If you're new to the grandiose world of ballroom and Latin dance championships, you might find yourself a little confused about the differences between the array of categories and genres at the Blackpool Dance Festival, which began Thursday and runs through June 2 in Blackpool, England.

But don't fret, we've got you covered. Below, you'll find a complete list of this year's categories along with their descriptions and the amount of prize money allocated to the winners.
 

AMATEUR "RISING STARS" BALLROOM COMPETITION

PRIZE MONEY amounting to £1,220 -- 1st Couple £280; 2nd Couple £250; 3rd Couple £225; 4th Couple £190; 5th Couple £150; 6th Couple £125
 
This category is open to the world with the exception that competitors who danced in the third round of the British Amateur Ballroom Championship in 2016 are not allowed. Competitors will be judged on their all around efficiency in the waltz, foxtrot, tango, and quickstep.
 

AMATEUR "RISING STARS" LATIN COMPETITION

PRIZE MONEY amounting to £1,220 -- 1st Couple £280; 2nd Couple £250; 3rd Couple £225; 4th Couple £190; 5th Couple £150; 6th Couple £125
 
This category is open to the world with the exception that competitors who danced in the fourth round of the British Amateur Latin Championship in 2016 are not allowed. Competitors will be judged on their all around efficiency in the cha cha, samba, rumba, and paso doble.
 

PROFESSIONAL "RISING STARS" LATIN COMPETITION

PRIZE MONEY amounting to £1,260 -- 1st Couple £300; 2nd Couple £260; 3rd Couple £225; 4th Couple £190; 5th Couple £155; 6th Couple £130
 
Open to the world with the exception of those competitors who reached the final of the British Professional Latin Championship in 2016 and those who danced in all five dances in the semifinal. Those competitors are exempted from the first two rounds. Competitors will be judged on their all around efficiency in the cha cha, samba, rumba, and paso doble.
 

PROFESSIONAL "RISING STARS" BALLROOM COMPETITION

PRIZE MONEY amounting to £1,260 -- 1st Couple £300; 2nd Couple £260; 3rd Couple £225; 4th Couple £190; 5th Couple £155; 6th Couple £130
 
Open to the world with the exception of those competitors who reached the final of the Professional Ballroom Championship in 2016 and those who danced in all four dances in the semifinal. Those competitors are exempted from the first two rounds. Competitors will be judged on their all around efficiency in the waltz, foxtrot, tango, and quickstep.

SENIOR (OVER 35s) BALLROOM CHAMPIONSHIP

PRIZE MONEY amounting to £1,150 -- 1st Couple £265; 2nd Couple £225; 3rd Couple £200; 4th Couple £175; 5th Couple £155; 6th Couple £130
 
Dancers will be judged on their all around efficiency in the waltz, foxtrot, tango, and quickstep. Competitors who that danced in the fifth round of the 2016 British Senior Ballroom Championship and are exempt from the first round this year. Senior ballroom competitors are restricted to dancing in the senior championships only; they cannot enter the over 50s ballroom category.
 

SENIOR (OVER 35s) LATIN COMPETITION

PRIZE MONEY amounting to £1,150 -- 1st Couple £265; 2nd Couple £225; 3rd Couple £200; 4th Couple £175; 5th Couple £155; 6th Couple £130
 
Competitors will be judged on their all around efficiency in the cha cha, samba, rumba, paso doble, and jive. Competitors will be required to dance jive in the semifinal and final rounds only. Competitors who danced in the fifth round of the 2016 British Senior Ballroom Championship and are exempt from the first round this year. Senior ballroom competitors are restricted to dancing in the senior championships only; they cannot enter the over 50s ballroom category.
 

