The Waltz, with its ¾ 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… [Continue Reading]

Steamy! The most famous Latin American dance to gain popularity in North America and Europe is, without doubt, the rumba. Slow and romantic, the Rumba is the most sensual of the Latin dances. Motion is produced through a transfer of body weight and not from direct movement of the hips. Couples dance very closely together,… [Continue Reading]

The Tango, a sensual, 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… [Continue Reading]

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… [Continue Reading]

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… [Continue Reading]

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… [Continue Reading]

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… [Continue Reading]

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 sensual, 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… [Continue Reading]