Smooth is a ballroom style comprising four dances—Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot and Viennese Waltz—danced in that order. Its freedom and artistry allow dancers to express a distinctive individual style.
Its technique is grounded in the International Standard programme, while the interaction between partners shares qualities with the Latin programme.
Smooth also uses a wide variety of positions, creating freedom in performance. Moving fluidly from one position to another is one of the style’s key technical skills.

These days we hear “International Smooth” more often.
We can see the basis of the elements of this style in the social dances that were founded by Vern & Irene Castle at the beginning of the 20th century.

The Smooth style was officially registered by the dance studios of Arthur Murray and Fred Astaire in 1971, and the Smooth and Rhythm styles were united as a single professional style at the American national championships.

But the history of American Smooth, as a separate category, begins in 1984.
It was from that time that this style became a separate tournament, performed by four dances. Until 2004, the American Open Championships were held, which were equivalent to the Open World Championships. In 2006, the NDCA (National Dance Council of America) held the first world championship within the framework of the International Organization WDC.

In 2016, the Blackpool Festival held the first professional Smooth tournament, and since then the popularity of this style has begun to grow across the European and Asian continents.

“If we wish to see where our future is headed, all we need to do is have a look at our past and that will tell us all the answers.” ― Anthony T. Hincks

  • 1984, New Jersey. Charles & Jean Penatello. U.S. National Profesional Rhythm Champions. U.S. National Profesional Smooth Champions.

  • 1985, Texas. Joe Lozano & Jan Mattingly. United States American Smooth Championship

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    1988, Texas. Rosendo & Terri Fumero

  • 1991, California. David & Carrie Kloss. Ohio Star Ball

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    1993, Arizona. Jim & Jenell Maranto

  • 1995, California. David Hamilton & Teresa Shiry. Heritage Classic

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    1996, New York. Edward Simon & Michelle Officer

  • 1997, California. David Hamilton & Olga Foraponova

  • 1999, California. Michael Mead & Toni Redpath. United States Dancesport Championships Open Professional Smooth 2000

    Michael Mead

    Why did I choose Smooth style in my professional career? Actually I did not. Even though I was trained in Smooth actually in London when I started ballroom dancing. I competed International Ballroom style in America. That’s seems totally twisted around. But that’s how it happened. While I was competing in International style I always wanted to have a look at doing Smooth because ithe opportunity to express yourself. It seems so vast. When I taught together with Toni Redpath she was a ten dance trained dancer I suggested that perhaps we should try doing Smooth and she was on board for doing that. That was how my smooth style competitive career had started.

    Why did we win the championship and what allowed us to do that? I think it’s a combination of my background in International Ballroom style dance and Toni’s background in ten dances previously. That was a really goof synergy and we had a clear vision the presentation we wanted to put on the floor – that was expression who we were. Toni especially had very good vision in source I was concerned and technical expertise combined with a clear sense of identity, good emotional content. We really liked each other, we were very goof at express each other on the floor. And I think the whole package was enough a particular point in time. We were dancing that the judges felt that it deserved that places that we titled at the first year.

    For future smooth competitors I would suggest cross training a different styles in order to fully realize your body’s potential through expression. Always very mind the physical manifestation to the music being played. While taking advantage on the choreographic opportunities presented in Smooth to express yourself where is the unique to you as a couple. Make sure you truth the character and emotions dances. Finally enjoy the process, have a good time and remember that you are a part of (or you will become a part of) in representative smooth style which is bigger than anyone couple. So act accordingly and help develop and move the style as a result of your participation. Have fun and I am looking forward to see you on the floor.

  • 2003, New York. Nicholas Kosovich & Lena Kosovich. PSBall 2003

    Elena Kosovich

    Me and Nick both danced 10 dance most of our Dance lives. Discovering smooth was like icing on a cake - I was able to use all the knowledge I gain in my training in one style :)) with my love to technique and details I felt like “ I can do whatever I want “ but with amazing structure

    I think the recipe for wining for us was just like everyone else - determination , hard work and amazing team next to us that kept us on truck.

    We didn’t allow result to effect us , process was more important , though we were extremely hungry to win we still made sure the focus was on learning and training.

    creativity of the style was so endless , the art of the style helped us balancing desire to win with enjoyment of process.

    For young smooth dancers who only have started theit path I advice to be prepared to an amazing, creative , artistic , difficult and productive life ! You will be so amazed once you realize how much you get out of learning this beautiful fusion of structure , artistry and sport ! Enjoy the process and never stop pushing yourself into new development, process , knowledge and discovery of body movement ! The satisfaction of dancing your whole body and using it to communicate is amazing.

  • 2005, Tennessee. Ben Ermis & Shalene Archer-Ermis.

