Fox Trot is a basic dance from which you can acquire a foundation. Learning to combine Fox Trot dance steps easily and smoothly teaches variety and maneuverability. The Fox Trot posture is attractive in appearance and helpful to all other dances. Being able to dance to slow, medium, and fast tempos will add confidence to your dancing and will assure fun and relaxation for your partner. The Fox Trot provides a good foundation for all dances and is often called the "get-acquainted" or "first impression" dance.
Waltz develops balance and control. The basic Waltz steps are the foundation patterns used in almost every partner dance. Correct posture, rise and fall, and flowing movements should be stressed to achieve good styling. The elegant sweeping movement of the Waltz gives dancers a chance to practice balance and to move lightly with ease.
The Tango is one of the most beautiful of all the dances. It is characterized by earthy and dramatic movements. In order to achieve the distinctive style of Tango, it is important to develop controlled staccato footwork along with fluid graceful movements. The unique rhythm of the music is great training for timing and phrasing which develops as the dancer becomes more proficient. Tango practice is essential towards becoming a good dancer.
The Viennese Waltz is a rotational dance where the dancers are constantly turning either toward their right (natural) or toward their left (reverse), interspersed with non-rotating change steps to switch between the directions of rotation. A true Viennese waltz consists only of turns and change steps. More modern inventions include fleckerls, American-style figures and side sway or underarm turns.
Quickstep is the English version of the Fast Fox Trot, which has quick hopping steps set in with the smoother gliding figures. Unlike the modern Fox Trot, the man often closes his feet and syncopated steps are regular occurrences (as was the case in early Fox Trot). Three characteristic dance figures of the Quickstep are the chassés, where the feet are brought together, the quarter turns and the lock step.
Learning the Rumba is a prerequisite for good Latin dancing. The Cuban Motion is essential in most Latin dances. The Rumba is utilized by good dancers everywhere and provides exciting variety suited to a limited space. Neat, attractive, precise footwork gives you confidence in your dancing. The Rumba will sharpen your sense of rhythm, timing, and muscular control.
The Cha-Cha adds fun to your dancing through its syncopated steps and many open movements. When you can dance versatile combinations with ease, you and your partner will be able to feel the pulsating Latin rhythms which make this dance so fascinating. The energetic rhythm of the Cha-Cha encourages you to cut loose and let your personality show.
The Swing is a spot dance with a carefree relaxed style and can be easily mastered by most people. The various speeds are excellent training for quick footwork, good leading and following which will add fluidity in other rhythm dances. After mastering the patterns, both men and women will find Swing a fun and exciting dance to learn and practice. Perhaps the most uniquely American of all dances, the Swing brings forth a buoyant carefree movement into your dancing.
Jive is an international competitive Swing dance with elements of the Lindy Hop and Jitterbug. Jive is characterized by up-tempo single-time music and is danced with triple steps which are done primarily on the toes with very lively movement.
Merengue develops Cuban Motion and is the simplest dance to learn. It has an uncomplicated timing which makes it easy to feel the music and adapt to any partner. It is the only Latin dance that combines one-step timing with Cuban Motion and therefore helps all other Latin dances. The march type beat sharpens timing & coordination.
Samba improves the flexibility of the body and helps achieve a pulsating movement. The Samba’s rolling action teaches the body to be supple. The ability to move lightly, quickly and smoothly without effort takes study but only at the start. Although considered a good exercise, Samba should be danced smoothly and in a relaxed manner giving the appearance of effortless movement. Sometimes called the Brazilian Waltz, the Samba pulsates to a unique Latin rhythm.
Mambo is a fusion of Cuban and American dancing. The music is characterized by a stirring Afro-Cuban beat. Mambo is an exciting dance which allows you to develop your own feeling and expression through dancing. Because Mambo is such a fun dance, good Mambo dancers are always popular and in demand as partners. The wild exhilarating music and rhythmical body movements make the earthy Mambo irresistible.
The Salsa is a popular Latin nightclub dance that evolved as a modified form of Mambo. Salsa works on the basis of Mambo - a pattern of six steps danced over eight counts of music--and came about when dancers started mixing up Mambo with Hustle steps. Young people worldwide jam Latin clubs pulsating to today's hot Salsa rhythms. Salsa dancing is characterized by fancy footwork, intricate arm styling, and exciting turns and spins.
