The age divisions for Pro-Am Students Events are listed here. Each competition organizer may sub-divide each age category. 

Competitors  select following LEVELS and DANCES. Only allowed steps are defined in the official USNATA Bronze, Silver or Gold Syllabus, except for those noted as "Open".

SINGLE DANCES (T or V or Mil)

Bronze | Silver | Gold

Different age divisions available

In Pro-Am competitions, Single Dances are run in each of the three dances -- Tango, Milonga, Vals - in both Tango De Pista and Tango Free Style categories. Each entry is separated by the levels and corresponding sub-levels -- Bronze, Silver and Gold -- and by age categories. Bronze, Silver and Gold levels are designated in accordance with the USNATA syllabus.  Age divisions are detailed above. 

Pro-Am competitors must participate in at least 5 Single Dances, in order to participate in any championship.  

TANGO DE PISTA CHAMPIONSHIP (T/T/T)

Bronze | Silver | Gold

An elegant close embrace tango using round techniques in flow. This form allows moving from one side of the chest to the other, a small variation of space between the couple for efficiency, various musical interpretations and longer sequences while always following the line of dance.

SUMMIT GRANDE CHAMPIONSHIP (T/V/Mil)

Bronze | Silver | Gold

Blending three dances in one tanda, and at one level, dancers have the chance to enjoy and express themselves in tango's three distinctive forms, showing diversity and musical timing! 

STAGE TANGO CHAMPIONSHIP (Escenario)
(T or V or Mil)

Bronze | Silver | Gold

Tango Stage offers couples and competitors the opportunity to challenge themselves both physically and artistically. Available in all Professional, Pro-Am and Amateur divisions, express yourself to the music (either traditional or non-traditional) of your choice. Lifts, slides, kicks and open breaks are allowed. 

COMPETITIONS

Competitors of any nationality may enter USNATA sanctioned competitions. U.S. residents must provide a legal and valid form of photo identification (e.g., state issued identification card or driver’s license, passport, resident alien card). Foreign participants (including holders of employment authorization cards or student visas) must provide a legal and valid form of documentation (passports, employment authorization card, student visas, etc.).

All participants must provide accreditation information at the time of registration on the appropriate forms. Photocopies of official documents must be received within 14 days of the registration date via mail, email, express mail or in person. The same official documents, including photo identification, must be presented when picking up registration materials at the competition. Competitors who do not present these documents will not be allowed to enter the competition. Exceptions will be evaluated in special circumstances such as force majeure. One member of the couple may present documents for both partners. Third party accreditations are not permitted.

Group Entries – The person in charge of managing/training the group (teacher/choreographer) is responsible for providing accreditation documentation for each group member when picking up registration materials.

Competitors must review and adhere to each category’s Evaluation Criteria during the competition.

0.   Competitors must conduct themselves in a respectful and sportsmanlike manner toward judges, monitors, fellow competitors, spectators, and any personnel at USNATA sanctioned events. Any conduct to the contrary, written or verbal, may incur legal consequences. USNATA reserves the right to rescind awarded titles and prizes, and future attendance at USNATA sanctioned events from the offending parties.

1.  Spectators are welcome to watch all competition rounds.

2.  By entering the competition, competitors agree to participate in events and ceremonies organized by the USNATA (press conferences, interviews for radio stations and television channels, demos, etc.) as requested by the USNATA.

3.  With the exception of the Junior Exhibition category, competitors must be at least 18 years old by the first date of the competition. Juniors must be under the age of 18 by the first date of the competition.

4.  USNATA may choose to or is currently engaged in the business of creating media, which includes but is not limited to engaging in the following activities for personal and commercial gain: filming, film/video editing, and film/video production; photography, photo editing, and total production; digital photography, digital photo editing, and digital photo production; documentary production and editing; sound recordings; sound manipulation and music productions; television production; and web design and production. By registering for the competition, competitors give consent to the ATWC to capture images and video/sound recordings for use in media, without implicit or explicit compensation.

5.  By registering for any USNATA sanctioned competition and participating, each competitor acknowledges having read and accepted these General Rules.

Rules and guidelines for competing at USNATA sanctioned Events have been established to guide dancers by level and treating and judging all competitors with impartiality. The effort put forth by the USNATA is to encourage dancers to compete in various categories so as to challenge themselves and grow in their tango journey. Judges have been trained to look for specific elements and requirements in each category. A panel of monitors has been enlisted to ensure that elements are performed specific to each category, maintaining the appropriate level and style.

SINGLE DANCES vs. CHAMPIONSHIPS

Single Dances are run in each of the three dances -- Tango, Milonga, Vals - in both Tango De Pista and Tango Free Style categories. Each entry is separated by the levels and corresponding sub-levels -- Bronze, Silver and Gold -- and by age categories. Bronze, Silver and Gold levels are designated in accordance with the USNATA syllabus.  Age divisions are detailed above. The competitors receive a placement for each Single dance. Championships are danced in Tandas. Depending on the number of couples, the Championships will be split into Qualifying, Quarter, Semifinal and Final. In Championships, competitors compete for titles.    

