Learn Ballroom Dances / Dancing
Descriptions

Learn to waltz, try a few tango steps or....

If you want to learn Ballroom Dances, dancing descriptions on this page will give you an idea about the character of each of the dances.

Do you want to start with rumba dance steps, tango steps or just learn to waltz? You can learn ballroom dances one dance at a time, or choose a variety of dances that appeal to you.

Standard/Smooth Ballroom Dances

Smooth/Standard dances are referred to as traveling dances, moving counter clockwise around the dance floor along the LOD (line of dance).

Learn How To Waltz

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The Waltz, danced on dreamy and romantic melodies with its smooth, gliding steps,and gentle rise and fall, is truly one of the most beautiful dances in the world! Always a perennial first wedding dance favorite!

The Waltz is a great way for beginners to learn ballroom dances!

Learn How to Slow Dance (Slow Rhythm)

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If you want to learn ballroom dances quickly, the Slow Rhythm, is definitely the most popular of the social dances, incorporating a unique combination of basic steps from the Quickstep danced on the soft music of the Slow foxtrot. This dance is very versatile, and can be danced to many different musical styles.

An easy dance to learn, Slow Rhythm is always an excellent choice for beginners of all ages!

Learn Tango

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The Tango is characterized by its sharp staccato movements and quick head turns. With very distinctive music and style, the Tango is an ever popular choice among dancers. Who can forget Al Pacino in the movie Scent of a Woman?

Although beginner dancers sometimes feel a bit intimidated by the rather aggressive style of the Tango, they soon succumb to its addictive qualities!

Slow Foxtrot Dance (INT)

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The Slow Foxtrot (International) is known as the dance for dancers, and is probably the most difficult of the ballroom dances to master. Many feel that it is also the most elegant of the dances.

Requiring core strength and balance, this dance is usually first learned by intermediate level dancers.

Learn How to Quickstep (INT)

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With hops, skips, and fast footwork, the Quickstep is a lively dance indeed! The music is also lively and fast paced. Great fun for intermediate level dancers to learn.

Ballroom dances of the Big Band Era always included the Quickstep!

Learn How to Viennese Waltz

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The Viennese Waltz is much faster and more energetic then the Slow Waltz, and is characterized by fast sweeping turns. The huge popularity of this dance in Vienna in the 1870's, eventually gave rise to the creation of many of the ballroom dances of today.

You may want to learn ballroom dances that require fewer technical skills, if you are just starting out!

Latin/Rhythm Dances

With the exception of the Samba and the Paso Doble, the Latin/Rhythm dances do not travel around the dance floor.

Learn to Jive

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As everyone loves to Jive,this fun and energetic Latin dance is forever popular!

Although danced at a fast tempo for competitions, the Jive is easily danced at the slower tempos of popular social dance music.

The jive is a very popular choice for beginner dancers!

Rumba Dancing

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If you are interested in learning a slower, more romantic and sensual style of latin dance, the Rumba is for you! Danced to music with a slow Latin beat, officially characterized by the sound of the " woods", the Rumba is always a popular choice for new dancers.

Learn How to Cha Cha

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The Cha Cha is a playful, flirtatious, and fun dance! Danced on music with a strong beat and distinctive rhythm, the Cha Cha is an easy dance to learn.

Samba Dancing (INT)

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The Samba is a lively, rhythmic dance originating in Brazil, characterized by constantly changing rhythms and unique bounce-like movements.

This one can be a bit challenging for a new dancer!

El Paso Doble (INT)

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The Paso Doble is danced to Spanish march music typically played during a bullfight! This lively and dramatic dance moves progressively around the dance floor, often with the leader and follower representing the matador and his cape.

How to Swing Dance (AM)

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There are many styles of Swing dancing, but not all have been standardized by the National Dance Council of America. A relative of the International Style Jive, Swing is also quite easy to learn, and is a popular choice for beginner dancers.

Learn How to Bolero (AM)

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The Bolero has a smooth, romantic character, much like the Rumba, but danced on music with a slower tempo and different rhythm.

A new dancer may wish to learn the Rumba first.

Learn How to Mambo (AM)

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The Mambo is very quick paced and sensual, danced on music with African and Cuban rhythms.

Usually danced by advanced dancers, the Mambo led to the development of the Cha Cha Cha, which is enjoyed by dancers at all levels of expertise!

Favorites?

Have you got one or more picked out?

Still undecided? Try the Waltz, Slow Rhythm/Foxtrot, or Cha Cha, and you just can't go wrong! These are the tested and true favorites!

Go ahead, learn ballroom dances! and have some fun!