Competition

Join us for an exciting round of competitions. Dancers can compete in Heats in the group competition, (where they dance at the same time and are judged on their social dancing skills), as a beginner, intermediate, or advanced level dancer. Dancers may enter competitions in many styles including Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha, Latin Hustle, Kizomba, Zouk, Merengue and more…
They may also enter our Amateur, Pro-Am or Professional showcase competitions (in any dance style). In these categories, dancers put on their own 2 minute show.

*New this year…

  • Amateur Ladies and Men Solo Shines Heats in Salsa, Bachata and Cha Cha

  • Professional Ladies and Men Solo Shines Heats in Salsa, Bachata and Cha Cha

  • New levels for Over 40 and Over 50 Pro-Am and Amateur Heats in all dances

  • Prices will increase February 20th and March 13th, 2025

  • 5% GST and service charge not included in prices below.

  • Prices shown are in Canadian dollars.

 

Register To Compete

  • All Competitors are required to purchase either a Performer Pass or a Ticket for the day of their competition! (Passes and Tickets available on the Tickets page.

 

  • Scroll to the bottom of this page to upload your competition music to the provided link at the latest by March 17th!

 

2025 Tentative Competition Schedule

  • Please note all competitors must check in at one of the scheduled “Competitors Check In’, competitors only need to check in once! We encourage all competitors to check in at their earliest convenience.

Thursday March 27th, 2025

8pm-10pm

Competitors Check In, Hyatt Main Lobby (competitors only need to check in once):

Upload your music at the latest by March 17th to the provided link at the bottom of this page.

Friday March 28th, 2025

8am-10am
Stage available for general practice

8am-10am
Competitors Check In (only if you have not already checked in, competitors only need to check in once): - Upload your music at the latest by March 17th to the provided link at the bottom of this page.

11:00am
Competitions:

  • Professional and Professional Rising Star Couples, Same Gender, Solo Showcases and Heated Competitions.

  • Amateur Couples, Same Gender and Solo Showcases (All Amateur Over 40 and Over 50 Showcases are on Sunday)

Saturday March 29th, 2025

8am-10am
Stage available for general practice

8am-10am
Competitors Check In (only if you have not already checked in, competitors only need to check in once) : - Upload your music at the latest by March 17th to the provided link at the bottom of this page

11:00am
Competitions:

  • Pro-Am Couples and Pro-Am Same Gender Showcases (All Pro-Am Over 40 and Over 50 Showcases are on Sunday)

  • All Team Showcases.

Sunday March 30th, 2025

8am-10am
Stage available for general practice

10am-12pm
Competitors Check In (if you have not already checked in, competitors only need to check in once): - Upload your music at the latest by March 17th to the provided link at the bottom of this page

12:30pm
Competitions:

  • Amateur Couples, Same Gender and Solo Over 40 and Over 50 Showcases.

  • Pro-Am Couples and Pro-Am Same Gender Over 40 and Over 50 Showcases

  • Pro-Am and Amateur Heats All Levels and All Ages






Competition Rules and Definitions

Please carefully read and understand the competition rules, which have been revised.

Rules and Definitions for Competition   

Amateur:

An amateur level of competition. Amateurs may not compete in Professional Rising Star, or Professional level competition, or as the Professional in a Pro-Am competition. Amateur level dancers may teach and receive payment for teaching or performing. 

 

Amateur Intermediate Showcase:

Amateur Intermediate Showcase is an entry level amateur division.  Should a dancer win Amateur Intermediate Showcase 3 times in a dance style with a minimum of 3 competitors, they will no longer be permitted to compete in Amateur Intermediate Showcase in that style in the future.  Intermediate dancers can challenge Amateur Advanced Showcase as many times as they want, but if an Amateur Intermediate dancer wins the Amateur Advanced division with a minimum of 3 competitors, and/or makes the final with a minimum of 8 couples, they will no longer be permitted to compete in Amateur Intermediate Showcase in that style.

 

Amateur Advanced Showcase:

An advanced amateur level of showcase competition.  There are no limits to how many times a dancer can win Amateur Advanced Showcase. 

 

Professional:

Once a dancer competes as a Professional, they can no longer compete as an amateur. Professional dancers may partner with an amateur in the Pro-Am divisions.  


