American Smooth & Rhythm
As American Smooth is a melting pot of different styles of dance! The American Style Smooth dances – Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango and Viennese Waltz – experience an enormous amount of freedom and expression. American Smooth evolved from social dancing and is now a fully recognized competitive style of dance. The Smooth style allows the dancers to be in open positions allowing for a very “Fred and Ginger” style. Within American Smooth, dancers infrequently begin in a traditional dance position and instead move freely into and out of dance position and even include variants of dance position in their choreography. There is no limiting factor of closed dance position, allowing for additional innovative tricks and creative arm and hand styling, as well as beautiful transitions between positions to include shadow, alternative forms of closed position, and fully open positions.
Waltz
It is also known as Slow Waltz or English Waltz depending on locality. The Waltz is a smooth dance that travels around the line of dance. Characterized by rise and fall and by sway on the side steps. The feet remain in contact with the floor at all times, creating a smooth, gliding look.
Ballroom Tango
Tango is very dramatic, powerful and romantic, reflecting the interplay between man and woman. A progressive smooth dance that is danced counterclockwise around the floor. Tango differs from other smooth dances in that there is less flow, gliding and continuity of movement than in other smooth dances in part resulting from the staccato footwork.
Mambo
Mambo is a high energy, flirtatious Latin dance. It is a compact dance requiring little space on the dance floor.
Samba
Samba is a high energy, rhythmical Latin dance reminiscent of the Brazilian Carnival celebrations. It has its roots in African and Brazilian music and culture where there are many styles of samba, including a style as a solo dance. However, the samba danced in Brazil is very different from the samba which became a ballroom dance. Danced with rolling hips and pelvic tilt making is very flirtatious and fun.
Cha Cha
This is lively, fun, cheeky and playful dance. It is a non-progressive dance that emphasizes Cuban motion, Cha Cha Cha is more staccato than Rumba. It is often danced to the rhythm of one- two, cha cha cha, with the triple steps being more compact. Cuba style Cha Cha is most authentic to the dances that Cha Cha evolved from – the Danzon, Son and Mambo. Ballroom Cha Cha uses the same basic foot work just adding a rock step to it.
Viennese Waltz
It is characterized by sweeping, graceful turns that rotate quickly around the floor. Although it shares many similarities to the slow Waltz, it is danced at a much faster tempo.
Foxtrot
The foxtrot is a graceful ballroom dance, in which couples use a combination of long walking movements and short quick steps to glide across the dance floor. As a travelling dance, the foxtrot incorporates short steps to create a “trot” that matches the music’s tempo. As a social dance, the American Style foxtrot has a jazzy feel to it.
Bolero
Bolero is a slow, graceful and romantic Latin dance characterized by gliding steps, large flowing arm movements, subtle hip motion and a close dance hold. Bolero is a mixture of three different dances: rumba, waltz, and tango. Blending them into one smooth and elegant movement, that sets it apart from all others.
Rumba
Rumba is a very popular and versatile dance for beginners to learn. It is a slow Latin dance that emphasizes the chemistry and intense energy between the partners. It is characterized by swaying hips, a still upper body, and close partner connections. Although it is traditionally danced to slow Latin music, it is now common to dance the Rumba to current, popular ballads. Because of this, the Rumba is a popular style choice for a wedding dance and slow partner dancing.
East Coast Swing/Lindy
The swing is one of the most popular American dances and is a true American dance. East Coast Swing is an energetic upbeat dance characterized by a bounce and a swinging of the hips from one side to the other. It includes a vast array of moves, kicks, flips and playful moves. Swing refers to a number of dances with single, double and triple time rhythms such as the Jitterbug, Lindy Hop, Jive, Shag, the Charleston, etc.
International Standard & Rhythm
The International Style Ballroom Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Quickstep, and Viennese Waltz are danced only in closed position. Within the International Ballroom category, one of the most identifiable characteristics is the dance position. In this category, dance position does not fluctuate between movements throughout the dance. Once dancers take position; the man’s left hand outstretched, the lady’s right hand placed in his hand, the man’s right hand on the lady’s left shoulder blade, and her left hand resting on his shoulder; the position is kept for the entity of the dance until it is time to bow and move on to the next dance.
Waltz
The International waltz style of dance is loosely similar to the American Smooth style of dance, with the main difference being that American style uses more separated and open figures, and International Standard is exclusively made up of closed figures.
Rumba
The International Rumba is the slowest International Latin dance in terms of music, however, it showcases alternating timings to depict fast moments within a slow dance. Known as the dance of love, the Rumba is crowd favorite, often telling a romantic story between two people with more focus on the Follower. Unlike the American Rumba, the International style is danced with a straight leg action.
Paso Doble
A dramatic dance that tells a story through sharp, staccato movements, striking body poses, and flamenco style footwork and attitude. Paso Doble is the only dance where the majority of attention is on the Leader. The body actions are sharp and quick and the chest is held high and proud. There is a kind of razor-sharp focus of both parties in their performance, just as the matador focuses on every emotion of the bull to anticipate its next move.
Slow Fox(Foxtrot)
Compared to the American Style, the International Style of the foxtrot is smoother and less experimental. This style of the foxtrot is difficult to master because the slow movements must be seamless.
Samba
International Samba is the same high energy, rhythmical and flirtatious Latin dance as its American style cousin. International style it is just emphasized slightly different. International style has an emphasis more on the competitive nature with large extended lines, syncopated timing and full body rolls and movements. A great deal of Rhythm is expressed throughout the torso.
