Dances I Teach
West Coast Swing
Stylized Swing dance. Danced in a slot
to medium-to-slow Swing or Disco music, and characterized by slot
movements, taps/shuffles, coaster steps, and push/pull action of
the dancers.
(back to top)
East Coast Swing
Single/Double/Triple timing is all styles of this dance. Characterized
by upbeat tempo of the music and a basic two slow and two quick
counts of rhythm dances.
(back to top)
Waltz
The real origin of the Waltz is rather obscure, but it is described
as a dance of turns and glides. Couples dance to a rise-and-fall
gliding motion with a count of one-two-three.
(back to top)
Cha-Cha
It was a triple mambo, and then peculiar scraping
and shuffling sounds during the "tripling" produced the imitative sounds of "Cha
Cha Cha". This became a dance in itself. Cha Cha is but an advanced
stage in interpretive social dancing born of the fusion of progressive
American and Latin music.
(back to top)
Hustle
Continuing popularity as a swing style today, this dance was inspired
by the Disco days of John Travolta. Counts for this dance are a
basic and-one-two-three, with stylized arm movements and lots of
spins for the ladies.
(back to top)
Bolero
Originally a Spanish dance in 3/4 time, it was changed in Cuba
initially into 2/4 time, then eventually into 4/4 time. It is now
present as a very slow and sensual type of Rumba rhythm. The music
is frequently arranged with Spanish vocals and a subtle percussion
effect.
(back to top)
Rumba
The characteristic feature is to take each step without
initially placing the weight on that step. Steps are made with a slightly
bent knee which, when straightened, causes the hips to sway from
side-to-side in what has come to be known as "Cuban motion".
(back to top)
Mambo
The fusion of Swing and Cuban music produced this fascinating rhythm
and in turn created a new sensational dance. It may be described
as a riff or a Rumba with emphasis on the fourth beat of 4/4 time.
(back to top)
Salsa
Salsa music is hot, and so it the dance, with its tight, compact
movements. Salsa is a great social dance that everyone enjoys and
is one of the most popular club dances around today. Timing is
also with a quick-quick-slow.
(back to top)
Tango
There are essentially three types of Tango -- Argentine, American
and International Style. Unlike the Argentine Tango, American Tango
features a structure which is correlated to the musical phrasing.
It is executed in both closed and in various types of extravagant
dance relationship which incorporate a particular freedom of expression.
(back to top)
Foxtrot
Said by some to have been originated by Harry Fox (1913) It
is now a standard ballroom dance the world over, and serves as a good
foundation for social dances in 2/4 or 4/4 time.
(back to top)
Country Two Step
The Two Step is a simple dance, more or less a double-quick march
with a skip, each step done as rapidly as a couple can go forward,
backward and turning.
(back to top)
