Most competitive ballroom dancers specialize in one of two main categories: Standard and Smooth dances, such as waltz, tango, and foxtrot, or Latin and Rhythm dances, such as cha cha, rumba, and jive. Ten-dance is the discipline built for the rare competitors willing to master both worlds at once, combining five Standard dances and five Latin dances into a single, demanding competitive category.
What the Ten Dances Actually Are
Ten-dance events typically require competitors to perform all five Standard dances and all five Latin dances at a high level. The Standard dances usually include waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, foxtrot, and quickstep, while the Latin dances usually include cha cha, samba, rumba, paso doble, and jive. Because these two groups of dances rely on very different techniques, from posture and frame in Standard to hip action and rhythm in Latin, ten-dance is widely considered one of the most physically and technically demanding categories in all of dancesport.
Why Ten-Dance Is So Challenging
- Standard and Latin dances use fundamentally different body mechanics, so competitors must train two distinct technical systems rather than specializing in one
- Ten-dance events typically require dancing more total routines in a single competition than single-category events
- Maintaining top-level fitness and technique across both disciplines demands significantly more training time than focusing on one category alone
- Musicality and timing differ dramatically between, for example, a slow rumba and a fast quickstep, requiring strong adaptability
Who Competes in Ten-Dance
Ten-dance tends to attract experienced competitors who have already built a strong foundation in both Standard and Latin styles, often after years of competing in one category before adding the other. Because of the training demands, it is less common to see newer competitors jump straight into ten-dance; it is typically viewed as a discipline for dancers who want to prove versatility rather than a starting point for beginners.
Age Divisions and Senior Competitors
Like most dancesport categories, ten-dance is organized into age divisions, including senior categories for competitors above a certain age threshold. Senior ten-dance divisions celebrate dancers who continue to compete and maintain a high level of technique across both Standard and Latin styles well beyond the age typically associated with peak competitive dancing. These divisions are an important part of the sport, showcasing that skill and artistry in ballroom dance are not limited to younger competitors.
Getting Started With Ten-Dance Training
For dancers interested in eventually competing in ten-dance, the typical path involves building a solid foundation in one category first, whether Standard or Latin, before gradually adding the other. Instructors often recommend:
- Mastering the fundamentals of frame, posture, and rise and fall in Standard dances before adding Latin hip action training
- Working with instructors experienced in both disciplines, since technique differences can be subtle but important
- Building cardiovascular and muscular endurance specifically for the demands of dancing ten different routines in a single event
- Competing in single-category events first to build confidence before attempting a full ten-dance competition
Ten-dance remains one of the most respected tests of overall ballroom ability, rewarding versatility, discipline, and years of dedicated training across two very different dance worlds. If you are interested in building your own foundation in either Standard or Latin dance, ballroom dance classes by city can help you find instruction near you, and the blog has more on competitive dancesport categories and training paths.