AMERICAN STYLE BALLROOM DANCES
Waltz
The Waltz first appeared as a fashionable dance in Bohemia, Austria, Bavaria, and various parts of Europe during the late 1700’s. Danced in ¾ time, the recurring even beats send the dancers whirling around the floor with a rising and lowering action with the feet and a swaying action with the upper body. The Waltz is a smooth, flowing, and elegant social dance in which the couples use both the open (connected by only one hand) and closed (connected by both hands) position.
Foxtrot
Foxtrot is the dance of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and it began in 1914, when a young dancer named Harry Fox did a version of the "Turkey Trot." As one of the most popular social dances in the world, the Foxtrot is the foundation for many of the social dances that followed. Dancers of all ages enjoy its smooth as glass movements and style. Foxtrot music is played by most social dance orchestras and is one of the easiest dances to learn in the American style.
Tango
Tango is a dramatic dance characterized by a close hold between partners, a low center of gravity, and a stealthy, almost cat-like attack on the steps. It was born in the brothels of 19th century Buenos Aires where diverse ethnic groups would mingle. Out of this cultural melting pot emerged a highly eroticized dance that was shunned by society’s upper classes at the time, ultimately gaining acceptance after the turn of the century. Tango music is in 2/4 time, with a distinctive, staccato feel. American style Tango is danced in traditional ballroom "frame," with the lady offset to the man’s left. The couple travels around the dance floor and the woman may or may not dance with a rose in her teeth and a fan in her hand.
Viennese Waltz
Viennese Waltz is over 400 years old and grew out of the German peasant dance, the Landler. It gained tremendous popularity in 19th century Europe due the fact that it was danced to the music of magnificent composers such as Johann Strauss and his son, also Johann. Although many of the patterns are identical to Waltz, Viennese Waltz is twice as fast and is characterized by swift, continuous rotations and turning figures. The rise-and-fall sway characteristic of the Waltz are significantly reduced in Viennese Waltz due to the speed of the music.
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AMERICAN STYLE LATIN DANCES
Rumba
Originally a Haitian and African folkloric dance of fertility, Rumba was rejected at first by the upper classes because of the suggestive body and hip movements. Rumba is characterized by each step being taken without initially placing the weight on that step. The steps are taken with the knee slightly bent, which, when staightened, causes the hips to sway from side to side in what has come to be known as "Cuban motion."
Merengue
Merengue is a very popular and lively Latin dance, originating in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The Merengue tells a tale of a wounded military officer at a dance in his honor after his return from the war. The celebration of his return took an interesting turn when the limping officer got up to dance on his wounded leg. Out of respect, the other men decided to incorporate a limp in their dancing and Merengue was born. Merengue is in 2/4 time with 55 to 60 beats to the bar.
Cha Cha
Cha Cha combines the elements of personality, character, rhythm, basis, and appeal from the Mambo and the Swing. This exciting, syncopated Latin dance originated in the 1950’s and is performed in a 1-2-3, step-step rhythm. Cha Cha was named for its distinct repetitive foot rhythm and can be danced to Latin as well as contemporary music. The rhythm of Cha Cha grew out of the danzon, an older Cuban music and was adapted in America to incorporate big-band instruments such as trumpet, trombone, and saxophone. Like all Latin dances, Cha Cha emphasizes hip action and rhythm expressed throughout the body.
Samba
Samba is an exciting, lively dance with roots in African rhythms on Brazilian plantations. Samba is still the heartbeat of the Brazilian celebration, Carnival. The dance is characterized by rapidly moving hips and the quick transfer of weight from one foot to another. Samba music is in 2/4 time and bounces smoothly and steadily. Samba was first introduced to mainstream culture at the World’s Fair in New York in 1939 and gained popularity through the films of Carmen Miranda in the years before World War II. The dance was further popularized in America in the 1960’s with the release of "Jazz Samba" and "The Girl from Ipanema."
