A fiend and AM student told me she had been really looking forward to a comp that was coming up in January. She paid for it long in advance. She worked hard with her instructor. She was told 3 weeks before the event her instructor was NOT going to be allowed to attend. She would just have to dance with someone else. Had she have known she would NOT have gone to this event.

If people get out of franchise studios they will find they pay way less for what they get. You will NOT get the rug pulled out from under you and told to suck it up either.

If people are to take the trouble to learn to dance, why not do it properly and get lessons in International Ballroom Dance.
I have yet to see anyone from these studios able to dance.
Slow motion box steps etc., are not dancing.
Spend your money wisely. Don't waste it. Also avoid the politics of these "studios", which can be nasty.

You obviously have never been to enough studios to evaluate teaching standards.

Yes, there are sub par standards in some schools, but, there are also numerous studios who are more than well informed on good teaching techniques and standards.

How do I know ? I coached all over the States for many years, and "behind " me on their visit list, were former champions in BR and American style .

In ANY profession, one may find sub par performance ( Even in Doctors !! )

For your info.. 2 of the best ever dancers in BR and Latin came out of the FA studio in DC ( one became 3rd in the world, the other 8th in Latin ) I could name numerous others .

I was fortunate enough to train both in their early careers .

I am 81 years of age. In my 20s and 30s I had the pleasure of being an Arthur Murray instructor for 10 years in one of the London, UK, schools. I still teach several times a week for charities, clubs and churches. Many of my students are in their 80s and a couple are in their 90s. I say Thank God for the American, Social style dance. Without it many (and I include younger people) would give up and miss the pleasure that dance brings.

Just as in medicine there is alternative medicine, so in dance there are alternatives. Please allow that there are alternatives in dance. Why not watch a few vids. on You Tube and see what real people doing real dancing is really like. It sure as Hell isn't the International Style.

Were you there when Barry Sandland ( a friend ) was Owner/manager ?..Tom Chapman was the franchisee

He eventually moved to the States, and now has a studio in Florida.

PS.. You are correct about the Amer. style social.. It's light years above the English system, and I still teach the rhythm and smooth style ( QS apart ) to my students .

Curious.. with whom did you train in London ?

I know nothing about American Smooth only what I see on you-tube. To compare that style with the International Style is ridiculous. I watched some of the stuff from the Emerald Championship And let it run. I finished with an International Style from Hong Kong competition. I think when you said Light years above. You should have said Light years apart. There is no comparison at all. What I saw from the Emerald was more like Exhibition Dancing without any lifts. Very little if any body contact. Moving in any direction. International Style both moving as one without breaking hold and moving around the floor in an anti- clockwise direction. I am not criticizing any style, just pointing to the differences in style which cannot be compared. But I see with the Smooth that those in a closed hold look very much like the International not only in stance but also in routine some of which came strait out of the Technique Book.

Interesting.. you know nothing about Amer. style and yet, you have critiqued it !!..


What you witnessed, was the Comp style, NOT the " Social " style ( which was my reference and point ) and that was my comparison.

The Silver/Gold levels, were designed to be different from Intern. style, ya know, it's called CHOICE..

Both chain schools do teach Intern style and, both have turned out world class dancers ( one, 3rd at Blackpool ) the other, 8th in the world in Latin .

In case you do not know, the variety in the " Smooth and Rhythm" (as they are called ), give more types of dance as choices, thereby giving appeal to a wider audience, and after all, is that not what "dance " is all about? .

Just for your info, I am a dual Fellow in 2 English Soc.in Ballroom and latin( English trained ) and same, in the American style , and a former Examiner .

I do respect your opinion, but I think you need to research the other style before you come to a full conclusion ( there are ex. on this site in the vid section ).

By the way, I do hope you realise that EVERY dance we teach in the Intern. style , was NOT originated in the UK, and "we " subsequently changed them, some for the better and otherwise, some may say not !!

The first World Ballroom Championship was in December 1922. The first National Championship in American Smooth was 1984 ?. I think it is safe to say that every possible way of performing lets say a Natural Spin Turn had been tried and tested. I doubt if anything is completely new its just accepted as being current.

American Smooth in Blackpool. Its worth watching this special presentation at the Blackpool Championship Especially as there is an explanation regarding the differences between it and the International style. As all the couples, after their solos, are recalled to the floor we are told to imagine this is the Grand Final of a Competition.

The U.S. " Smooth " championship, I believe, dates before that .

The 1st "world's" , was in 1919...Not in all the current standard dances .