Dances and Styles  
 

In Ballroom dance there are two different Styles; American Style and International Style. The American Style is used mainly for social dancing, although it can be used competitively. The steps and patterns in the American Style dances are not as technical or difficult as the dances in the International Style. The International Style is more widely used for competitive dancing. The styling or presentation of each dance in the American or International Styles will be somewhat different as well.

Latin American dances are danced to a Latin American beat. These dances are danced in closed position, but also have a lot of open work, or patterns, done with the partner side by side.  “Latin” is the term for International Style, “Rhythm” is the term for American Style.

You may hear the terms Standard, Modern and Smooth in relation to the Ballroom dances and wonder how they differ. They all represent the dances with the man holding the lady in his arms and moving around the floor. The term “Standard” has replaced “Modern” as the term for the International Style dances. “Smooth” is the term used for the American Style dances.

International Style Standard

Slow Waltz:   Danced in European courts in the mid 1700s, the romantic Slow Waltz is an offspring of the faster Viennese Waltz in ¾ time. The rhythm was gradually slowed down over time as songwriters of ballads and love songs chose to compose in a slower and more comfortable tempo. This dance has continued to rise in popularity at anniversaries, graduations, and weddings.

 
Tango: The Tango originated in the bordellos of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and is done in a slightly different manner than other dances. The hold is very different, with the lady’s arm under the man’s, which creates a tighter hold for a quick staccato action and stylized poses.  (Not to be confused with Argentine Tango.)

Viennese Waltz: The Viennese Waltz is a fast Waltz which originated in Austria. Joseph Lanner and Johann Strauss wrote the first waltzes in the early 19th century. The German, Paul Krebs, choreographed the Viennese Waltz style to which we dance today. The dance enjoyed a great deal of popularity not only in Europe, but also in America, and has been used in many Hollywood productions.

Foxtrot: The Foxtrot is one of the most deceiving dances. It looks very easy, but is one of the most difficult dances to do. The dance originated in 1913 when a vaudeville performer by the name of Harry Fox performed a little trot which appealed to the social dance teachers in New York and thus the Foxtrot was born. It has gone through many changes since that time, and is now comprised of more soft and fluid linear movements.

Quickstep: As the name implies, the Quickstep is a very quick and lively dance, comprised of hops, skips, and kicks. The dance began as a quick version of Foxtrot mixed with the Charleston, and musical “Jazz” influences.

International Latin Style

Cha Cha: During the 1950s, the Cha Cha was made famous by many Latin bands such as Xavier Cugat and Prez Prado. Cuban in origin, the Cha Cha rhythm is found in much of today’s popular music.

Samba: The Samba originated in Brazil, and  unlike the other Latin dances that are stationary, it has a traveling action around the floor with lots of spins and
controlled bounces.

Rumba:The Rumba is Cuban in origin and is often referred to as the “dance of love.” Sultry and romantic, the music is a mixture of African and Latin rhythms.

Paso Doble:The Paso Doble is a theatrical Spanish dance that characterizes the man as the matador and the lady as his cape. Based on Flamenco dancing, the character of the dance is arrogant and passionate.

Jive:The Jive is a very fast, acrobatic, lively dance made popular during World War II by the swing music of Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey and Glen Miller.

 American Style Smooth

Foxtrot: The Foxtrot remains the most popular social dance in the world today. Little did Harry Fox realize that his trotting on a New York stage in 1913 would become an overnight success. The Foxtrot is the foundation for many of the social dances that followed. It is enjoyed by all age groups for its ease of movement and smooth style. Foxtrot music is played by most social dance orchestras and is one of the easiest dances to learn in the American Style.

Waltz: The Waltz appeared as a fashionable dance in Bohemia, Austria, Bavaria and other parts of Europe in the late 1700’s. Danced in ¾ timing, the recurring, even beats of music send the dancers whirling around the floor enjoying the thrill of the Waltz movement.

Tango: The American Style Tango is a progressive dance moving along the line of dance using body movement. A staccato movement of the feet and flexed knees   highlight the dramatic style of the Tango.

Viennese Waltz: This dance originated in Mid-Europe some 400 years ago. The music is fast in tempo and sends the couples whirling around the floor – first one way and then the other.

