Cha-Cha
The Cha-Cha is a fun and sassy, Latin dance. With roots in Cuban beats and rhythms, the Cha-Cha pattern starts on the second beat of the measure, and small quick syncopations will have you shaking it up on the floor. Though it is one of five Latin competition dances, Cha-Cha is also a popular social dance, with simple and beautifully fun lead and follow patterns.
East Coast Swing
East Coast Swing evolved from Lindy Hop in the 1940s. A lively and fun dance, it is characterized by fast swing music with basic rhythms involving rock steps and triple steps. It is also known as Eastern Swing, American Swing, and Triple Swing. East Coast Swing 1 will cover many steps of the American Social Dance Bronze syllabus. No dance experience is required to take East Coast 1.
Bronze and Silver Level East Coast Swing Demo
Foxtrot
Foxtrot is a smooth, progressive dance characterized by long, continuous flowing movements across the dance floor (think Fred and Ginger). The American style version of the Foxtrot takes many forms: The Bronze level Foxtrot, truest to the original Harry Fox version, is a simple combination of walks and classes ideal for social dancing. Silver American Foxtrot adds continuity, taking on the quality of its International counterpart. And with the possibility of open, apart, and side by side movements, the Gold level Foxtrot resembles the signature styles of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.
Hustle
A fast but smooth-moving dance which originated in the nightclubs of the 1970’s disco era, as a modified version of swing. Hustle is noted for its fast and elaborate spins and turns, especially for the lady. It is also very easily adapted to crowded, nightclub dance floors.
Lindy Hop
The Lindy Hop is an American social dance, from the swing dance family. It evolved in Harlem in the 1920s and ’30s with the jazz music of that era. Lindy is a fusion of many dances that preceded it or were popular during its development, though it is mainly based on jazz, tap, breakaway and Charleston. Once mastered it is very athletic, and is great fun at any level.
Night Club 2 Step
An easy-going social dance, similar in movement to the Bossa Nova, first introduced in the 80’s by Buddy Schwimmer and popular amongst the West Coast Swing crowd. Nightclub 2-Step is normally danced to medium-tempo pop love songs and M.O.R., using combinations of Slow-Quick-Quick and Quick-Quick-Slow rhythms.
Rumba
The Rumba is a Latin dance with a slower tempo, and sensual feel. Like the Cha-Cha, it breaks on count two of the measure. This dance has been called “the dance of love” for its romance and intimacy. Rumba is one of the Latin competition dances, but is a pleasure on the social dance floor as well.
Salsa
With origins in Cuba, Salsa is a demonstrates the merging Spanish and African culture. Salsa is a popular nightclub dance throughout Latin America as well as North America, Europe, Australia, Asia, and the Middle East. The basic step is three steps in each four-beat measure. The beat on which one does not step might contain a tap or kick, or weight transfer may simply continue with the actual step not occurring until the next beat. While dancing, the basic step can be modified significantly as part of the improvisation and styling of the people dancing.
Samba
Ballroom samba is a lively Latin
dance, originating from Brazil. It is one of the five major competition Latin
dances, along with Rumba, Cha-Cha, Paso Doble, and Jive. Although related
to traditional samba styles, also called street samba, ballroom samba differs
significantly in style.
Ballroom samba is characterized by use of a pickup beat in the music, a quiet
upper frame, and strong leg action, resulting in the illusion of hips that seem
to have a life of their own.
Waltz
Waltz dates back to 16th century Europe. We teach American style Waltz. A typical waltz figure (from the lead’s perspective) starts lowered into the knees and traveling forward with a strong heel lead. Count 2 rises and is taken on the ball of the foot, and count 3 starts on the ball of the foot and lowers to the heel as the couple begins to lower in preparation for the next measure. This creates the smooth rise-and-fall action characteristic of this dance.
West Coast Swing
West Coast Swing is a partner dance with roots in Lindy Hop. It is characterized by a distinctive elastic look that results from the basic extension-compression technique of partner connection, and is danced primarily in a slotted area on the dance floor. The dance allows for both partners to improvise steps while dancing together, putting West Coast Swing in a short list of dances that put a premium on improvisation.
Typically the follower walks into new patterns traveling forward, rather than rocking back like in other Swing styles. The Anchor Step is a common ending pattern of many West Coast Swing figures.
