Dance Repertoire

Waltz

Quick history
The smooth and majestic Waltz forms the basis of many of today’s popular dances. Originating in France and Germany, the popularity of the Waltz grew with the music of John Strauss and is popular all over the world today.
Key moves
Romantic and sentimental, the Waltz is characterised by simple soft, round movements which allow the dancers to flow smoothly across the floor.
The Rise and Fall of the dance is one of the styling characteristics which make the Waltz steps and patterns lilting and beautiful.
Turns form the majority of steps in the dance, with natural turns to the right and reverse turns to the left.

Tango

Quick history
The sensual Tango originated from Buenos Aires and Montevideo during the late 19th century. The dance is made up of a number of dance styles prominent in the poorer districts of Buenos Aries at the time. These include the Spanish habanera, the Uruguayan milonga and candombe and elements of African dance.
Key moves
Subtly sexy and steeped in emotion, the Tango has an immense range and can be danced with tenderness, urgency or aggression.
Walks should be done with the heels leading.
The hold is tight as the man’s left arm is more towards head level. The general hold is far more compact and the couple are much closer together, increasing the emotional tension of the dance.

Foxtrot

Quick history
The Foxtrot was created in New York in the summer of 1914 by American Vaudeville performer Harry Fox. The Fox-trot originated in the New York Theatre when the innovative Harry Fox began performing trotting steps to ragtime music, and “Fox’s Trot” was born.
Key moves
Smooth and elegant, the graceful Fox Trot relies on expert timing to be performed properly. The steps are: slow, quick, quick, slow.
The weave is six quick steps in a row, all performed on the toes.
The Feather Step – when the man steps outside his partner.

Quickstep

Quick history
During the 1920s many bands played the Foxtrot too quickly for couples to keep up which led to a faster version which absorbed elements of ragtime being danced. This dance became the bright and entertaining Quickstep.
Key moves
Tricky footwork and a fast pace mean that dancers literally need to keep on their toes!
The rise and fall motion of the quickstep is the dance’s main characteristic and must be done at a fast pace.
The movement across the dance floor should be powerful and positive while remaining light on the feet.

Viennese Waltz

Quick history
The music of Johann Strauss and the famous ballrooms of Vienna popularized the faster version of the original Waltz known as the Viennese Waltz.
Key moves
Rotational movement of sweeping turns across the dance floor give the Viennese Waltz its grace and romance.
The fast and challenging pace make simple moves more complicated.

American Smooth

Quick history
Influenced by the legendary Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers, the upbeat and innovative American Smooth incorporates steps from – the Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Tango and Foxtrot.
Key moves
The key moves in the American Smooth dance have a characteristic ‘American’ influence, with flowing, upbeat movements and a definite Wow factor.
Creativity makes the American Smooth more elaborate and inventive than ballroom dancing.
Couples can incorporate lifts and show shuffles and unlike other forms of ballroom dancing, do not have to remain in contact throughout the dance.

Argentine Tango

Quick history
Originating in Buenos Aires at end of the 19th Century, The Argentine Tango was a way for many immigrants from many different backgrounds to find a place to belong in the city. Africans and Europeans brought their own dance style to Argentina and influenced the original Tango to the emotional and expressive Argentine Tango.
Key moves
The man very much takes the lead in the Argentine Tango, using every part of his body to dictate the woman’s moves.
The walk – is the true basis of the Argentine Tango and is about the gradual weight transference over one leg only, so that the other leg is always free.
Boleos involves the rotating action of the hips and a leg flick of one person in the air, but not between the legs of the other person.

Samba

Quick history
The Samba is an upbeat and energetic party dance made up of many different South American dances incorporated into one. It features as part of the Rio Carnival in Brazil.
Key moves
The Samba should be fun and inventive, working the dancers and audience up into a frenzy of arty atmosphere.
The Volta is the basic step involving the crossing over of the feet.
The Roll is when the two dancers’ bodies make a rotating motion from the waist up.

Mambo

Quick history
A sensual fusion of Swing and Cuban music, the Mambo’s invention has been credited to Perez Prado, a Cuban musician who introduced it at La Tropicana nightclub in Havana in 1943. Chris and Jaci from Cuban Groove became the first non-Cubans to be invited to dance at La Tropicana.
Key moves
The Mambo is one of the most difficult dances to learn with sharp staccato steps interspersed with contrasting more free flowing movements.
The hips tell the story of passion in this dance making it a raunchy part of the repertoire.
Moving forward and backwards dancers ’sway’ with the hips to create a fluid motion which flows with the music.

Merengue

Quick history
Originating in the Dominican Republic, the up-beat Merengue is the country’s national dance and combines elements of the African and the French Minuet.
Key moves
Easy to learn and good fun, the Merengue has the basic routine of step side, drag to close, step side, drag to close.
Focussing the action into your legs will give you the Latin hip motion that makes the Merengue seductive.
The woman compliments the man’s steps during all the Merengue moves.

Lambada

Quick history
The fast and sensual Lambada originates from Brazil and evolved from other Latin dances such as Forró, Sayas and Carimbó. The Lambada is danced to a fusion of Carimbó and meringue music also known as the Lambada. The word ‘Lambada’ comes from a Portuguese word that refers to the wave-like motion of a whip.
Key moves
The Lambada became popular in the 1980s due to its appearance in numerous films and TV shows. This popularity had the knock-on effect of diluting the original moves where couples danced apart, with side to side steps to the sexier, modern form where couples remain in a hold.
The flowing wave motion of dancers’ bodies is one of the main characteristics of the Lambada.
Dips and thigh to thigh contact increase the sensual tension of the dance.

