Hey,
I have been dancing for fun ever since I could walk. I am now becoming more serious and studying. I am confused between the difference of International vs. American style. Such as the waltz They look pretty similar to me and I am not understanding the differences...Can anyone help me out here??

There are similarities and large differences really in terms of technical expertise and hold.

There are many on this site who could school you more thoroughly than I, but since you are a beginner I can't imagine you're looking for more than a basic answer, so here goes.

In American Style everything can be danced in and out of hold. The footwork isn't as strict and so you get more variations and patterns. In dances like the Tango they are more different than alike.

You really basically only see American Style in America.

In addition not even all the dances are the same. You only see Paso Doble in Latin (International) or Quickstep in Standard (International), but you don't really see it danced as part of the American syllabus.

This site explores the dances. You should look at the links. It's very helpful, and by the way you probably don't need to worry about International if you are American. Very few people teach the International Style of Dance in this country.

Sorry Belle, but you are wrong in several instances...

P.D. IS in the Amer. syl. ( at Gold level, has been for 60 yrs )... as to footwork and technique in general, it is as demanding as the Intern. style if taught correctly ( I,m a former examiner in all styles with an amer. soc. ) because many teachers ignore the basic principles, that does not mean that is does not exist.

As to variety, yes, the Intern style at Medal test levels are more confined to core movements.. beyond that, the Amer. style is not even close ( at last count, in QS alone , there were over 90 variations.... NOT including Br, Silv and Gold syl.)

"P.D. IS in the Amer. syl."

Essentially, paso doble along with other dances such as Peabody can be considered to be available as part of an expanded american style family where it's useful to have them. Practically speaking, that means socially in the studios and as an optional offering at pro/am competitions.

It is not ordinarily competed as part of the official american style program in the professional or amateur division.

Why does the American Style exists at all? Were American competitive dancers doing badly, competing internationally on equal terms with the whole of the rest of the world?