Bronze American Tango and Smooth

[Flyingkamakiri]

I know the syllabus i really short and it supposed to be really easy to do, but since all me and my partner were going to compete in was Standard, we thought doing some bronze smooth would be fun to try. Anyone have any basic bronze tango and waltz routines they would suggest using?

[Chris Stratton]

If it's your first time out, for tango just do the basic with two slow walks, two quick ones and a drag close, mixed with two walks into an open reverse turn lady outside.

For waltz, you can do naturals and reverses with closed changes, but leave out the spin turn and whisk and chasse unless you are sure the competition permits a syllabus that has them. If you want you can add an underarm turn on the back half of the reverse turn? (sorry, it's been ages)

If you surf over to the MIT ballroom team site and their competition I think there are videos of the bronze smooth finals... look for things that seem reasonably sensible and have an international counterpart you can start from.

Generally, you win a collegiate bronze event with posture, presentation, confidence, and body quietness... often you see far more minimalist choreography in the finals than in the early rounds, because keeping it simple makes the qualities that win easier to achieve.

[Flyingkamakiri]

If it's your first time out, for tango just do the basic with two slow walks, two quick ones and a drag close, mixed with two walks into an open reverse turn lady outside.

For waltz, you can do naturals and reverses with closed changes, but leave out the spin turn and whisk and chasse unless you are sure the competition permits a syllabus that has them. If you want you can add an underarm turn on the back half of the reverse turn? (sorry, it's been ages)


That was probably a lot simpler then what i had expected, but hell if it works, then i'll give it a try. I only competed in bronze smooth once a long time ago when i was beginning to dance. My partner wants to try it so we figured it would be a nice change of pace. I'll try it out in a practice, record it, and put it on the forums to get opinions. lol

[Chris Stratton]

Well, you can always add ideas later... even ones someone gives you in the hallway while waiting to go on; then if you forget you fall back to the simple stuff.

[Flyingkamakiri]

Thanks Chris!

[suburbaknght]

Commence F DW

1-8: Forward curving basic to end F DC.
9-24: Reverse turn w/ outside swivels. End F DW in promenade.
25-32: Promenade right turn to face DW new wall.

[Terpsichorean Clod]

Is your purpose to:
-win?
-have fun?
-support your standard?

[Flyingkamakiri]

Is your purpose to:
-win?
-have fun?
-support your standard?
All of the above i guess. Since we paid for it we thought we might as well compete in this too. Its only a college comp. so we thought we might as well get our moneys worth. Still, i did not do well last year, so i thought i could make up for it by winning this year.

[Josh]

I know the syllabus i really short and it supposed to be really easy to do

Short, sort of. Easy to do, nope! :-)

[Terpsichorean Clod]

All of the above i guess. Since we paid for it we thought we might as well compete in this too. Its only a college comp. so we thought we might as well get our moneys worth. Still, i did not do well last year, so i thought i could make up for it by winning this year.
Hmmm, I was thinking each would tend to mean a different level of choreography.

Support standard - stay in closed position, stick to your Standard choreography as much as possible
Win - kind of like above, but add some open work to turn it into real Smooth
Have fun - go wild with open work, there are also a number of bronze American figures that don't show up until silver or gold International

simpler choreography...................................... ...more complex
<----------------------------------------------------------->
support standard.......................win................ ........have fun

In bronze, I think one can get by with staying in closed position, so supporting standard and winning can coincide. And after you've won, then you can have fun in accepting your ribbon and gloating at those who placed below you. ;)

[Flyingkamakiri]

Hmmm, I was thinking each would tend to mean a different level of choreography.

Support standard - stay in closed position, stick to your Standard choreography as much as possible
Win - kind of like above, but add some open work to turn it into real Smooth
Have fun - go wild with open work, there are also a number of bronze American figures that don't show up until silver or gold International

simpler choreography...................................... ...more complex
<----------------------------------------------------------->
support standard.......................win................ ........have fun

In bronze, I think one can get by with staying in closed position, so supporting standard and winning can coincide. And after you've won, then you can have fun in accepting your ribbon and gloating at those who placed below you. ;)
Works for me. ^_^ I just hope i don't mess up closed position as well lol.

[Terpsichorean Clod]

BTW, what comp are you doing?

[Flyingkamakiri]

SJSU 13th Ballroom Classic. Its a college Comp. But i want to do better then i did when i first started dancing.

[Terpsichorean Clod]

Sounds like fun. All the best! :)