Calendar | Classes | Internation Latin | International Standard | Pricing | Program Levels

Shall We Dance?

Our classes reflect the fundamentals of ballroom and social dance organized by style & proficiency level with specialty classes that perfect the figures in each dance style. We are proud to offer affordable pricing for our instruction that is flexible with options for either one-time classes or package deals.

Class Descriptions – Standard Classes:

These classes reflect the foundations of social and competition level classes that are offered consistently at our studio.

1. The Bronze Technique class – Takes an advanced focus on the style, art and history of dancing with a special focus on fluidity vs frame and posture, head placement, as well as stylistic arm and hand movements. This class will teach how to do the syllabus steps with style, confidence, and flair. Bronze steps class - Learn the advanced steps from our national syllabus.
2. Social Foundations Class – An instruction in the basics of social dancing that focuses on frame and hold, partner connection, positions and dance style essentials.
3. Social Party – Every Wednesday at 8:00 pm, our doors open even wider to the public and invite instructors, students, friends and newcomers to a fun and relaxed dance sometimes specially themed during the special events or holidays. Reminiscent of dance halls, the social party offers a practical application to test newly learned steps and a reminder that ballroom and social dance is all about having fun.

Monthly Classes:

These are introductory social or Bronze competition level classes that rotate on a monthly basis with featured classes that are highlighted for that month. Our classes are selected from the repertoire of established international dance styles, with the descriptions as follows:

International Latin

1. The Cha-Cha -The Cha-Cha is believed to have derived from the Afro-Cuban dance, the 'Mambo'. In the slow Mambo tempo, dancers began to dance a 'triple step' movement to a unique beat in the music, eventually leading to the development of a danceform in its own right. Social cha cha is a very simple dance that can be learned by anyone in 10 minutes. The music is always 4/4 with the characteristic "cha-cha-cha" drum beat at 3&4 of the bar. This social dance can be executed with or without holding. There is no fixed routine, and dancers perform any step that comes to mind.
2. Rumba - Of Cuban, African and Spanish origin. Music at 4/4, 27-31 bpm. Fairly quick, but sometimes also done to slower music, in which case it is more of a Bolero or Son. Rumba is truly a lady's dance, as the focus is on her hands and postures. Good dancers are very flexible and able to appear "slow" and in control, when in actual fact they are moving quickly.
3. Samba - Brazil's national dance, with millions of dancers performing every Fiesta. A lively dance that is derived from the dance styles brought to the country by West African Slaves. A progressive dance that moves around the hall. Done to 2/4, 50 bpm music with heavy syncopated drums. Secret of Samba is to do the knee action correctly.
4. Paso Doble - The "matador's" dance. The man is the matador (bull fighter), and the lady his cape. Surprisingly, this is not a Spanish dance, but originated from the nightclubs of Paris, where it is a performance dance. Done progressively to 2/4 music at 60-82 bpm (very fast!). This dance shows off the control of the man and the subservience of the woman. The only dance where lady gets to kneel before man. To do this dance well, the man must be able to get into the "Spanish" line posture, puff his chest out, and look "proud"!
5. Jive - A dance that began in the US but took root in war-time Europe. Also known as the Lindy, swing, or jitterbug. Jive music is usually the "big band" swing music, with a lot of brass and woodwind. Essentially a non-progressive dance, but competition styles can be progressive and very very athletic. Jive is the name given to improvised swing dancing that relies on individual expression as well as partnered steps.

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International Standard

1. Waltz – The most basic, flowing and graceful of styles, it first became fashionable in Vienna in the 1780s. . Figures are diagonal done to 3/4 time always in a closed position. The most common basic figure of the Waltz is a full turn in two measures using three steps per measure. The American Style allows for some open positions where, for example, the lady can alternate between the man’s left and right sides.
2. Tango – With influences from the West Indies, it traces its origins from the brothels of Argentina where it was stylized by the Gauchos to its present form. Tango is a very dramatic, exciting dance and is known as the "Dancer's Dance". Most people recognize Tango from the days of Valentino to the "Tango Argentina". Tango is still very popular today as movies like "Scent of a Woman" & "True Lies" demonstrate. Tango is passionate, aggressive, and fiery. Tango greatly improves a man's lead and a woman's ability to follow (respond), and develops a strong feeling for music.
3. Foxtrot - Also known as the "get acquainted" dance, as it is frequently the first dance a couple who has not danced with each other before would do. A traveling English progressive dance done to slow to moderate 4/4 beat, so it can be danced only in halls.
4. Quickstep - Developed from the Charleston and One-step, but formalised into an international dance by the English. Done to 4/4 music at 50 bpm. Lots of gliding and back-lock steps, plus rise and falls. Good dancers look as if they are "floating" as they move around. Advanced steps include a lot of kicking and toe snapping.
5. Viennese Waltz – A faster version of the traditional Waltz and German in origin, using a constant turning which results in a beautiful effect of a carousel of spinning tops as couples circle the floor. Danced in. 3/4 time and 60 bpm.

