A structured, commitment-based competitive dance program for adult students who want to train seriously, build real technique, and step onto the competition floor. Whether you're starting from zero or have social dance experience, this program gives you the coaching, choreography, community, and competition targets to grow as a dancer all year long.
Enroll NowProgram at a Glance
The Four Tracks
Competitive Ballroom — Beginner
For dancers with little or no experience who want to compete in American Smooth. No prior dance background required. You'll learn Waltz first, then Tango, then Foxtrot — building correct technique, musicality, and confidence in each dance before moving to the next.
- Dances: Waltz (Month 1), Tango (Month 2), Foxtrot (Month 3)
- Competition division: Newcomer
- No partner required to start
Competitive Ballroom — Intermediate
For dancers who have completed the Beginner track or arrive with existing Newcomer/Bronze-level experience. Builds full Bronze choreography in all four American Smooth dances, diving deeper into quality of movement, partner connection, and character of dance.
- Dances: Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz — full Bronze choreography
- Competition division: Bronze
- Partner pairing prioritized at this level
Competitive Latin — Beginner
For dancers new to Latin who want to compete. Rumba is the foundation of all Latin dances — it builds Cuban motion, hip action, and timing from the ground up. Cha Cha follows, adding syncopation and personality. Both lead to a Newcomer/Bronze competitive routine.
- Dances: Rumba, Cha Cha (Samba introduced second half of season)
- Competition division: Newcomer / Pre-Bronze / Bronze
- No partner required to start
Competitive Latin — Intermediate
For dancers who have completed the Beginner track or arrive with Bronze-level Latin experience. Develops the full Latin vocabulary, advanced technique, arm styling, and performance quality across multiple dances.
- Dances: Rumba, Cha Cha, Samba + Jive introduced
- Competition division: Bronze
- Partner pairing prioritized at this level
The Season
This is not a drop-in class. The program runs in two seasons — fall and spring — each building toward a concrete goal. You can join mid-season but will need to take private lessons to catch up.
| When | Focus | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| September | Foundation techniques in your primary dances. Correct body mechanics, posture, footwork, and timing from week one. | Competition-ready choreography · Waltz / Rumba |
| October | Intermediate figures, partner connection, competitive alignment. Routine choreography begins. | Competition-ready choreography · Tango / Cha Cha |
| November | Ballroom: Foxtrot added (3rd dance). Latin: Cha Cha added. Full routines across all dances introduced so far. | Competition-ready choreography · Foxtrot / Samba |
| December | Showcase rehearsals, stage presence, performance quality. Final classes wrap Dec 8. | Holiday Showcase — dance all dances learned over the session |
Holiday Showcase · December 2026
Every student in the competitive program performs at the Holiday Showcase on our floor in December. This is the fall season's culminating event — a real performance with music, an audience, and applause. Each dancer performs in their primary dances in the rounds category of the showcase.
The spring season shifts from performance to competition preparation. Students refine and expand their routines, deepen their dances, and train toward real competition events. Partner pairings are established by the start of spring for students who want to compete as a couple.
Sunday Open Practice · Every Week, Included
One hour of open practice every Sunday is included in every package. All competitive students share the floor — Ballroom and Latin, Beginner and Intermediate — and practice under the guidance of an instructor who is present to coach, correct, and answer questions. This is where routines get polished, partnership develops, and competitive instincts sharpen.
Curriculum
Style: American Smooth · Level: Newcomer. Three dances, learned in sequence — Waltz first, Tango second, Foxtrot third. Each dance is introduced fully before the next begins so technique is never rushed. By December, students have performed all three at the Holiday Showcase and are ready to compete at the Newcomer level.
Month 1 — Waltz
We start with Waltz because it teaches the fundamentals every American Smooth dancer needs: frame, footwork, rise and fall, and the feel of moving with a partner. Students learn the basic figures and begin building their Newcomer routine by the third week.
Month 2 — Tango
Tango is a complete contrast to Waltz — staccato, grounded, and dramatic. Students learn the basic step, the corté, and open promenade, and build a Tango Newcomer routine alongside their Waltz.
Month 3 — Foxtrot
Foxtrot brings smooth, flowing movement and the most musical of the three rhythms. Students learn their third Newcomer routine.
Month 4 — Showcase Preparation
All three routines are polished to performance standard. Classes focus on stage presence, expression, and full run-throughs with music. The month closes with showcase rehearsal and a costume and presentation guidance session.
