Country dance encompasses a variety of dance genres that have been danced in America for decades. UCWDC partner dance styles include Cha-Cha, Waltz, East Coast Swing, Polka, Two-Step, Trip Two-Step, Night Club Two Step, and West Coast Swing, as well as historical genres including Schottische and Pony Swing.

UCWDC dances and events also celebrate the historical and contemporary expressions of American Country music and culture. For this reason, many of our competitions feature country music and require professionals and amateurs to wear dance boots and hats that reflect Country and Western fashion. For more information about our partner dance competitions, click here.

UCWDC line dances follow contemporary trends and change seasonally. For more information about our line dance competitions, click here. UCWDC also offers Team Dance competitions.

Read about UCWDC and American Country dance history here.

Our mission is to provide our members (including Amateur competitors, Professional competitors, and Regional Event Directors) with the structure, tools, education, and support they need to thrive in our circuit.

This includes:

• Creating and maintaining world-class systems and processes including competition rules, judging standards, scorekeeping excellence, standardized music lists, and trustworthy data management
• Providing education, training, and certification
• Providing Member Event Directors with a constellation of professional support
• Ensuring Associate Members have a consistent and transparent competition experience

For more about the UCWDC, see the About section of this website.

Dance professionals who choose the UCWDC circuit join one of the most unique competitive dance experiences in the world. Professionals on our circuit benefit from:

Recognition & opportunity

• Income opportunity through being sought out by Amateurs
• Option to expand career through UCWDC Instructor and/or Judge certification
• Opportunity to be recognized with awards, including Top Professional (awarded to a Male and a Female Pro each year at the UCWDC World Championships), and Points Champion – Professional

Information

• Among first to receive information about Rules Changes

Access

• Can contribute to UCWDC Committees
• May be consulted on matters of importance to the Council

First, please read and understand the UCWDC’s rules for Pro-Am and Partner divisions.

In addition, please find our guidance on these key points:

What level to begin at

It can occasionally be challenging to find the best starting point for your students if they have had prior training in other forms of dance. The UCDWC has rules and guidelines to help you find an appropriate starting place. These are called Divisions and Crossover Rules:

Pro-Am Divisions
Pro-Am Crossover Rules
Partner Divisions
Partner Crossover Rules

What the UCWDC Judges are looking for

The UCWDC has a rigorous process for the certification of its judges. To learn more about what the judges are looking for within the UCWDC we recommend reviewing the following documents from the Judge Certification:

Part 1: Partner Curriculum: The Dances-Basic Concepts
Part 2: Partner Curriculum: Newcomer/Novice
Part 3: Partner Curriculum: Intermediate/Advanced

Standards for Partner Dance
Comment Codes
Medal Descriptions

Dance starting position

Please take note that all Partner and Pro-Am competitors must start with their bodies touching each other. Additionally, all Newcomer divisions must begin in a closed hold dance position. There are 7 different closed positions allowed to help create the best variation for each individual dance.

For more information, refer to the Additional Movement Limitations for Newcomers

While there are many levels that your students may start in based on their prior experience and proficiency, it is especially important to fully understand the criteria for the Newcomer Division, as it is the most restricted.

Newcomer dancers are expected to follow specific timing, patterns and costuming for their level. This structure helps build solid fundamentals and ensures a fair comparison for those students entering our community.

The UCWDC Newcomer divisions are designed to provide a clear and progressive path for newer dancers. Here is how they break down:

• Newcomer IV is the starting level (for dancers with the least experience), with the most basic figures.
• Dancers progress upward through Newcomer III and Newcomer II.
• Newcomer I is the highest level within the newcomer division. This level provides a bridge between syllabus-based learning and more open choreography while maintaining consistency in timing. Newcomer I allows for more creative freedom in choreography. However, all routines must still follow the correct basic timing(s) for each dance with a timing exception allowed for the purposes of doing a foot change. There are also patterns from the Newcomer III or II syllabus that incorporate alternative timing(s) that may be used, but only as described in the UCWDC syllabus.

You can also refer your students to our Competitor’s Quick Reference guide on this website.

Newcomer Costuming

It is especially important to understand the costuming requirements for your newcomer students. While the costumes allowed are more restricted, particularly for Newcomer IV, III and II, this is intended to help students get started in their competitive journey for less of an investment in costuming. Below is a link to rules specifically pertaining to Newcomer Costuming.

Newcomer specific costuming rules can be found in the Costuming Rules at:

• Section I.1.b.i
• Section I.3
• Section I.5

Newcomer Syllabi

The UCWDC is pleased to present free, downloadable teaching syllabi for Newcomer IV, III, and II levels. All eight (8) of the UCWDC’s competitive Partner dances are represented on our website here.

In the interest of promoting Country dance and Line Dance, anyone is welcome to download and use these materials without charge.

The UCWDC is run by an incredible team of dedicated volunteers with subject matter expertise in various realms. We always need more “boots on the ground”, and we welcome UCWDC dance pros to participate in Committee work. We may also consult our Professional Members on pertinent matters from time to time.

Yes!

TBD

You can find the current UCWDC rules, competition guidelines, and event information here:

Pro-Am Rules
Partner Rules

These documents cover everything from division structures and scoring criteria to dress codes and age classifications. We recommend reviewing them thoroughly as you begin working with your students.

Please refer to the Judges section of this website for details about becoming certified as a UCWDC Judge.

Yes, if you wish to compete (as a Pro or Am) at a UCWDC event.

If you only want to attend UCWDC events, membership is not required.

You can also become a member to support our not-for-profit organization.

These links will take you to the information most commonly needed by UCWDC Dance Professionals:

• UCWDC Event Calendar of qualifying events and championships
• UCWDC Competition Rules and rules updates
• Line dance step sheets, music, and instruction
• Partner dance syllabus and music
• Membership information