The Term American style refers to a particular style of Ballroom Dances developed in America.
The American Style is made up of two categories of dance
American Smooth
Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot and Viennese Waltz
and American Rhythm
Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Mambo and Bolero
American Smooth loosely corresponds to the Ballroom category of the International Style. However, the dances themselves are significantly different as a result of influence by dancers like Fred Astaire and Arthur Murray in the years following World War II. While elegance and flow remain the goal, as in International Ballroom, dancers do not remain in closed position exclusively, instead breaking away from each other periodically and experimenting with open footwork.
The American Style is made up of two categories of dance
American Smooth
Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot and Viennese Waltz
and American Rhythm
Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Mambo and Bolero
American Smooth loosely corresponds to the Ballroom category of the International Style. However, the dances themselves are significantly different as a result of influence by dancers like Fred Astaire and Arthur Murray in the years following World War II. While elegance and flow remain the goal, as in International Ballroom, dancers do not remain in closed position exclusively, instead breaking away from each other periodically and experimenting with open footwork.
|
Waltz
The romantic Waltz is one of the most popular Ballroom dances of all time. Considered by some as the “mother of present day dances” and the “backbone dance” of the Ballroom, the Waltz is the basis for many dances. It is a smooth dance that travels around the line of dance, characterised by its “rise and fall” action. The Waltz is danced to soothing, dream-like music that has a unique 3/4 time signature with an accent on the first beat of every bar of music. |
|
Foxtrot
A beautiful and romantic dance, the Foxtrot is composed of fairly simple walking steps and side steps. The dance combines slow steps, which use two beats of music, and quick steps, which use one beat of music. The footwork timing is usually “slow, quick, quick” or “slow, slow, quick, quick.” The Foxtrot must be danced very smoothly, with no jerking of the body… think about the smooth dancing of Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers. |
|
Tango
The Tango is known as the dance of passion, mystery, and seduction. Tango dancers are often seen in a closed embrace gliding skillfully across the floor. Although walking movements dominate, Tango walks, having a “stalking” or “sneaking” character, are unlike the walks of other Ballroom dances. Movements are sometimes slow and slithery, and other times sharp and staccato, such as a quick foot flick or a sharp head snap to promenade position. |
|
Viennese Waltz
The Viennese Waltz is a rotary dance where the dancers are constantly turning either toward the leader’s right (natural) or toward the leader’s left (reverse), interspersed with non-rotating change steps to switch between the direction of rotation. American Style Viennese Waltz has much more freedom, both in dance positions and syllabus. American Style Viennese Waltz figures and side sway or underarm turns are modern inventions that very popular in Social Dancing. |