As long as I am asking simple minded questions, how about this one: (I was trying to look up "silver twinkle" since Terence2 brought it up in his response to my question about some other foxtrot steps. (Not clear on why a silver move was prescribed for a self-described beginner, but no matter.) I wanted to know what a silver twinkle was and it wasn't under American so I checked International and found that American bronze has about as many steps as the entire International syllabus.) Why so many more American steps than International?

The fact you can dance in open position, probably contributes to American Style having more moves. In would be interesting to see if American Style has any more closed moves than International style has moves.

It was all about Sales !-- more movements , steps, etc.

I wouldn't say it was ALL about sales!

There are just so many ways two people in closed position can move together. Once you add open work, there are many more possibilities for the two people to move and each of those ways is a potential new step.

molesaver. I know very little about American Smooth. But I would like to ask. Did the people who compiled the Bronze Sylibus intended a dancer to dance the whole lot in one go. Surely it was to take your pick. Also in a competition with only one minute thirty to dance it would be impossible to do the whole lot anyway.

serenidipity i have been dancing for four years now and i still dance bronze. still do not have but one continuinty step (waltz streamline). though one would not dance all in 1:30 min. competion time you could hit most of them in a 3-4 min. song, although writing this responce sent me back to my syllibi and a strong lead with the knowledge could lead every thing i know in waltz at least in about 54 beats of music granted i am still not done learning bronze but i think that would be possible. that is the actual steps not the variations on them. i personally only learn variations after i have accidentally done them on the dance floor whilst i was attempting to play with the music some, then i go back to my instructor and we sit down and figure out what i did, but that is a personal judgement. why learn more steps if i can learn the fundamentals well enough to make it up on the fly? so much more fun that way.

The " people " who installed the original Br. syl. did it with one specific intent--social style only .

The medal test system was modelled on the English system and was added at a much later date .

Idea being ,the average person had the facility to dance with most anyone, doing a like/same movement NOT of the competitive nature . It also was catering to a clientele that were , by and large, the over 60 crowd .

Niteclub outings by studios were a regular occurence,and the syllabus reflected this type of dancing .

Amer. Br ( nor silv for that matter ) was ever intended for that purpose-- this was partly influenced ( maybe largely ) by the Harvest Moon Ball, one of the oldest Comps in the world held in Chicago .

When I first got to the states, the number of comps being held at that level, were primarily in the chain schools ( many in house ) I was instrumental in activating an intra studio comp. which was met with great trepidation by the owners ( what if my students lose ? ) need less to say, they turned out to be very successful .

The numbers grew nationally over time and pro/am was the reason-- hence the Bronze took on a completely different role than was its original intention.

The Br. was revised dramatically to provide much more variety, and yet stay in context with its premise A little " continuity " styling was added as a prep. for Silver .

tango again, was the " odd " ball . it fell somewhere in between T/A and the then Eng. style.( the gold levels have numerous Intern fig )

The Rhythm category, had a much more circuitous route .
Square Rumba is still part of the Amer. syllabus as is Bolero .