If Rumba is the courtship dance then Bolero is the dance of mature love and devotion. With its elegant rise and fall and classy long sweeping movements, this dance is sophisticated and passionate. Close body holds, dips and picture lines even in the basic, make it a challenging dance with a great pay off. Learning bolero teaches control above all else. Dancing to the slowest music of all the dances also invites tempo changes and syncopations. Arm movements for both the man and lady are also crucial to making this dance look fluid.
Pasodoble is based on music played at bullfights during the bullfighters' entrance (paseo) or during the passes (faena) just before the kill. The leader of this dance plays the part of the matador. The follower generally plays the part of the matador's cape, but can also represent the bull or a flamenco dancer in some figures. Its origin dates back to a French military march with the name “Paso Redoble.” This was a fast paced march, which is why this is a fast-paced Latin American dance modeled after the Spanish bull fight. Bull fighting was well-known around this time.
West Coast Swing is characterized by a laid-back and slotted style of movement, and is a smoother version of Swing. West coast dancers combined lindy-hop patterns with some new syncopations and a sleek "in the slot" style. The slower more blues oriented music favored by the dancers gives the dance a more sultry down and dirty look than the lindy or jitter-bug style of Swing.
Jitterbug is also known as single-time swing. It is usually done to faster Swing music and is a highly energetic and expressive dance. It could also be referred to as a toned down Lindy Hop. Like E.C. Swing, the Jitterbug is also a spot dance and highly useful on crowded dance floors.
Popular musical groups of today have revived interest in the musical styles from the original Lindy Hop Era and have fired the imagination and enthusiasm of a whole new generation of Lindy Hop dancers. However, the acrobatic style used for exhibitions is not the same as the quietly rhythmic Lindy enjoyed by most dancers on the ballroom floor.
Hustle is a fast yet smooth, slotted dance noted for its elaborate spins and turns, especially for the lady. In Hustle, the lady spins almost constantly, while her partner catches her and redirects her movement. Hustle is a club style dance that can be adapted to crowded nightclub dance floors. Hustle teaches turns and position changes with an emphasis on fingertip lead & follow and arm control.
Argentine Tango dancing consists of a variety of styles that developed in different regions and eras. Argentine Tango is danced in an embrace that can vary from open, in which leader and follower connect at arm's length, to closed, in which the connection is chest-to-chest, or anywhere in between. Argentine Tango dancing relies heavily on improvisation; although certain patterns of movement have been developed by instructors over the years as a device to instruct dancers, there is no "basic step." One of the few constants across all Argentine Tango dance styles is that the follower will usually be led to alternate feet. Another is that the follower rarely has her weight on both feet at the same time.
This dance was originally introduced in 1844 and is said to have been created by a Bohemian girl. Every now and then it is revived because of its boisterous charm. The basic step consists of a preparatory hop followed by a chasse done first to the left and then to the right. Curiously enough, it reappeared again in the 1940's in the Cha-Cha as one of the more popular steps. The Polka is still danced quite often throughout the country.
This dance is an easy playful dance that can be done to many pop songs. It has similar patterns to those found in Salsa although the style of this dance is much slower and smoother. This is a popular dance among wedding couples as it is usually a good tempo for the slower romantic ballads.
This dance is an easy playful dance that can be done to many pop songs. It has similar patterns to those found in Salsa although the style of this dance is much slower and smoother. This is a popular dance among wedding couples as it is usually a good tempo for the slower romantic ballads.
This is the Country Western counterpart to the Ballroom Waltz. This version is generally faster and progresses rapidly down the floor. Commonly seen as the romantic country dance, the movement is graceful and playful through its use of turns and spins.
Country Swing is also referred to as 4 count Swing or Pony swing and is characterized by its use of continuous rock steps. This is an easy dance to learn and is often fun for those looking to get out on the dance floor immediately.
Texas Two-Step is a modified version of the popular Progressive Two-step done to slower tempos of music. The primary difference between the two styles is an exaggerated brushing action done side to side during the two slow counts of the basic.
Country Shuffle is the Western version of Polka. The primary difference is that the style of Shuffle is less bouncy than the Polka. The basic step consists of a triple to the left followed by a triple to the right.