Peabody: A fast Foxtrot during which the dancers may use many quick steps set against the figure called “open box.” It was popular in the larger ballrooms where dance space was not a problem.

American Style Rhythm

Cha Cha: An exciting, syncopated, Latin dance, which originated in the 1950s as a slowed down Mambo, the Cha Cha gathers its personality, character, rhythm, basis, and charm from two major dance sources. It is a derivation of the Mambo through its Latin music, and it is also a stepchild of the Swing, as it is danced to a 1-2-3 step rhythm. The Cha Cha gets its name and character from its distinct repetitive foot rhythm.

  
Amy Scott and Heath Grant

Rumba: The Rumba was originally a courtship, marriage, and street dance that was African in origin. The Rumba met some opposition from society’s upper crust because of the suggestive body and hip movements. The characteristic feature is to take each step without initially placing the weight on that step. Steps are made with a slightly bent knee which, when straightened causes the hips to sway from side to side, in what has come to be known as “Cuban Motion.”

Samba: The Samba is a lively Brazilian dance which was first introduced in 1917 and was finally Adopted as a ballroom dance by Brazilian society in 1930. It is sometimes referred to as a Samba, Carioca, a Baion or a Batucado. The difference is mainly in the tempo, since the steps in all four dances are very similar. The style is to bounce steadily and smoothly in 2/4 meter. They say that the Samba was introduced in the United States in 1939 by the late Carmen Miranda.

Bolero: Originally a Spanish dance in ¾ time, it was changed in Cuba, initially into 2/4 time, then eventually into 4/4. It is now presented as a very slow type of Rumba rhythm. The music is frequently arranged with Spanish vocals and a subtle percussion effect, usually using Congas or Bongos.

Mambo: The spicy vis Presley and the Beatles.

Collegiate Shag / Balboa: Collegiate Shag and Balboa are light dances which can travel quickly across the dance floor. Shag and Balboa steps can easily be incorporated into your Lindy Hop. These are great dances for fast music, and are often used to provide a rest period during long up-tempo songs. If you’ve ever seen cartoons which show dancers pressing their faces and torsos together while their feet move madly underneath them ….. that’s Collegiate Shag.

St. Louis Shag: Fast and flashy, the St. Louis Shag involves a lot of kicking and is sure to be noticed on the dance floor! This dance originated in St. Louis and is still danced there today. St. Louis Shag is danced to very fast swing music (approximately 45-55 measures per minute) with the leader and follower in a side by side position, dancing the mirror
opposite of one another. Fun and aerobic, everyone enjoys St. Louis Shag.

Charleston: The Charleston is the dance we associate with the flamboyant flapper of that era, however, Charleston had been around long before then. There are accounts of people dancing the Charleston in the South as early as 1900. Charleston became a national dance craze when it was danced on Broadway in 1922, and it remained popular until the Blackbottom, a new dance to the same music, hit the scene in 1926. Charleston can be done solo or with a partner.

Back Charleston: Back Charleston (sometimes referred to as Tandem Charleston) is a dance position in Lindy Hop where the follower stands in front of the leader with her back to him and both leader and follower dance the basic Charleston step starting with the rock step on the left foot. There are many moves and variations that can be danced from this position. Back Charleston is such a popular part of the Lindy Hop vocabulary that workshops are often devoted to it.

Club Dancing

Night Club Two-Step: Night Club Two-Step, not to be confused with country 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 type of music is common just about everywhere; nightclubs, radio, etc. The rhythm of the dance is very simple and rarely changes from the 1 & 2 count. 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.

Salsa: The word Salsa means sauce, denoting a “hot” flavor, and is best distinguished from other Latin music styles by defining it as the New York sound developed by Puerto Rican musicians in New York. The dance structure is largely associated with Mambo type patterns and has a particular feeling that is associated mainly with the Clave and the Montuno.

Hustle 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 and revived partner style among nightclub dancers in the 70s. Hustle is danced to contemporary pop music of the last 20 years. It is a fast, smooth dance, with the lady spinning almost constantly, while her partner draws her close and sends her away.

Melanie and Heath Grant