Dancing With Wolves
Ballroom Dance Club
This page updated as of: July 23, 2026
About
Triangle Open is an all amateur ballroom dance competition & evening social dance that is open to dancers of all ages and skill levels. This event is organized by the NC State University Ballroom Dance Team, Jonathan Medlin, and Malin Allert. The event is held at the NC State Talley Student Union Main Ballroom. It is a championship size venue with a hardwood floor, food court, beautiful amenities, & free parking.
New Format This year:
If you attended our event the last few years you know all the magic happened in one fun-filled and action packed day. We are planning a two day format for this year's event to allow for growth and to allow competitors to spread out their events in a more comfortable schedule (see below). We also hope this new format allows a bigger and better social dance experience on Saturday night.
This year the tentative schedule will be:
Saturday
Mid Day Start
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Latin Session
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Smooth Session
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Dinner Break
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Evening Social Dance & Fun Dances
Sunday
Morning Start
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Standard Session
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Lunch Break
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Rhythm Session
The competition and social dance is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.
We offer all ages and skill levels of collegiate, adult, senior, youth, junior, and pre-teen competitors to participate at the competition. Also, if you would like to dance in separate age categories or any events that are not offered on our registration page, please reach out to the organizer. See below for more detailed information.
Organizer Contact:
Venue
NC State University Talley Student Union
2610 Cates Ave, Raleigh, NC 27606
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Schedule, Registration, & Tickets
Schedule & Registration here:
Ballroom Comp Express
Schedule Notes
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The final schedule will be developed after entries have been received (see schedule link above).
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Open events will be danced along with the syllabus events during each style session.
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Registration Desk and warm-up practice will be available before the first session.
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Please be in the ballroom 30 minutes ahead of your scheduled event time.
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Please check in at the registration desk 1-hour prior to your session start time.
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A lunch break and dinner break will be provided.
Competitor Passes
Each competitor must buy a competitor pass. Passes include unlimited entries & admission tickets to the ballroom for all events. Competitors must register and pay the fees by the registration deadline. (A 3% online payment credit card processing fee will be charged by Ballroom Comp Express).
Registration & Payment Deadlines for 2027:
Early Registration:
Through Dec 1
Regular Registration:
Through Jan 3
Late Registration:
Through Jan 17
Last day for payment to compete:
Jan 17
College Student / Youth / Junior / Pre-Teen Competitor Pass:
$55 Early Registration
$68 Regular Registration
$78 Late Registration
$90 Registration Cost after deadline (only if space is available)
Adult / Senior Competitor Pass:
$90 Early Registration
$105 Regular Registration
$120 Late Registration
$140 Registration Cost after deadline (only if space is available)
Tickets to watch
(Available at the door)
College Students / Children $10
Adults $15
Children under 10 years old free
Skill Levels
Newcomer
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You have been dancing less than one year
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Only Bronze Steps can be danced
Bronze
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Only Bronze steps can be danced
Silver
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Bronze & Silver steps can be danced
Gold
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Bronze, Silver, & Gold steps can be danced
Novice & Open Level Events
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Open Choreography allowed
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No lifts are allowed
Fun Dance Events
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No restrictions… find a partner and enjoy!
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No pre-registration required, Line up at the event.
Events List:
Standard
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Newcomer Waltz
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Newcomer Tango
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Newcomer Foxtrot
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Newcomer Quickstep
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Bronze Waltz/Quickstep
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Bronze Tango
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Bronze Foxtrot
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Silver Waltz/Quickstep
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Silver Tango/Foxtrot
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Silver Viennese Waltz
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Gold Waltz/Tango/Foxtrot/Quickstep
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Gold Viennese Waltz
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Novice Waltz/Foxtrot/Quickstep
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Open Waltz/Tango/Foxtrot/Quickstep
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Open Viennese Waltz
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Awards
Smooth
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Newcomer Waltz
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Newcomer Tango
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Newcomer Foxtrot
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Bronze Waltz/Foxtrot
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Bronze Tango
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Bronze Viennese Waltz
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Silver Waltz/Tango/Foxtrot
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Silver Viennese Waltz
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Gold Waltz/Tango/Foxtrot/Viennese
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Novice Waltz/Tango/Foxtrot
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Open Waltz/Tango/Foxtrot/Viennese
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Awards
Rhythm
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Newcomer ChaCha
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Newcomer Rumba
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Newcomer Swing
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Bronze ChaCha/Rumba
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Bronze Swing
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Silver ChaCha/Rumba/Swing
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Silver Mambo
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Gold ChaCha/Rumba/Swing/Mambo
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Gold Bolero
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Novice ChaCha/Rumba/Swing
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Open ChaCha/Rumba/Swing/Mambo
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Open Bolero
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Awards
Latin
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Newcomer ChaCha
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Newcomer Rumba
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Newcomer Jive
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Bronze ChaCha/Rumba
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Bronze Samba
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Bronze Jive
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Silver ChaCha/Rumba
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Silver Samba/Jive
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Gold Samba/ChaCha/Rumba/Jive
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Gold Paso Doble
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Novice Samba/ChaCha/Rumba
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Open Samba/ChaCha/Rumba/Jive
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Open Paso Doble
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Awards
Fun Dances
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See published schedule
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No pre-registration required, same day sign up
Age Groups for Competitors:
Pre-Teen
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Up to 11 years old
Junior
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12-15 years old
Youth
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16-18 years old
Note: Parent and / or guardian must be present to supervise minors under the age of 18 years old. See detailed notice at bottom of this webpage.
Adult & College Students
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This category is open to any dancer 17 years of age and older.
Senior
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One partner must be a minimum of 30 years old and the second partner must be a minimum of 35 years old.
