Definitions

Ballroom

Latin American

Street Latin

New Vogue

Timing: 3 Beats per bar

Tempo: 28-30 Bars per minute

Probably the most famous of all the dances, the Waltz is known and danced worldwide. Called the 'slow' Waltz or the 'English' Waltz (by other cultures that refer to the Viennese Waltz as Waltz).

Whether starting a new relationship with the evening’s last dance or celebrating a wedding or anniversary, the Waltz remains the only dance whose innate romance links it inextricably with life’s happier moments. Originating from the Ländler, an eighteenth century Austrian folk-dance, the Waltz’s enduring appeal is due to its ability to adapt and change. Today, the romance of the Waltz is complemented by and danced to some great modern soft rock classics.

The Waltz is one of the five dances danced in International Ballroom competitions.

Timing: 4 Beats per bar

Tempo: 28-30 Bars per minute

Elegantly beautiful, suavely sophisticated and simply superb, the graceful Slow Foxtrot is the dance to which all Ballroom dancers aspire. It finds its roots in the Tin Pan Ally of the Twenties and now, as then, it can be enjoyed to the best of popular chart and easy listening music.

Considered by many to be one of the most difficult of all the dances to master the Foxtrot offers challenges to all dancers.

The Foxtrot is one of the five dances danced in International Ballroom competitions.

Timing: 3 Beats per bar

Tempo: 60 Bars per minute

Elegant and beautiful the Viennese Waltz is the classic Waltz style captured in movies and even Disney cartoons as the name suggests it is linked to Vienna where the Aristocracy danced the Viennese Waltz to music by Strauss and other classical composers.

Nowadays Viennese Waltz is still danced socially across the world, but more people now dance the 'slow' Waltz as standard.

The Viennese Waltz is one of the five dances danced in International Ballroom competitions.

Timing: 4 Beats per bar

Tempo: 30-32 Bars per minute

The Ballroom Tango is a European development of the original Tango Argentina.

Despite its image as a harsh and staccato competition dance, the Ballroom Tango has endured as the dance expression of some of the most romantic and popular music of all time.

It is one of the five dances danced in International Ballroom Competitions.

Timing: 4 Beats per bar

Tempo: 50-52 Bars per minute

The Quickstep followed hot on the heels of the Foxtrot as people began to dance the 'Quick' Foxtrot. Quickstep owes a lot of its more advanced hops and kicks to the Charleston the Quickstep is fun, lively and energetic. A popular dance with almost all dancers.

The Quickstep is one of the five dances danced in International Ballroom competitions.

Timing: 4 Beats per bar

Tempo: 28-30 Bars per minute

The Cha Cha originates from Cuba. It got its name from the sound the feet make on the floor as it is danced 'Cha Cha Cha'.

It has its roots in Mambo and has been adapted and changed over the years. Western Cha Cha is a more stylised version of the original Cuban Cha Cha.

It is one of the five dances used in International competition style Latin American. Cha Cha is probably one of the most versatile and fun dances of the Latin American family.

Timing: 2 Beats per bar

Tempo: 50 - 52 Bars per minute

The Samba originated in Brazil and is the party dance of Rio. It is still danced extensively in Brazil, although the Samba that is danced in the Ballrooms and International competitions around the world is a far cry from the party dance of Brazil.

The Samba is one of the few progressive Latin dances. The music is lively and fun and the dance is often a popular choice amongst social dancers.

It is one of the five dances used in competition style Latin American.

Timing: 4 Beats per bar

Tempo: 26-29 Bars per minute

The Rumba is the dance of love, although it can vary from flirtatious to true love. Rumba is the most romantic and passionate of the Latin American family.

As with the Cha, the music is Cuban in its origin and has become highly stylised.

The Rumba is one of the five dances danced in Latin competitions.

Timing: 2 Beats per bar

Tempo: 60 Bars per minute

The Paso Doble is the dance of the Spanish bullfighter. It symbolises the battle between man and beast and portrays the man in a very macho image. The woman portrays the flowing action of the cape as the man does battle with the bull.

The music is distinctly Spanish in its origin and there is a definite flamenco style to the Paso Doble. Although fun to dance the Paso Doble has limited use as a social dance.

The Paso Doble is one of the five dances danced in Latin competitions.

Timing: 4 Beats per bar

Tempo: 40 - 44 Bars per minute

The Jive that most people think of, the one that is danced at family parties and weddings, is generally Rock 'n' Roll Jive. Danced to great, well-known tunes from the likes of Bill Halley and Elvis Presley the Jive is still enjoyed by thousands of people worldwide.

Jive has always been a dance of the times. As musical tastes have changed, so has the style of the dance while retaining its inherent structure and its universal appeal. Whatever your musical tastes, there is a style of Jive of suit you from the Lindy Hop of the 20’s, through the Jitterbug and Boogie Woogie of the 30’s, the Swing of the 40’s,to the Rock ‘n’ Roll of the 50’s and 60’s.

The DanceSport Jive is one of the five dances in the Latin American competitions.

Timing: 4 Beats per bar

Tempo: Varies from 40 - 56 Bars Per Minute

It’s easy, it’s fun and it’s a man-woman thing. Hypnotic, pulsating Afro-Caribbean rhythms merge in a spicy cocktail of hot Latino music for some great partner dancing fun in one of the most popular Club dances of the millennium.

Originating from a blend of Cuban and Puerto Rican dance styles, this infectious music and easy dance style were made even more fun as Colombian Salsa was added into the mix. Now, the whole world’s doing it!

The steps are simple and uncomplicated and in next to no time you too can be partying like a Latin whether you’re on holiday in the Caribbean or just having a great night out in any one of the many venues dancing Salsa in the UK.

Dress is strictly casual and cool…. it’ll need to be… as the temperature soon rises whilst dancing Salsa! It’s a great way to make new friends and meet other Latin lovers.

Timing: 2 Beats per bar

Tempo: 60 - 76 Bars per minute

This is the party dance of the Caribbean Dominican Republic. It’s flirty and it’s fun. A very simple beat with very simple steps means you can be partying on the floor literally within less than a minute.

The pattern of moves in Merengue is shared with those of Salsa but, in Merengue, they are slower and easier to pick up. Merengue has become a popular part of any Salsa event and any Latino Club night.

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