32nd Annual Desert Challenge

Registration will be processed via Ballroom Comp Express.

Deadlines:

Early Bird – Jan 1-Feb 28
Regular – Mar 1-Mar 31
Late – Apr 1-Apr 17

Payments will be processed via either Zeffy (Competitor Link and Team Link) or Zelle (pay to desertchallengelv@gmail.com).

	Early Bird Price	Regular Price	Late Price
	Jan 1 - Feb 28	Mar 1 - Mar 31	Apr 1 - Apr 17
Competitors
(includes admission):
Collegiate	$40.00	$50.00	$60.00
Youth	$20.00	$25.00	$30.00
Alumni	$40.00	$50.00	$60.00
Team Events:
Formation *	$30.00	$40.00	$50.00
Am & Int Team Match *	N/C	N/C	N/C
Memorial Team Match *	$20.00	$30.00	$40.00
Admission:
Friday Evening	N/A	$5.00	N/A
Saturday Day	N/A	$10.00	N/A
Saturday Evening	N/A	$10.00	N/A
Weekend Pass(all 3)	N/A	$20.00	N/A

*Students participating only in the Formation and/or Team Match events will be required to purchase a $10 Sat Evening admission ticket or a $20 Weekend Pass.

Spectators: Admission tickets may be purchased through Zeffy or Zelle (pay to desertchallengelv@gmail.com), and at the door.

Coaches: Admission for coaches is free based on a one coach per school basis. Schools with multiple teams will be allowed one coach per team.

Entry processing: A submitted entry will be processed after payment is received online or in the mail.

Refunds will be considered on a case by case basis, and only with a 48 hour advance notice of cancellation.

The single dance American and International events are closed syllabus events. The material should be based on an NDCA or USA Dance recognized syllabus. International is restricted to ISTD syllabus. No continuity styling is allowed at the American Bronze level. Also, no open work is allowed in the syllabus-level events; events will be invigilated. Coaches, please ensure your students adhere to this.

For this competition, Newcomer is defined as someone who has not competed prior to the 2025/2026 school year and has been dancing for less than twelve (12) months. Both members of the partnership must meet these guidelines.

Competitors may compete in two consecutive levels. American Smooth, American Rhythm, International Standard, and International Latin are all considered separate syllabi; therefore, dancers may be at different levels for each.

Same-sex partners are allowed in the syllabus events. The Open Events are open to everyone, regardless of your dance level.

The organizers reserve the right to cancel events with fewer than four (4) couples entered.

Collegiate – must be a student of a university, state college, community college or technical academy

Youth – a student under 19 years of age, attending a middle school, high school, or home schooled.

Alumni – must be a prior member of a university, state college, community college or technical academy’s ballroom/dancesport club/team.

Rookie/Veteran – this category is meant to assist schools who may not have enough leaders or followers to partner with their new dancers. This is similar to the Pro/Am event, but with an experienced Amateur(the Veteran) rather than a Pro. The Veteran must be at least one level above the Rookie and the two dancers can not be regular partners.

Please be aware that this is a tentative schedule and subject to change. Announcements of any changes will be posted and sent out ASAP.

FRIDAY:

REGISTRATION      4:00PM-5:00PM

COMPETITION        5:00PM-10:00PM

American Smooth

West Coast Swing

Salsa

Open Merengue

SATURDAY:

REGISTRATION:      8:00AM-9:00AM

COMPETITION:       9:00AM-4:30PM

International Standard

American Rhythm

International Latin

Hustle

Argentine Tango

Lindy

DINNER BREAK:         4:30PM-6:00PM

COMPETITION:          6:00PM-10:00PM

Multi-Dance Event

Team Events

RESULTS:

All results will be posted at the event and on our website.

Schools may choose to present either a single dance or a medley. The time limit will be six (6) minutes, including entrance and exit. Timing will begin when the first team member steps onto the floor and will end when the last team member steps off the floor. Note: Coaches, the time restraints will be strictly enforced. Please adhere to them. If the dance goes over the time limit, competitors will be penalized.

NDCA and USA Dance rules regarding lifts will be followed. No lifts are allowed in the body of the routine only at the entrance and/or exit. The single dance routines will be judged independently of the medleys. Please include a list of your team members with your entry.

Schools may compete with multiple teams provided the following guidelines are adhered to:

1. These teams must be separate and distinct.
2. They must perform separate and distinct routines.
3. There must be no duplication of members between the teams.

Schools may wish to offer one exhibition routine. Please contact the organizer to complete this entry and arrange for payment of an additional fee-desertchallengelv@gmail.com.

Teams may have ten (10) minutes to mark their routines in the ballroom during registration or dinner break. Schools will be accommodated on a first-come, first-serve basis. To request your time, please contact the organizer.

Two Team Matches will be offered at no charge: American and International styles. Please be sure to complete the entry via Ballroom Com Express. These teams may be integrated for additional fun! Please be prepared.

Winner: $200 scholarship

This competition is limited to one entry per school. Each school wishing to participate will enter four (4) couples, one couple for each dance style (i.e., one couple for American Smooth, one couple for American Rhythm, one couple for International Standard, and one couple for International Latin). These must be four (4) separate couples. Costumes are encouraged.

Each couple will compete in one dance within that particular style. However, the specific dance will not be chosen until before the competition and will be chosen by a draw. Each dance will be judged independently. The scores will then be combined, and the team with the highest total score will win.

This event is also a scholarship event. This year the winning team will be awarded a $200 scholarship.

The organizers desire that this event embodies all that Donna Medrano represented:

Teacher, coach, mentor, and friend both on and off the dance floor. The grace and beauty that she radiated in all that she did. She desired that ballroom dancing should be enjoyed by all, both dancers and observers. And her desire is that competition should be friendly and fun!

With this in mind, we hope you will choose to participate in the annual event worth waiting for!