The cha cha is a lively, flirtatious ballroom dance full of passion and energy. The classic "Cuban motion" gives the cha cha its style. Partners work together to synchronize each movement in perfect alignment.
Jive is a ballroom dance style that originated in the United States with African-Americans. It is a lively form of swing dance and a variation of the jitterbug. The Lindy Hop is the ballroom dance considered to be the father of all swing dances. It is known for its athletic style and often contains aerial jumps, twists, and flips. It was named for Charles Lindbergh's (Lucky Lindy) transatlantic flight and popular in the 1930s. These styles are for the advanced dancer.
East Coast Swing is a rhythm dance that has both 6 and 8 beat patterns. The name East Coast Swing was coined initially to distinguish the dance from the street form and the new variant used in the competitive ballroom arena (as well as separating the dance from West Coast Swing, which was developed in California). While based on Lindy Hop, it does have clear distinctions. East Coast Swing is a standardized form of dance developed first for instructional purposes in the Arthur Murray studios, and then later codified to allow for a medium of comparison for competitive ballroom dancers.
The mambo is one of the most emotional Latin American ballroom dances. Swaying hip movements, facial expressions, arm movements, and holds all contribute to the sensuality on display in the dance. It's different than what modern Americans call the mambo and was hot in the 1940s and '50s in Cuba and New York, after being invented by Perez Prado.
The pasodoble is one of the liveliest ballroom dances, originating in southern France. It is modeled after the sound, drama, and movement of the Spanish bullfight and is danced to music used during a bullfight.
The rumba is considered by many to be the most romantic and sensual of all Latin ballroom dances. It is often referred to as the "Grandfather of the Latin dances" and its music has an insistent 4/4 beat. The ballroom version derives from Cuban son.
Salsa is a lively, vigorous type of contemporary Latin American popular music, blending predominantly Cuban rhythms with elements of jazz, rock, and soul music. a ballroom dance of Puerto Rican origin, performed to this music, similar to the mambo, but faster with the accent on the first beat instead of the second beat of each measure. Note that our Salsa classes are not the same as "street" salsa and are intended to be danced socially.
Possibly the most popular of all Brazilian ballroom dances, both young and old enjoy dancing the samba. It can be performed solo, such as during the Carnival in Rio de Janiero, or with a partner socially.
The foxtrot is a ballroom dance that is lots of fun and simple to learn, making it an excellent dance for beginners. In the foxtrot, dancers make long, smooth, flowing movements across the floor to swing or big-band music.
The quickstep is a quick version (naturally) of the foxtrot. It is a ballroom dance composed of extremely quick stepping, syncopated feet rhythms, and runs. The quickstep is exciting to watch but among the most difficult of all the ballroom dances to master.
The tango is one of the most fascinating of all ballroom dances. This sensual dance originated in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the late 19th century. The style used in competitions today is different than Argentinian styles of tango.
The Viennese waltz is what most envision when they think of ballroom dancing. It is a quick rotating ballroom dance with a subtle rise and fall. It is considered by most to be one of the most difficult dances to learn. The simple and elegant rotational movement characterizes the Viennese waltz. It's up to four times faster than the regular, or slow, waltz, and the steps are slightly different.
The waltz is one of the smoothest of ballroom dances. It is a progressive dance marked by long, flowing movements, continuous turns, and rise and fall. The dance is so graceful and elegant that waltz dancers appear to glide around the floor with almost no effort.
Boléro is a slow form of Spanish dance with roots in Spain and Cuba. Contemporary boléro is a hybrid of other Latin and ballroom dances and combines the lilting rise and fall of the waltz, the contra-body movement of tango, and the slow movement and Latin music associated with the rumba.
Charleston, social jazz dance highly popular in the 1920s and frequently revived. Characterized by its toes-in, heels-out twisting steps, it can be performed as a solo, with a partner, or in a group.
Country 2-step is a partner dance with a leader and a follower involving walks and spins to the timing of quick, quick, slow, slow, typically danced to fast country western music. This dance follows the line of dance, which travels in a counter clockwise circle around the room.
Hustle is a very exciting and energetic dance with the flexibility to look elegant and graceful, sultry and intimate, or funky and fun. It shares patterns and concepts with many dance styles, including numerous wrap and turn patterns. The modern Hustle is the contemporary evolution of the partner dance first popularized in the 1970’s.
Sometimes referred to as Ballroom Basics, this class is designed for the beginner student or those needing a refresher. We begin with basic fundamentals of movement and basic figures in multiple dance styles to start your ballroom dancing adventure.
[Pictured] Lauderdale Hustle is a blast from the past dance style and is not taught at other area dance studios. It is not related to the Hustle as we know it today, but rather it is comprised of figures found in East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing and Cha Cha. Some dance experience preferred but not required. We refer to it at ABC as the Russell Hustle.
Nightclub Two Step is a slow dance that is perfect for nightclub, party or wedding dancing. This dance style is typically danced to ballads and is often used to “spice up” the average slow dance.
Polka is a lively courtship dance of Bohemian folk origin. It is characterized by three quick steps and a hop and is danced to music in 2/4 time. The couples cover much space as they circle about the dance floor. Introduced in Paris in about 1843, it became extraordinarily popular in ballrooms and on the stage.
West Coast Swing is a partner dance with roots in the Lindy Hop. It is characterized by an elastic look that results from its extension-compression technique of partner connection and is danced primarily in a slotted area on the dance floor.
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