What is the difference between American Smooth and American Rhythm?

I have a feeling that what you want to know is different from what you really asked. Smooth and rhythm are just two classifications for two different styles of dances. Smooth includes waltz, tango, foxtrot, and Viennese waltz. Rhythm includes cha cha, rumba, east coast swing, bolero, and mambo.

plus ---w c.swing and p.d.-- all taught and danced in amer. style ( add hustle, merengue and salsa , too )

P.D.? Paso doble? That's rare here, but a few do it. It's not considered an American style dance.

There are many other dances in the "club" class, the most common being merengue, salsa, hustle, and west coast swing. However there are also many other less common dances included in this class, most done regionally, including about a dozen different kinds of swing. Then there are the country dances, and the list goes on.

let me give you a few more that you probably have never seen.


Gauracha-- Peabody and Balboa.All 3 have interesting histories .

They were all on the American style Gold syllabus when I had to learn them way back when ( i still have the step lists from 1958 )

Oh , and by the way-- they were called " optional " dances .

Where is " here " ?

...."Where is " here " ?"...

Sorry, "here" is USA, Alabama specifically. Alabama is not a hot-bed of ballroom activity. I learned most of my dancing in Florida.

I am familiar with Peabody and Balboa. When I was in Florida I used to see both of them occasionally. Balboa can be seen regularly if you go to some of the swing-specialty dances. I didn't know they were called "optional" dances, but the names applied to these less popular dances as a group has changed many times.

I have no idea what Gauracha is. I have heard the name, but have never seen it. I have the impression that it is a form of rumba, but that is a guess.

Those names pre date some of the more modern dance versions .

Gauracha is a form of fast Rumba ( Son based )

Peabody is named after a man of that name ( a new york cop )

And balboa in its original form is generally never seen outside of calif.
What people call balboa today is a very watered down version.

As to " optional " , that meant they were available as part of a medal test exam in Gold .

There's another invented out west here, Night Club Two Step, which seems, if done correctly, a smooth variation of swing. Has that been seen internationally? An instructor I had for a few months was at one time partnered with one of Buddy Schwimmer's daughters, so it seemed rather obligatory that we would be introduced to it.

A lot of these mentioned dances fit within a social syllabus, but (of course) are not included if you are speaking about the competitive categories.

There are comps that still accept entries, for what now would be considered novelty dances .