Dance Music

Source: https://ndca.org/

Competition Music Length

  • International Style Viennese Waltz: minimum of one minute and fifteen seconds to a maximum of one minute and thirty seconds (1:15 - 1:30).

  • International Style Paso Doble: preliminary rounds: music may stop at the second crash (approximately 1:17). For the final round the complete song (approximately 2:05).

  • All other dances: minimum of one minute and thirty seconds to a maximum of two minutes (1:30 - 2:00).

International Style Dances - Music Tempi

MPM - Measures per Minute BPM - Beats per Minute

Ballroom

    • Waltz (3 beats per measure)

      • Pro/Am: 28-30 MPM (84-90 BPM)

      • Pro & Amateur: 28 MPM (84 BPM)

    • Tango (2 beats per measure)

      • Pro/Am: 32 MPM (64 BPM)

      • Pro & Amateur: 32 MPM (64 BPM)

    • Viennese Waltz (3 beats per measure)

      • Pro/Am: 56-58 MPM (168-174 BPM)

      • Pro & Amateur: 60 MPM (180 BPM)

    • Foxtrot (4 beats per measure)

      • Pro/Am: 28-30 MPM (112-120 BPM)

      • Pro & Amateur: 28 MPM (112 BPM)

    • Quickstep (4 beats per measure)

      • Pro/Am: 48-52 MPM (192-208 BPM)

      • Pro & Amateur: 50 MPM (200 BPM)

Latin

    • Cha Cha (4 beats per measure)

      • Pro/Am: 31 MPM (124 BPM)

      • Pro & Amateur: 30 MPM (120 BPM)

    • Samba (2 beats per measure)

      • Pro/Am: 48-50 MPM (96-100 BPM)

      • Pro & Amateur: 48 MPM (96 BPM)

    • Rumba (4 beats per measure)

      • Pro/Am: 27 MPM (108)

      • Pro & Amateur: 22 MPM (88 BPM)

    • Paso Doble (2 beats per measure)

      • Pro/Am: 56 MPM (112 BPM)

      • Pro & Amateur: 56 MPM (112 BPM)

    • Jive (4 beats per measure)

      • Pro/Am: 38-44 MPM (152-176 BPM)

      • Pro & Amateur: 42 MPM (168 BPM)

American Style Dances Music Tempi

Smooth

  • Waltz (3 beats per measure)

    • Bronze: 30-32 MPM (90-96 BPM)

    • All Others: 28-30 MPM (84-90 BPM)

  • Tango (2 beats per measure)

    • Bronze: 30-32 MPM (60-64 BPM)

    • All Others: 30 MPM (60 BPM)

  • Foxtrot (4 beats per measure)

    • Bronze: 32-34 MPM (128-136 BPM)

    • All Others: 30 MPM (120 BPM)

  • Viennese Waltz (3 beats per measure)

    • Bronze: 54 MPM (162 BPM)

    • All Others: 53-54 MPM (159-162 BPM)

  • Peabody (4 beats per measure)

    • Bronze: 60-62 MPM (240-248 BPM)

    • All Others: 60-62 MPM (240-248 BPM)

Rhythm

  • Cha Cha (4 beats per measure): 30 MPM (120 BPM)

  • Rumba (4 beats per measure)

    • Bronze: 32-36 MPM (128-144 BPM)

    • All Others: 30-32 MPM (120-128 BPM)

  • Swing (4 beats per measure): 34 MPM (136 BPM)

  • Bolero (4 beats per measure):

    • Bronze: 24-26 MPM (96-104 BPM)

    • All Others: 24 MPM (96 BPM)

  • Mambo (4 beats per measure)

    • Bronze: 48-51 MPM (192-204 BPM)

    • All Others: 47 MPM (188 BPM)

  • Merengue (2 beats per measure): 29-32 MPM (58-64 BPM)

  • Paso Doble (2 beats per measure): 58-60 MPM (116-120 BPM)

  • Samba (2 beats per measure): 52 MPM (104 BPM)

  • West Coast Swing (4 beats per measure): 28-32 MPM (112-128 BPM)

  • Polka (2 beats per measure): 60-62 MPM (120-124 BPM)

  • Hustle (4 beats per measure): 28-30 MPM (112-120 BPM)