In some referent of internnational step combinations, there are some "combo" such as Natural Spin Turn (a long side combo or a short side combo) or back Whisk (a long side combo). We also know the name of a step in American V.Waltz, that is "combo".
It may be popularized in American style. We only are familiar with International Style. Could anyone tell us about it?

Thank for any responses
HaOanh TranThanh

I'm not exactly sure what you're asking, but I'll define the word "combo" for you, and hopefully that will clear it up.

The word "combo" is a casual abbreviation of the word "combination", which a joining together of two or more steps or step patterns. Sometimes we also use the word "amalgamation" or "grouping". A combo can be short, such as a Whisk & Chasse, or it can be long, such as some of our extended variations which encompass an entire short side.

Technically, a combo could be even longer than that... there's no actual limit on the length in the definition of the word. However, when a combo is really long, we might be more inclined to refer to it as a "routine".

Sincerely,
Jonathan Atkinson

It sounds like you've been looking at my web pages, HaOanhTranThanh. Jonathan's answer is correct. "Combo" is normally used as an abbreviation for "combination" which can also be called an "amalgamation" or "grouping". It's a series of steps danced consecutively, one after another, and can be as long or as short as you want, but if it gets really long, it is usually called a "routine". In the case of the combinations on my web page, some groupings were called "a long side combo" or "a short side combo". This is because in the class where I learned those combinations we were told that they could be used on the long or short sides of the dance floor. Putting a few of them together like long, short, long, short, gives you enough material to cover the entire dance floor and could be used as a routine. Some of the combinations I've been taught were longer than what's listed on my web page. Personally, I tend to think of combinations as short to medium length groupings that you can dance on any side of the floor. When a grouping seemed too long to me, I decided to split it into a few smaller groupings. That made it easier for me to remember the parts and the combinations become more flexible in that I don't feel like once I start that 10 figure combination I learned in class I have to do all 10 figures. Since I split it up, I can do maybe the first 3 figures, then do something else for floorcraft say, and finish with the last 3 figures. As I said before, Jonathan's answer was quite good, but I hope this also helps.

--
James Marshall
marshall@astro.umd.edu
http://www.astro.umd.edu/~marshall