Professional Rising Star:

Rising Star is an entry level professional division. Once a dancer competes as a Professional Rising Star, they can no longer compete as an amateur. Professional Rising Star dancers may partner an amateur in the Pro-Am divisions. Should a dancer win Professional Rising Star Showcase 3 times in a dance style with a minimum of 3 competitors, they will no longer be permitted to compete in Professional Rising Star in that style in the future.   Professional Rising Star dancers can challenge Professional Showcase as many times as they want, but if a Professional Rising Star dancer wins the Professional division with a minimum of 3 competitors, and/or makes the final with a minimum of 8 couples, they will no longer be permitted to compete in Professional Rising Star Showcase in that style.

If a dancer wins Professional Rising Star at an event in a style with a minimum of 3 competitors, they may not compete in Rising Star again at the specific event, in that specific style. 

 

Open:

A competition division which is open to all levels, ages, and styles unless otherwise specified in the division title.

 

Pro-Am Ladies:

A professional dancer dancing with an amateur lady, only the amateur is judged.

 

Pro-Am Men:

A professional dancer dancing with an amateur man, only the amateur is judged.

 

Showcase Divisions:  

Defined as a category whereby the partnership, solo dancer, or team showcases choreography, and dances to the music of their choice.   

 

Heat (or just dance) Divisions:  

A category where all dancers dance together on the stage or floor to music that is selected by the organization or deejay. Heats generally last 1- 1.5 minutes.  This is a lead/follow division, rather than choreographed, designed to show the ability to connect with one's partner and display timing, musicality and creativity to whatever music is played.  No lifts are permitted.   

 

Solo:

A competition of 1 dancer.  

 

Same Gender:

Dancers of the same gender

 

Shines Showcase:

Shine categories may include connection for tricks but may not include lead and follow patterns.

 

Cabaret:

May include lifts, tricks, and must include at least 50% recognizable dance (example 50% Salsa dance in Salsa Cabaret)   

 

Non-Cabaret:

Must include 80% recognizable dance for that style (example 80% Salsa in a Salsa showcase division).  Both dancers should maintain a connection with the floor with a part of their body if assisted.  Dancers who exceed the above requirements in Non-Cabaret divisions will have a penalty applied to their score of 10% of their overall score. 

For Showcase division which do not state Cabaret, Non-Cabaret, On1 or On2, Lifts and tricks are permitted, but not mandatory. 

 

Team:

3 or more dancers  






12 and Under:

All dancers must be 12 years of age or under on the day of the competition to compete in this division. 

 

17 and Under:

All dancers must be 17 years of age or under on the day of the competition to compete in this division. 

 

Over 40:

All dancers must be 40 years of age or older on the day of the competition to compete in this division.  






Over 50:

All dancers must be 50 years of age or older on the day of the competition to compete in this division.   






Showcase Music:

May be no less than 1.5 minutes and no more than 2.5 minutes long. Teams between 1.5 minutes and 3 minutes.  This includes optional entrance and/or exit music.  Dancers will have no more than 20 seconds to get into place for performance.  Any choreography prior to the beginning of the music will be counted toward the overall timing of the performance.  Likewise, dancers will have a maximum of 20 seconds at the conclusion of the performance to exit the floor.  






Props are not allowed in showcase divisions

 

Guidelines:  

Beginner and Pre-Intermediate level heats:

Dancers should not exceed 1.5 turns    

 

Costumes:  

Costumes are not required but are highly recommended.  All costumes should be in good taste 

  

Judging Criteria for Showcases:   

Timing 20%  

Musicality 15%  

Technique 15%  

Difficulty 15%  

Connection 15%  

Choreography 10%  

Presentation 10%  

 






Registration Fees for Competition

*See competition registration for 17 and Under and 12 and Under special rate.

Prices will increase February 20th and March 13th.



Amateur heats - $40
Amateur Solo Heats - $30

Amateur Showcases - $80
Amateur Solo Showcases - $60
Amateur Same Gender Showcase - $80

Pro-Am heats - $40
Pro-Am Showcases - $80
Pro-Am Same Gender Showcases - $80

Team Showcases - $90

Professional Heats - $40
Professional Solo Heats - $30

Professional Solo Showcases - $60
Professional Same Gender Showcases - $80
Professional Showcases - $80

All competitors also require a performer pass, available on the Tickets page.

2025 Competition Music Link

Competitors, upload your music to this link and please RENAME your song with the exact name you used for your competition registration. Upload one song for each showcase registration. Upload your music at the latest by March 17th.