Hi Here
The South African competitive dancers are broadly divided into amateurs and professionals. The only amateur controlling body in South Africa is called FEDANSA (affiliated to the IDSF) while the professionals have various associations that they can belong to. FEDANSA and the various professional associations together make up "DANCESPORT South Africa".
Unlike the Americans we do not have pro-am competitions where one partner is a professional while the other is an amateur (usually a student, I assume).
The majority of competitions in the RSA are amateur competitions featuring both international style ballroom and latin-american. The various provinces in the country have competitions quite regularly, approximately 2 per month. Competitions can be organized by various parties. Besides FEDANSA and the various professional bodies, dance clubs and dance schools also hold competitions.
The the amateur dancers are sectioned into beginner, bronze, silver, gold, novice, pre-championship and championship depending on their "ability". You start at beginner and make your way up to championship. Competitions offically sanctioned by FEDANSA allow you to earn promotional points depending on your performance in the competitions. When you obtain the required number of points in a particular grade you are promoted to the next level. You may also obtain "medal certification" (bronze, silver, gold) where your competance is examined by an certified examiner (you will be the only couple on the floor). However this carries no weight in the grade you dance competitively. You must earn promotional points by winning or doing well at competitions.
Only championship level dancers can earn provencial or national colours. You earn provencial colours by winning the provencial title. To represent the country internationally you must perform well at the four "world-trial" competitions held each year.
You are still at school so you will probably compete in either the juvenile, junior or youth sections based on your age. There is a lot more that I can tell you so I leave it to you to ask more specific questions. Also can you tell me your age, the province or city you live in and whether you are receiving training and coaching. It's important to received training and coaching from the right school/ club. There is a huge divide between social dance schools and competitive schools/ clubs in the RSA. Social dance schools ,in the RSA, cannot train you for competition dancing. They will also discourage and probably mislead you.
A "competitive" school will have you entered in your first competition (at the beginner level of course) in no time at all.
Happy Dancing,
Len ( A fellow dancer and South African).
