Competition Team
The Ballroom at Maryland Dancesport Team at DCDI 2006
Our competition team has had an amazing amount of success over the last few years. We have won the International Style Team Match 2 years in a row at the Ohio Star Ball and at the Ballroom Blitz at Case Western Reserve University. Ballroom at Maryland has even produced US National Amateur Champions!
Who Are We?
We are the Ballroom at Maryland Dancesport Competition Team, a part of Ballroom at Maryland and also a sports club team associated with the Campus Recreation Services. Simply, we love dancing and competing is another excuse to dance!Competitions?
A dance competition is a place where ballroom dancers of all different levels compete against each other. Events are broken down by ability level (Newcomer, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Novice, Prechamp, Championship) and also by style of dance (for example, International Tango). For each separate event (for example, Newcomer International Waltz), a round is held where all of the competitors in that event get out and dance in front of the judges. If the dance floor is too crowded, each round might be broken up into one or more heats. The judges mark on paper which couples that they want to be called back to the next round. When the next round comes up, competitors wait to hear their numbers called and those who make it, go back out and dance. This continues until approximately 6 - 8 couples remain in the final round when the judges will rank those couples 1st through 6th or 8th. This happens all day long for a countless number of events. If you have ever seen the Ohio Star Ball on PBS, it is pretty much like that.
As a member of the competition team, you are not obligated to go to any competitions. However, it is much more fun if you do. Every year we help host the DC Area Dancesport Inferno and thus there is at least one competition that is local. Most of the other comps we go to requires different amounts of travel. We compete at exotic locations like Columbus, OH and Boston, MA and New York, NY and have even gone to Tampa Bay and England! Each semester, we try to go to at least three competitions, one local, one in Ohio and one in Boston to assure that we get to compete against a myriad of different dancers.
How do you join?
To join the competition team, there is a fee. Membership dues are $40 for students and $50 for alumni and faculty/staff. The benefits include registration for at least 3 competitions per semester (competition registration is usually $20-30 per person) plus the use of practice space (which is $10 per semester otherwise). In addition, partially subsidized transportation (gas and tolls) may be offered at times. Also, members get the benefit of not having to worry about how to get to and lodging at competitions because that will be arranged (though not subsidized) by BAMDS. Lastly, members may receive discounts when purchasing shoes. Contact our Team Captains for more information and to join.
Do you need a partner?
Absolutely not. You do NOT need a partner to be a member of the competition team. In fact, almost every dancer I know has gone some length of time dancing without having a partner. For competition purposes, BAM will find someone for you to dance with.
Do you need any experience to join the team?
No! Anyone can join the team regardless if you have ever danced before. Nearly all members of our competition team began dancing ballroom and latin IN college. Competitions even have special events for people who have only been dancing a couple weeks or months.
Do you need any special equipment?
Most newcomers first start dancing in socks. If you stick with ballroom, you will probably end up buying dance shoes. Costumes are usually not allowed for beginners and the more veteran team members help pick out what you should wear or even loan you some of their own clothes.
What type of time commitment does this represent?
You can practice as little or as much as you and your partner choose. People who are just starting out usually don't practice as much as the more experienced dancers but there is no rule of thumb. Basically, you get out what you put in.