How many levels and events am I eligible dance?
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You can dance up to two skill levels inside each style (Standard, Smooth, Latin, Rhythm). For example, you can dance Bronze Standard and Silver Standard, or you can Dance Newcomer Rhythm and Bronze Rhythm. You could not dance Newcomer, Bronze, and Silver in one style as this would be an example of three skill levels.
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You may have a different skill level within different styles of dance. For example, you may be a silver and gold standard dancer, but only a bronze and silver latin dancer.
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You can dance different skill levels with different partners, but each individual person may only compete in two consecutive skill levels inside a particular style. For example, you cannot dance bronze and silver with partner A and then dance Gold with partner B, this would be three skill levels danced by that individual.
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The skill level of the couple is determined by the most experienced partner. Whatever level the most experienced partner has, then that is where the couple must dance. For example, if a silver level man is dancing with a bronze level lady, the couple is a silver level couple.
Costumes
No restrictions. Costumes will be allowed in all levels and all events.
Invigilation & Syllabus Requirements
The competition will not be strictly invigilated, but we reserve the right to give warnings or disqualify couples that are blatantly in violation of syllabus figures. Judges will be given direction to not mark or place last any couple in blatant violation of syllabus level figures.
Any ISTD, WDSF, or USADance published Syllabus figures will be acceptable.
The chairman of judges has the final word on all matters of invigilation at this competition.
Sponsorships & Scholarship Donors
Thank you to our generous sponsors to make this event possible!
Please contact the organizers if you would like to become a sponsor for event scholarships
2025 Donors
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Jonathan Medlin & Malin Allert
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KP Soong
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Triangle StarDusters Ballroom Dance Club
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Nahunta Pork Center
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Triangle USADance
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Downbeat Dance Fitness
2024 Donors
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Jonathan Medlin & Malin Allert
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KP Soong
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Triangle StarDusters Ballroom Dance Club
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Triangle USADance
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Charles & Miriam Ferzli
2023 Donors:
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Jonathan Medlin & Malin Allert
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Triangle StarDusters Ballroom Dance Club
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Chris & Jenna Temple
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Triangle USADance
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Charles & Miriam Ferzli
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Daniel Bowman & Southeastern USADance Championship
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Kerpu Soong & BioGen
2022 Donors:
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Jonathan Medlin & Malin Allert
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Amy Bandy
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Triangle StarDusters Ballroom Dance Club
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Miriam & Charles Ferzli
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Triangle USADance Chapter
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Dunkin' Donuts
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Shari Huggett-Milton
Food Options at the Competition
The Talley Student Center has a food court with various restaurants and coffee shops. There are additional food options available just off campus on Hillsborough St. and Western Blvd.
Venue Directions & Parking
Talley Student Union Parking is free in the Coliseum parking deck on the weekends. It is located to the East side of the student center.
Hotel Options
There are several hotel options close to campus. We do not have a room rate/block reserved this year.
Walking Distance (beside campus):
Aloft Hotel
2100 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27607
marriott.com
Driving Distance:
The Casso, Raleigh, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel
603 W Morgan St, Raleigh, NC 27603
thecassoraleigh.com
Best Western Plus Cary Inn - NC State
1722 Walnut St, Cary, NC 27511
bestwestern.com
Officials
Organizers: NC State Ballroom Dance Team, Jonathan Medlin & Malin Allert
MC: Jonathan Medlin
Scrutineer: Kerpu Soong
Music DJ: Ian McAreavy and Angelina Schiano
Officials
Organizer & Adjudicator
Jonathan Medlin
Organizer & Adjudicator
Malin Allert
Adjudicator
Susie Buck
Adjudicator
Shari Huggett-Milton
Adjudicator
Dennis Porch
Adjudicator
Mary Lou Porch
Adjudicator
Rachel Moser
Adjudicator
Bobby Willis
Adjudicator
Robertas
Maleckis
Adjudicator
Inga Sirkaite
Adjudicator
Hap Wiggins
Adjudicator
Destiny John
Adjudicator
Harsh Upadhyay
Adjudicator
Madison Williams
Adjudicator
Chris Temple
Adjudicator
Jordan Jewell
Adjudicator
Dasha
Hamrick
Adjudicator
Antoinette Santoro
Music DJ
Ian McAreavy
Music DJ
Angelina
Schiano
Scrutineer
Kerpu Soong
Restrictions
Our event will abide by NC State University requirements. Please see NC State website for those restrictions.
Cancellation Policy
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Contact the organizer to discuss the refund policy.
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Competitors canceling within 2 weeks of the comp date will receive no refund.
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The organizer and NC State Ballroom Dance Team will not provide refunds for the following reasons: Weather related facility closures, COVID and pandemic related issues, and any other 'act of God' events that prevent the competition from being held. We will do our best to provide partial refunds if any of these things occur.
Notices to all attendees and competitors:
1. Your attendance at the event is an agreement to everything written on this page.
2. The organizers of this event have the right to combine or cancel events and age groups as they deem necessary.
3. All decisions of the organizer are final.
4. The organizers, the NCSU Ballroom Dance Team, and NC State University are not responsible and not liable for: any lost or stolen items, any injuries to spectators and dancers, and for any illnesses incurred by your attendance at the event. Your attendance at this event is at your sole risk.
5. The organizer has the right to film and take pictures of anyone in the ballroom in attendance at the event. And further, the organizer has the rights to use these pictures or videos for the promotion of future events and / or in connection with NCSU Ballroom dance team marketing.
6. Children under the age of 18 years old ("minors") must be accompanied and continuously supervised by their parent and / or guardian for their entire time while in attendance at the event. Private, lockable family assisted toilet rooms are available outside the ballroom entrance for use as needed by minors and families.