In American, its a bronze step, and in international, its a silver step.

Also, I've seen the chase two ways. In the original, the man simply pivots around on his forward step, and the locks and breaks of the man and women end up being on different feet.

in another method, in a Latin DVD (international style) the man steps forward, pivots around all in one beat, HOLDS, and then locks forward, putting him on the same foot as the women for the chase steps.

is the first way incorrect, or is that the american way, and they are done differently?

Neobahamut72. Just to set the records straight. Do you mean Chase or do you mean Chasse. The Chase is a Tango variation in my world and the Chasse belongs in the Cha Cha.

No, I mean the Cha Cha move called the chase. It starts with the leader turning around on the forward basic. and then forward progressive basic in the same direction for man and lady, then both turn around and go back to the original location, where the girl turns around, and hold is restored.

my question has to do with the footwork for man and lady on this step in the american/international versions and if they are different

The chase in the American doesn't really classify as bronze. It is a social step. The ISTD (International Latin) recognizes it as a silver level step.

They are not danced the same way in Rhythm and Latin. Many steps aren't danced in the same way so one is more or less correct in the genre you learned it and the other is correct in the other.

I think it sounds like you are a fairly new dancer. Maybe it would be good to try and learn either the rhythm version or the latin version and don't cross polinate until you are very good. They have very different technique and expression and the steps have some similarities but you are going to end up confusing yourself.

I would also go ahead and work on a functional working vocabulary of bronze level steps before you take on Silver. It takes a long time to really develop your body, your posture and technique to make those steps look the way they should.

Belle.. it depends upon WHERE they are studying.. The Amer. system does have a chase in its Syl. at Br level..

Trying to compare the Amer. and Intern style , side by side, is nigh impossible.. the theoretical side of the 2 genres has several major differences ( as they do in the Smooth/Standard )not to mention the nomenclature ( Crossover break/ New Yorker, for one ).

Many Amer. studios still teach the Cuban motion completely different than that of the Intern. approach.. The most glaring difference, is that of the foot "position "..

have done numerous lectures on this subject over the yrs..


As to "dancing" the same way.. like chalk and cheese..

Neobahamut72. I'm with you now, I think. These name changes from country to country can be very confusing. Does anybody know if the "Follow My Leader" as in the original ISTD book is now called "The Chase". or is it something different. If it is, its only a series of Spot Turns. My IDTA book doesn't appear to mention it under any name.

The " Chase " is a figure in the Amer.Br. syl ( has been there for over 50yrs ).. its the same figure as the progressive locks in Intern.style..

One needs to remember, that the " latin " that the International teaches,is by and large, a derivation of Amer. style variations,from several dances , particularly in the foundational area.. ( and the Amer. got theirs from the more indigenous style.. they still teach Sq. Rumba )..

Very little of the " latin " we see danced by either style, is comparable to its original form.( Are you aware, that the Intern. style Rumba is based upon Bolero ? )

Music changes, and in so doing, so does " style "..( NOT, I might add, always for the best !)

The Chase is a standard International Cha Cha Cha syllabus figure, charted in the ISTD Technique.

It is danced on the same foot (man closing RF to LF without weight on the second step of his first switch turn, while the lady replaces). They are on the same foot, until he repeats the foot change at the end.

Switch turns are just as commonly (perhaps more commonly) danced on opposite feet throughout (eg the Sally Ann Cha Cha, if you like that sort of thing), particularly by beginners and social dancers. Whether the American Style version uses one or other pattern, however, is outside my knowledge.

Thank you Telemark, I think you are hitting what I am asking about.

In International, I am certain that this Silver Chase move is same foot throughout.

The question is if the Bronze American version is same foot or different foot. I'm hoping someone could give me a definitive answer. I've danced it different foot, as I've seen it done, and was wondering what the "official" answer is, as I feel like the same foot version looks better, even though its perhaps more difficult. Perhaps this is why it's bronze in American?

The definitive answer, ( from a former examiner ) is different feet .. and ,WHERE a figure ends up in a Syl., in some cases, is up for conjecture, and may have something to do with precedes and follows, in most cases ..

And, as I previously stated, the Syl. for Cha Cha was in place long before the " English " adopted the dance ( as is true of all the latin dances) If you're first.. ya gets to pick position !