Compete with your coach.
Pro-am pairs you, the amateur, with a professional partner on the competition floor. I train you, choreograph for you, and dance beside you on the day. It's the route from serious hobby to competitor, with the same coach at every step.
One professional. One amateur. One partnership on the floor.
In a pro-am partnership, an amateur dancer competes with a professional partner in dedicated pro-am categories, grouped by age and level. Only the amateur is judged. The professional's job is to lead, support, and present you at your best.
For you, it removes the biggest barrier to competing: finding a partner. You train with the same person who will dance beside you on the day, and every lesson builds directly towards that floor.
Pro-am is how adults with real ambition and real lives compete seriously. Expat professionals, returning dancers, and students who have outgrown the hobby class all find their way here.
You're ready to compete. The only thing missing is the right partner.
-
The serious hobbyist
You've been dancing socially or in classes and you want a goal that stretches you. Competition gives your training a purpose and a date.
-
The returning dancer
You competed years ago, or trained as a child, and life got in the way. The technique is still in you. We wake it up.
-
The ambitious beginner
You've never competed, and you're not sure you're "good enough". The right student at any level can compete. We start where you are.
How the pro-am pathway works
A structured route, paced to you. Some students are on the floor within months. Others take a season to build. Both are right.
A conversation and an assessment
We talk about your goals, your experience, and your calendar. Then we dance, so I can see where you are and map the route.
Foundation training
Private lessons on technique, timing, partnering, and presence. Cha-cha-cha, samba, rumba, paso doble, jive, or the Standard dances if that's your floor.
Choreography and competition preparation
Routines built for your strengths, plus stamina work, mental preparation, and guidance on costume, hair, and presentation.
Competition day
We choose the right event for your level and location. I handle the entries with you, and on the day I'm your partner on the floor.
Feedback and the next goal
As an adjudicator, I know exactly what the judges saw. We review, celebrate, and set the next target.
Everything between the first lesson and the last heat
- Private lessons with Raliza, scheduled around your week
- Personal choreography for each dance you compete in
- Total body preparation: stamina, flexibility, and coordination
- Competition selection and entry guidance
- Costume, styling, and presentation advice
- Professional partnering on competition day
- Post-competition feedback from an international adjudicator
Where we compete
A Utalente pro-am student's result
Bronze champion, Crown Cup Dubai
Crown Cup International Dance Competition, Dubai, 2023: Rumba pro-am over 51, full and intermediate bronze champion.
My students and I have competed at events including:
- Singapore Open Dance Championship
- Merlion Open DanceSport Championships
- TDA DanceSport Championship
- Royal Siam Cup Thailand
- Johor Open Malaysia
- Crown Cup Dubai
Dance your way. With a partner who gets it.
Same-gender pro-am partnerships are an officially recognised category, and I'm one of the few coaches in Singapore actively offering them. Whether you don't have a male partner, prefer to train with a female professional, or simply want to compete your way, we can make it happen.
I lead, you follow. The rules, the categories, and the floor are the same, and only you are judged.
Pro-am, answered
Do I need competition experience to start?
No. Pro-am categories exist for every level, from newcomer to advanced, and every age group. We start with an assessment lesson and build from there. The right student at any level can compete.
How often do we train?
Most pro-am students take one to two private lessons a week, plus their own practice. Before a competition we usually add sessions. We agree the rhythm together, around your work and family.
How long until my first competition?
It depends on your starting point and the dances you choose. Some students are ready for a newcomer category within a few months. Others prefer to build for a season first. Both routes are right.
Which dances can I compete in?
International Latin: cha-cha-cha, samba, rumba, paso doble, and jive. Standard is also possible: waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, foxtrot, and quickstep. Many students start with one or two dances and add more.
What about costume, hair, and make-up?
I guide you through all of it, from your first practice outfit to competition costume, shoes, and styling. You don't need anything special to start.
Am I too old?
Pro-am is grouped by age, so you compete against dancers in your own bracket. My students have won pro-am categories in the over-51 age group. Your age is a category, not a barrier.
What does it cost?
Tell me what you're aiming for and I'll send you a full breakdown, including lesson rates and, where competitions are involved, the entry fees paid to the organiser.
Your first step is a conversation. No commitment, no pressure.
Tell me about your dance background and what you'd love to achieve. I'll tell you honestly what the route looks like.