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Steps
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The Waltz
The waltz was the "dirty dancing" of the early 19th Century, and is still
considered the "classic" ballroom dance. Society was initially scandalized
by this dance, one of the first where couples actually touched and held each
other closely. But, when done with flair, both dancers feel like they are
flying across the floor.
Click on the Real Player Logo to launch our Waltz Demo
The Fox-trot
Americans took the waltz and, influenced by the jazz rhythms of the early
1900’s, developed the fox-trot. It is a very simple, uncomplicated step but
lends itself easily to many musical styles. A lot of Broadway show-tunes,
for instance, are actually fox-trots.
Click on the Real Player Logo to launch our Fox-trots Demo
The Tango
Further south, these rhythms were moulded into the tango, and many say it
originated in the gay brothels of Argentina. Like many new dances, it was
originally viewed as obscene, but this passionate and
sexually-charged dance now also carries a more romantic air.
The Rhumba
Another Latin take on the waltz was the rhumba: less formal than the tango, and highly influenced by
traditional Cuban folk melodies. The native rhumba folk-dance is a
sex-pantomime, with the leader being the aggressor, and the follower on the
defence. There is much exaggeration of hip movement.
Click on the Real Player Logo to launch our Rhumba Demo
The Samba
In Brazil, the rhumba and tango were combined with local soca rhythms to
create the samba. The samba evokes the hot beaches of Rio during the Mardi
Gras. Many figures used in the samba today require a pelvic "tilt" action.
This action is difficult to accomplish but, without it, the dance loses much
of its effect.
Click on the Real Player Logo to launch our Samba Demo
Swing
Swing is an American version of the basic 4/4 beat of popular dance music: a
fusion of jazz of the 1950’s and early Rock 'n' Roll. It remains a
quintessential American dance, where both leader and follower can perform.
Click on the Real Player Logo to launch our Swing Demo
The Cha-cha
The cha-cha, originally known as the cha-cha-cha, became popular in the early
1950's. Cha-cha is an off-shoot of the mambo; in the slow mambo tempo, there
was a distinct sound in the music that people began dancing to, calling the
step “the triple-mambo”. Eventually, it evolved into a separate dance, known
today as the cha-cha.
Click on the Real Player Logo to launch our Cha-cha Demo
Salsa
Salsa, originally a lower-class "street" dance, has become a very important
dance to our club; even though it is not a “traditional” ballroom dance,
salsa (and merngué) remain quite popular in the clubs and bars.
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