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 … Continue reading
Rumba
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 … Continue reading
Tango
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. … Continue reading
Foxtrot
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 … Continue reading
The Hustle and Syncopated Hustle
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 … Continue reading
Salsa/Latin Ballroom Dance
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 … Continue reading
West Coast Swing
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 … Continue reading
Cha Cha
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 … Continue reading
