Hawaii Star Ball 2026: What Our Pro-Am Results Really Mean

What an incredible week in Hawaii. Jerry and I danced four styles in one week at Hawaii Star Ball 2026, William and I took the floor as a professional couple, and I came home with a heart full of gratitude (and a little sunshine).

Competition results can sound like a foreign language, though. “Top Silver Gent”? “Rising Star”? “Top Teacher”? So along with sharing our week, I want to explain what those results actually mean, because they say a lot about how adult dancers grow.

Our Hawaii Star Ball 2026 Results at a Glance

Placements as announced at the event. Award categories match the official Hawaii Star Ball awards list.

What Is Hawaii Star Ball?

Hawaii Star Ball is an annual fall ballroom competition in Waikiki. The 2026 event ran September 23–26 at the Sheraton Waikiki Resort and is sanctioned by the National Dance Council of America (NDCA). The official 2026 schedule spread Smooth, Rhythm, Ballroom, Country Western and Latin across the week, with professional events in the evenings and a themed Club Night.

It’s a big event that’s mostly students. The World Dance Foundation’s event database counts about 4,100 entries in 2026, and roughly 95% of all entries are Pro-Am. In other words, the floor is full of adults dancing with their teachers, not just professionals.

What Does “Pro-Am” Mean in Ballroom?

Pro-Am means a professional teacher dances with their own student. The NDCA rule book defines it as “a registered professional dancer/teacher dancing with their registered student.” Only the student is judged. The teacher’s job is to lead (or follow) well and make the student look their best.

That’s why Pro-Am works so well for adults. You don’t need to find a partner, and you’re never on the floor alone. Students also compete against others at a similar level and age, so a newer dancer isn’t measured against someone who has danced for twenty years. Bravo’s explainer on the Pro/Am circuit gives a good overview of how those age and skill groupings work.

“It has been so fun watching his confidence and dancing continue to grow!”

Amy Hanson, on Jerry’s week at Hawaii Star Ball

Four Dance Styles in One Week

Jerry danced in four different styles at Hawaii Star Ball. Each one has its own character, its own technique and its own set of dances.

What Do “Top Student” and “Top Teacher” Awards Mean?

Individual heats earn ribbons and medals. The bigger awards look at the whole week. At Hawaii Star Ball, students and teachers earn points for every entry and for how well they place, according to the event’s published awards rules. Here’s what Jerry’s three honors mean:

• Top 20 Overall Students: the twenty highest-scoring students at the whole event. Jerry finished #2.
• Top Silver Male Student: the top gentleman dancing at the Silver level. Silver is the intermediate level, between Bronze and Gold. Ballroom Pages explains that moving up is “less about memorizing more steps and more about raising quality.”
• Overall Top Male Student: the top gentleman student at the event, at any level.

Put together, only one student at the event outscored Jerry, and no gentleman did. I am so proud of him. His confidence on the floor has grown so much, and it shows.

The Top Teacher award works a little differently. A teacher’s points come from their students’ entries and placements, so it reflects the whole team. Placing 4th Overall Top Teacher and standing at the front alongside so many talented instructors was humbling, and I’m grateful to every student who made it possible. It works the same way on the Dancer’s Cup Tour, where teachers earn points through their students’ dancing, and where I’m the three-time defending Top Teacher.

Thursday’s Club Night had a “Toon Town” theme, and our group dressed for it.

What Is a Professional Rising Star Event?

Rising Star events are for professional couples who are still building their competitive careers. Under the NDCA rules, couples lose Rising Star status after reaching certain results, such as winning specific championships, so the division stays a proving ground for up-and-coming professionals.

When I wasn’t dancing with Jerry, I put on my competition shoes with my professional partner, William. We placed 2nd out of 6 couples in Professional Rising Star American Smooth, which at Hawaii Star Ball is a four-dance event: Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot and Viennese Waltz. We also danced in Open American Smooth. We danced well, and although we didn’t make the final, sharing the floor with some of the best dancers in the country was an experience I’m really grateful for.

A Little Hawaii Off the Dance Floor

We made sure to enjoy the islands, too. A group of us headed up to the North Shore and visited Waimea Falls, and we actually swam through the waterfall. It was absolutely beautiful. If you go, check in first: Waimea Valley allows swimming only when lifeguards say conditions are safe, and life jackets are required (they’re provided free).

I also snuck away with a friend for a surf lesson. It was so much fun, and definitely something I’d love to do again.

Do You Have to Compete to Take Ballroom Lessons?

Not at all. Most of my students never compete, and that’s perfectly fine. Some want to feel comfortable at a wedding or a gala. Others want a fun way to stay active, meet people, or dance with their partner again. A few, like Jerry, discover they love having a competition goal.

If you’re brand new, my guide to private beginner dance lessons in the Twin Cities explains how a first lesson works. Not sure which style fits you? Try the dance lesson matcher. And if you’re nervous about dancing with people who have more experience, read how to dance with someone much more experienced than you. For another look at competition life, here’s our Heart of America DanceSport 2026 recap from Kansas City.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where was Hawaii Star Ball 2026?

Hawaii Star Ball 2026 took place September 23–26, 2026, at the Sheraton Waikiki Resort in Honolulu, on the island of Oʻahu.

What is Pro-Am ballroom dancing?

Pro-Am is a competition format where a professional teacher dances with their student, and only the student is judged. It lets adults compete without needing their own partner.

What does Silver level mean in ballroom?

Silver is the intermediate syllabus level, between Bronze (foundational) and Gold (advanced). Silver dancers add more figures, shaping and continuity on top of solid Bronze basics.

Do I need a partner to take lessons with Ballroom by Amy?

No. A partner is never required. You can take private lessons on your own, come with a partner, or work toward Pro-Am competition with Amy as your partner.

Sources / Further Reading

AI assisted with research support, organization and editing of this article, which was written from Amy’s own account of the week. Competition placements are as announced at the event.