Bolero
Bolero has evolved from a Spanish dance in ¾ time, to 2/4 time in Cuba, and eventually into 4/4 time. Today it takes on the look and feel of a slow Rumba rhythm. Bolero music if often accentuated by Spanish vocals and Congo or Bongos percussion.
Mambo
Mambo developed out of the Cuban danzon music tradition and gained popularity in America at the end of World War II. In the years that followed, the fast Swing-Jazz and upbeat Latin music evolved into the present-day lively and uninhibited Mambo. Mambo is a spot dance and the steps are rather compact.
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NIGHT CLUB AND SWING DANCES
West Coast Swing
West Coast Swing is California’s state dance performed in a slot with six and eight count patterns. The woman in West Coast Swing always walks forward on the first count, whereas in East Coast Swing she rocks back. The music is often slower than East Coast Swing music and is performed to medium tempo swing music such as rhythm and blues, contemporary, and disco. It has a very smooth, even feel and has many different styles and interpretations.
East Coast Swing
East Coast Swing is usually performed to the rhythm of the basic triple step and consists of six and eight count patterns beginning with a rock step back by both dancers. The dance is performed to the upbeat and fast music from the Big Band era. East Coast Swing is danced in a circle and is much bouncier than West Coast Swing. It is the foundation of all swing dances.
Lindy Hop
Known as the "grand daddy" of all swing dances, Lindy has a very relaxed and playful style and makes a great partner dance with a lot of room for fun and improvisation. Lindy Hop grew out of the Big Band era and is danced to fast tempo swing. Steps are in eight count patterns in a circular motion with many kicks, lifts, hops, and drops. The name itself comes from Charles Lindbergh’s "hop" across the Atlantic Ocean.
St. Louis Shag
St. Louis Shag is a fast, flashy dance born in St. Louis, Missouri. It involves a lot of kicking and positions the leader and follower side by side dancing the mirror opposite of one another. St. Louis Shag is danced to very fast swing music and is still very popular in St. Louis and abroad for attracting attention on the dance floor.
Salsa
Salsa means "sauce" is Spanish and is truly indicative of the spicy flavor of Salsa dancing. Salsa music, generally in 4/4 time, has its origins in the Latin musicians of New York during the mid-1900’s. Bands led by Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez drew thousands of "mambonicks" to the famous Palladium Dance Hall with their powerful horns and Afro-Cuban percussion sections. Salsa is known for its exciting, tight, compact movements, its pronounced "Cuban motion,", and a similar dance structure to mambo type patterns. It is a great social dance that is easy to learn, and remains one of the most popular club dances around today.
Salsa Rueda
This fast, fun, and fabulous dance is one that people of all ages can enjoy. Rueda is Spanish for wheel and Salsa Rueda is danced in a turning wheel. There is a caller who uses hand signals to tell dancers when to change partners. Originally a family dance in Cuba, it soon made its way to nearby Miami and captivated the nightclub scene drawing thousands of people into dance lessons and onto the dance floor. Salsa Rueda is normally danced to a fast beat, although it can be danced to slower music as well. Featured in the movie "Dance With Me," Salsa Rueda is characterized by moving and around a circle of dancers in patterns that fit Salsa timing (quick, quick, slow)
Hustle
Hustle is said to have its roots in 1970’s New York and has a pattern similar to that of West Coast Swing. Its distinct flavor is perfect for Disco style or contemporary 90’s music and remains one of the most popular dances in nightclubs today. Hustle was immortalized in "Saturday Night Fever" as John Travolta donned his white suit and hustled to the Bee Gees all night long. It is a fast and smooth dance with the follower spinning almost constantly as the leader draws him/her in and sends him/her away. Hustle is credited with reviving partner dancing in nightclubs after rock n’ roll solo dances began to overshadow ballroom, partner-style dancing. It is often described as a six count Lindy and is one of the few dances that does not phrase evenly: each basic occupies three bars of music played in 4/4 time.
