Choice between American and International?

fire_dancer

fire_dancer

New Member
Hi everyone,

Last question for today... I promise! :) I recently found a possible dance partner (amateur) to practice with, but he does both American and International, while I've only learned American. Also, the dance studio that I've been going to seems to focus on International dancing. I know that while many of the principles of the styles are the same (good posture, frame, etc.) the specifics are different (stepping onto a bent leg in American rumba vs. a straight leg in Int'l). So what I was wondering is.... could someone effectively learn both? Is it hard to 'switch' between the styles (muscle memory can't always transfer over) if you try to dance both? If I had to choose one, which one would be a good choice to go with?

And let me clarify.... I grew up with brothers, so I'm super competitive...... the goal of the dancing is, of course, to compete! :)


Thanks!
 
.... and just to clarify..... I'm not trying to hijack the other International vs. American thread.... that one deals with styling differences, this one deals with the possibility of learning both at once, styling differences and all. :)
 
no problem fire dancer...this is not a highjack at all..we have had many many threads on this that you might want to peruse....the overall concensus seems to be that learning several styles nearly always enhances the other...it seems to me that while the more we learn the more we learn that we dont know much and we get conflicting confusing information, we still know more than we did before....and I think alot of good dancers feel that a good dancer is a good dancer on a certain level...obviously people will have their strong suits and it depends upon what your goals are and how quickly you were imagining reaching them...and your ability to practice and LOTS of other things....but as a smooth and a standard and a rhythym dancer, I find that my knowlege of all three is enhancing my dancing in all three....as long as along the way you get clear advise on what crosses over and what doesnt.....
 
Thanks for the encouragement and advice fascination! As for the others.... I'm not here to debate the merit of one over the other, since I know that both are great styles. Just asking for people's opinions. :) Thanks!
 
I dance all 19 and do not now, nor have I at any point, had trouble in one style simply because I also danced another. My progress has been slower overall than it would have been had I stuck to one style, but I feel as though it was beneficial to me and not detrimental to learn all 4. In the end, you need to decide what works for you and go for it, because what works for one person won't necessarily work for another.
 
I'll second both fascination and RI on this. Sure learning more than one style at a time will slow down your progress, but at the same time your overall understanding for your level will be much more complete and even deeper. Movemnet, afetr all, is movement. As you progress you may find that you prefer working on and competing in one style more than the other, but that's something for down the way.

Also, just to let you know, I too am speaking from personal experience since, when I started competing, it was in both Latin and Rhythm as well. :wink:
 
fire_dancer said:
Thanks for the encouragement and advice fascination! As for the others.... I'm not here to debate the merit of one over the other, since I know that both are great styles. Just asking for people's opinions. :) Thanks!
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Hope you weren't offended by the rest of us folks' banter. Sometimes we've seen things like this so often that we forget there are always new folks coming along with legtimate questions and concerns, yet without the same history we have. Glad to have you part of DF! :D
 
RIdancer82 said:
I dance all 19 and do not now, nor have I at any point, had trouble in one style simply because I also danced another. My progress has been slower overall than it would have been had I stuck to one style, but I feel as though it was beneficial to me and not detrimental to learn all 4. In the end, you need to decide what works for you and go for it, because what works for one person won't necessarily work for another.
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Ayuh, and if ya set ya mind to it, ya can do it!

Go for it fire_dancer!
 
fire_dancer said:
If I had to choose one, which one would be a good choice to go with?
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Hmmm ... have you had the opportunity to see both?

I actually took up International Standard after a year and a half of American Smooth because a quality partner came along that wanted to do International. Besides, then I could do quickstep in competition, too!
 
I just started Int'l after doing several months of American. It's an adjustment, definitely, but I'm not finding it that difficult to switch between the two styles. I guess I'll see how it goes, though.
 
if you are a beginner you should not stress so hard about the decision. do whatever is doable for your circumstances. changing styles happens ALL THE TIME.
 
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