Well, I have been doing ballroom dancing for 8 months now and I am coming up to my Silver Exam. I need a routine that is up to standard for a ballroom and latin Silver Exam. Just to let you all know, I do International Style. That's it

Before we can give you a routine for any of the 4 ballroom dances (W/T/FT/QS) or the Latin Paso or Samba, we need to know the size of the usable space where you will be taking your exam. When I say "usable space", I mean the size of the dance floor, accounting for anything that might diminish the size. For example, If the floor extends wall to wall, you can't realistically expect to be able to use the outer 2' or so. If there are tables or chairs that use floor space, or if the examiner's table will be placed on the dance floor itself, you need to account for all of this in your assessment of how much space you can realistically use. Please give the answer in terms of WxL (english or metric is fine), not just square footage. If the floor is an odd shape, include that info, too.

The other 3 dances -- Cha Cha, Rumba and Jive -- can be done without floor size info. I'll start with those first, probably at the rate of about one or two per day.

Regards,
Jonathan Atkinson
www.ballroomdancers.com

Begin your Cha Cha in closed facing position, with the man's weight on his LF, lady's weight on her RF.

Begin on count 4&1 with a side chasse to the man's R (lady's L). Then continue with routine as follows:

1. Basic Movement
2. Cross Basic ("guapacha" timing, 2m)
3. Split Cuban Breaks to R&L Side Position (4x / 2m)
4. 1 New York to RSP, Spot Turn to L. End open facing.
5. Chase. End by picking up LH-RH hold on last 4&1.
6. Open Hip Twist. End in fan position.
7. Alemana.
8. Spiral to Aida, Rock & Spot Ending (begin open facing. end walkaround turn)
9. Curl. End in fan position.
10. Rope Spinning. End in closed position, lady offset toward man's R side.
11. Reverse Top, begun with a Natural Opening Out and ended in fan position.
12. Hockey Stick.

After #12, you've covered at least one version of everything in the silver syllabus. You could then either (1) pick up into closed position and repeat from the beginning, or (2) end the Hockey Stick side-by-side and repeat from #3, the Split Cuban Breaks.

Note on #2 and #3: If the Cross Basic with guapacha timing followed immediately by Split Cuban Breaks feels abrupt, you could start with a pair of New Yorks, once to each side, then take the Split Cuban Breaks.

If you want to start the routine in open facing as in the Rumba, you could start at #6, the Open Hip Twist.

Regards,
Jonathan Atkinson
www.ballroomdancers.com

Begin your Rumba in open facing position, with the man's weight on his LF and his RF pointed backward. Lady begins natural opposite, with her weight on her LF and her RF pointed forward.

Begin on count 4(1), with man stepping forward on RF (lady back on LF). Then continue with routine as follows:

1. Open Hip Twist. End in fan position.
2. Rope Spinning. End in closed position, lady offset toward man's R side.
3. Reverse Top, begun with a Natural Opening Out and ended in fan position.
4. Hockey Stick.
5. Curl. End in fan position.
6. Alemana.
7. Opening Outs to R&L -- two to each side.
8. Spiral, following Opening out to R and ended in fan position.
9. Hockey Stick.
10. Curl to Aida, Cuban Rock & Spot Turn ending.

After #10, you've covered at least one version of everything in the silver syllabus. You could then pick up into closed position for a Basic Movement or two, then back to the Fan. From there, either (a) repeat the routine starting from #2, or (b) take another Hockey Stick to end in open facing and repeat from #1.

If you prefer to begin the whole routine with a Closed Basic Movement, you can always use the Fan and Hockey Stick to get to open facing position for the first Open Hip Twist.

Regards,
Jonathan Atkinson
www.ballroomdancers.com

Do I understand this correctly.. you are about to take Silver medal test exams, and only danced for 8 months ?? ( Im a former Examiner, thats why I asked ).

"Do I understand this correctly.. you are about to take Silver medal test exams, and only danced for 8 months ?? ( Im a former Examiner, thats why I asked )."

That is optimistic, but pacing depends so much on effectiveness - only the good experience actually counts. Bad experience which builds bad habits can end up setting someone back compared to far less experienced dancers who have never made that detour.

The chances that someone frequently taking and fully absorbing consistently on target lessons and getting good practice could be ready for this in 8 months are perhaps higher than the chances that someone attending generic untargeted lessons will *ever* be ready for it.

Im not saying its impossible, but highly improbable. I really am convinced any may achieve a " Medal " test level at the higher grades in that time perid.Its not only about the "teaching " time per se , but " floor time " .

I, as others on here, Im sure , have given 100s, maybe 1000s , of medal test exams, and cant recall anyone taking a Silver exam ,in that time period.. more power to them ,IF they achieve that level with competancy.

I have to agree with terence2. As a teacher and examiner, I have never seen anyone take silver exam in such a short time frame.

It typically takes my students a minimum of 18 months before they do the exam, with proper guidance and very hard practice and training.

I suppose it is possible though.