TITLES

Depending on the competitive event you can receive a title. USNATA organizes the United States National Argentine Tango Championship awarding the United States National Professional Champion.  With the United Argentine Tango World Federation (UATWF), the USNATA is the co-organizer of the Annual World Argentine Tango Championships, awarding the title of the World Argentine Tango Professional Champion as well as World titles in Amateur and Pro-Am categories. 

BRONZE

Salida of 6
Paso Basico
Baldosa
Mordida
Caminadas
Cunita - Rebotes
Cadencia - cambios de peso
Ochos
Media Giro
Parada
Barrida
Sandwich
Calesita

SILVER

All Bronze Figures
Giro
Enrosques/contra enrosques
Lapices
Agujas
Planeo
Sacada
Boleos Low

GOLD

All Bronze/ Silver Figures
Cambio de direccion (paralel)
Giradas
Colgada
Volcada

BRONZE

Salida of 6
Paso Basico
Baldosa
Mordida
Caminadas
Cunita- Rebotes
Cadencia - cambios de peso
Ochos
Media Giro
Parada
Barrida
Sandwich
Calesita

SILVER

All Bronze Figures
Giro
Vaiven
Enrosques/contra enrosques
Ocho cortado
Lapices
Agujas
Planeo
Sacada
Ganchos
Boleos

GOLD

All Bronze/ Silver Figures
Colgadas
Volcada
Soltadas
Piernazos
Tomadas

TANGO De Pista

Tango | Vals | Milonga

• Musicality, rhythm, phrasing, differences in rhythm and melody, pauses
• Style and elegancy of walking
• Embrace: direction of the bodies, elegance of lines, contact between the couple
• Balance
• Leader: improvisational skills, composition of the steps
• Follower: follower skills, and embellishments (musicality and appropriateness)
• For each dance style such as Tango, Milonga, Vals the character of the dance is important, the mood, usage of the figures and elements, dynamic that are used for each of these dance styles. 
• For Vals: the displacement and fluidity of circular combination will be paramount important for Vals. 
• For Milonga: The speed, dexterity and clarity of the steps are required, besides the ground energy will be evaluated. The most cheerful or contagious Milonga energy should be transmitted by the participants, the jury will evaluate the couple's connection, musicality and the embrace. 

TANGO Freestyle

Tango | Vals | Milonga

• musicality, rhythm, phrasing, differences in rhythm and melody, pauses
• style and aesthetiques of walking
• embrace: direction of the bodies, elegance of lines, elasticity
• balance
• leader: improvisational skills, composition of the steps
• follower: follower skills, and embellishments (musicality and appropriateness)
• dynamics: circular and linear
• plasticity and speed of movements
• for each dance style such as Tango, Milonga, Vals the character of the dance is important, the mood, usage of the figures and elements, dynamic that are used for each of these dance styles. 
  
   

Tango Stage

• In the scenario category, the embrace may vary and be released, taking into account the dramatization and performance of the performers, as well as the precision in the speed and quality of movements, changes in dynamics, concordance and coherence with music.
• Bronze, Silver and Gold categories will be judged according to the requirements for each category.
• You can dance according to the particular vision that each performer has of the Argentine Tango dance, meaning that it will be allowed to use movements, figures and applications that do not refer directly to the traditional Tango, but classical figures should still be present in the choreography. These classical figures are: the eights, the turns, the long walks, the voles, the hooks and the embrace. You can break the embrace to use techniques from other dance disciplines, as long as they have reason to be and are performed for the benefit of the interpreter's presentation. Aerial tricks and other movements typical of other dances should not be excessive, meaning that they should not exceed one third of the interpretation. The couple must have sequences of displacement to the floor throughout the scenic space. Clothing may be considered an evaluation parameter.
• In case of a technical problem with the music, the jury will allow a repetition of the choreography at a different time slot. In case of any problems or interruption with the choreograph, the judging panel will judge the performance as is. The judging will evaluate the way and the grace with which the couple has solved the inconvenience, but it can not be repeated. The musical theme selected for the choreography must not exceed four (4) minutes.
  
   

Single Dances

In each Single Dance separately the Competitive Tango couples compete against each other according to their age category and level (Bronze, Silver, Gold). Each couple is judged according to their performance in each dance separately and receives a ribbon if placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. 

Championships

In preliminary rounds leading up to a final round of an event/heat, the judges are asked to "recall" a certain number of dancers to the next round. Judges select to recall couples they think are the best and the couples with the most marks moves into the next round.

Once six or seven couples reach the final, USNATA sanctioned dance competitions use the skating system method to determine the results. This means that the judges rank every couple in every dance from 1st through 6th or 7th. The couple with the most 1st place marks is the overall winner. The couple with the next highest number of 1st or 2nd place marks will place second, and so on. Tiebreaker rules determine which couple finishes higher in the event of a tie. These rules can be very complex, and an official known as a Scrutineer has the painstaking task of taking all the judges' marks and tabulating the results for callbacks and making the necessary calculations to determine the placements, applying the tiebreaker rules in close cases.

 

TANGO DE PISTA, MILONGUERO, MILONGA, VALS, Tango-Milonga-Vals

Traditional elegant Tango wear is required for the ladies, and suits with a tie, bow tie or ascot tie are required for the gentlemen. Pocket handkerchiefs are optional.

STAGE TANGO (Escenario)

Costumes may be elaborate, but elegant wear is acceptable