faq

Descriptions of dances

Mambo
The first probably known album of Mambo music was in 1944, by Latin American band leader, Anselmo Sacaras. It was simply titled "Mambo". This was a fascinating new rhythm a fusion of Cuban music and the American Swing, leading to a new nationwide dance craze over America in the late 40's and early 50's. You too will be thrilled with the Mambo once you learn to master the basic time step and combine it with a series of steps you learn in the Cha-Cha.

Samba
This Brazilian dance was first accepted in Brazilian ballrooms in 1930 and was probably introduced in the U.S. in 1939 by the late
Carmen Miranda. Once you learn the style of bouncing steadily and smoothly to the hot sensuous and pulsating Samba beat and add that
style to all your steps, you will find the Samba very enjoyable and almost effortless to dance.

Merengue
The merengue is the most popular Latin dance. This dance will teach you the proper technique of moving your hips from side to side, known as the "Cuban motion", present in almost all of the other Latin dances, including the Cha-Cha, Rumba, Mambo and even the Swing. The dance originated from the Dominican Republic
with a heavy Cuban influence, and probably become popular in North America in the late 1950's, with the resurgence in Latin American
music by band leaders such as Tito Rodriguez, Tito Puente, andXavier Cugat

Swing:

America's contribution to dance is the Jitterbug, sometimes called the Swing or Lindy. This energetic dance started in Haarlem and caught on across the country in the 40's. It was originally an exhibition dance and you 'll see that the Jitterbug is still great for showing of a little with the jazzy jumps and turns you'll learn to do. Today there are many styles in Swing, including the West Coast andJive. But once you master the basic pattern of the Swing step, other styles will be easy to learn. Swing music just makes you want to snap your fingers, get up on the dance floor and let go of all your troubles and have fun, just pure fun!

Vienese Waltz & Quickstep
: These are the two ballroom dances
beginners aspire to do. Due to the sheer speed of the steps to match the fast tempo of the music, these dances require practice, practice
and more practice, to make them look effortless and light-spirited.But once you learn how to make your steps look like you are gliding
across on ice, these two dances will sound off the joy in your heart.

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Foxtrot
The foxtrot is the most popular ballroom dance and the foundation for all other dances. It's really just walking in time to the music and was named after the vaudeville comedian Jerry Fox who introduced the dance in 1913. The Foxtrot really caught on when the world famous dance team, Irene and Vernon Castle refined the dance and began performing it. They added the smooth graceful movements that makes walking seem like gliding. You'll find the Foxtrot very easy to learn, fun to dance, and after you learn a few simple tricks a great way to show off at parties.

Waltz
: The most beautiful and romantic of the ballroom dances is the Waltz. The Waltz was popularized in the 19th Century along with the music of Johan Strauss. It was the dance team of Vernon and Irene Castle who made it popular in the U.S. Its simple steps in the accent of 1, 2 and 3 beat of the music makes the Waltz easy to learn and enjoyable right away. The dreamy like quality of the Waltz makes you feel like you are dancing on a cloud.

Tango
: The most passionate and romantic of the ballroom dances is the Tango. It originated in Argentina and become popular in the U.S in the 20's, thanks to Rudolph Valentino star of the silent screen. The characteristic cat-like walks is what makes the Tango so recognizably different from any other dance. The Tango doesn't need words.You communicate with your eyes and your body. Dramatic music, dramatic movements, that's the Tango, whether you do the ballroom or the Argentine style.

Cha-Cha
The Cha-Cha came to the U.S. from Cuba in the 50's and quickly became a nationwide dance craze and remains popular ever since. It has the tropical rhythm and the hip swaying movement
(cuban motion) of the other Latin dances but has a very unique style of its own. You'll master the basic steps very quickly. After that you will really enjoy learning all the creative variations of the Cha-Cha.

Rumba
:Cuba was the birth place of an incredible number of Latin dances. But the first and still the most popular is the Rumba. It was originally made famous in the U.S by movie stars George Raft and
Carol Lambert. In this dance all of the movement happens below the waist and is our most sensuous Latin dance. Once you learn the simple steps in Rumba you could dance forever.

Salsa
: Just as there are numerous styles in Salsa music, from the New York sound developed by Puerto Rican musicians, to the original son-music from Cuba, there are many styles in the dance itself. It can best de defined as the fusion between Swing and Mambo dances.