Bachata

Quick history
Bachata originated in the rural neighbourhoods of the Dominican Republic in the 1960s. Considered by many a vulgar form of dance, it didn’t become as popular as the Salsa or Merangue until 1992 when middle-class musician, Juan Luis Guerra won a Grammy for his album Bachata Rosa.
Key moves
Bachata is a simple and fun dance which although easy to learn, is entertaining, romantic and sensual.
The basic footwork involves three steps in one direction and then a hip motion.
Synchronisation between the couple and mixing in some Salsa and Merangue moves adds a sensual spice to the Bachata.

Bossa Nova

Quick history
The Bossa Nova was created by Fred Astaire in the Dance Studios in Los Angeles in the early 1960s and it takes elements of Latin and Samba dance. The term Bossa Nova is slang for ‘new beat’ or ‘new feeling’ and popularity of the music in the late 1950s meant the corresponding dance was created.
Key moves
The Bossa Nova is a versatile dance which can be performed solo or in a couple.
Danced solo, one hand should be placed on the stomach with the other hand held up high and the hips move with a slight side sway.
The Bossa Nova is a rhythm dance so each step should be inflected to the distinct beat of the music.

Flamenco

Quick history
The Flamenco is said to have originated in Spain as early as 1425. Although the Flamenco is the principal dance of Andalucía, it also has Arab and Indian features. It became popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s when the Flamenco dance craze spread through cafes and nightclubs.
Key moves
The Flamenco is a dramatic and masculine dance involving strict rhythmic rules and can be danced solo as well as with a partner.
Zapateado are the foot and heel beats which the dancer must perfect.
Taconeo refers to the heel work performed by the dancers.

Cuban Rumba

Quick history
Dating back as early as the 19th century, the Cuban Rumba is thought to have originated from the dancing of African immigrants around the West Indies and the Caribbean.
Key moves
The Cuban Rumba is extremely different to the traditional Rumba performed in the ballroom and was often considered inappropriate due to the sexual nature of the dance.
Acrobatic movements such as flips and handstands are performed by the man to ‘impress’ his female partner.
Some of the more risqué movements indicate sexual longing with lots of body contact between the couple.

Bolero

Quick history
The Bolero has similar Afro-Cuban roots as the Rumba and is thought to have originated from Cuban folk dance. There are three different variations of the Bolero – Spanish Bolero, Cuban Bolero and American Bolero.
Key moves
The Bolero is romantic and slow and can be danced solo, as part of a couple or as part of a larger group of dancers.
The paseo is the promenade around the ballroom which introduces the dance.
The traversa is a crossing, to alter the position of the places of the dancers.

Paso Doble

Quick history
Originating from Spain and based on the relationship between the bullfighter and his cape, the Paso Doble is a masculine dance with roots in the Spanish Flamenco.
Key moves
The proud Paso Doble is danced with many dramatic poses, leaps, heel stomps and a whole lot of attitude.
The Arpel marks the end of a movement with the stomping of the feet before the couple walk in separate directions.
Castanets are simulated with the hands demonstrating the influence that the Flamenco has brought to the dance.

Jive

Quick history
Fast, fun and frantic, the Jive combines elements of Boogie, Rock and Roll, African/American Swing and the Lindyhop. The loud and sassy dance has its roots in New York’s Harlem and evolved from the Jitterbug in the 1940s.
Key moves
The Jive is one of the fastest International Latin dances and shows lots of kicks and flicks whilst the feet and legs remain under the body with the knees close together.
Kicks – the distinctive kick action in jive sees the toes pointed to the ground when kicking.
Basic movement involves a chassez to the left and chassez to the right and a rock step (changing weight from one foot to the other) to keep things fast and fun.

Swing

Quick history
Originating in the 1920s and ‘30s in New York, Swing has aspects of the Charleston, Lindy Hop and Tap Dance.
Key moves
Swing is a lively, happy and fun dance which can be very innovative and is seen as one of the most uniquely American dances.
The sugar push is a very stylized move which brings the couple close together and then returns them to where they started and is a similar move to the swingout.
The side pass is where the woman starts on one side of the man and moves to the other side, usually in 6 or 8 counts.

Lindy Hop

Quick history
The fun and fast-paced Lindy Hop originated in Harlem, New York in the 1920s. It has roots in The Charleston and was discovered by Harlem residents dancing to contemporary Jazz and Swing music.
Key moves
The versatile Lindy Hop can be danced at a fast and frantic speed or at a slow and sexy tempo but should always look fluid and energetic.
Break aways where the dancers dance side by side means the couple can dance the same synchronised steps next to each other.
The attacking stance where the couples lean into each other allows them to build up the momentum for the demanding lifts that the Lindy Hop requires.

Salsa

Quick history
Salsa evolved from a mixture of many Latin and Afro-Caribbean dances and originated in Cuba in the early 20th century. Salsa is similar to the Mambo with sleek and sexy upbeat moves. There are many styles of salsa across the world and it is the most popular social dance in the world today.

Key moves
Salsa is as hot and spicy as the sauce it shares its name with and should be performed as a sensual courtship between the two dancers.
Sensuous and fluid, the Salsa sees the dancers moving around each other in circular movements.
Steps should be kept small and on the balls of the feet to allow for kicking.

Cha Cha Cha

Quick history
The Cha Cha Cha came about because of a piece of music composed by Enrique Jorrin titled ‘La Enganadora’. When dancers matched its syncopated rhythms their shoes made a shuffling sound which created a name for a new dance – the Cha Cha Cha.

Key moves
The Cha Cha Cha is set apart because of its syncopated chasse.
Steps should be small to allow for fast syncopated movements.
Couples can perform intricate partnered moves as well as synchronised side by side patterns.