Other Latin/ Rhythm Social Dances

1. East Coast Swing – Derived from the Lindy Hop, ECS is a partner dance and is a 6 count form of swing whose basic step is triple step,triple step and a rock step.
2. West Coast Swing – It is believed that the origins of the WCS are in Savoy style Lindy. Dean Collins moved to California in the 1930s and introduced the dancing scenes there to Lindy Hop, which took a firm hold on the West Coast through the 30s and 40s. When swing fell out of mainstream’s consideration as pop music around the 50s and was replaced by rockabilly, dancers on the West Coast began using swing moves to the new pop music, thus changing the dance and bringing about the variation now known as West Coast Swing. In 1988, West Coast Swing was pronounced the Official State Dance of California. Where Lindy Hop basics are almost exclusively 8 beat patterns, WCS steps can be danced to counts in any increment of 2, (though most are 6 or 8). As in Lindy Hop, moves can be extended for as long as desired. In practice WCS may be danced to almost any music in 4/4 time.
3. Argentine Tango - Done to a less strict rhythm than International Tango. Move with toe-leads instead of heel-leads. It requires to hold the lady much closer, and the man is expected to look at the lady. Great for couples!
4. Mambo - Exciting to watch, the Cuban Mambo looks like a faster Rumba, but it has a more staccato character, caused by the dancers' slight pause at the end of each step. Moderate to fast 4/4 music at 36bpm.
5. Salsa - Salsa is a term used to describe a variety of Latin American couple dances, both Cuban and Columbian. Fuelled by the growth of Hispanic Communities in the United States beginning in the 30’s, it arose from a conscious attempt to re-brand Latin American dance music and bring it out of its decline. In 1965 while the west coast Mexican population was using salsa for uptempo Latin music, the Afro-American population of New York started another trend. What was salsa on the west coast was a-zoo-ka in New York City, coming from a familiar request to spice up the music and “add a little sugar.” The word, however, never caught on outside of New York. Four years later, Carlos Santana’s Oye Como Va attracted youths of all ethnic backgrounds to his music, and conga drums were sold like never before across the United States. After this, mostly every recording of Afro-Cuban rhythms and anything that was exciting in Latin music was labeled salsa and it followed the mambo popularity that occurred in the ‘50s. In 1976, the “Salsa Explosion,” was detonated and recognized by the music industry and its styles have evolved to incorporate elements of ChaChaCha, Mambo and other Latin rhythms.
6. Merengue - Known since the beginning of the 19th Century, it shows influences from Haiti and is the national dance of the Dominican Republic. The Merengue hit its peak in the mid 1950's in America, where popular culture adopted any Latin style that could feed their desire for exotic dancing. Music is 2/4, 55 - 60 bpm. Looks like a slow Bolero.
7. Hustle - A three-count version based on older dances such as the Mambo, the Hustle originated in Hispanic communities in New York and Florida and was popularized by the disco craze in the 1970’s. A great and fun party dance.
8. Bolero - A dance originating in Spain in the 18th century, with sudden pauses and sharp turns, it was performed to music which is sung and accompanied by castanets and guitars. In ballroom, the Bolero, combines the patterns of Rumba with the rise and fall technique and character of Waltz and Foxtrot. The music is 4/4 time, and is danced to the slowest rhythms of the latin ballroom dances, increasingly followed by the Rumba, ChaChaCha and Mambo. The basic rhythm as in Rumba is Slow-Quick-Quick.
9. Two Step – Also known as the Texas Two-step, it is danced with two quick steps and two slow steps. The dance is best performed with feet gliding just above the floor. Great fun in social dancing.

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Program Levels:

Programmes are based on age and an accumulation of 5 proficiency points for each level.

• Bronze
• Silver
• Gold
• Pre-Championship
• Championship
• World Class

For the click here to download the USA DanceSport Rulebook 2005-2006, or click here to go to the official website.

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