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About
Ballroom DancingBallroom dancing is when two people dance together where the gentlemen leads and the lady follows his lead. The leader decides what steps the couple will do, he also watches for traffic, avoiding collisions, which is called floorcraft. Floorcraft is a part of dance floor etiquette.
There are two different styles of Ballroom dancing, American Style and International Style.
Ballroom dancing is also classified as either Ballroom Smooth ( or Ballroom Standard) dances and Ballroom Latin or Rhythm dances.
Smooth/Standard dances progress around the floor in a counter clockwise.
Latin and Rhythm dances are more stationary dances also called spot dances.
When I teach ballroom dance classes I teach them at a SOCIAL DANCE LEVEL. The social dance level is not as intense as a competition level. This makes it possible for you to go out dancing at social events feeling confident. The social dancing classes teach you to dance purely for your pleasure and enjoyment, and gives you an opportunity to go out and dance with others. You will learn the ability to lead or follow and learn the dance positions, rhythm and figures for the dance style of the class you attend.
There is also other categories of dance which are generally labeled: Club, Nightclub, Retro, Freestyle, Country Western, Swing, Latin Social, and Party Dances. These do not fall in the Ballroom Competition dances categories. However there are events that allow you to compete in these dances. These dances are fun and a great way to get out and get some exercise and meet others in social situations. There are dance clubs, social clubs, churches, and singles-groups that have social events on regular basis, that you might choose to attend.
I encourage you to take a variety of dance classes so that you will be able to enjoying dancing to a variety of music and dance at different venues.
American
Smooth American
Latin/Rhythm Waltz Cha-Cha Foxtrot Rumba Viennese
Waltz Mambo American
Tango Bolero Peabody Samba East Coast
Swing West Coast
Swing
International
Standard International
Latin/Rhythm Waltz Cha-Cha Slow
Foxtrot Rumba Viennese
Waltz Samba InternationalTango Bolero Quickstep Samba Jive
(Swing) Paso Doble (not
danced socially)
CLUB, NIGHTCLUB, RETRO, SOCIAL
West Coast
Swing Nightclub
Two-Step Slow Dancing (two
styles) Hustle
(Disco) Slow Dancing
Blues(for those slow ballads and blues songs)
Merengue Salsa
Waltz Two
Step Triple
Step Cha-Cha Pattern/Novelty Line
Dance Ten
Step Shuffle Schottische Swing East Coast
Single Rhythm Swing East Coast
Triple Rhythm Swing Four Count
Rhythm (Country Swing) Nightclub
Two-Step
East Coast Single
Rhythm (AKA Jitterbug) East Coast Double
and Kick Rhythm East Coast Triple
Rhythm West Coast
Swing Lindy
Hop Jive Four Count Rhythm
(AKA Country Swing) Slow
Dancing Blues
PARTY DANCES
La Macarena
Electric Slide
YMCA
The Chicken Dance
Many More