Night Club 2-Step
This version of 2-Step is danced to contemporary romantic ballads anywhere and everywhere. The simple rhythm is easy to follow with its 1& 2 count. Night Club 2-Step is best distinguished from other ballroom dances by its lack of a rigid technique, allowing a dancer of any level the opportunity for different styles and interpretations.
Argentine Tango
This sensual and expressive dance is going through a renaissance right now with the popularity of shows like "Tango Argentina" and "Forever Tango." Argentine Tango is beautiful, improvisational dance that has flourished during the last century in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This dance draws on the heart and soul of Tango music and features a lot of leg and foot action with dramatic character.
Polka
The Polka was originally a Czech peasant dance, developed in eastern Bohemia. It was first introduced to the ballrooms in Prague in 1833 and the name itself is Czech for "half-step," in reference to the rapid shift from one foot to the other. Polka has the proud distinction of being the only ballroom dance of the nineteenth-century that has survived through the years. Lawrence Welk and other post-World War II bands, largely comprised of Polish immigrants, kept the Polka alive and well in America during the twentieth century. Originally in 2/4 time, polka is now played in four-count "cut" time. The dance is characterized by the hop done on the upbeat, as well as the continuous rise-and-fall of the body from the alternate steps on the flat and ball of the feet.
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INTERNATIONAL STYLE BALLROOM DANCES
Waltz
International Style Waltz was born during the mid-1700’s in European courts and is the romantic relative of the faster Viennese Waltz in ¾ time. Over time the rhythm has been slowed down as songwriters began to compose in a slower, more romantic tempo. This style of Waltz is often seen at formal affairs such as anniversaries and weddings.
Foxtrot
This style of Foxtrot looks very easy, but can be one of the most difficult dances to do. It was popularized in 1913 by Harry Fox, a vaudevillian performer who developed his own version of the Turkey Trot. It gained instant approval with social dance teachers in New York and has become more soft, fluid, and linear over the years.
Tango
Tango was born in the bordelos of Buenos Aires, Argentina and is characterized by a unique frame. The follower’s arm is tightly held under the leader’s arm, allowing for sharp, staccato action and stylized poses.
Viennese Waltz
The first waltzes were born out of the composer glory days of 19th century Austria. In the middle of the 20th century, the Viennese Waltz was choreographed by a German, Paul Krebs. The Viennese Waltz gained tremendous popularity in Europe and America, and has even been featured in many Hollywood productions.
Quickstep
The name truly says it all! Quickstep is a lively, fast-paced dance packed with hops, skips, and kicks. Quickstep began as a faster version of Foxtrot and Charleston, with some Jazz music influence as well.
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INTERNATIONAL STYLE LATIN DANCES
Paso Doble
Paso Doble is a Spanish dance that portrays the man as a matador and the lady as his cape. It has its origins in Flamenco dancing, with an arrogant and passionate character to its movements.
Jive
Jive is the European version of East Coast Swing with its six and eight count patterns. The main difference is that Jive is quite bouncy with very sharp kicks and flips. Also, Jive performed to faster tempo swing music and is meant for competitive style dancing.
Rumba
Rumba has its origins as the Cuban "dance of love." It is characterized by its suggestive body movements, and sensual and romantic combination of African and Latin rhythms.
Rumba music is in 4/4 time and the tempo is 28-31 bars per minute.
Cha Cha
The Cha Cha was popularized during the 1950’s by Latino bands such as Xavier Cugat and Prez Prado. It is Cuban in origin and Cha Cha rhythm can be found in much of today’s popular music. Its name comes from the fact that each step is flanked by the front and back half of the mambo music is was originally performed to- step, step, cha-cha-cha, step, step. Each "cha" refers to one of the hip undulations in the middle of the step.
Samba
The Samba is Brazil’s native dance is the heartbeat of their national festival, Carnival. It is best distinguished from other Latin dances in that it has a lot of traveling action and moves around the floor with many spins and bounces.
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