NorthStar Dance-O-Rama
The grand Finale
20 years of dancing and we’ve got a License to Thrill!
Radisson Blu Aqua, Chicago, IL
August 27-30, 2026
Kick off your NorthStar Weekend with a Mysterious James Bond Experience! Reimagined for magic, delight in an elegant, cocktail dinner at The Hand and The Eye mansion. The slight of hand will keep you guessing and on your dancing toes…
Opt in to view Chicago’s majestic architecture on a river tour cruise on Thursday morning, followed by a fun evening including a “Licensed to Thrill” James Bond Dance-Off.
Friday evening, bring your favorite character into the ballroom to party from one of the twenty-seven 007 movies and cheer on your favorite couple competing in the Arthur Murray® Professional Nine-Dance Championship!
Host of the Arthur Murray® Professional Nine-Dance Championship
THE HISTORY OF NINE-DANCE: The first United States Professional Nine Dance Champions were from Arthur Murray and Arthur Murray couples have earned that title 11 times. Jesse & Lynda Smith were among those couples. They have always supported, encouraged and developed the Nine Dancer. When Jesse passed away in 2006, Lynda continued that passion by recognizing Nine Dancers in the professional, amateur, and pro/am categories at the NorthStar DOR.
This year will be the last NorthStar DOR (new name coming in 2027) and the last time the official Arthur Murray Professional Nine Dance Championships will be held in Area IV. Starting in 2027 the Nine Dance Championships will return to Superama, and continue to honor Jesse Smith.
WHO ARE NINE DANCE COMPETITORS?
Nine Dance competitors are couples who compete in the nine dances that make up the American Style Smooth (W,T,F,VW) and the American Style Rhythm (CC,R,SW,B,M). These couples represent well rounded competitors, being proficient in both Smooth and Rhythm categories.
HOW IS A NINE DANCE EVENT DIFFERENT FROM OTHER MULTI-DANCE EVENTS?
In a Nine Dance Competition, each dance is judged separately. A couple may reach the final in one or more dances, thus the final for each dance may have different couples competing against each other. At the end of all the finals, the results are reached by combining all tallying the scores across all nine 9 dances.
CAN I DANCE THE SMOOTH AND RHYTHM WITH DIFFERENT PARTNERS?
The nine-dance event is contested over all nine dances and must be danced with the same partner.
IN WHAT ORDER IS THE COMPETITION RUN?
It will start with the Smooth dances, running the semi-finals and finals. Then the competitors will have time to change costumes for the Rhythm dances and dance the semi-finals and finals. The results will be calculated, and awards presented at the conclusion of the Rhythm section.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE NINE DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS?
Open Professional couples may participate. Pro/Am couples, and Amateur couples that are at the Associate Silver level and above may participate. NorthStar offers Pro/Am age categories A, B, C, and D. There will be A and B age categories for Amateurs.
Stay Up-to-date
For live updates, vendors, adjudicators and more…visit the Northstar Dance-O-Rama tab on the Arthur Murray Official App.
Want to join us?
Come join us as we celebrate 20 years of the best in dance and friendship in Area 4.
Contact your local studio to learn how to sign up for this spectacular event!Deadline to enter is July 20th!