Origin(s) of Amer. Style?
- Thread starter nucat78
- Start date
BM
New Member
Aside from what I've heard about Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers really developing it, a coach told me a couple years ago that Smooth developed to make Standard more interesting in social settings. Who wants to stay in closed hold for three minutes, anyway? 
Don't know how accurate it is. I'm just relaying what I heard from the coach!
Don't know how accurate it is. I'm just relaying what I heard from the coach!
fascination
Site Moderator
weeeeellll..smooth is my best style...but I would far prefer to stay closed with the right dude
My understanding is that the English brought us the waltz and we in the U.S. slowed it down and added steps. The foxtrot came from the U.S. and the Europeans changed it to suit thier style. The tango came from Argentina to Europe the the U.S., with the Europeans changing it then the U.S. changing it even more.
BM
New Member
Perhaps . . . but doesn't Smooth offer more opportunity to actually look at said dude? 8)
Easy
Active Member
Aside from what I've heard about Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers really developing it, a coach told me a couple years ago that Smooth developed to make Standard more interesting in social settings. Who wants to stay in closed hold for three minutes, anyway?
Don't know how accurate it is. I'm just relaying what I heard from the coach!
Chris would
fascination
Site Moderator
BM
New Member
always been more for feeling than looking
Touche, madam!
I love both styles, can't wait to start practising them again . . .
BM
New Member
Right now at 6.29pm on this Friday evening? Or in general preparation for MIT, open routines (AAAAAAAAAAH), formation at Yankee, and a show number?
If the former, I should be, but I'm doing a little detoxing from today's less-than-fruitful job hunt. I'll be productive again soon, but is anything happening at Avanti tonight?
If the latter, yes, but we put Standard off for four months already. I'd hate to put it aside for another four! Smooth will eventually penetrate our repetoire as well, but that's a little ways off . . .
If the former, I should be, but I'm doing a little detoxing from today's less-than-fruitful job hunt. I'll be productive again soon, but is anything happening at Avanti tonight?
If the latter, yes, but we put Standard off for four months already. I'd hate to put it aside for another four! Smooth will eventually penetrate our repetoire as well, but that's a little ways off . . .
White Chacha
Active Member
Ooops, Auntie Larinda hears all ;-)
Origins of style.
Intern.
Q/ Step and F/trot are based upon American style.Tango, of course, Argent. and Waltz , Germany
Castle walk, one step and foxtrot and charleston, are the foundational roots for q.s and f/t
FT was introduced to the Uk in 1914 but was of a much faster tempo.(46 bars p.m. )
It didnt resemble anything like what we see today. The major changes were brought about by the competitors of the era
The structure of Waltz did not become standardised until around 1927. The dance prior to this ,was still danced the same as it was in the States ( no Nat.turn , and based on a dance called the Boston ).
Tango-- When it arrived in the Uk, it developed into a "tea dance " in 1910.
It, like most dances, took a back seat due to the war (1918 ) and after , when danced in championships, it evolved from the cabaret style, to become part of the " standard " four. Most people credit Scrivener for todays " style " altho. again, there were several other notables , namely Pierre, who is more associated with the development of Latin , who also shaped the dance.
Waltz-- Altho. part of the comp. events prior to 1922, the dance did not develop Nat. and Rev. turns until the World champ. in 1922.
All of the above " Standard " dances had many contributors to its seemingly never ending changes .
Style, tempo and variety were implemented to form what we now know as the current format.
The notable ones was a Bernard Carrington who devised the rotational aspect of the dance and Frank Ford and Mollie Spain, World champs in '27, who created a " diagonal " look .
Others of great importance-- GK Anderson and J. Bradley, P. Haylor and an A. Millar, C. Bryant and G. Howard .
All were instrumental in devising some of the standard variations that comprise the basic foundation we know today.
Its nigh impossible to give credit, to all the many who were instrumental in what we dance and teach today. I,m sure I,ve missed worthy names , so apologies to them.
The American style---
I think its ironic that the " Standard " gets world wide recognition, and yet, all of those were primarily developed in the States ( V.W. apart )
The whole basis of F/trot came about from the stage antics of one H. Fox.
Charleston surely was the forerunner of many of the Q/step variations as was the One Step.
And of course, Tango is well documented about its transitional periods , from the Habenera rhythms and style thru to the socially more accepted dance of today ( in either, and all of the styles ) .
In reality, the American style W, F/t and T remain truer to their original concepts , than do the Intern. style versions .
Much credit should be given to the " Castles " , and of course A. Murray who brought it to the masses .
The Swing dances are more complex as far as origins, due to the many styles of which there are several claimants to the genres .This needs a separate chapter.
The Latin rhythms in both styles also need a separate chapter .
I tried to condense this as briefly as poss. A book could be written on each one !
Intern.
Q/ Step and F/trot are based upon American style.Tango, of course, Argent. and Waltz , Germany
Castle walk, one step and foxtrot and charleston, are the foundational roots for q.s and f/t
FT was introduced to the Uk in 1914 but was of a much faster tempo.(46 bars p.m. )
It didnt resemble anything like what we see today. The major changes were brought about by the competitors of the era
The structure of Waltz did not become standardised until around 1927. The dance prior to this ,was still danced the same as it was in the States ( no Nat.turn , and based on a dance called the Boston ).
Tango-- When it arrived in the Uk, it developed into a "tea dance " in 1910.
It, like most dances, took a back seat due to the war (1918 ) and after , when danced in championships, it evolved from the cabaret style, to become part of the " standard " four. Most people credit Scrivener for todays " style " altho. again, there were several other notables , namely Pierre, who is more associated with the development of Latin , who also shaped the dance.
Waltz-- Altho. part of the comp. events prior to 1922, the dance did not develop Nat. and Rev. turns until the World champ. in 1922.
All of the above " Standard " dances had many contributors to its seemingly never ending changes .
Style, tempo and variety were implemented to form what we now know as the current format.
The notable ones was a Bernard Carrington who devised the rotational aspect of the dance and Frank Ford and Mollie Spain, World champs in '27, who created a " diagonal " look .
Others of great importance-- GK Anderson and J. Bradley, P. Haylor and an A. Millar, C. Bryant and G. Howard .
All were instrumental in devising some of the standard variations that comprise the basic foundation we know today.
Its nigh impossible to give credit, to all the many who were instrumental in what we dance and teach today. I,m sure I,ve missed worthy names , so apologies to them.
The American style---
I think its ironic that the " Standard " gets world wide recognition, and yet, all of those were primarily developed in the States ( V.W. apart )
The whole basis of F/trot came about from the stage antics of one H. Fox.
Charleston surely was the forerunner of many of the Q/step variations as was the One Step.
And of course, Tango is well documented about its transitional periods , from the Habenera rhythms and style thru to the socially more accepted dance of today ( in either, and all of the styles ) .
In reality, the American style W, F/t and T remain truer to their original concepts , than do the Intern. style versions .
Much credit should be given to the " Castles " , and of course A. Murray who brought it to the masses .
The Swing dances are more complex as far as origins, due to the many styles of which there are several claimants to the genres .This needs a separate chapter.
The Latin rhythms in both styles also need a separate chapter .
I tried to condense this as briefly as poss. A book could be written on each one !
I always learn more and more
fascination
Site Moderator
yes, thank you TT for your contributions to the forum
