The American Smooth Explained

What is the American Smooth?

The American Smooth is a ballroom dance style that blends elements of several classic dances into one flowing routine. It offers considerable versatility for dancers who want to move beyond the constraints of traditional ballroom formats.

Unlike traditional ballroom dances where partners stay in a closed hold throughout, the American Smooth allows dancers to break away from each other. This creates opportunities for lifts, spins and solo movements that add visual drama to the performance.

The style has a reputation for old Hollywood glamour, calling to mind the era of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Contemporary dancers continue to draw on this aesthetic while also pushing the style in new directions. Costumes and styling tend to reflect the classic influences, with flowing gowns and tailored suits that suit the sweeping movements of the dance.

Which Dances Does it Include?

The American Smooth draws from four main ballroom dances:

• Waltz
• Viennese Waltz
• Foxtrot
• Tango

A routine might lean heavily on one of these or blend all four. For newcomers to dance, this means that a single American Smooth performance can look quite different from another, depending on which elements the choreographer chooses to emphasise. One performance might feel closer to a waltz with tango accents, while another could weave together all four styles so thoroughly that it becomes something new.

The music selection shapes which dance elements come to the fore, as certain tempos and rhythms lend themselves naturally to particular styles. The choreographer then decides how to balance technical precision with theatrical flair, while individual dancers bring their own strengths and preferences to the final interpretation.

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Where Did it Originate?

As the name suggests, the American Smooth developed in the United States. It grew out of the American style of ballroom dancing, which evolved separately from the International style more commonly taught in Europe and the UK.

International ballroom tends to be stricter about technique and hold positions. American ballroom, by contrast, allows more freedom in how partners move together and apart. The Smooth category takes this further, encouraging open work and theatrical elements that would not be permitted under International rules.

The style became popular in American dance competitions during the twentieth century. It remains a staple of competitive dance in the United States, featuring prominently in events sanctioned by organisations such as USA Dance. In international competition, the style appears less frequently than International Standard or Latin categories, though it has gained recognition in various global formats.

Learning the American Smooth in the UK

Many dance schools and private tutors in the UK offer lessons in the American Smooth. If you already have some experience with ballroom basics, you may find the transition straightforward. The underlying techniques of waltz, foxtrot and tango will carry over, though you will need to get comfortable with the open movements and partner separations that define the style.

The style presents particular challenges around musical interpretation and the coordination required for lifts and open work. Dancers must maintain connection with their partner even when physically separated, which demands spatial awareness and precise timing.

For complete beginners, it can help to learn the foundational dances first. A good grounding in waltz or foxtrot will make the Smooth feel more natural when you come to it.

If you are looking for a tutor, UKA Dance and the International Dance Teachers Association both maintain registers of qualified instructors. A local dance studio will usually be able to point you in the right direction as well.