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Menu The Smooth Dances: WALTZ When people think of ballroom dancing this is the dance that most frequently comes to mind. They imagine graceful and elegant dancers gliding around the dance floor almost effortlessly. The Waltz is a smooth progressive dance (it travels around the dance floor) characterized by long, flowing movements, continuous turns and "rise and fall". It's meter is a distinctive 3/4 time. Balance and control are two qualities that you will learn as you perfect your Waltz. Gentlemen, keep in mind, the Waltz is all about showing off the lady and making her feel like Cinderella. The Waltz is the traditional choice for many couples as their "first dance" as man and wife. The Waltz basic count is 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 Come Away with Me, Nora Jones Time in a Bottle, Jim Croce Fascination, Nat King Cole Take It To The Limit, The Eagles FOXTROT Think Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire add Frank Sinatra and you've got a recipe for dancing with attitude! The Foxtrot is like a walk in the park with all your favorite vocalists and the big bands, too! It is the popular standard of social dancing today. In fact, seventy-five percent of all ballroom music is Foxtrot! Foxtrot can be danced to many different tempos and on both large and medium sized dance floors. It is a stylish, good-looking dance that will help improve all your other dancing as well as your posture and balance. Fly Me to the Moon, Frank Sinatra I've Got You Under My Skin, Michael Buble S' Wonderful, Ella Fitzgerald L-O-V-E, Nat King Cole Harvest Moon, Neil Young TANGO Pure drama is what the Tango is all about! Sharp and stacatto movement contrasted with stealthy cat-like motions make the Tango as exciting to watch as it is to dance. Characteristics to strive for are smoothness and stillness with no rise, fall or sway. It is considered a "man's dance" because of its expressive, masculine look (think: a rose clenched between the teeth!). It is also one Latin dance that moves around the dance floor instead of remaining in one spot. The Tango teaches control... if you can lead/follow the Tango, you can lead/follow anything. Initially made popular by Rudolph Valentino in the 20's it has seen a resurgence with Al Pacino's Tango in Scent of a Woman of the 90's. Whatever Lola Wants, Damn Yankees Soundtrack La Cumparsita, Julio Iglesias Tango de Roxanne, Moulin Rouge Soundtrack Por Una Cabeza, Scent of a Woman Soundtrack VIENNESE WALTZ The
Rhythm Dances: Lady Marmalade, Christine Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya & Pink Let's Get Loud, Jennifer Lopez Pretty Woman, Roy Orbison EAST COAST SWING There's a reason why this dance rose to popularity during the 40's -- it was a fun and energetic way to escape from reality. Swing took the U.S. by storm and has never looked back! It is a casual and uniquely American dance that is popular the world over. East Coast Swing's basic count is: 1&2, 3&4, 5, 6 or triple step, triple step, rock step and dance tempo is 140-175 bpm. It is a compact dance and dancers should strive for small steps with lots of energy. The Swing has many variations and you can dance to many different styles of music. Swing dancing could be the most fun you'll ever have! 1,2,3,4, Feist All Shook Up, Elvis Presley Mustang Sally, The Commitments Brown-Eyed Girl, Van Morrison Pink Cadillac, Bruce Springsteen (slow & easy tempo) RUMBA Steamy, slow and romantic the Rumba is the most sensual of the Latin dances.The lady teases the man and then runs away only to be lured back. Again, Cuban motion is an integral component and is produced through a transfer of body weight and not from direct movement of the hips. The Rumba will hone the control, balance and fluidity in your dancing. It is relatively easy to lead and follow and you can dance the Rumba to many different types of music. Given the romantic nature of the dance romantic ballads make the dance even more appealing. Something Stupid, Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman Quando, Quando, Quando, Michael Buble & Nelly Furtado It's Now or Never, Elvis Presley Fields of Gold, Sting Light My Fire, The Doors WEST COAST SWING Dancing in a "slot" (the leader dances in place and the lady travels back and forth) has never been more fun! The West Coast Swing is California's state dance and it epitomizes everything you think you know about the state. It is a combination of flavors from funky and free-wheeling to wild and jazzy. And West Coast music? Try Rhythm & Blues, Disco, Funk and Jazz! Because West Coast allows for a lot of personal interpretation it is a favorite for instructors to teach as well as to dance. This is one dance where you can cut loose and groove! West Coast Swing's basic count is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 and is usually danced to music 110-130 bpm. This dance requires good timing and connection. Dancers should strive for a smooth and sexy look with no bounce. After all, West Coast Swing is all about cool! I heard it Through the Grapevine, Marvin Gaye How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), James Taylor Super Freak, Rick James Vogue, Madonna BOLERO Slower and more dramatic than its cousin the Rumba, the Bolero's signature moves are long sweeping side steps and rise and fall. These movements combine to give the Bolero a look unique among the rhythm dances. Besame Mucho, Diana Krall Begin the Beguine, Xavier Cugat Time and Tide, Basia Beautiful Maria of My Soul, Mambo Kings MAMBO The fascinating rhythm from a fusion of swing and American style jazz created an infectious new dance -- Mambo! The Mambo is attributed to Perez Prado who introduced it in Havana in the mid-40's and the Mambo craze took off like a rocket! Latin American band leaders like Xavier Cugat and Tito Puente satisfied America's appetite for anything Mambo but the craze was short-lived. It is, however, another dance experiencing a re-newed popularity but this time in the form of America's new nightclub favorite: Salsa! Mambo No. 5, Lou Bega Mambo Italiano, Rosemary Clooney Livin' La Vida Loca, Ricky Martin SAMBA The Samba is a Brazilian export made popular by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in movies such as Flying Down to Rio and by sultry singers like Carmen Miranda. It is called the "South American Waltz" as it incorporates movements from both the rhythm and the smooth dances. The allure of the Samba comes from its music which has that distinctive Samba pulse...it gets you dancing! La Isla Bonita, Madonna Dancing Queen, Abba Copacabana, Barry Manilow Macarena, Los Del Rio MERENGUE The Merengue is a fun and simple dance from the Dominican Republic but popular throughout the Caribbean. It is perfect for small, crowded dance floors which is what you'll find when a Merengue starts to play no matter where you are. It's simple marching rhythm is easy to learn and fun, fun, fun! Hot, Hot, Hot, Buster Poindexter Cielito Lindo, Brave Combo Tres Deseos (Three Wishes), Gloria Estefan PASO DOBLE You're not likely to see the Paso Doble in many social situations but it does make for an exciting exhibition dance. The Paso traditionally portrays a Spanish bullfight where the man is the bull fighter and the lady is his cape. This is one of the few dances where the man gets to take center stage. Fiery and dramatic exhibition dancing doesn't get much better than this! The Paso Doble itself takes center stage in Baz Luhrmann's wonderfully campy feel-good movie Strictly Ballroom. Be sure to see Scott and Fran's controversial Paso and their lovely back stage Rumba. Espana Cani, (Traditional Paso music) Don't Cry for Me Argentina, Madonna My Heart Will Go On, Celine Dion Eye of the Tiger, Survivor |
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