Rhythm and Latin Dances
We primarily teach American style dances as those are more commonly used on the social dance floor. However, we also teach International styles, which are more often used only on the competition dance floor.
BOLERO
“The Romance Dance”
Bolero is a graceful, romantic dance. It is the slowest of the
latin dances, and is a sophisticated dance with an emphasis on
smoothness and communication between partners. The slow
music enhances a feeling of romance.
CHA CHA
“The Latin Fun Dance”
The pulsating latin rhythms of Cha Cha will encourage you to cut
loose and let your personality show. The rhythm demands sitters
to become dancers. Cha Cha is the most popular latin dance in
the U.S. It became the rage in the 1950’s as a variation of the Mambo.
EAST COAST SWING
“The American Fun Dance”
East Coast Swing has a carefree relaxed style that is exciting and
contagious to most everyone. In the 1930’s Lindy climbed the
social ladder with the birth of “Swing” music. This uniquely
American dance swept the nation with Lindy, Jitterbug and Swing.
HUSTLE
“The Disco Dance”
In the 1970’s, Disco and the Hustle, popularized by John Travolta in
the movie “Saturday Night Fever” swept the country like wild-fire.
The combination of swing and disco in this dance, along with popular
modern music and retro disco beats, keeps this dance fresh and exciting.
JIVE
"The Energetic Dance"
Jive originated in the United States between the 1930's and 1940's. African Americans
designed this uninhibited and lively dance with variations of Swing, Jitterbug, Lindy Hop
and by Rock 'n' Roll. This dance is very upbeat and happy with a lot of lifting of the
knees, kicks and flicks but requires serious control of the body.
MAMBO
“The Wild Dance”
Mambo is a wild and exciting dance, fun to watch and fun to learn,
as it brings out the “wild” in you. Americans became fascinated
with Latin American music in the 1940’s. With its rhythmical body
movements, Mambo creates an exciting challenge for all dancers.
MERENGUE
“The Party Dance”
Merengue is a fun and easy dance for everyone to learn. Some say
it was created by African slaves in the Dominican Republic. Some
say an old crippled war hero, General Maringie, created this dance
by dancing with a dragging and injured leg. The music is intoxicating.
PASO DOBLE
"The Spanish Dance"
Surprisingly the Paso Doble dates back to the French military march. Traditionally it
is danced to the dynamic music played at a Spanish bullfight. It is generally stylized
by recreating a bullfight with one dancer playing the role of the Matador and
another dancer playing the role of the Matador's Cape, Shadow or the Bull.
RUMBA
“The Dating Dance”
Rumba will help to sharpen your sense of rhythm, timing,
and muscular control. This neat, attractive dance and it’s precise
footwork were inspired by African rhythms and Spanish melodies.
Rumba was the basis for Cha Cha and Mambo in the United States.
SALSA
“Hot and Steamy”
The Salsa is a combination of Mambo and Merengue. It is very
popular today all over the world. The Salsa is a dance that
allows you to be hot and steamy with your moves. It will get
you to let go of your inhibitions and let your hair down.
SAMBA
“The South American Waltz”
Samba pulsates to a unique latin rhythm, but should be danced
smoothly giving the appearance of effortless movement. Originating
in Brazil in the 1930’s, the Samba was made popular in the U.S. by
movie star and singer Carmen Miranda in the early 1940’s.
SLOW NIGHT CLUB
“The Romantic Social Dance”
Slow Night Club was invented in the early 1990’s for a new tempo in music
introduced by the theme song Titanic and others like it. As an alternative
to "slow dancing," this smooth and graceful dance was designed for night clubs
and is now popular among Country and Ballroom competitions.
WEST COAST SWING
“The Great Grand Daughter of all Swing”
West Coast Swing has become the rage of Ballroom and
Country dancing throughout the United States. This dance gains in popularity
due to its uniquely customizable nature. You can dance West Coast Swing
to so many styles of music and can be danced ever so slowly all the way to
unbelievably fast. You choose your speed and your style whether it be
slinky and sexy, cute and fun or dynamic and sharp.