Dancesport Examinations Overview
Dancesport examinations cover two primary dance genres:
Modern Ballroom and Latin American.
These exams offer a structured path for dancers of all levels:
-
Recreational Dancers: Exams are available for those who dance as a hobby, allowing them to improve their performance quality.
-
Advanced Dancers: Exams provide a way for serious students to develop the high-level technical and artistic skills needed for competition, stage performance, and dance teaching.
Ultimately, these examinations provide a safe and organized program for pupils of all ages and abilities.
International Style Ballroom Dance Syllabus
- Standard: Slow Waltz Tango Viennese Waltz Slow Foxtrot Quickstep
- Latin: Cha Cha Cha Samba Rumba Paso Doble Jive
- Standard: Slow Waltz Tango Viennese Waltz Slow Foxtrot Quickstep
- Latin: Cha Cha Cha Samba Rumba Paso Doble Jive
| Category | Term | Focus | Description |
| Music | Bar / Measure | Structure | The space between two accented beats. |
| Rhythm | Pattern | The count or "feel" of beats per bar (e.g., 1, 2, 3). | |
| Tempo | Speed | How fast the beats occur (BPM). | |
| Space | Alignment | Footing | The direction the feet are pointing. |
| Direction | Path | The actual line of travel (e.g., Line of Dance). | |
| Body | Turn | Feet | The change of direction of the feet on the floor. |
| Rotation | Hips | The position of the hips relative to the feet. |
Approved Syllabus
Standard Style
The following Rules apply to all dances
1. All technical details of figures should be sorted from the technical books above.
2. The basic timings are given; any alternative timings must be listed in the technique books for
that figure.
3. Any changes allowed to the figures are given in the NOTES below the figure.
4. Figures must be danced in their entirety; figures can’t be freely cut into parts for use. A figure can’t
be added to or parts taken away, unless specifically allowed in the NOTES.
5. Standardised holds, body positions, and variations to these are listed in the technique books and must
be used.
6. Precedes & Follows listed in technique books must be adhered to.
7. Only the listed figures on the Approved Syllabus can be used.
Approved Syllabus
Latin American Style
The approved technique books for the syllabus are:
1. Latin American Dancing - Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
2. The Laird Technique of Latin Dancing - Walter Laird
3. WDSF Technique Books - Samba, Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Paso Doble & Jive
The following Rules apply to all dances
8. All technical details of figures should be sorted from the technical books above.
9. The basic timings are given; any alternative timings must be listed in the technique books for
that figure.
10. Any changes allowed to the figures are given in the NOTES below the figure.
11. Figures must be danced in their entirety; figures can’t be freely cut into parts for use. A figure can’t
be added to or parts taken away, unless specifically allowed in the NOTES.
12. Standardised holds, body positions, and variations to these are listed in the technique books that must
be used.
13. Precedes & Follows listed in technique books must be adhered to.
14. Only the listed figures on the Approved Syllabus can be used.