I think I found something that may help explain the differences...
American Smooth versus International Standard
Although American style smooth and international style standard (formerly `modern') are taught very differently, the styles are very similar. The most obvious difference is that int'l standard includes quickstep, which is not part of American smooth. The other major difference is that int'l style permits figures in closed position only, while American style allows open positions and even solo actions. Beyond that, the main differences between the two styles are in emphasis rather than result.
American Rhythm versus International Latin (or Latin American)
Compared to smooth/standard, rhythm/Latin has relatively little overlap. While each category has cha cha, rumba and a swing dance, int'l has samba and paso doble, while American has bolero -- another, slower rumba dance -- and mambo. The rumba dances are dissimilar, even in their basic counts, with steps on counts 1, 3, 4 for American and 2, 3, 4 for int'l. Most importantly, the hip motion differs: in American style, one steps onto a bent leg; in int'l style, onto a straight leg. [Henry Neeman]
More detail
It is believed that a lot of the Smooth closed figures are just toned-down versions of similar Standard figures. Likewise a lot of the Smooth closed figure timings are simplified from the more varied and complex timings of Standard figures. This was supposedly done to allow social dancers to pick up American Smooth more easily; after all, two people unfamiliar with each other would have a much easier time dancing together if the allowed moves and timings were restricted.
While Waltz, Foxtrot, and Tango have both Smooth and Standard versions, Quick Step remains a Standard-only dance. Because International dancers ofter refer to Foxtrot as the "Slow Foxtrot," it leads one to think that Quick Step is the "Quick Foxtrot." However, Quick Step is really a dance of itself, with aspects of both Foxtrot and Waltz along with other dances. Sometimes one hears of an American Quick Step, but officially there is no such animal right now.
If you are learning social dancing, you are mostly likely doing American Smooth. In American Foxtrot (and Waltz), Bronze figures are mostly closing ones (feet collect) while Silver figures are continuity passing ones (feet pass). A lot of these terms can be found in the glossary at
www.ballroomdancers.com. In general, the closing figures use SSQQ timing whereas the passing figures use SQQ timing. Note however that lot of figures don't follow this basic rule, such as the Bronze box steps and Silver open box steps both having SQQ timing and the Bronze rock steps or grapevine steps having QQQQ timing, but most American dancers tend to think of the SSQQ and SQQ as a differentiator between Bronze and Silver. International Foxtrot is not divided this way between Bronze and Silver, since timing is more attached to the figures, and a sequence such as SQQ QQS SSS is common; so goes Quick Step
"Smooth" is the American version of standard. We include every dance except the Quickstep. In competition, the main difference between Smooth and Standard is that in Smooth open work, you may make use of the various open positions found in latin dancing, or even break apart altogether and do side-by-side or interactive stuff. It's similar to Int'l showdancing, but without the lifts.
Way back many moons ago, they were very different. They developed in different environments, and for different reasons. But each year they grow a little closer until now, as you say, the distinctions are mostly technical. It has caused many of us recently to start questioning the American style, asking, "Why are doing this? What is it about American style that makes it unique and worthwhile?"
For the smooth dancers, this introspection has proven very beneficial (in my opinion), because for the last 3 to 4 years, we have been trying to move it in a different direction which makes it more unique. Thanks to the contributions of the likes of David Hamilton, Olga Foropanova, Toni Redpath, and Nicholas Kosovich (to name a few), American Smooth is much more than just International Standard with occasional open moves. It now has a totally unique look and feel which is anything but Standard, even if its roots and basic technique are Standard.
taken from http://www.eijkhout.net/rad/dance_sp...-ballroom.html
Hope this helps....
Cheers!
EyesOFire50
