German dance badge in Standard: levels and procedure

The German Dance Sport Badge (DTSA) is the official award from the German Dance Sport Federation for dance achievements in recreational sports. Unlike in tournaments, you do not dance against other couples here, but present your skills to a licensed examiner. For the standard disciplines, this means: You show that you can move harmoniously in the room and execute the characteristic rhythms cleanly. The badge is based on the World Dance Program badge and is the ideal way to take your own dancing to a new level without tournament pressure.

The examination is open to all age groups. It is primarily about maintaining the typical standard dance posture for the entire duration of a song and keeping your balance. A big advantage: After the assessment, you receive qualified, written feedback that shows you exactly which subtleties you can still work on for the next level.

The system is logically structured and increases in its requirements for variety and musicality. The badge starts with Bronze, followed by Silver and Gold. Each level requires a higher number of dances and more complex figures from the standard repertoire, which includes Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot and Quickstep. While Bronze focuses on the absolute basics, the higher levels require a distinct understanding of floorcraft and rhythm changes.

• Bronze: Three dances with at least four simple figures each. Here, the focus is on clean basic steps and timing accuracy.
• Silver: Four dances with at least five figures each. The movements must appear more fluid and the couples demonstrate advanced turns.
• Gold: Five dances with at least six figures each. Demanded is sophisticated footwork and excellent coordination within the couple.

Those who want to continue after Gold can aim for the repeat examinations or the Gold badge with wreath. For the start, however, it is advisable to work through the classic levels step by step to cleanly internalize the fundamental Standard dance steps.

On the day of the assessment, there is usually a supportive, communal atmosphere. Couples typically step onto the floor in groups of three to four pairs at a time. The examiner stands at the edge and evaluates each couple individually. Flawless professional dancing is not expected, but rather a rhythmic, harmonious overall impression. A small timing error that is quickly corrected rarely leads to failure, as long as the joy of movement and the basic posture are correct.

Musically, a fixed duration of about one and a half to two minutes is required per dance. The examiner pays particular attention to whether the couple masters recognizing the beat in ballroom dancing and moves in the flow of the music. After the joint performance of all required dances, the results are announced and the certificates as well as the shiny pins are awarded.