Is it possbile to compete only in the Standard dances and not in the Latin?

[GoldStar]

Hi guys,

I dance ballroom for a year now. I'm 18 years old.
I like the Latin dances but not as much as the Std dances (Slow waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, etc).
I just saw that there are so many levels and stuff and now I'm a little bit confused.

If I look on this competition (in my country) - International Dance Sport Festival Ashdod:
http://www.dancero.co.il/festival-ashdod/programme.html

It seems like if you are an adult you must (and I'm 18.. adult) compete in Latin too.

Is it right? I must learn Latin even though I really prefer not too? 
What "Open" means?

[mummsie]

Hi GoldStar,  Certainly you do not have to compete in latin.  My son is dancing in adult and has done so since he was 17 - he is now 25.  He hates latin and hasn't competed in latin for at least 6 years.  He is doing very well just with Standard.  However his big love is New Vogue which is only danced in Australia and New Zealand.
We also have good friends who are among the top dancers in Australia - they only do standard but do it very well.  Don't feel pressured to dance styles you aren't comfortable with.

Open means just that - you compete against all comers - anybody can complete whereas graded events you are dancing against people of the same experience.

Welcome to pdo mummsie