NDCA
PREMIER
NATIONAL
RANKING SYSTEM

NDCA Premier National Ranking System

NDCA sanctioned events who use the NDCA Premier Competition software will now be included in the NDCA Premier National Ranking circuit. Multi-Day Competitions and Championships will be able to offer 28 National Ranking Events, and Local One-Day Events may offer 24 National Ranking Events.  The Premier ranking events that may be offered are:

Points are earned by entering into ranking events, and additional points are earned based on a competitor's or couple's placement in each ranking event entered, on the following basis:

For each ranking event entered: 4 POINTS
For each couple placing below you in a ranking event: 4 POINTS

The ranking events should be the top event for each category, such as Pro/Am Open A Ballroom National Ranking Scholarship. Each participating Competition Organizer determines which events are to be their NDCA National Ranking events. It is important for Pro/Am events that the organizer include in their website, program and advertising materials the text "National Ranking" in the title of each ranking event.

No points are earned unless both members of the partnership are currently licensed with NDCA, points are not retroactively available. Points are determined for the time period of each circuit. A chart showing each circuit time period is below. Multi-Day Competitions and Championships will award full points earned.  Local One-Day Events will award .8 of points earned.  Competitors may find complete information on the NDCA Premier National Ranking System by going to the NDCA home page, NDCA.org, and then clicking on the NDCA Premier Logo. 

Points will be uploaded automatically by the NDCA Premier software to the new Premier website at the same time in conjunction with the normal competition results.

The top 52 ranking recipients at the end of the first inaugural circuit will be recognized in early 2024 at the first NDCA Premier Awards Gala. This gala will be rotated annually among the Championships and Multi-Day Competitions that participate in the NDCA Premier National Ranking System. Additionally, the top five ranked couples, teachers and students in each award category at the end of each circuit will receive complimentary NDCA registrations for their competitor licenses for the next calendar year. This will make a total of 290 individuals who will receive complimentary registrations at the end of each circuit time period.

In January of 2024 the hosting event will be one of the Multi-Day sanctioned events that use NDCA Premier and are held in that month. In 2025 the hosting event will be one of the Multi-Day sanctioned events that are held in February, and likewise for each consecutive year. Sanctioned Multi-Day events will be given the opportunity to apply to host the awards gala each year, and the selection will be determined by draw. Because the month for the gala will be a month later each year the circuits will be thirteen-months long. This will allow for at least a four-week time period between the end of the circuit and the gala event for that circuit.

Season Schedule

Season Begin Date End Date Gala Month
One January 1, 2023 November 30, 2023 January 2024
Two December 1, 2023 December 31, 2024 February 2025
Three January 1, 2025 January 31, 2026 March 2026
Four February 1, 2026 February 28, 2027 April 2027
Five March 1, 2027 March 31, 2028 May 2028
 

Awards & Prizes

Each top-ranked couple or individual must be present at the awards gala in order to receive their award and prize money.  However, their top-couple, top-teacher, or top-student ranking will remain intact if they do not attend the gala - they will just not receive their physical award and prize money.  They will also receive complimentary NDCA registration for the next calendar year regardless of whether they attend the gala or not.

AWARDS FOR SEASON ONE
Based upon rankings at the end of November 2023

Top PROFESSIONAL Couple Rankings
  Ballroom Latin Smooth Rhythm
Top ranked couple:
  • $1,000
    ($500 per person)
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
  • $1,000
    ($500 per person)
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
  • $1,000
    ($500 per person)
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
  • $1,000
    ($500 per person)
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
Top five ranked couples:
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
Top AMATEUR Couple Rankings
  Ballroom Latin Smooth Rhythm
Top ranked couple:
  • $500
    ($250 per person)
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
  • $500
    ($250 per person)
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
  • $500
    ($250 per person)
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
  • $500
    ($250 per person)
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
Top five ranked couples:
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
Top MALE PRO-AM TEACHER Rankings
  Ballroom Latin Smooth Rhythm
Top ranked male teacher:
  • $1,000
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
  • $1,000
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
  • $1,000
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
  • $1,000
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
Top five ranked male teachers:
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
Top FEMALE PRO-AM TEACHER Rankings
  Ballroom Latin Smooth Rhythm
Top ranked female teacher:
  • $1,000
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
  • $1,000
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
  • $1,000
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
  • $1,000
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
Top five ranked female teachers:
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
Top MALE PRO-AM STUDENT Rankings
  Ballroom Latin Smooth Rhythm
Top ranked male student:
  • $500
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
  • $500
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
  • $500
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
  • $500
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
Top five ranked male students:
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
Top FEMALE PRO-AM STUDENT Rankings
  Ballroom Latin Smooth Rhythm
Top ranked female student:
  • $500
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
  • $500
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
  • $500
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
  • $500
  • Recognition and award at the NDCA Premier Awards Gala
Top five ranked female students:
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024
  • Complimentary the NDCA registrations for 2024