Latin-Ballroom
Cha-Cha-Cha, Rumba, Jive, Samba, Hustle,
Slow Waltz, Vienna Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Quickstep
Hip - Hop
Classic Ballroom and Latin
Despite the "stuffy" image conjured up by the media, many younger people are now
discovering that they can enjoy these classic dances to contemporary chart music.
Classic Ballroom and International Latin American dancing is now not only included in
the Olympic programme at a competitive level but is also thriving on campus at many
Universities throughout the world.
These two styles are combined in a world-wide standardised programme of ten dances
for both competitions and for leisure dancing:
| Classic Ballroom | Intern. Latin American |
| Slow Waltz | Rumba |
| Quickstep | Samba |
| Foxtrot | Cha-Cha-Cha |
| Modern Tango | Jive |
| Vienna Waltz | Samba |
| Hustle | |
Cha Cha Cha
The Cha Cha Cha belongs to the Cuban family of Latin American dances including
the Rumba and the international style Mambo. The pattern and structure are
therefore very similar but with one major difference - the Cha Cha Cha ! The Cha
Cha Cha adds an irrepressible cheeky quality to the dance and a contagiously
catchy rhythm to the music making it one of the best loved of all Latin American
dances
Rumba
Seductive, smouldering and sensuous, the pulsating rhythm and romantic music
have made the Rumba's appeal both ageless and universal. The Rumba's
sophisticated love-play story evokes the legend which attributes the dance as
mimicking the courtship ritual of two love birds in the forest of Cuba or as a
representation of the movement of slaves, legs in chains, as they swayed to the
ancient chants of their homeland.
The rhythm and music is that of the beautiful, slow and exotic Cuban Guajira. In
its original home of Cuba, there is no particular dance called a Rumba. There,
it simply means dance. The dance itself exudes the strength and confidence of
the archetypal machismo of the male Latin lover whose passion tempts his partner
to become lost in the intensity and innuendo of the rhythm.
But the woman does not yield so readily. She remains coy, teasing and toying
with the man as she repeatedly lures and then rejects his advances. There are
few more profoundly beautiful moments in dancing than when taking up hold and
feeling the pure intensity that is Rumba.
Jive
Jive is an
umbrella term for a dance that has so stood the test of time that the different
styles of Jive evoke the spirit of the eras in which it has been an integral
part of the dance scene of the day. Lindy Hop in the 1920's, Jitterbug and
Boogie Woogie in the 1930's, Swing in the 1940's, Rock 'n' Roll in the 1950's,
then came the international style in the 1960's ending up with Le Roc in the
1980's. Each style simply reflected the mood of the era but did so with such
brilliance that it has endured as a favourite not only in the Ballroom but at
any party any time any place.
Most Disco dances have strong roots in Swing, Samba, Cha Cha, Mambo, Merengue, Fox Trot and Tango. The Hustle is believed to have originated in New York in 1970. It went through many variations in the seventies, with line dances for groups of people, solo movements that came and went, and partnership dances. These partnership dances included The Basic Hustle, Latin, Spanish and Tango Hustle, and the most popular Street, Three-Count or Swing Hustle that originated in California as the street Hustle by skaters in Venice and Malibu. John Travolta and "Saturday Night Fever" made dancing the "in" thing for many people, especially men.
Popular disco music of the 70's included Bee Gees "Stayin' alive", "Night fever", "More than a woman" "Everybody Dance" (Chic) and Donna Summer's "Love to love you baby".
Hustle is danced to the contemporary pop dance music of the last 20 years. It is a fast, smooth dance, with the lady spinning almost constantly, while her partner draws her close and sends her away.
Slow Foxtrot
The Slow Foxtrot is a beautiful and romantic dance which has become the classic
swing dance of the Ballroom and the dance which most Ballroom dancers aspire to
dance well.
Its elegant lines and graceful sophistication demand a high level of technical
expertise, dance experience and physical skill.
Nonetheless, hundreds of thousands of dancers revel in the sheer enjoyment of
the Slow Foxtrot as they glide around the floor to some of the best lilting
ballads ever written.
Modern Tango
By the time the Tango had evolved from its origins in Argentina in to a Ballroom
dance, it's character had irrevocably changed. Drums, non-existent in Argentine
Tango, had been added to the music and it became a quick march.
The head flicks which seem forever to characterise the stereotypical Ballroom
Tango came about when German dancers introduced it in an interpretational
response to the drum roll. The head flicks were introduced to the UK by Freddie
Kemp and, when he won the British Ballroom Championships, the head flicks became
an integral expression of the modern Tango.
Despite the preconception of ostentation with which the modern Tango is tarred,
with no rise and fall, it is an easier dance to learn and, with inspiring music,
dancing satisfaction always beckons.
Samba
Samba immediately conjures up the Carnival atmosphere of Rio and the exuberant
spirit of Party Latin America. While Carnival Samba is a solo dance, the
international style of Samba is popular as a partner dance. The pulsating Samba
drums evoke the rhythm of Rio while the shrill Samba whistles call you to join
the Carnival.
Quickstep
Lively, invigorating and fun, the Quickstep developed from a combination of
early versions of the Foxtrot and the Charleston into a pleasantly fast and
powerfully flowing dance interspersed with syncopations and, with the Waltz, has
become a firm favourite.
The Quickstep is danced to up tempo melodies and, if your foots tapping to the
music, the chances are it's a Quickstep
From the old German world "walzen" to roll, turn or to glide. A ballroom dance born in the suburbs of Vienna (Austria) in a 3/4 time with strong accent on the first beat and a basic pattern of step-step-close. A dance to move or glide in a lively or conspicuous manner. As early as the seventeenth century waltzes were played in ballrooms of Habsburg court. Around the close of the 19th century two modifications of the waltz were developed. The first was the Boston (Slow) waltz with the long gliding steps. The second, Vienna Waltz a very fast version of the waltz.
Hip-Hop is non-partner dancing to contemporary music. The kind of Dancing often seen in todays music videos. It emphasizes body movement and rythem. Builds coordination and musicality. This class is high energy and high Fun with street movements, step by step instrucitions. Learn the Hip-Hop moves to keep your body grooving.