AMATEUR UNDER 21 YEARS LATIN CHAMPIONSHIP

PRIZE MONEY amounting to £1,220 -- 1st Couple £285; 2nd Couple £245; 3rd Couple £210; 4th Couple £185; 5th Couple £160; 6th Couple £135
 
Competitors will be judged on their all around efficiency in the cha cha, samba, rumba, paso doble, and jive. Competitors will be required to dance jive in the semifinal and final rounds only. Competitors who danced in the fifth round of the 2016 Championship and are exempt from the first round this year. The exemptions only apply to the same partnership as existed in the aforesaid event and not to the competitors individually.
 

AMATEUR UNDER 21 YEARS BALLROOM CHAMPIONSHIP

PRIZE MONEY amounting to £1,220 -- 1st Couple £285; 2nd Couple £245; 3rd Couple £210; 4th Couple £185; 5th Couple £160; 6th Couple £135
 
Contestants must be over the age of 16 years and under 21 years of age. Competitors will be judged on their all around efficiency in the waltz, foxtrot, tango, and quickstep. Dancers may compete in amateur rising ballroom competition but are restricted to dancing in either the under 21 years championships or the open amateur champions in each branch.
 

OVER 50s BALLROOM CHAMPIONSHIP

PRIZE MONEY amounting to £1,150 -- 1st Couple £265; 2nd Couple £235; 3rd Couple £200; 4th Couple £170; 5th Couple £150; 6th Couple £130
 
Competitors will be judged on their all around efficiency in the waltz, foxtrot, tango, and quickstep. Over 50s ballroom competitors can also enter senior (Over 35s Latin Championship).  
 

AMATEUR LATIN CHAMPIONSHIP

PRIZE MONEY amounting to £1,455 -- 1st Couple £330; 2nd Couple £290; 3rd Couple £255; 4th Couple £220; 5th Couple £195; 6th Couple £165
 
Under 21 years competitors are restricted to dancing either the Under 21 Years Championships or the Open Amateur Championships in each branch. See rules for clarification. Judging will be based on "all-around" efficiency in the cha cha, samba, rumba, paso doble, and jive. Competitors will be required to dance jive in the semifinal and final rounds only. If competitors are under the age of 21, they are not permitted to dance in this category.
 

AMATEUR BALLROOM CHAMPIONSHIP

PRIZE MONEY amounting to £1,455  -- 1st Couple £330; 2nd Couple £290; 3rd Couple £255; 4th Couple £220; 5th Couple £195; 6th Couple £165
 
Competitors will be judged on their all around efficiency in the waltz, foxtrot, tango, and quickstep. If competitors are under the age of 21, they are not permitted to dance in this category.
 

LATIN FORMATION DANCING CHAMPIONSHIP

1st CASH PRIZE: £350 to the teacher of the winning team, together with PRIZE MONEY amounting to £400 to the members of the winning team. 

For teams of six to eight couples. The dances must be selected from and confined to the accepted Latin dances.
 

BALLROOM FORMATION DANCING CHAMPIONSHIP

1st CASH PRIZE: £350 to the Teacher, together with PRIZE MONEY amounting to £400 to the members of the winning team. 

For teams of six to eight couples. The dances must be selected from and confined to the accepted ballroom dances.
 

PROFESSIONAL LATIN CHAMPIONSHIP

PRIZE MONEY amounting to over £5,925 -- 1st Couple £280; 2nd Couple £245; 3rd Couple £210; 4th Couple £175; 5th Couple £150; 6th Couple £125
 
Judging will be based on "all-around" efficiency in the cha cha, samba, rumba, paso doble, and jive (Jive will be danced from the third round). All entrants will be required to compete in the five dances, and from the last 48 couples each dance will be adjudicated separately.
 

PROFESSIONAL BALLROOM DANCING CHAMPIONSHIP

CASH PRIZES amounting to over £4,740 will be allocated for EACH DANCE as follows: 1st Couple £280; 2nd Couple £245; 3rd Couple £210; 4th Couple £175; 5th Couple £150; 6th Couple £125
 
Judging will be based on "all-around" efficiency in the waltz, foxtrot, tango, and quickstep. All entrants will be required to compete in the four dances, and from the last 48 couples each dance will be adjudicated separately.