The 43rd Dancesport Varsity Match took place on Saturday May 14th, 2016 at Iffley Road Sports Centre, Oxford.
Varsity is uniquely different to all other Dancesport competitions that CUDT have been to so far. Each side enters two teams of nine couples to compete in the Varsity Match (A Team) and Challenge Match (B Team). In each match, each team is divided into three heats – the Home side A,B & C and the away side D,E & F. Each heat then dances against each of the opposite team’s heat in a straight final format where judges mark couples in descending order 1-6. A first mark earns six points for the team and a sixth placing earns 1 point. The scores are then added together across nine finals of each of the four dances – Waltz, Quickstep, Cha-cha-cha and Jive, and the team with the higher score wins. This format requires couples to be all-rounders in both Ballroom and Latin. The high number of final rounds to dance (twelve for each couple across four dances) and the length of each round means that fitness also plays an incredibly important role in this match. The Cambridge Squad has trained incredibly hard in the run up to this competition, determined to keep the Varsity Shield where it belongs. Read more “CUDT secures fifth consecutive Varsity title” →