Elegance in Motion - The American Smooth
Let’s talk about a dance that has ALL the drama, the glam, the old-Hollywood charm, and just enough freedom to make you feel like you're starring in your own classic movie scene: The American Smooth.
If you’ve ever watched Strictly Come Dancing and found yourself gasping at a couple floating across the floor with a romantic flair, dipping and spinning like they’ve stepped out of a black-and-white film - chances are, you’ve been swept away by the magic of American Smooth.
American Smooth has its roots in the golden age of Hollywood, where dancers like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were gliding across stages with effortless charm. While traditional ballroom dancing (like the International Style used in much of Europe) kept dancers in a strict closed hold, American dancers wanted a bit more flair and freedom.
So, in the mid-20th century, American Smooth was born, evolving from classic ballroom styles but allowing for open holds, side-by-side choreography, and more dramatic storytelling. It kept the foundation, but opened the door (literally) for creativity, expression, and a whole new kind of ballroom magic.
American Smooth is a ballroom style that includes dances like the waltz, foxtrot, tango, and Viennese waltz, but with one major twist: dancers can break frame. From a performance perspective, it strikes a great balance between technical precision and personal expression. You get to show off clean lines and strong ballroom foundations, but you also get to tell a story. There’s romance, elegance, and a dash of jazziness.
It’s classic, but not stuffy. It makes people go, “Oooh, I want to do that!” It’s basically the rebel cousin of traditional ballroom. You still get all the elegance, but with extra flair and more storytelling. So next time you see a Smooth routine, let yourself get swept away.
Better yet – why not give it a try? You might just discover your inner Hollywood star!
Join our American Smooth workshop:
Date: Saturday 28th June 2025
Time: 2.00pm - 4.00pm
Venue: Inverallan Church Hall, Grantown on Spey
Tickets: £20.00 per person
16 years and up