Learn Today - Dance Tonight

Their are two main ballroom dancing styles ...Rhythm and the Smooth. In the Rhythm style some of the dances are: Salsa, Rumba, Cha Cha, Mambo, and Swing. Smooth style dances are: Waltz, Tango, and Fox-Trot.

Salsa

Salsa is a Spanish word, which when translated literally means "sauce". Hot, spicy, and full of exotic Latin flavor, the dance Salsa is true to its name. People from around the world flock to nightclubs to take part in the music, the movement, and the experience which is Salsa.

Style: Social / Nightclub Latin
Timing : 4/4
Tempo: 160 - 220 beats per minute
Basic Rhythm: Quick-Quick-Slow
Music Style: Up-tempo Latin music

Salsa is usually danced to music of a medium to fast tempo. A very rhythmical style of music, Salsa is played by large bands with a full Latin percussion section, piano, horns, and often many singers.

Rumba

The Rumba originates from Cuba as a typical dance of a hot climate. It has become the classic of all the Latin American dances. In its present form many of the basic figures of the dance retain the age-old story of woman's attempt to dominate man by the use of her feminine charm. In a well choreographed dance there will always be an element of "tease and run"; the man being lured and then rejected.

Style: Rhythm/Latin
Meter: 4/4
Tempo: 104 beats per minute
Basic Rhythm: Slow, Quick, Quick
Music Style: Slow Latin ballad.

Cha Cha

Cha Cha is a rhythmical Latin dance which originated in the 1940's as a modified form of Mambo. It's fun, energetic, sexy and flirtatious, easily distinguished from other dances by its addictive "Step, Step, Cha Cha Cha" timing.

Style: Rhythm/Latin
Meter: 4/4
Tempo: 128 beats per minute
Basic Rhythm: 1 2 3 4 & 5 6 7 8 &
Music Style: Medium-tempo Rhythm/Latin

East Coast Swing
(Single, Double, & Triple time)

East Coast Swing (ECS)(Triple Time) is a partner dance derived from the Lundy hop. The basic move is "triple step, triple step, and a rock step". East Coast Swing (6 count) is inter mixable with most forms of swing dancing,

Single time: Rock-step (Slow), step-hold (Slow), step-hold (Quick Quick). For fast music & country Swing
Double time: Tap-step, Tap-step, Rock-step. For fast music: 80-240bpm.
Triple time: Triple-step, Triple-step, Rock-step. Music: 120-170bpm. Good for mixing West Coast Swing with.

Style: Social Rhythm, Country Western
Meter: 4/4
Tempo: 136 - 144 beats per minute
Basic Rhythm: 1&2, 1&2, 1 2 (accent on 2)
Music Style: Fast swing music.

West Coast Swing

WCS is a slotted dance: the follower travels back and forth along a shoulder width rectangle, called the slot, with respect to the leader. The leader is more stationary but will move in and out of the slot depending on the pattern led. A general rule is that the leader leaves the slot only to give way for the follower to pass him.

Style: Social Rhythm, Country Western
Meter: 4/4
Tempo: 96 - 120 beats per minute
Basic Rhythm: 1 2 3 4 5&6 or 1 2 3&4 5&6
Music Style: Slow swing music.

Waltz

Waltz is a smooth dance, traveling around the line of dance. It is characterized primarily by its rise & fall action, accompanied by leg and body swing. Turning movements in both directions are prevalent. Graceful and elegant, Waltz dancers glide around the floor almost effortlessly. At 28-30 measures per minute, the tempo is slow at best, but the expressive quality of the music often invites very powerful and dynamic movement from dancers.

Style: Ballroom & Country
Meter: 3/4
Tempo: 84 - 90 beats per minute
Basic Rhythm: 123 123 (strong accent on 1)
Music Style: Slow songs in 3/4 time.

Waltz is by its very definition a form of music in 3/4 meter. The first beat of each measure is dominant with a strong downbeat accent, while beats two and three are lighter.

Tango

Ballroom tango steps are staccato, and generally follow a specific "slow, slow, quick, quick, slow" rhythm. The "slow" steps are best described as 'quick, hold', as the dancer rushes to step and then holds before rushing to the next step. This matches the staccato accents that appear in ballroom tango music

Style: Ballroom
Meter: 4/4
Tempo: 120 - 128 beats per minute
Basic Rhythm: Slow Slow Quick Quick Slow
Music Style: Medium tempo with a staccato feel

Tango is earthy and dramatic. Tango walks, having a "stalking" or "sneaking" character, are unlike the walks of other ballroom dances. Movements are sometimes slow and slithery, and other times sharp and staccato, Tango has the same counter clockwise flow of movement around the dance floor, but with a lesser sense of urgency in comparison to the smoother and more continuous ballroom dances. American Style Tango, especially at highly-developed skill levels, makes great use of open and alternate dance positions to further showcase Tango's dramatic nature.

Fox-Trot

Foxtrot is a smooth progressive dance characterized by long, continuous flowing movements across the dance floor. Foxtrot resembles the signature styles of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. The great fascination of Foxtrot is the amazing variety of interpretations there can be of what is basically such a simple dance. From swingers to trotters, from smoothies to ripples, from the military to the delicate steppers and more.

Style: Ballroom
Meter: 4/4
Tempo: 120 - 136 beats per minute
Basic Rhythm: Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick
Music Style: Medium-tempo jazzy/swing music.

Other Dances

We also teach Polka, Hustle, Mambo, Bolero, Merengue, Samba, 4-Step Swing, and Country Western style such as Two Step.