For all American Smooth syllabus events:
- No entrances are allowed. Partners must start in a closed, or open facing hold on opposite feet, except for Bow and Curtsy in Viennese Waltz, which may be used in silver and above.
- Posing or Poses prior to taking hold will be considered an entrance.
- All figures must be from an official syllabus and be from the correct level. If a figure from an official syllabus is in conflict with the invigilation rules, the invigilation rules will take precedence. Please be ready to name the figure and the syllabus it is from if asked.
| American Smooth Invigilation Rules | Holds and positions | Feet | Timing | Restrictions and Allowances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | • Closed hold with or without body contact • Arm to arm • Open Facing Position with single, opposite hand hold (R-L or L-R) • Open Facing Position with double, opposite hand hold • promenade position, open or closed • counter promenade position, open or closed • inverted promenade positon • inverted counter promenade postion Exceptions: • Shadow Walks and Rocks in Tango • R-R or L-L hand-hold (handshake hold) may be used in Waltz and Foxtrot Forward Changes Outside Partner and Waterfall • Bow and Curtsy may be danced at the beginning of Viennese Waltz. If repeated mid routine, a single hand hold must be maintained | • All figures must be danced on opposite feet at all times. Exception in Tango Shadow Rocks. • Feet must close at the end of every figure • Both feet must remain close to the floor at all times (no aerial ronde, developé etc.) Exceptions: Feet may end apart on the following figures: • Swivels • Breaks • Cross-Body lead (followers only) • Chasses • Grapevines • UATs (followers only) • Spin Turns • Pivots • Tango Open Reverse with Open Finish • Tango Open Promenade | Timings must adhere to the prescribed timing of each figure in each dance: • Waltz: Straight time (1,2,3) or Hesitation (1, hold 2, hold 3) • Tango: SS, QQS, SQQ, SQQS, QQQQ, QQSS- No brush taps • Foxtrot: SS, QQS, SQQ, SQQS, QQQQ, SSQQ • Viennese Waltz: Straight time (1,2,3), Hesitation (1, hold 2, hold 3), and Canter Timing (1, hold 2, 3) Exception: • Syncopated Chasses in Promenade are allowed in Waltz (12&3) and Foxtrot (SQ&Q). | • No picture lines (e.g. contra check, chair, oversways, lunges, etc.) • No dips, drops, lifts, slides, or powered turns (standing foot spins, horse & cart, etc) • No more than 2 consecutive pivoting steps in closed position (Pivots) • No fallaway figures, except 5th position breaks • No slip pivots |
| Silver | All Bronze Holds • Single, same hand hold (handshake) • Double, same hands hold • Alternate hold • Shadow Hold – right side only • No hold – 1 measure at a time, maximum Exceptions: • same foot side-by-side position may be used in fencing line • Shadow left may be used in shadow passing changes (no flip flops) • Shadow left may be used in Shadow Grapevines | Everything in Bronze is allowed plus: • Continuity actions and same foot figures allowed • Developés are allowed • Step Points | All Bronze timings allowed • Additional prescribed timings allowed – no deviations from syllabus version • One measure of syncopated timing is allowed. • Foot change timing (leader takes one more or fewer step that the follower) is allowed. | • Picture lines allowed – danced on a single foot for 2 measures max, as well as explosions in Viennese waltz • Fallaway figures are allowed • Slip pivots allowed • No dips, drops, lifts, slide, or powered turns (standing foot spins, horse & cart, etc) |
| Gold | All Bronze and Silver Holds • Hammerlock – Double or Single hand hold • No hold – 4 consecutive measures max (8 for Viennese Waltz) • same foot, side by side positions allowed • shadow left allowed | Same as Bronze and Silver | All Bronze and Silver Timings • 2 Syncopations per measure allowed for 1 measure at a time maximum Exceptions • Run-arounds where multiple syncopated or arhythmic bars may be danced. | • Picture lines maybe be danced on a single foot for 4 measures maximum. • Dips and Drops allowed • No lifts, slide, or powered turns (standing foot spins, horse & cart, etc) |
| Open | • No restrictions on holds or positions | Same as Bronze, Silver, and Gold | • No restrictions on timing | • Entrances allowed • slides, powered turns allowed • no restriction on how long a picture line is danced • Dips and Drops allowed • Lifts are not allowed |