What are testing levels?

Each dance has a list of recognized figures, known as the syllabus. The syllabus for each dance is broken into three levels: bronze, silver, and gold figures. The difficulty generally increases with each level. The dancer is not expected to perform all of the figures at that level. In the syllabus, they may dance a few higher-level figures, with the understanding that it will not help their scores and may hurt them if the figures are not well executed. You are allowed to follow any nationally accepted syllabus.

Bronze – Dance primarily bronze figures.

Silver – Dance primarily silver figures.

Gold – Dance primarily gold figures.

Once a candidate has completed their syllabus medal tests, they may move on to the Gold Star medal tests, which would include open figures (Gold Star 1, Gold Star 2 and Gold Star 3). At all three levels, the first 12-16 bars of music should consist of syllabus figures. That should be followed by open (i.e., non-syllabus) figures. The expectation is that as a dancer advances from Gold Star 1 through Gold Star 3, the open figures would increase in difficulty, and the overall technique would improve. These levels are roughly equivalent to Novice, Pre-Champ, and Championship levels in competitions.