Hello.
I have a question about ranking and moving to next level in competing in international styl (standart,latin).
I know,that in europe you need to get 200 ranking points and 5 finals to be abble to compete in next level (bronze,silver,gold,...) and get a certificate.
Can somebody please explain me the situation here in USA.Thank you very much.

The US has no minimum requirements to meet before you are allowed to move up. You may start at any level you like, and you may move on to any level you like when you, your partner, and your coach feel you're ready for it.

That's not to say that there is no point system in the US, because there is. The point system in the US is designed to keep advanced dancers out of lower levels, rather than being designed to keep lower level dancers out of higher level events.

In the US, you win a point if:

* You win a competition at your current level that had a semi-final.

OR

* You come in 1-3 in a competition (with a semi-final) at a higher level than your current one.

OR

* You make the final in a competition (that started in a quarter-final) at a higher level than your current one.

When you've earned three points, you are no longer eligible to dance at your current level. As an example, a person starting at the bottom of syllabus might dance in Bronze and some Silver events. When they earn three points, they will not be eligible to dance in Bronze any more.

Thank you very much for your answer.I very appreciate it.

Thank you very much for answer.Then I have one more question : Where is kept the record about my points ? in USABDA or IDSF or where. Thank you.

This is where the system breaks down in the US: each dancer is expected to keep track of their own points. Unfortunately, this leads to cheating (called "sandbagging") where some people dance below the level they are eligible for. USABDA really should create a central database of points. Either that, or they should go to a "stamp" system where your membership card or some other document gets stamped whenever you earn a point, and that you can't register for an event unless you show your stamps to prove that you're not dancing below your level.

Remember, when calculating your points, if the event didn't have a semi-final then no points where earned.