Ballroom & Latin Dance Classes
Nothing makes you feel more beautiful than doing the Waltz or as sexy as doing the Rumba. Be impressive and have more fun at weddings, parties, business functions,and on vacation. You can become proficient at Foxtrot, Rumba, Swing, Waltz, Cha Cha and Tango.
Foxtrot was originally danced to ragtime. Today, the dance is customarily accompanied by the same big band music to which swing is also danced. From the late teens through the 1940s, the foxtrot was certainly the most popular fast dance and the vast majority of records issued during these years were foxtrots. Over time, the foxtrot split into slow and quick versions, referred to as "foxtrot" and "quickstep" respectively. In the slow category, further distinctions exist between the International or English style of the foxtrot and the continuity American style, both built around a slow-quick-quick rhythm at the slowest tempo, and the social American style using a slow-slow-quick-quick rhythm at a somewhat faster pace.
Rumba derives its movements and music from the Cuban Bolero-son. All social dances in Cuba involve a hip-sway over the standing leg and, though this is scarcely noticeable in fast salsa, it is more pronounced in the slow ballroom rumba. In general, steps are kept compact and the dance is danced generally without any rise adn fall. This style is authentic, as is the use of free arms in various figures.
East Coast Swing is a standardized form of dance based in six-count patterns that are simplified forms of Lindy Hop. East Coast Swing, developed for instructional purposes in dance studios, can be referred to by many different names. It has alternatively been called Eastern Swing, Jitterbug, American Swing, East Coast Lindy, Lindy and Triple Swing.
Cha-Cha is a sensual and energetic dance with a syncopation of the 4th beat. Originally from Cuba, Cha-Cha evolved from the very up-tempo and jerky Mambo. Today, cha-cha is danced to authentic Latin music, or Pop or Rock.
Rudolph Valentino demonstrated a highly stylized form of Argentine Tango in The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. As a result, the Hollywood style steps mixed in with other social dance steps of the times began this branch away from the Argentine style. Today, American style Tango allows its dancers to separate from closed position to execute open moves, like underarm turns, alternate hand holds, dancing apart, and side-by-side choreography.
Waltz is also considered the forerunner of today’s popular dances. Beginning in 17th century Germany, it grew and was popularized all over the world with the music of Johann Strauss in the 20th century. It is a much disciplined dance, and is not easy to master quickly. Waltz comes from the German word "waltzen," which means "to turn." The turn is the essence of the waltz step. The waltz is done in 3/4 time with an accent on the first beat of every measure. It is comprised of walking steps and side steps with the added characteristics of rise and fall, sway, rotation, and pendulum action. This styling makes the Waltz beautiful and elegant.
