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".

Note: The age of the couple is determined by the age of the younger competitor in the couple. 

SINGLE DANCES (T or V or Mil)

Bronze | Silver | Gold

Different age divisions available

In Senior competitions, Single Dance heats are run as separate entries in each of the three separate dances -- tango, milongas, vals - in both Tango De Pista and Tango Free Style categories. Each heat or entry is also separated and categorized according to proficiency levels -- Bronze, Silver and Gold -- and by age divisions.    Bronze, Silver and Gold levels are designated in accordance with the USNATA syllabus.  Age divisions are detailed above. 

Senior competitors must participate in at least one round of Single Dance heats, in order to participate in any championship or scholarship events.  

Please note - it is at the discretion of competition organizers to include Single Dance heats in each dance and category as practical given the specific event's entries.

TANGO DE PISTA  OPEN
(T/T/T)

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.

TANGO DE PISTA RISING STARS  (T/T/T)

Note: Any couple winning the Rising Star Competition at one event, cannot dance in the Rising Star Competition at that event again. If either partner of a couple has won a U.S. Championship, the couple is no longer eligible for Rising Star Status in that Division or Style. Any foreign couple who has won of their own country's national championship is ineligible to dance in Rising Star events in the U.S.

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 (T/V/Mil) 

Blending three dances in one event or "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! 

TANGO DE PISTA ROLE REVERSED (T/T/T)

WOMAN LEADING A WOMAN ROLE REVERSED
An upcoming style that increasingly showcases a woman's skills, this new category welcomes a woman leading a woman in the style of Salon Tango. In this genre, ladies have a chance to show their leading or following skills together, keeping the same rules and regulations as the traditional Salon Tango.

MAN LEADING A MAN ROLE REVERSED
Recalling the roots of tango, this new category welcomes a man leading another man, also in the style of Salon Tango. Holding those same rules and regulations, two men may showcase the history of Tango, in its original form, with their leading, following and navigation skills. Please note that it is not necessary for either partner to wear heels, as the judges will be looking at the dance in its historical context when the art was danced by two men. 

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

Tango Stage offers couples and competitors the opportunity to challenge themselves both physically and artistically. Express yourself to the music (either traditional or non-traditional) of your choice. 

MILONGUERO (T/T/T)

A traditional form of tango where the bodies are fully connected at the chest, using smaller moves (typically rhythmic but not exclusively so) and occasionally embodying a leaning form. Dancers seek the traditional, deeper embrace that is held throughout the dance in its turns and sequences. In this style, variations of the molinete are used to accommodate dancing in a small space. 

TANGO FANTASIA (T/T/T)

A form encompassing the style of salon tango but allowing for the larger and expressive movements such as barridas, colgadas, volcadas, high boleos, wraps, releases and ganchos now displayed in exhibitions. Combinations of close and open embrace are used to allow more freedom of movement, and an actual release of an embrace is acceptable.  Lifts, slides, kicks and open breaks are allowed. For a complete list of rules, please see our Rules & Regulations page.  This is comparable to the theatre arts, cabaret or exhibition category in dancesport championships. 

MILONGA (Mil/Mil/Mil)

The milonga, Tango’s rhythmic parent, influenced by single, double, traispe (triple) and up rhythms, is featured as its very own category. Soulfully dance three milongas in the line of dance while connected to your partner. Traditional milonga “steps” may be incorporated (see syllabus), but the composition of your dance is all your own.

VALS (V/V/V)

With its own timing and style, danced in 3/4 time, vals is making its solid return. The art of the vals, danced on accenting the 1-3, 3-1 or 1-2-3 in circular motion, is beautiful and refined. Competing in this category will showcase your smooth and flowing sequences, allowing the incorporation of traditional vals elements, vals cruzada and more.

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 Senior Champion and with the Argentine Tango World Federation (ATWF) is the co-organizer of the Annual World Argentine Tango Championship awarding the title of the World Argentine Tango Senior Champion.

GENERAL RULES OF 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.

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.