The ETDS knows two classes to ensure everyone will compete against someone of their own level: Breitensport, CloseD/Open Class.
Breitensport is divided in four subclasses: Amateurs, Professionals, Masters and Champions. The Breitensport competition will start with a qualification round to determine in which subclass a couple will start. Every subclass has several rounds and will end with a final.
The CloseD/Open Class has a qualification round as well. This will determine who dances in the Open or CloseD competition. For the CloseD and Open we will use a lottery system, which will decide who your dancing partners will be. More information on this will follow.
To determine in which class you should dance, please consult the following table:
| Breitensport | CloseD/open | |
| Netherlands NADB | Debutants 2, 3 and 4 | Debutants 1, C-, B-, A- and hoofdklasse ballroom
Debutants 1, B-, A- and hoofdklasse latin |
| Netherlands NVAD | Debutants 1, 2, 3 | Open klasse, Hoofdklasse |
| Netherlands NDO | Debutants, National amateurs | Masterclass (in case you do not dance within another bond) |
| Netherlands WDC | Pre-amateurs
If maximum 2 poules in National amateurs: National amateurs until B poule |
If more than 2 poules in National amateurs: National amateurs B poule
National amateurs A poule, masterclass B and A poule |
| Germany | Breitensport, Startkarte, D-class | D-, C-, B-, A-, S-class |
| Germany (Form.) | Regionalliga (ballroom)
Landesliga, Oberliga (latin) |
Regionalliga (latin),
2+1. Bundesliga |
| Norway | Rekrutteringklass
Konkurranse |
Konkurranseklass, Eliteklass |
| Czech republic | TPV, E-class (breitensport), D-class | D-class, C-class, B-/ A-/ M-class |
| England | Beginner, Novice, Intermediate | Intermediate, Advanced, National League |
On certain levels in the breitensport, the blindDEAD program is obligatory. You can find more information about this part at ‘’Tournament- BlindDEAD’’.
Participants that have reached the top three in the highest subclass of the Breitensport at least twice, will be excluded from dancing in the Breitensport tournament and will participate in CloseD/Open class.
Depending on the class and round you’re dancing, there might be a difference in the dances you’ll be dancing during the competition. The three basic dances will be danced in every class. Some dances will be added in further rounds. You will find the information about this in the table below.
| Ballroom dances | Qualification | First round /
Redance / Quarter final |
Semi final | Final |
| Amateurs | SW, TG, QS | SW, TG, QS | SW, TG, QS | SW, TG, QS |
| Profis | SW, TG, QS | SW, TG, QS | SW, TG, VW, QS | SW, TG, VW, QS |
| Masters | SW, TG, QS | SW, TG, QS | SW, TG, VW, QS | SW, TG, VW, SF, QS |
| Champions | SW, TG, QS | SW, TG, QS | SW, TG, VW, SF, QS | SW, TG, VW, SF, QS |
| CloseD | SW, TG, QS | SW, TG, QS | SW, TG, VW, SF, QS | SW, TG, VW, SF, QS |
| Open | SW, TG, QS | SW, TG, QS | SW, TG, VW, SF, QS | SW, TG, VW, SF, QS |
| Latin dances | Qualification | First round /
Redance |
Semi final | Final |
| Amateurs | CC, RU, JI | CC, RU, JI | CC, RU, JI | CC, RU, JI |
| Profis | CC, RU, JI | CC, RU, JI | SA, CC, RU, JI | SA, CC, RU, JI |
| Masters | CC, RU, JI | CC, RU, JI | SA, CC, RU, JI | SA, CC, RU, PD, JI |
| Champions | CC, RU, JI | CC, RU, JI | SA, CC, RU, PD, JI | SA, CC, RU, PD, JI |
| CloseD | CC, RU, JI | CC, RU, JI | SA, CC, RU, PD, JI | SA, CC, RU, PD, JI |
| Open | CC, RU, JI | CC, RU, JI | SA, CC, RU, PD, JI | SA, CC, RU, PD, JI |