American Rhythm

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American Rhythm:  American Rhythm is composed of five styles - Rumba, Cha Cha, Mambo, East Coast Swing, and Bolero.  
  
AccessDance Article, reprinted from DanceBeat, by Corky Ballas - discusses the judged aspects of Rhythm competition as it related to the Open Professional Rhythm Competition at Emerald Ball.  
  
Syllabus Steps (USISTD)

Rumba 

Pre-Bronze/Student Teacher
1. Box
2. Right Underarm Turn
3. Side Breaks
4. Progressive Rocks
5. Fifth Position Breaks

Bronze/Associate
6. Cross Body Lead
7. Cross Body Lead to Cuban Walks Back
8. Cross Body Lead to Outside Breaks
9. Open Break with Underarm Turn Right to Cross Over Breaks
10. Forward and Back Spot Turns

Silver/Licentiate
1. Back to Back
2. Side Pass
3. Forward Spot Turn
4. Side by Side Progressive Walks
5. Side by Side to Rocks
6. Back Spot with Underarm Turn Right
7. Back Spot with Underarm Turn Left
8. Wrap Around
9. Back Spot to Spiral Turn
10. Free Turns with Breaks

Cha Cha Cha

Pre-Bronze/Student Teacher
1. Cha Cha Basic
2. Forward and Back Basic
3. Cross Over Breaks and Switch Turn
4. Right Underarm Turn
5. Right Left Right underarm Turns
6. Three Cha Chas Forward and Back

Bronze/Associate
7. Cross Body Lead
8. Outside Breaks
9. Cross Over Side Steps, Back and Forward Runs
10. Left Side Pass

Silver/Licentiate
1. Underarm Turn with Spin
2. Back Spot Turn
3. Forward Spot Turn
4. Three Cha Chas
5. Side by Side Triples
6. Stop and Go
7. Sweetheart
8. Fallaway Swivel
9. Promenade Swivels
10. Back Spot with Underarm Turns

Mambo

Pre-Bronze/Student Teacher
1a. Mambo Basic
1b. Progressive Basic
2a. Forward and Backward Breaks
2b. Side Breaks
3. Cross Body Lead
4. Right Underarm Turn
5. Fifth Position Breaks

Bronze/Associate
6. Cross Body Lead Right Side Pass
7. Cross Over Breaks and Switch Turn
8. Chase Turns
9. Right Underarm Turn to Advanced Hip Twist
10. Shadow Breaks to Lady's Spiral

Silver/Licentiate
1. Forward Spot Turn
2. Back Spot with Underarm Turn Right
3. Back Spot with Underarm Turn Left
4. Side by Side
5. Open Hip Twist
6. Spin Whip
7. Advanced Hip Twist
8. Spins
9. Time Steps
10. Chase Turn to Cross Turn

East Coast Swing

Pre-Bronze/Student Teacher
1. Swing Basic
2. Throwaway
3. Underarm Turns Right and Left
4. Sweetheart
5. American Spin

Bronze/Associate
6. Four Kicks
7. Peek-a-Boo
8. Lindy Whip
9a. Lindy Whip with Right Underarm Turn
9b. Lindy Whip with Left Underarm Turn
9c. Lindy Whip with Hand Change Turn
10. Back Pass

Silver/Licentiate
1. Kick Ball Change
2. Underarm Turns with Hand Change
3. Hesitation
4. Back Shuffle
5. Whip and Underarm Turn to Left
6. Whip and Underarm Turn to Right
7. American Spin
8. Rolling Off the Arm
9. Spin Whip
10. Toe Heel Swivels

Bolero

Pre-Bronze/Student Teacher
1. Bolero Basic
2. Cross Body Lead
3. Open Break
4. Right Underarm Turn
5. Fifth Position Breaks
6. Outside Breaks

Bronze/Associate
7. Cross Over Break and Switch Turn
8. Left Side Pass
9. Right Side Pass
10. Back Spot Turn

Silver/Licentiate
1. Passing Changes
2. Shadow Wraps
3. Left Side Pass
4. Outside Break to Overturned Aida
5. Crossover Break to Overturned Aida
6. Traveling Cross to Switch Turn
7. Lunge to Lady's Free Turn to Right
8. Right Side Pass, Back Spot Turn to Rudolph Ronde
9. Back Spot Turn, Underarm Turns to Left and Right
10. Eros Line in Shadow to Double Check

 

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