Monthly Rounds
Once per month, the class runs rounds: every dance performed back-to-back in competition sequence with full music and no stops. This is how competitions work, and running rounds builds the stamina, consistency, and performance mindset students need on the floor.
Style: American Smooth · Level: Bronze. All four American Smooth dances — Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, and Viennese Waltz — with full Bronze choreography. This track emphasizes open-position work, underarm turns, solo spins, side-by-side styling, and theatrical presentation.
Month 1 — Waltz & Tango
Bronze-level Waltz and Tango choreography is built or refined, with emphasis on the open-position work that distinguishes American Smooth from other ballroom styles. Students develop partner connections in open position — leading and following without the support of closed frame.
Month 2 — Foxtrot
Full Bronze Foxtrot choreography with open figures, side-by-side sequences, and solo turns. The focus is on Foxtrot's continuous, flowing quality and on three-dance continuity — moving cleanly between Waltz, Tango, and Foxtrot as a complete program.
Month 3 — Viennese Waltz
The fastest of the four dances. Students learn the natural and reverse turns, open Viennese figures, and how to manage the rotation and speed of Viennese Waltz around a competition floor. The full four-dance American Smooth program comes together this month.
Month 4 — Full Program & Competition Preparation
All four Bronze routines are polished. Classes focus on American Smooth presentation — posture, arm lines, showmanship — and competition logistics including heat order, floor management, partner communication, and performance under pressure. Showcase rehearsal runs alongside competition prep.
Monthly Rounds
Once per month, the class runs rounds: all four dances back-to-back in competition sequence with full music. Running rounds simulates exactly what students will experience at a competition and is one of the most effective preparation tools in the program.
Level: Newcomer. Three dances, learned in sequence — Rumba first, Cha Cha second, Samba third. Rumba is the foundation of every Latin dance and is where every student begins, regardless of experience. Each dance is introduced fully before the next begins.
Month 1 — Rumba
Rumba is where all Latin technique begins. Students learn Cuban motion, basic figures, timing, and the hip action that carries through every Latin dance. A Newcomer Rumba routine is built by the end of the month.
Month 2 — Cha Cha
Cha Cha takes the same figures as Rumba and adds syncopation, speed, and personality. Students learn the basic, time step, New Yorker, and spot turn, and build a Newcomer Cha Cha routine alongside their Rumba.
Month 3 — Samba
Samba introduces the bounce action that makes it unlike any other Latin dance — a compression-and-rebound rhythm students must feel in the body, not just the feet. Basic Samba figures are introduced and an introductory Samba routine is started.
Month 4 — Showcase Preparation
All three routines are polished to performance standard. Classes focus on Latin stage presence, expression, and use of the floor. The month closes with showcase rehearsal and costume and Latin look guidance.
Monthly Rounds
Once per month, the class runs rounds: every dance performed back-to-back in competition sequence with full music and no stops. Running rounds teaches students what it feels like to perform under competition conditions and builds the consistency their routines need.
Level: Bronze. Three core dances — Rumba, Cha Cha, Samba — covered with full Bronze choreography, followed by an introduction to Jive. This track deepens hip action, arm styling, partner chemistry, and the performance quality that separates Bronze competitors from the crowd.
Month 1 — Rumba
Advanced Rumba technique and full Bronze choreography. The focus is on hip action refinement, arm styling, and partner connection in open position. Students with existing Rumba experience will find their technique elevated and their competitive routine brought to a higher standard.
Month 2 — Cha Cha
Full Bronze Cha Cha choreography with advanced figures, speed, and sharp Latin styling. Side-by-side sequences, solo turn timing, and the visual impact of a confident Cha Cha performance are emphasized. Two-dance continuity between Rumba and Cha Cha is a focus throughout.
Month 3 — Samba
Samba Bronze choreography — bota fogo, volta, promenade runs, and Samba walks. Students develop the bounce action, propulsive energy, and joyful character that make Samba a crowd favorite on the competition floor. The three-dance program is complete by the end of this month.
Month 4 — Jive Introduction & Competition Preparation
Jive is introduced: rock step, basic chassé, and the high-energy character of this dance. All three Bronze routines are polished alongside Jive fundamentals. The month closes with full competition preparation — heat management, nerves, partner communication — and showcase rehearsal.
