Types of Professional Degrees

DVIDA offers Professional Examinations in American Style Rhythm & Smooth from the Junior Associate level through Gold; International Style Standard & Latin from the Junior Associate level through Gold; Argentine Tango from Full Bronze through Gold; Full Bronze Nightclub Two-Step, Full Bronze Salsa and Full Bronze Hustle.

ALL examination fees must be paid to ProDVIDA prior to an examination being sent to an examiner for testing.

Also, a One Year (May also be Two or Three year) membership is required with every first time examination (including one dance exams), or if your membership is expired at the time of your examination.

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Click here to print a sample Junior Associate Examination
Click here to print a sample Salsa Examination
Click here to print a sample Hustle Examination

Click Here To View And Print Guidelines For The ProDVIDA Examination Candidate

Click On The Links Below To View And Print The DVIDA® Syllabus Figures

American Rhythm Bronze Syllabus
American Rhythm Silver Syllabus
American Rhythm Gold Syllabus

American Smooth Bronze Syllabus
American Smooth Silver Syllabus
American Smooth Gold Syllabus

Argentine Tango
Nightclub Two-Step
Salsa
Hustle

In order to qualify as a judge the N.D.C.A. requires that you have your associate degree in both Smooth & Rhythm. However, DVIDA® will certify one style at a time.

Qualifications for Professional Examinations:
Candidates must be at least 18 years of age.
Candidates must provide their own partner for Part A of the examination.
ALL examination fees must be paid to ProDVIDA prior to taking an examination.
A One Year (May also be Two or Three year) membership is required with every first time examination (including one dance exams), or if your membership is expired at the time of your examination.

ProDVIDA Membership requires a candidate to complete and pass a DVIDA professional full or one dance examination.

American Style Junior Associate Test Format
Each Junior Associate test will have exactly the same format.
The Junior Associate Test is generally given by a DVIDA® regional examiner at the candidate's studio (the Junior Associate may also be given by a DVIDA® national examiner.)

American Style Junior Associate Smooth & Rhythm Test Format
The candidate will be tested on figures from 1 thru 7 from the Bronze I & II Syllabus in Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Rumba, Cha Cha, and East Coast Swing.

American Style Junior Associate Smooth Test Format
The candidate will be tested on figures 1 thru 7 from the Bronze Syllabus in Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, and figures 1-5 in the Viennese Waltz.

American Style Junior Associate Rhythm Test Format
The candidate will be tested on figures 1 thru 7 from the Bronze Syllabus in Rumba, Cha Cha, Samba, Mambo, Merengue, West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing and figures 1-5 in Bolero.

Part A (worth 40%): Candidates will demonstrate the Bronze I & II level figures from each dance, in routines that they will dance with a partner, to music. They will dance through these routines twice, once as leader, and once as follower. They will then be asked to dance a SOLO amalgamation to music as either leader or follower.

Part B (worth 30%): The candidate will answer theoretical questions (Amount of Turn, Footwork, Timing, Positions, etc.) about the Bronze I & II level figures in each of the dances listed above. The candidate will answer theoretical questions for all four (4) of the dances in the American Smooth Style. Candidate will be asked to choose four (4) dances from the American Rhythm Style for which they will answer theoretical questions.

Part C (worth 20%): The candidate will answer several general teaching questions.

Part D (worth 10%): The candidate will receive a score for his or her Overall Presentation, which will encompass the candidate's poise, demeanor, vocal projection, and clarity throughout Parts A, B, and C. There are no additional questions for Part D.

American Style Associate (Bronze), Master (Silver) & Grand Master (Gold) Test Format
Associate exams may be given by a DVIDA® regional examiner. Master and Grand Master tests must be given by a DVIDA® national examiner. Please note that the figures and questions will relate to the test you are taking.

For Associate, Master & Grand Master Smooth, you will be responsible for all four smooth dances Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango & V. Waltz.

For Associate, Master & Grand Master Rhythm, you will be required to dance all 8 dances (6 for Grand Master) Rumba, Cha Cha, EC Swing, Bolero, Merengue, WC Swing, Mambo and Samba and you will be asked theoretical questions on your choice of 4 (3 in Grand Master) of the 8 dances (6 for Grand Master).

Argentine Tango Associate (Bronze), Master (Silver) & Grand Master (Gold) Test Format
Associate exams may be given by a DVIDA® regional examiner. Master and Grand Master tests must be given by a DVIDA® national examiner. Please note that the figures and questions will relate to the test you are taking.

For Associate, Master & Grand Master Argentine Tango, you will be responsible for all figures in that level.

Nightclub Two-Step Associate (Bronze) Test Format
Associate tests may be given by a DVIDA® regional or national examiner. Please note that the figures and questions will relate to the test you are taking.

For the Associate Nightclub Two-Step exam, you will be responsible for all figures in the Bronze level.

Hustle Associate (Bronze) Test Format
Associate tests may be given by a DVIDA® regional or national examiner. Please note that the figures and questions will relate to the test you are taking.

For the Associate Hustle exam, you will be responsible for all figures in the Bronze level.

Part A (worth 30%): Candidates will demonstrate all figures from the syllabus in a routine that they will dance with a partner, to music. They will dance through this routine twice, once as leader, and once as follower. They will then be asked to dance a SOLO amalgamation to music as either leader or follower.

Part B (worth 30%): The candidate will answer theoretical questions (involving timing, footwork, amount of turn, etc.) about the figures on the syllabus.

