Latin

Cha Cha is either danced to authentic Latin music, or more contemporary Latin Pop or Latin Rock. The music is energetic and with a steady beat.

Rumba is considered to be the spirit of soul of Latin American music and dance. The fascinating rhythms and sensuous movements make the Rumba one of the most popular ballroom dances.

Samba, born in Brazil, has very distinctive and varied rhythms occurring simultaneously within every song. This helps to build richness in the music and excitement in the listening. It is often called the “South American Waltz”, as it features a “rise and fall” type of motion, which is associated with waltz.

Jive originated in the United States and was brought to the rest of the world during the Second World War.  It significantly changed the image of dancing, making it more exciting and carefree. As a result of Jive’s eclectic nature, there are hundreds of moves and variations that can be learned.

Paso doble is a very choreographed routine, mostly danced competitively rather than socially. You would only learn the paso doble after quite some time with simpler dances.This really is a man’s showpiece dance - the man is the focus for most of the dance. He dances proud, back arched, shoulders back and head up. His movements are deliberate and run heel-flat like a march. Unlike most Latin dances there is little or no hip movement.

Standard (International)

The Waltz is a dance born in the suburbs of Vienna and in the Alpine region of Austria. It is a dance in 3/4 time, done primarily in closed position A smooth rise-and-fall action is a primary characteristic of this dance.

Tango originated mainly in Buenos Aires. Tango is not as intensely intimate as Argentine Tango, as the dancers maintain a regular social dance hold. Although it's origins lay somewhat in Latin countries, Tango is not considered a Latin dance as it does not feature Cuban Motion.

The Foxtrot was the most significant development in all of ballroom dancing. The combination of quick and slow steps permits more flexibility and gives much greater dancing pleasure than the one-step or two-step, which it has replaced. There is more variety in the Foxtrot than any other dance, and in some ways is the hardest dance to learn.

Quickstep is an International Style ballroom dance that follows a 2/4 or 4/4 time beat similar to a fast Foxtrot However, while the dance may remind you of a fast Foxtrot, its technique and the patterns are unique to itself. The tempo of quickstep dance significantly increased, especially in ballroom competitions, due to the extensive use of steps with eighth note durations. While in older times quickstep patterns were counted with "quick" and "slow" steps, many advanced patterns today are cued with split beats, e.g., "quick-and-quick-and-quick-quick-slow

Viennese Waltz music is elegant, grand and full of passion. The dance is beautiful and is a pleasure to watch. As opposed to typical waltzes which can be between 60-80 beats per minute, Viennese Waltz music (such as the well-known "On the Beautiful Blue Danube" by Johann Strauss) is typically in the range of 120-180 bpm.

Fun / Social

Salsa –  A fun social dance. See Mambo.

The Merengue is the national dance of the Dominican Republic. The origins come from a story that slaves were chained together and, of necessity, were forced to drag one leg as they cut sugar to the beat of the drum. Merengue is a good way to start familiarizing yourself with Cuban Motion, which is the way your body moves in all Latin dances.

Mambo originated in Cuba in the settlements of Haitians. The fusion of Swing and Cuban music produced this fascinating rhythm and in turn created a sensational new dance called Mambo.

The Polka is a 2/4-beat dance of Czech origin.It is characterized by three quick steps and a hop and is danced to music in time. The couples cover much space as they circle about the dance floor. ...