top-marked solos re-dance at night, and scholarships are usually awarded to the top solos of the entire competition. Solos are great for dancers who have a particular song they love dancing to, or if you would like the judges individual feedback which you cannot get in group flights. Solos are limited to 2 minutes and 45 seconds, but choreography is unrestricted allowing for maximum artistic expression and showmanship. Solo events are exciting and often highly competitive.
Scholarship Events
Most competitions offer multi-dance scholarship events. These are highly competitive events where competitors are judged on their overall ability in several dances. The top three couples are usually rewarded with scholarship money to help further their dance training. We are proud students of The Ballroom Dance Company have been highly successful in these events, securing thousands of dollars in scholarship funds from various competitions. They prove The Ballroom Dance Company is Oregon’s top choice for pro-am competition.
The Ballroom Dance Company 2010 Pro-Am Competitions Schedule:
March 12-13 City of Roses (Portland, Oregon)
April 29 - May 2 Emerald Ball (Los Angeles, California)
May 8-9 Columbia Star Ball (Portland, Oregon)
October 8-9 Oregon Fall Festival (Clackamas, Oregon)
November 18-23 Ohio Star Ball (Columbus, Ohio)
December 10-14 Holiday Dance Classic (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Cost
Costs vary between competitions, so you‘ll need to discuss the event you‘re interested in with your teacher for specifics. Firstly: you pay your instructor for their time, talent and expenses. Our instructors average these costs out between all their stdudents, so th emore students compete, the less each student pays. The other cost is for the event. You will need to buy tickets to the event (often discount packages are available) and pay entry fees. Here are typical pro-am competition entry fees:.
Single Dance Entry $30-$40
Scholarship (Multi-Dance) Entry $100-$150
Solo Entry $50-$100
Professionals Available for Pro-Am Competition
The following professional dancers are available for pro-am competition at The Ballroom Dance Company. Please contact them today if you are interested in competing with them!
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Sunnie Page  Sunnie specializes in the international standard division where she competed at the professional championship level with her partner Mark Tabor. Throughout her amateur competitive career Sunnie won five titles at the US National Championships. During that time she lived in England and New York City 4 months a year for extensive training with the worlds top coaches. She now competes pro-am, helping leads reach their maximum potential.
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Mark Tabor 
Mark is an exceptionally well-rounded dancer who has competed at the championship level in a wide variety of styles including international standard, international latin, and American smooth. Mark is the 2007 senior I smooth US Champion, a title he won at this year’s USA Dancesport Championships. Mark has limited availability for pro-am competition in local competitions, due to his extensive work as a competition official in numerous national competitions.
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Trina Siebert 
Trina is highly respected instructor and judge in the northwest west coast swing dance community. She specializes in the contemporary social dances west coast swing, nightclub two step and hustle. An active competitor on the west coast swing circuit, she has won a number of Strictly Swing and Classic competitions, and was named Best Overall Amateur Female at Bridgetown Swing in 2003.
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Jimmy Ho 
Jimmy is highly respected competitor on the national west coast swing competition circuit. Depending on student experience, he customizes teaching methods to help beginners explore the fun of swing dancing, and helps experienced students advance their technique and choreography.
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The Ballroom Dance Company
8900 SW Commercial Street
Tigard, OR 97223
(503) 639 - 4861
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