I am curious how others feel about Blackpool adding pro am in 2017 but not using the orchestra or a similar judging panel to what is used for the regular festival

Probably because the music styles for some Amer. style dances, maybe/is, appreciably different ( tango for one e.x. ).
The latin ,is also in a similar place..

The American Smooth & Rhythm timing is different.
American has a few different dances than Standard.

In Smooth we have the Peabody --- NOT the Quickstep

In Rhythm we have: Salsa, Merengue, Mambo, Bolero, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Hustle ----- NOT the Paso Doble or Jive

I very much doubt that there will ever be a Pro-Am event at Blackpool in the British Championship. AAnd most certainly if there ever were it would be in the International Style only

First.. Amer style W and F/trot ( If silver ) IS the same timing .. as to P/body. it is a non starter.

In all my years coaching in many States, I never came across ONE studio teaching P/body . It was in the AM syl. but... seldom after 1970s did it have any resurgence . Isolated cases may exist, but when QS came into the Bronze Amer. syl that surplanted PB..


The major difference, would be the "Open " work and in VW many figures are not in the Intern style syl.

Rhythm has fewer comparisons, ironically, as they are much closer to the indigenous forms .

Good points related to the American Style events but on the Tuesday they are doing International Ballroom and Latin. The judges that typically are at Blackpool also do judge events involving American Style and ProAm events. Doesnt it take away from the "Blackpool Experience"? I do appreciate bringing up American style specifically as it relates to the music.....

I think it's long overdue that, the American styles need to get the exposure they so deserve.

Intern. "style" used to have legitimate claims to be " International " ; HOWEVER...there are now numerous countries, teaching the American style, and, having taught both for many years, I would lay claim that, the Amer. style Bronze social is light years ahead of the Intern style syl.