To share this news on Facebook click here

NSW Elite Competitors Program 2025/26

$35,000 in prize money at the 2025 NSW Open DanceSport Championships

As part of the NSW Office of Sport grant for 2025 DanceSport NSW is launching an Elite Competitor programme for over 16 Amateur events.

This includes a minimum $20,000 prize pool split across the Professional and Amateur open events. With prize money for winners in Under 21, Masters 1, 2 and 3.

In addition, the NSW Branch Board is working on initiatives that will bring an additional $20,000+ in benefits to the top 3 couples in these events in the period to 30 June 2026.

To be eligible to receive any of these Elite Programme benefits you must:

1. Be a NSW registered couple with DanceSport Australia.
2. Compete at the 2025 NSW Open.
3. Based on the couples results at the NSW Open, 2025:
   1. For the main prize you will need to be the highest placed NSW couple
   2. For the additional prizes over the next 12 months you will need to finish in the top 3 NSW couples
   3. In any style you can only receive ONE award. For example, Masters 3 couples can not claim an award for Masters 3 and Masters 2 in the same style. They will be deemed to have won the highest age group and the prize in the lower age group will move to the next couple. For Under 21, should they win an amateur open events they will receive the Under 21 award only
4. Funding is for a couple. Should a couple break up during the funding period any unused funds will be reallocated using point 9 below.
5. For professional and amateur couples you will need to be available to present at a DSNSW lecture.
6. For all couples you will need to attend a DSNSW lecture in the next 12 months.
7. The Elite team, highest 3 places from NSW Open, will be expected to compete in events as follows:
   1. The Australian Championships in December 2025;
   2. 4 competitions/championships in NSW over the next 12 months or;
   3. 2 competitions/championships in NSW PLUS a combination of two (2) events that are outside NSW/Australia that the funding is used to support – for example competing in Asia, World Championships, NZ Open, Blackpool etc.. AND we will count up to 2 events at either a DSA State Championship outside NSW OR competing at a National Championship outside NSW.
   4. An example of 7 a,b,c, would be: a couple might dance at The Australia + Oceania in 2025, DME Nationals in 2026 + Blackpool + Southern Cross 2026 OR DME December, The Australian, ADS Galaxy, Oceania and DME Nationals. DSNSW will be flexible in applying the rules.
   5.  Failure to meet these requirements will result in either loss of funding this financial year or disqualification from any 2026 /27 initiatives.
8. For any couple that miss the NSW Open due to competing overseas (The International or leadup events) or illness (supported by a certificate) we will review the results at the Australian Championships and should they win one of the eligible events DSNSW will include that couple in the Elite Team and make them eligible for other initiatives in the funding period. They will not be eligible for a share of the $35,000 we are announcing today.
9. Should any events result in zero funding being allocated the DanceSport NSW Branch Board will reallocate the funds as it considers appropriate. Any affected couple will be notified. Note: the funding goal is to use $35,000 for this program. So unused funds will be reallocated to support all couples.

What is required if I become eligible:

1. The couple will nominate an email address for correspondence, and they will receive confirmation in the week following the NSW Open outlining what funding they are entitled to.
2. The couple can then spend their allocation on any of the below;
   1. International travel
   2. Domestic travel
   3. Lessons with visiting professionals (NV includes interstate or NZ)
   4. Lectures with visiting professionals (NV includes interstate or NZ]
   5. Personal training
   6. Dietitian
   7. Sports psychologist

C) couples to provide receipts to the designated DSNSW official with bank details. NSW official will assess against the criteria and make organise payments.

If you have any questions regarding the program you can contact:

Darren Day

Chairman

DSNSW State Branch

Chair.nsw@dancesport.org.au

0411 132 971