Part C (worth 30%): The candidate will answer several general teaching questions.

Part D (worth 10%): The candidate will receive a grade for Overall Presentation, which will encompass the candidate's poise, demeanor, vocal projection, and clarity throughout Parts A, B, and C. There are no additional questions for Part D.

Salsa Associate (Bronze) Test Format
Currently Salsa examinations may only be given by Diane Jarmolow and Jami Josephson. Click Here For Contact Information.

Please note that the figures and questions will relate to the test you are taking.

Candidate will choose either:
A. Dance and answer questions for Salsa “On1” for Parts A & B OR
B. Dance and answer questions for Salsa “On2” for Parts A & B
In either case, candidate will dance both timings for the Solo Amalgamations in Part A

The Candidates answers in Part C will be based on both the On1 and On2 timings where applicable.

For the Associate Salsa exam, you will be responsible for all figures in the Bronze level.

Part A (worth 30%): Candidates will dance a routine containing all the figures from the syllabus in the timing you have chosen. You will dance this routine with a partner, (you will need to arrange a partner for this segment of the exam) to music, two times, once as a leader and once as a follower. The examiner will then ask you to dance an amalgamation of three or four figures, to music, by yourself in the timing you have chosen. You will then be asked to dance a second solo amalgamation in the opposite timing.

Part B (worth 30%): Candidate will be asked to identify the theoretical elements (footwork, amount of turn, dance position, lead, etc.) of the syllabus figures in the timing you have chosen. Each examination will ask different theoretical questions. The specific questions will be determined by DVIDA and marked on the examination. The examiner will also have the option of asking additional questions in either timing if they feel more understanding needs to be demonstrated.

Part C (worth 30%): The candidate will answer several general teaching questions about music, how to teach specific elements (frame, etc.) to students, history, character, etc. The questions asked in Part C may be asked in either timing (timing will be chosen by the examiner where applicable).

All of the information that will be on the exam will be found in the manual. In addition you will be required to answer the following questions: Please give seven characteristics of a great dance teacher. & (Examiner please choose one of the following 3 questions;) How would you structure a one-hour private lesson with a new student?/How would you structure a one-hour group class? Please think in terms of 10-minute intervals./How would you prepare a student for a Medal Exam? The answers to these questions are found on the "Get Certified" DVD offered by Dance Vision, or you may research this information on your own.

Part D (worth 10%): The candidate will receive a grade for Overall Presentation, which will encompass the candidate's poise, demeanor, vocal projection, and clarity throughout Parts A, B, and C. There are no additional questions for Part D.

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Click On The Links Below To View And Print The DVIDA® Syllabus Figures

International Latin Bronze Syllabus
International Latin Silver Syllabus
International Latin Gold Syllabus

International Standard Bronze Syllabus
International Standard Silver Syllabus
International Standard Gold Syllabus

The American Smooth, International Standard and International Latin “One Dance Exams” will follow the same format as the multiple dance exams.

For the American Rhythm “One Dance Exam” you will be required to complete the dancing portion of two (2) dances and the theoretical portion of one (1) dance of your choice for each examination. (Please refer to the “Instructions for the ProDVIDA Professional Candidate” for the details of each exam.)

*Price covers both dances in American Style Rhythm

ProDVIDA Recertification Requirements

If you have been previously certified with another professional organization and would like to be certified with ProDVIDA, the process is simple. Click here to view and print ProDVIDA Requirements for Recertification.

Get DVIDA Certified in Move Like a Champion©

The exam may be taken in parts, to allow you to take a “slow and steady” approach. Here are your three choices:

If you decide to take the exam “in sections”, each exam will still be 75- 90 minutes, and the costs for each “section” are the same as if taking the full exam, except for the DVIDA fees ($20 per section).

DVIDA® Certification Exam
“Move Like a Champion®” is a revolutionary system for teaching the “how to move” part of teaching ballroom dancing. It gives a standardized language using simple and fun terms to develop students’ posture, power, alignment, frame, arm styling, and footwork. DVIDA certification is available to teachers who want to master these principles and receive the recognition of this important achievement. Here is how it works:
1. Candidate must first take the 14 hour “Move Like A Champion” training Click here for more information about the training program.
2. Candidate will bring a student who is new to the MLC principles with him or her to the exam. Candidates will be evaluated on his or her ability to teach ten of the sixty four “Move Like a Champion®” exercises to the student. Exercises will be chosen randomly by the Examiner.
3. Candidate is responsible for knowing the anatomy presented in the workshop.

Certification Exam Location
For convenience, each candidate has three options regarding where the examination will be held:
1. In person with Diane or Kasia for 75-90 minutes in a mutually agreed upon location.
2. Via Skype (or similar technology).
3. Send in a DVD of yourself performing the exam. (requires test monitor approved by Examiners)

Click here to view and print a sample Move Like A Champion Exam

Certification Costs
The certification exam will take up to 75 minutes and the flexible location choices are designed to keep costs down. Candidates are responsible for Examiners time ($150), studio rental costs if any (variable), DVIDA Exam Fee ($35), and where applicable: travel costs and exam monitor fee.

For more information or to schedule your exam, call or write to:
Diane Jarmolow at 510-336-9426, diane@teachballroomdancing.com or
Kasia Kozak at 646-338-5166, kasia.danceworld@gmail.com

We are confident “Move Like a Champion” will immeasurably transform your dancing and teaching forever.

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