I am a full Silver American Style Competitive dancer. Here in Canada, most of the judges are International. Over the last year, we have taken many lessons using International technique for the American DVsion steps. One of the things we are doing is trying to keep most of the Tango rythmic flows more American. There seems to be little relationship between Tango music and the actual rhythmic patern of the International steps. Open steps need not to be sloppy. They add a lot of zest and excitment to the Tango, but they must be executed precicely and artistically. Ideally, every American style competitor can learn an immense amount by taking International style and presentation lessons. Unfortunately, from what I see in my province of Ontario, many of the American style dancers do not seem to show the precise technique and presentation that our International competitive dancers exhibit. When we did our Silver Medals, using American Dvision syllabus, we noticed that the Waltz and Foxtrot seemed to be more closed and more like International. If I will use them in competition, I think that I will add some Open style framework to my routines.

Hope that this is of some use to you