I'm trained in American style. I've been working with a studio that does International style. My question is this, is there a difference in Rhythm dance frame between the two? It seems as though at the new studio, they use a smooth ballroom frame for every dance they do, including all latin dances. Is this correct for International?

"I'm trained in American style. I've been working with a studio that does International style. My question is this, is there a difference in Rhythm dance frame between the two?"

Possibly, depending on who is teaching.

"It seems as though at the new studio, they use a smooth ballroom frame for every dance they do, including all latin dances. Is this correct for International?"

The proper frame for basic closed hold actions in latin would have a lot of similarity to a ballroom frame, but it's not identical to one. There's little offset, the lady's hand would be more around the man's arm, etc.

This may not be an area that gets a lot of attention because a full frame is not seen that much at advanced levels. When couples are close enough together to permit one, they are as likely to be in some alternate hold of personal preference. So a strict frame is mostly a teaching concept.

The difference in frame for Latin. a straight spine in all dances is a must.
Thats where the similarities end. In Latin the feet are turned out. In Modern they must be pointing the same way.In Latin the lower body is isolated from the upper. You should be able to keep the upper body relitively still whilst the hips go through what is called a Latin Motion. This can be, and is mostly like taking the hips through a figure eight or the infinity sign The reason a Tango is not classed as a Latin dance is it has no Latin motion. In Modern we would never get what is called a Latin hip which is if you stood at a bus stop with a small child and placed them on your hip, one leg would bear all the weight and the other would be out to the side a little. Jive is different as is Paso Doble. In the Jive there is a slight lean towards the partner creating what is called an A Frame. The arms complete the frame at waist level. The heads are closer together than in any other dance. If you have ever seen the for runner to Jive the Jitterbug. The body at the waist level was completely forward. Have fun.

"The difference in frame for Latin. a straight spine in all dances is a must.
Thats where the similarities end."

There's a ton of obvious similarities you are overlooking...

"In Latin the feet are turned out."

Yes, that's a keep component of the FRAME?

According to Slavik and Katarina on their disk. What happens if the feet are not turned out in the Rumba or Cha as is being discussed two postings above.

Still trying to figure out what part of the frame Quickstep thinks the feet are in.

Jonathan

Jonathon.I beleive the frame starts at the feet and has a strong influence to the way we will stand. If I stand one foot in front of the other, in this case the left, with my feet straight as in ballroom. And then turn the heels in which turns the toes out. If I put my feet together heel to heel my left foot should be pointing to 11 and my right to 1 on a clock face. Failure to do this will result in a gap between the thighs. All spoken about by Katarina. Espen Salsburg at Ray River's studio spent some time during the lecture on his knees adjusting the feet. Toni was there also, this was some years ago. You should have heard Wally Lairds remark's about a gap between the thighs, as related by Hazel Fletcher. Allan said he had a way with words. The other thing nobody has mentioned is the shoes which puts the mans weight over the balls of the feet. That's a Cuban Heel which is higher than a ballroom shoe. Both Fletcher and Espen started at the feet. Then worked there way up. Somebody told me that if I dont put the correct priming paint on a piece of wood everything that goes on top will be a falure.You know all of this but for anybody reading I went into a bit of detail. Great Site !!!.

Thank you all for posting, though we all got off track. I understand the feet, as well as latin motion and how it is created. My only true question is soley on the frame differences between American Latin and International Latin. In American, I (leader) am used to having my left arm almost at a 90 degree angle with my hand roughly at her cheek bone level. What I have seen in International is what appears to be the exact same frame use in smooth dances such as the Foxtrot. Is that correct or is it just a personal preferance of that studio owner?

"Latin. In American, I (leader) am used to having my left arm almost at a 90 degree angle with my hand roughly at her cheek bone level. What I have seen in International is what appears to be the exact same frame use in smooth dances such as the Foxtrot. Is that correct or is it just a personal preferance of that studio owner?"

It should not be identical to the smooth frame given the lack of offset and changes that will cause, but there are a lot of similarities.

Could you describe the specific difference between what you do for rhythm and what you are being taught for latin?

The primary differences I see are as follows:

In American Rhythm, I was taught to step onto a bent knee to create my full Latin motion
At the new studio, they step onto a straight knee. It makes it wierd to dance rumba together.

In Amer. Rhythm, we keep our left arm at roughly a 90 degree angle and our right arm wrapped snuggly to her shoulder blade.
At the new studio, the left arm is held in the same angle as smooth dances, and her left arm is set on the mans deltoid muscle just like in smooth dances.

Also, I noticed last time that their swing and Jive has the same frame in closed position as the rest of their dances. I was always taught that in Swing, you should be in a semi-promenade position and the mans left hand should be holding her right at roughly her waist level.