Monthly Rounds
Once per month, the class runs rounds: all dances performed back-to-back in competition sequence with full music. As the program builds toward three and four dances, rounds become an essential tool — developing stamina, sequencing, and the ability to perform every dance at full quality regardless of what came before it.
Pricing
Two ways to pay — a season prepay for the best value, or a monthly auto-pay billed by the number of class weeks in each month.
Plan One · Season Prepay
Pay the full fall session (September – mid-December, approximately 15 classes) upfront and save. One payment, spot locked through the showcase.
Plan Two · Monthly Auto-Pay
Billed automatically at the start of each month, priced by the number of class weeks:
| Month | Classes | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| September | 5 classes | $105 |
| October | 4 classes | $85 |
| November | 4 classes | $85 |
| December | 2 + showcase | $55 |
| Spring (per month) | 4–5 classes | $85–$105 |
Plan Three · Both Ballroom & Latin Bundle
Enroll in one Ballroom track and one Latin track and save. This option is for students who want the full competitive experience — developing across both styles simultaneously. Monthly auto-pay follows the same per-week billing schedule, applied across both tracks.
Showcase fee: $40, billed in October for every student. Covers production and your performance experience.
Competition entry fees: Separate and optional. Applying only to students who choose to compete. Varies by event.
Competition Guide — Chicago Area & National
All competitions are optional. Every student's season culminates with the Holiday Showcase in December. The events below are the competition targets for students who want to step onto the judged floor. Entry fees are separate from program tuition and vary by competition and number of dances entered.
CBC DanceSport
A ballroom competition in the Chicago area with amateur and student divisions. A strong early-season target for students ready to compete in October, particularly for Ballroom track students with Waltz and/or Foxtrot ready.
Chicago DanceSport Championships
A dedicated DanceSport competition with full amateur divisions across levels and styles. One of the most established competitions in the Chicago area.
Midwest DanceSport Championships
The premier USA Dance Regional competition in the Midwest — the biggest local event on the USA Dance calendar. Open to USA Dance members and college DanceSport teams. Students who compete here begin building their USA Dance competitive record.
Note: USA Dance membership required to compete. Annual membership is approximately $35–$50 per person.
Windy City Open
One of Chicago's premier annual ballroom competitions, drawing dancers from across the country. Organized as an NDCA event with Professional, Amateur, and Student divisions. DCC's Junior Ballroom Latin students also compete here, making this a natural shared goal across the studio.
Several of our students may be college-enrolled and eligible for the collegiate division at USA Dance events, which runs separately from adult amateur and offers its own championship structure.
Northwestern Dancesport Classic
Purdue DanceSport
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a partner to enroll?
No. Class work begins solo and in rotating groups. As the program develops, students who want to compete as a couple will be paired by the instructor based on level, compatibility, and goals. Having a partner is not required to start, but students who want to compete in the partnered divisions will need one by the spring season.
Can I enroll in both Ballroom and Latin?
Yes. Students who want to train in both styles can enroll in two tracks. We recommend starting with one track and adding the second in the spring after you have the foundation in your first style. Talk to us about scheduling — Sunday open practice is shared across all tracks.
What level am I?
If you have never taken a structured ballroom or Latin class, you start in Beginner regardless of your general dance experience. If you have previously taken ballroom or Latin classes, competed, or have specific technical knowledge of the dances in the Intermediate track, contact us and we'll assess the right placement for you.
Is the Holiday Showcase required?
Yes — showcase participation is part of the program for all enrolled students. It's the culminating event of the fall season and the first performance milestone every dancer works toward.
Are competitions required?
No. Competition is entirely optional. The program builds toward competition readiness, and we strongly encourage students who are ready to compete, but there is no obligation. Some students train purely for the technical challenge and the showcase — that is completely valid.
How does billing work?
Choose either the Season Prepay ($375 for the full fall session) or the Monthly Auto-Pay plan, billed by the number of class weeks in each month. The $40 showcase fee is billed separately in October. Monthly plans may be cancelled with 30 days' notice. Season prepayments are non-refundable after the second week of class except for medical reasons or relocation.
What should I wear?
Comfortable clothes you can move in and smooth-soled shoes (leather or suede sole, no rubber). We will advise on proper ballroom or Latin dance shoes once you are enrolled — they are not required to start class.
What about private lessons?
Private lessons are available separately and are highly recommended as a supplement to group class for students who want to accelerate their progress or prepare seriously for competition. Contact us to schedule privates with your instructor.