Originally Posted by An Thropologist:
“That's interesting. The point being I assume that an American Smooth should be ..well..uhmm... smooth? So if you start with a dance that is inherently more jaunty the final result can't be smooth?”
The style of ballroom dance that is used in competitions worldwide is known as International & consists of Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep & Viennese waltz, and are all danced throughout in closed hold.
American Smooth (which also has it's own competitions) consists of just Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot & Viennese Waltz, and the couples have far more freedom to move as they wish (within reason of course) and do not have to stay in hold. Apart from the ascetics, trying to dance a quickstep as a "Smooth" would actually be quite dangerous on a crowded floor.
Unlike Strictly "Smooths" there are no lifts.
America also has it's own style of Latin - which they call Rhythm (i.e. Rhythm cha cha, etc.) and I believe there are about 8 or 9 dances in the rhythm section - standard 5, plus swing, bolero, mambo, etc.
I know of some dancers who learn and compete in both US & International styles - about 25 dances to study altogether!!!!!