As a heat begins, contestants enter the floor from a staging area, take positions, a deejay plays music and the contestants perform. UCWDC couples, ProAm, and ProPro may compete in as many as eight country/western dances which are danced in the following prescribed order; triple two-step, nightclub, waltz, polka, cha cha, east coast swing, two-step, and west coast swing.
When the dance competition begins, contestants emerge from a waiting zone, take their places, and a DJ spins music while they perform. UCWDC couples, ProAm, and ProPro can compete in as many as eight country/western dances that follow a set order: triple two-step, nightclub, waltz, polka, cha cha, east coast swing, two-step, and west coast swing.