What Dance? by Melvin Zais, Pupukea.
American vs. International style and the battle goes on. There are so many misconceptions and so many people take it so far that it looks as if that these are two much different animals (for the lack of a better word). It really all depends on the dancers. We can feel that it distorts the whole picture and presents an off-balance view of all ballroom dancing. What is International Style? During the same period many dances of American Style were being studied in England and were given an English form with a little more emphasis on hold, feet positions and footwork.
Interestingly enough, G.R. Anderson, an American and an English lady Josephine Bradley shook the dance world by showing a SLOW FOXTROT that had never been seen before. They won the most prestigious trophy at the "The Star Ball" in London in 30's. The faster version of Foxtrot became the Quickstep and developed an English style with Diagonal Lines in all other ballroom dances. Later in the US, teachers developed the Peabody as their version of the fast fox trot, and now has become obsolete. Mr. Walter Laird is credited with the Latin dance development in England. Fortunately he came upon the Rumba rock step and slow step basic as was done in Cuba.
It spread throughout the "Empire" and the world accepted this new "discipline" and so came the name change to "the International Style". Their "discipline" of dance became more strict as they went along for they had no competition for their intentions. And they did very well as long as everyone understood that the "correctness" of their style was the way their discipline required it. It was accepted well into 80s. Then, the entire enchilada changed when they began to omit the qualification of their methods. It was obvious then, by default, if you were not dancing it their way, then you were dancing "incorrectly." So how did you like them potatoes?
American vs. International style and the battle goes on. There are so many misconceptions and so many people take it so far that it looks as if that these are two much different animals (for the lack of a better word). It really all depends on the dancers. We can feel that it distorts the whole picture and presents an off-balance view of all ballroom dancing. What is International Style? During the same period many dances of American Style were being studied in England and were given an English form with a little more emphasis on hold, feet positions and footwork.
"Social dancers believe that dance is really just a simple
movement to music that makes you feel good."
Interestingly enough, G.R. Anderson, an American and an English lady Josephine Bradley shook the dance world by showing a SLOW FOXTROT that had never been seen before. They won the most prestigious trophy at the "The Star Ball" in London in 30's. The faster version of Foxtrot became the Quickstep and developed an English style with Diagonal Lines in all other ballroom dances. Later in the US, teachers developed the Peabody as their version of the fast fox trot, and now has become obsolete. Mr. Walter Laird is credited with the Latin dance development in England. Fortunately he came upon the Rumba rock step and slow step basic as was done in Cuba.
"Old Devil Moon" by Jimmy Borges
It spread throughout the "Empire" and the world accepted this new "discipline" and so came the name change to "the International Style". Their "discipline" of dance became more strict as they went along for they had no competition for their intentions. And they did very well as long as everyone understood that the "correctness" of their style was the way their discipline required it. It was accepted well into 80s. Then, the entire enchilada changed when they began to omit the qualification of their methods. It was obvious then, by default, if you were not dancing it their way, then you were dancing "incorrectly." So how did you like them potatoes?
"Most social dancers believe in the KISS method of dancing, Keep It Simple, Stupid."
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