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Dance Levels, Styles, Moves

Dance Competitions utilise a more refined system of levels to ensure fair and balanced competition. These levels are often broken down by a combination of factors, including:

Ages

Competitions typically divide participants into groups, such as:

  • Mini - Between 8 years old and under.
  • Junior - Between 9 to 12 years old.
  • Teen - Between 12 to 15 years old.
  • Senior - Between 15 or 16 years old and up to around 18 or 19 years old.

These age ranges can vary slightly between competitions.

Skill Levels

Within each age group, dancers are further categorised by skill levels. Common skill levels include:

  • Novice/Recreational: For beginners or those with limited competition experience.
  • Intermediate: For dancers with some experience and developing skills.
  • Advanced/Competitive: For highly skilled dancers with extreme training.
  • Professional/Pro-Am: For professional dancers or routines that include professional dancers.

Dance Styles

Competitions have categories for various dance styles, such as ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, tap and more. Dancers compete against others within a specific style.

You often see Pom Dance at Cheerleading events, see what the difference is here.

Group Sizes

Dances are also categorised by the number of performers:

  • Solo: One dancer.
  • Duet/Trio: Two or three dancers.
  • Small Groups: Typically 4 - 9 dancers.
  • Large Groups: Typically 10 or more dancers.
  • Productions: Very large groups with themed routines.

Key Aspects of Competition Levels

  • Fairness: These divisions ensure that dancers compete against others of similar ages, skills and experience.
  • Scoring: Judges evaluate performances based on techniques, choreography, musicality and performance quality.
  • Awards: Awards are typically given based on scoring ranges (eg Platinum, Gold, Silver) and placement within each category.

What are the Different Types of Dance Styles and Moves?

Ballet:

  • Plié: A bending of the knees.
  • Relieve: Rise onto the balls of your feet.
  • Tendu: Extending the leg straight out, pointing the foot.
  • Pirouette: A turn on one leg.
  • Arabesque: A pose where one leg is extended straight back.

You can get a policy through our page: Dance Cover, including Competition.

Hip Hop:

Breaking (B-boying/B-Girling). Includes moves like:

  • Toprock: Upright movements.
  • Footwork: Intricate floor movements.
  • Freezes: Holding a pose.
  • Power Moves: Acrobatic moves like windmills and headspins.
  • Popping: Creating sharp, staccato movements by contracting and relaxing muscles.
  • Locking: Characterised by freezing in a particular position and then continuing at the same speed as before.
  • Waacking/Whacking: emphasises arm movements, posing and musicality.

You can get a policy for Hip Hop.

Jazz:

  • Jazz Walks: A low, stylised walk.
  • Pivot Turns: Turning on the ball of the foot.
  • Jazz Squares: A four-step movement.
  • Kicks and Leaps: Various types of kicks and leaps, such as jazz kicks and grand jetés.​

Latin Dances (Salsa, Tango, Cha Cha):

Salsa:

  • Basic steps involving forward and backwards movements.
  • Turns and partner work.
  • Shines (solo steps).

Tango:

  • Sharp, precise steps.
  • Close partner connection.
  • Leg flecks and intricate footwork.

Cha Cha:

  • Small, quick steps.
  • Hip movements.
  • The "cha cha cha" triple steps.​

Ballroom Dances (Waltz):

  • Smooth, flowing movements.
  • Rise and fall actions.
  • Turns and travelling steps.

Tap Dance:

  • Shuffles, flaps, and other percussive footwork.
  • Time steps and combinations.

Contemporary Dance:

  • Fluid movements, often incorporating elements of ballet, jazz and modern dance.
  • Emphasis on expression and emotion.
  • Floor work and improvisation.

Key National Dance Organisations

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JS Travel Insurance is the trading name of Jade Stanley Limited, 5 Chapel Mews, Waterloo Street,Hove, East Sussex, BN3 1AR, Telephone: 0800 043 0020 . Jade Stanley Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA Registration number is 306205