The Newcomer Division: A Dance Competition’s Best Secret

One thing is for certain: it is very, very rare that someone walks into an Arthur Murray Dance Studio with a dance costume and a scheduled competition. However, when there are advertisements in your school about upcoming Dance-O-Ramas, most of the student body figures it’s for that mythical student mentioned at the top.

But here’s the secret nobody tells you: there’s a division specifically designed for people who have never done this before.

Enter: The Newcomer Division!

At Arthur Murray, you don’t need dance experience to take your first lesson. That’s what makes the program so effective.

Well, if Arthur Murray were going to put together a dance competition, wouldn’t it be wise to keep that theme intact?

If you’ve taken fewer than 50 lessons, and this is your first Dance-O-Rama, you qualify for the Newcomer Division.

The fine print should read: “No ringers allowed.”

In fact, this is a “costume-optional” level where students in age categories from Youth to “Young at Heart” get a chance to experience a Dance-O-Rama for the first time, minus all the competition experience. Everyone on that floor is just as new to this as you are.

Why This Changes Everything

Think about what normally holds people back from competing:

• “Everyone will be so much better than me.”
• “I’ve never done this before.”
• “I don’t have a costume.”
• “I’m not ready.”

The Newcomer Division eliminates all of these concerns. You’re competing against people who also have fewer than 50 lessons. Who also have never done this before. Who also might be wearing their practice clothes instead of rhinestones.

Suddenly, that impossible dream of dancing at a real competition becomes completely achievable.

Gain Confidence

At the Dance-O-Rama, you’ll not only get a chance to do something you never thought was possible, but you’re also guaranteed to gain confidence by the truckload.

These events differ from our in-studio or district events because they are held over a period of 2-3 days. So, essentially, everything that you wish you would have done on day 1 can be on your to-do list for day 2.

Safe to say that multi-day format is a game-changer. Day 1 is about surviving and getting your bearings. Day 2 is about applying what you learned. By Day 3, you’re a different dancer than the person who checked in nervously on Day 1.

Group Nerves

Another great benefit of dancing in the Newcomer division is you’ll know that everyone on the floor with you will be experiencing the same nervous energy.

This typically subsides after the morning activities on the first day of dancing, and, before long, you’ll be making friends with other Newcomers from all over the world.

In fact, some of the strongest dance friendships form in the Newcomer division. You’re bonding over shared nerves, shared victories, and shared “I can’t believe we just did that” moments. These are the people who’ll be cheering for you at future events, and you’ll be cheering for them.

What Actually Happens

Let’s demystify this. At a typical Dance-O-Rama, your Newcomer experience might look something like this:

Registration and Opening: You check in, get your materials, attend an opening session that explains how everything works.

Warm-Up: Before your heats (your dancing times), there’s usually a chance to warm up, walk through the floor, and get comfortable with the space.

Your Heats: You dance with your teacher in front of judges. Yes, you’re being scored – but at the Newcomer level, the judges are looking for effort, musicality, and basic execution. They’re not expecting perfection.

Social Dancing: Between competitive rounds, there’s usually social dancing where you can practice, meet people, and just enjoy moving to music.

Awards: Yes, there are awards. And yes, it feels incredible to receive recognition for something that felt impossible just days ago.

The Real Prize

Here’s what experienced competitors know but rarely articulate: the placement matters far less than the transformation.

The person who enters a Newcomer division and finishes – regardless of their score – has accomplished something significant. They’ve pushed past their comfort zone. They’ve performed in front of strangers. They’ve proven to themselves that they can do hard things.

That confidence doesn’t stay on the competition floor. It follows you into job interviews, social situations, and every other arena where you’ve told yourself “I can’t.”

Enter the Newcomer Division

All in all, a Dance-O-Rama is like any Arthur Murray event – you’re going to get top-caliber service, a fun and motivating atmosphere, and a raspy voice from cheering so much.

So now that the secret is out, there’s only one question left:

Are you ready to stop watching from the sidelines and actually do this?

Your comfort zone voice will have a hundred reasons why now isn’t the right time. But that voice will always have reasons. The dancers who transform are the ones who take action anyway.

For more on competition preparation, check out 22 Dance Competition Strategies and 31 Things Dance Judges Want To See You Do.