Dances we Teach
Dynamic Latin & Elegant Ballroom
| Bolero - American Rhythm - - - - The Bolero, originating in Spain, is danced to a very slow type of Rumba rhythm. With its slip pivot and body rise, it's danced to slow music usually accompanied by vocals, the Bolero has a soft feel with long sweeping actions. |
| Cha-Cha - American Rhythm - International Latin - - - - The mid-tempo Cha-Cha is a spin-off of the Rumba and the Mambo. With its two slow steps followed by three quick ones (rock step, cha-cha-cha), this energetic dance is extraordinarily popular with old and young alike. The tempo is slow and staccato, making it easy for dancers to inject their own personality into the patterns. The Cha-Cha-Cha rhythm can still be heard in the music of contemporary performers like Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias and Gloria Estefan. |
| East Coast Swing - American Rhythm - - - - Back in the good old days of Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry, the East Coast Swing originated as a simplified 6-count triple step dance. The East Coast Swing dance pattern moves smoothly either forward/back or side to side while circling freely around the floor. The basic step is triple step, triple step, rock step. Danced to a wide variety of music, you can "swing" to almost anything! |
| West Coast Swing - American Rhythm - - - - The official state dance of California, the West Coast Swing originated from the Savoy Style Lindy dance. Brought to Hollywood by Dean Collins, a famous movie dancer and choreographer, this dance soon became popular in California nightclubs during the 1930s and 1940s. The West Coast Swing is known for its "dancing in a slot" appearance where the man dances in place while the woman travels back and forth. |
| Hustle / Disco - Rhythm - - - - The 1970s was the time to do the Hustle! Predated by the line dance with the same name, the Hustle exploded onto the scene after John Travolta danced his way to stardom in the famous movie, Saturday Night Fever. The Hustle is a fast moving, energetic dance characterized by its many turns. The lady spins almost constantly while her partner draws her close and sends her away. Although disco has come and gone, the hustle is here to stay! |
| Lindy Hop / Swing / Jive - American Rhythm - International Latin - - - - It all started at the Savoy... or so the story goes. While "Shorty George" Snowden, a dance enthusiast, watched some couples dancing at New York City's famous Savoy Ballroom in the late 1920s, someone asked him what dance they were doing. George glanced down at a newspaper opened up to an article about Charles Lindbergh's flight across the ocean, titled "Lindy Hops The Atlantic," and quickly answered: "The Lindy Hop." A dance was born! The Lindy Hop, always fun to dance, is wild, spontaneous, jumpy, and jazzy! |
| Mambo - American Rhythm - - - - A Cuban bandleader named Perez Prado is credited with starting the Mambo dance craze in the mid-1950s. The Mambo is a Rumba with a break on 2 and 4 in 4/4 time, danced according to the individual dancer's temperament. While conservative dancers can maintain a closed position, daring dancers can perform breakaway steps and completely separate themselves from each other. |
| Merengue - American Rhythm - - - - The Merengue, the national dance of the Dominican Republic, was created in the mid-1950s. With its simple steps and 1-2 march-like rhythm, it was rumored to be initially performed by the guests of a crippled general in the Dominican Republic who wanted to imitate him as he dragged his lame right leg across the floor! The Merengue is known for its liveliness, with a step on every beat, knee action, and wiggles from side to side. Since it doesn't move around the dance floor, it's perfect for small, crowded dance floors. |
| Polka - - - - The Polka, coming from Bohemia in the 1800s, has an unforgettable rhythm - da-da-dum, da-da-dum. The name is Czech for "half-step," much used in the dance. The Polka is danced in pairs either face-to-face or standing side-by-side. Polka music has a 2/4 beat and is notable for its happy sound. The Polka has consistently remained a very popular dance worldwide. |
| Rumba - American Rhythm - International Latin - The most famous Latin American dance to gain popularity in North America and Europe is , without doubt , the rumba . With 1 Slow and two quicks, the Rumba is one of the oldest Latin dances. Motion is produced through a transfer of body weight. This is the base rhythm of the popular Bachata. |
| Salsa - American Rhythm - - - - Salsa, a fusion of Cuban, Puerto Rican and American styles, describes the fast, Latin music coming out of New York City in the late 1960s. Salsa dancing is characterized by a complicated rhythm, small steps, Cuban motion, and a compact hold. Salsa has a recurring 8-beat pattern, with patterns using 3 steps during each 4 beats. The skipped beat is usually marked by a tap or a kick. Salsa dancing is always sassy and fun! |
| Samba - American Rhythm - International Latin - - - - The spirited Samba always gets feet tapping! Originally from Brazil, the festive Samba was popularized in the movies of Carmen Miranda. The Samba is characterized by a steady bounce in 2/4 meter achieved by flexing and straightening the knees while weight is transferred from the ball to the flat of the foot. This happy and bouncy dance is always fun! |
| The Country / TexasTwo Step - American - - - - The country music dance called the "Texas Two-Step" is a modified Foxtrot - some call it a Foxtrot with a swagger! It started as a simple barn dance and is notable for two quick steps and two slow steps. Starting with the popularity of movies like Urban Cowboy, country-western partner dancing came back in style in the late 1980s. Gliding your feet across the floor, the two-step is always fun dance to learn and enjoy with your partner! |
| Foxtrot - International Standard - American Smooth - - - - While most people think that Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers created the Foxtrot, it was really a vaudeville performer named Harry Fox who introduced this fun, theatrical dance to the world. Foxtrot dancers travel around the perimeter of the room in a counterclockwise direction in a basic rhythm of slow-slow-quick-quick. Still a classic dance for wedding receptions, the Foxtrot is a true American favorite. |
| Tango - Argentine - International Standard - American Smooth - - - - The Tango, a dramatic dance made famous by Rudolph Valentino, originated in Buenos Aires and was stylized by the Gauchos in Argentina before making it to the United States. The Tango is known for flexing steps and posed pauses. Widely considered to be the "dancer's dance," it has become even more popular due to its presence in films like The Scent Of A Woman and Evita. |
| Viennese Waltz - International Standard - American Smooth - - - - The Viennese Waltz, made popular in the 1880s by the invigorating music of Johann Strauss, is a very fast version of the waltz at a tempo of about 180 beats a minute. This dance is characterized by its fast pace and continuous circling. A beautiful dance to watch and perform, the Viennese Waltz is a glamorous, uplifting, whirling experience for everyone to enjoy. |
| Waltz - International Standard - American Smooth - - - - The Waltz, with its rhythms and strong accent on the first beat, was born in the suburbs of Vienna. When the dance was first introduced in the early 19th century, people were shocked since it was the first ballroom dance where the man put his hand on a woman's waist! But the Waltz gained in popularity and quickly became one of the most popular of all dances. This easy and flowing dance is still commonly seen at weddings and other social events. |
| Quickstep - International Standard - - - - The Quickstep is considered the Champagne and Fireworks of the smooth dances. It first appeared in the 1920s in America as the Peabody, and is a very fast moving dance. Dancing to fast Big Band music, Quickstep dancers will run, hop and skip across the floor. It is great fun, but it will leave you out of breath! |