  • 2007, New York. Tomas Mielnicki & Jennifer Damalas. American Smooth Champions 2007

  • 2008, California. Jonathan Roberts & Valentina Kostenko. US National Pro Smooth 2008

    Jonathan Roberts

    I danced several styles in my career but smooth was my favorite and most successful style. I “choose” smooth because the freedom of the style allowed me to create my own feeling and interpretation.

    I think my success in Smooth was due to several factors, mainly my lessons and education in the international styles of Latin & Ballroom which gave me a good base of technique to apply to Smooth and also that I created my own style and was not a copy of anyone.

    My message to future generations is to use the information from Smooth, Latin & Ballroom teachers you learn from to create your version of smooth. You can become a great dancer by following others but to become a true champion you must create who you are.

  • 2009, New York. Tomas Mielnicki & Jennifer Damalas. American Smooth Championship

  • 2010, California. Slawek Sochacki & Marzena Stachura.

    Slawek Sochaki & Marzena Stachura

    I chose Smooth for few reasons.

    It started because at that time I was teaching Smooth more then other style even tho I was still competing International Ballroom. So I wanted to get more experience in that style for my teaching purposes. The more I knew about Smooth the more I liked it...

    So first reason was just to know and understand better what I was actually teaching.

    Then one of the top Smooth Coaches Toni Redpath told me and Marzena that she think we can do really well dancing Smooth in Professional Division. We said no way, maybe after baby. Then sometime later when we decided to stop competing International Ballroom and got pregnant, Toni reminded us about what we promised, so we had no choice but start competing in American Smooth which tend to be one of the best decisions we have ever made in our life and we’re forever grateful to Toni Redpath for her encouragement.

    Dancing Professionally American Smooth helped us tremendously with our Pro/Am career.

    I believe there was few factors which helped us to win the title.

    First it was a pure joy of dancing, especially when we started. No pressure about placement since we had no expectations, just a joy of dancing. People felt it and connected with us.

    We told ourselves that this time if we gonna compete it will be for fun and we’ll do it as long as we’ll enjoy the process.

    And that was actually I believe second reason we won. We focused more on the prices of learning then anything else. Competition was just a checkpoint on the improvement instead of a “deadline” which we had to make. Therefore it was less stress involved during competition.

    Which lead me to the third factor of success. We were able to develop with our coaches more purposeful practice and then better stress management during performance time.

    And lastly smart choice of coaches. Which helped us to build Team of Experts perfectly suitable for our needs. Once we found the Team we stick with it till the end of our competitive career.

    My message to new generation of smooth dancers:
    Clarity
    Commitment
    Consistency

  • 2015, Florida. Peter Perzhu & Alexandra Perzhu. Ohio Star Ball 2015

    Peter Perzhu

    I choose Smooth style because of creativity, for the freedom of expression emotions thru the motion, for the mix of different styles of dancing, for it’s beautiful, mesmerizing and inspirational format. I can say what exactly helped me to win the title – my parents, my partner, my teachers and hard work.

    I wish new generation of smooth dancers constantly develop your skills, find your style, be open minded and listen to the people who really care about you.

    Alexandra Perzhu

    I believe that smooth has enormous platform of variety to express yourself in so many disciplines of dance art.

    I would say that what makes you become a champion is the mind set of how much you able to focus on every little detail of your performance and the ability to create time within your body and soul while moving through a pattern ,our education in ballroom and Latin before we started smooth was a big plus to help us move beyond those two styles and create new shapes and new transitional work.

    Never stop believing in your potential, find beauty in everything, practice makes you

    become you in the best version of yourself.

  • 2016, California. Nick Cheremukhin & Viktorija

  • 2021, Roman Malkhasyan & Galina Detkina

    Galina:
    Prior to fully dedicating myself to American Smooth, as most of Eastern European ballroom dancers I was trained in 10 dance since early childhood. Due due to life circumstances I had to stop dancing for around eight years. However, when I realized that life without dance is unbearable I reached out to my teachers Taliat and Marina Tarsinov and it is with their advice and help I got back on the floor as American Smooth dancer.

    Roman:
    In September 2011, I walked into the ballroom of US National Championship as a spectator as I just immigrated to United States from Russia with a break of eight years from the competitive dancing. At that moment I was captured by a completely different form of ballroom dancing with so much freedom in movement that was American Smooth and I thought to myself “if I ever will get back on the dance floor that would be the division I choose“.
    We both appreciate and respect all other forms of ballroom dance style but Americans smooth is our love forever, we would not trade it for any other style.

    Unconditional dedication and commitment to our profession supported by the guidance of our teachers, is what helped us achieve victory.

    Be responsible to bring the style to greatest artistic form.
    Respect the essence of partner dancing in what you express.
    Be kind to your competitors.
    Nothing great was achieved alone.