Viennese Waltz
Utilizing strictly closed patters, International Viennese Waltz maintains more traditional waltz music. With sweeping, graceful turns that rotate quickly around the floor, it shares many similarities to the Slow Waltz only it is danced at a much faster tempo. Like all standard in International styles, once in dance position partners do not disengage until the dance is complete.
Cha Cha
A lively, fun, cheeky and playful dance. Both American and International Cha Cha share many of the same steps, just with different names. For instance, the “new yorker” step in International is called “Cross over break” in American. It’s the same step. Similarly Americans call it “Bell Pepper”; Indians/Australians call it “Capsicum”. Same fruit, different local name. The big difference is really in the technique of the leg/ knee action.
Ballroom Tango
While similar in style to American, International Standard Tango utilizes sharper position changes with head snaps, and a cat-like and stealthy foot actions. All with all closed patterns.
Quickstep
Elegant, smooth, and glamorous, Quickstep is a dynamic, energetic rhythm with dancers moving lightly and freely on their feet. Quickstep is a dynamic, energetic rhythm with dancers moving lightly and freely on their feet. Developing out of England began in the 1850’s merging with the One Step, the Peabody, the Black Bottom, the Charleston, and Foxtrot dances to create the Quickstep known today. Distinctive to the Quickstep is an up-and-down, rise-and-fall swinging motion performed at a fast pace.
Jive
Jive is lively and fast-paced dance that is typically danced to up-beat swing or contemporary music. In the competitive ballroom dancing communities, the Jive is considered a Latin dance, however, it also belongs to the swing dancing family. Many of its basic patterns are similar to those of the East Coast Swing, but the Jive tends to be danced to a faster and highly syncopated rhythm. The Jive has a high lift of the knees, and relies heavy on kicking and spinning.
Club & Country Western
Bachata
The original Bachata dance style comes from the Dominican Republic where the music also was born. The early slow style in the fifties from where everything started was danced only closed, like the Bolero. It is danced with soft hip movements and a tap with a small “pop” with the hip on the 4th beat. Sensual Bachata was made popular in Spain in the early 2000’s. Sensual Bachata is a mix between dance and theatre with strict follow and lead principles. The dance is an interpretation of the music with mostly circular movements and body waves, except when the music has stronger beats, when the dance uses isolations and dips.
Cumbia
Originating in Columbia many other countries have an adapted version of Colombian Cumbia, bringing their own instruments and sounds to the mix. The settings of the songs are more with in the specific country and reminiscent of their own music. A basic step often seen in Cumbia dancing is the back-break basic. Cumbia is characterized by a “wind-up” motion and it is often danced in a circular pattern.
Country 2-Step
Country two step is sometimes referred to as progressive two step, country-western two step, Texas two-step, which are all the same dance. Danced with a partner, this dance is characterized by turns and improvisations and is typically danced to country music and dancers move counter-clockwise around the floor using a series of “Slow” and “Quick” steps. There are different styling’s for the dance depending upon whether is it performed in a competition or danced socially in a bar or local dance studio.
Merengue
The Merengue is a popular dance of Haiti and the Dominican Republic and is a truly lively Latin dance. There is an old tale about a very brave and famous military officer who was wounded in battle and developed a limp. A celebration dance was given for the great hero returning from the war. Rather than embarrass their hero, who limped on his wounded leg while dancing, all the men present favored their leg as well, & thus the Merengue was born.
Night Club 2-Step
Night Club Two- Step is one of the most practical and versatile social dances ever conceived. It is designed to be used with contemporary soft rock (“Love Song”) music. This simple romantic dance fills a gap where no other ballroom dance fits. It gives the dancer, either beginning or advanced, the opportunity to express and create without a rigid technique being required. It’s attractive, romantic, and a real asset to learn since it will be used often.
West Coast Swing
This dance consists of six and eight count patterns, which are done in a slot. The woman no longer rocks back as in East Coast swing, but instead she always walks forward on count one. This dance has no bounce, instead should have a very smooth feel. West Coast Swing is a dance that allows a maximum of freedom of expression and improvisation between the partners, frequently slower than East Coast swing. However, West Coast Swing can be danced to a wide variety of music genres such as pop, rock, country western, jazz, funk, R&B, and has a wide range of tempos.
Argentine Tango
Argentine Tango is a beautiful, improvisational social dance that has developed over the last century in the City of Buenos Aires. It is a true dance of leading and following. Argentine Tango, with its dramatic character and use of leg and foot actions, uses slower music and progresses counter clockwise in the line of dance.
Salsa
Salsa is an energetic, festive, and fun Latin dance, very similar to mambo. It is characterized by small steps, fast moves, turns, spins, and Cuban hip motion. Salsa has break steps forward and back with a slow beat in between in which there is no weight change. It is a compact dance so is great for a crowded dance floor.
Hustle (Disco)
The Hustle (Disco) is a member of the Swing family, and is like the West Coast Swing in pattern. It has a distinct flavor, utilizing Disco style music & revived partner style among nightclub dancers in the 70’s. Hustle is danced to the contemporary pop dance music of the last 20 years. Originally, a fast, smooth dance, with the lady spinning almost constantly, while her partner draws her close and sends her away. Has evolved (like West coast Swing) to be in more versatile with both tempo and style.