The Twinkle, with its seemingly endless array of variations is possibly the most ubiquitous pattern in all of American style.

So many patterns have been coined "Twinkle" by various dance schools throughout the history of American style, it is difficult to provide an accurate, all-inclusive definition. Most patterns bearing the name will typically be composed of 3 steps, having a typical Box-type rise & fall, and involve a transition to promenade position.

The most basic Twinkle is best described as being similar to a LF Forward Change, where the man and lady turn to promenade position between steps 2 and 3. It is sometimes known as a "Forward Twinkle" to distinguish it from the Back Twinkle, or a "Simple Twinkle" or "Closed Twinkle" to distinguish it from the foot-passing version typically introduced in the Silver level.

In the basic version described in man's and lady's charts, the man begins and remains facing diagonal wall throughout. He begins with a forward step on his left foot, then leads the lady to turn to promenade by way of a slight upper body turn to the right as he steps side on RF and closes the LF to the RF. The lady follows the lead by stepping back on her RF, then turning 1/4 to right as she steps side on LF and closes RF to LF, to end facing diagonal center in promenade position. The following pattern will begin in promenade position, moving along line of dance.

Two other versions of amounts turn are acceptable in the bronze syllabus:

• Leader turns 1/8 to left, follower 1/8 to right.
• Leader turns 1/4 to left, follower has no turn

Variations on the beginning and ending alignments are permissible, and can be combined with the variations of amounts of turn described above, so long as the following figure travels in the general direction of line of dance (i.e. diagonal center, line of dance, or diagonal wall). The direction of travel will typically be the alignment between man's and lady's alignments when in promenade position. For example, when man is facing diagonal wall and lady facing diagonal center in promenade position, the direction of travel will be along line of dance. Therefore, the Twinkle may be ended with any of the following man's and lady's alignments:

By combining all of the possible variations of amounts of turn with all of the possible variations of ending alignment, the basic Twinkle could be begun on any of the following man's alignments:

• Facing line of dance
• Facing diagonal wall
• Facing wall
• Facing diagonal wall against line of dance
• facing against line of dance