Dance Sport

Dancesport is a category of dancing that focuses on competitions that are regulated by a sanctioned governing body. The three largest organizations: the International Dancesport Federation (IDSF), World Dance Council (WDC), and International Professional Dancesport Council (IPDSC), govern the largest dancesport competitions.

Competitions are divided by differing rules. They can focus on the most basic steps of each dance or allow open steps. All judging will look for some similar characteristics: floor craft, timing, alignment, direction, and rise and fall.

Competitors can also be divided by in many ways, including:

• Age: Juvenile (<12 years), Junior (12-16 years), Youth (16-19 years), under 21, adult, Senior I (over 35 years), Senior II (over 45 years), and Senior III (over 50 years)
• Experience: Novice, Beginner, Intermediate, Pre-Amateur, Amateur, and Professional
• Number of Dancers: Couples or Formation (team)