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Dance Subsets - Style, Variations, Types


Exploring the Styles of Ballroom Dancing

International Standard

International Standard is celebrated for its elegance, flowing movements, and disciplined technique. In this style, dancers maintain a closed position, highlighting the beauty and harmony between partners.

  • Waltz: Known for its grace and flowing movements, the Waltz is danced in triple time with emphasis on the first beat.
  • Tango: Dramatic with staccato movements, the Tango is a passionate dance, featuring sharp head turns and abrupt stops.
  • Viennese Waltz: A quicker variant of the Waltz, characterized by fast rotating movements, almost exclusively in closed position.
  • Foxtrot: Smooth and elegant, characterized by long, continuous movements across the dance floor.
  • Quickstep: Fast-paced and energetic, featuring hops, runs, and syncopated steps.

International Latin

This style is famed for its sensuality, rhythm, and expressiveness, with dancers often performing in an open position for elaborate and flashy movements.

  • Cha-Cha: Energetic and playful, marked by catchy rhythm, Cuban motion, and syncopated steps.
  • Samba: A rhythmic Brazilian dance with a distinctive bounce action and rolling hip movements.
  • Rumba: The dance of love, featuring slow, sensual movements, focused on hip action and expressive arm styling.
  • Paso Doble: A theatrical Spanish dance with strong, dramatic poses, often depicting a bullfight.
  • Jive: A fast-paced variation of the Jitterbug, full of kicks, flicks, and turns.

American Smooth

American Smooth is a blend of elegance and freedom, allowing for both open and closed positions. This style is characterized by its fluidity and seamless movement transitions.

  • Waltz: Similar to the International style but with a greater range of movement and more open positions.
  • Tango: American Tango incorporates more fluid and sweeping movements compared to its International counterpart.
  • Foxtrot: Features a combination of slow and quick steps, allowing for more stylistic freedom and expression.
  • Viennese Waltz: Faster and more rotational, with an emphasis on dynamic spins and turns.

American Rhythm

American Rhythm focuses on bold, rhythmic movements, emphasizing the dancer's body and leg action, primarily performed in an open position.

  • Cha-Cha: More rhythmic and flirtatious, with an emphasis on Latin hip movement.
  • Rumba: Slower and more sensual, focusing on the rhythmic body movements and elaborate arm styling.
  • East Coast Swing: A lively and bouncy dance derived from the Jive, but slower and more relaxed.
  • Bolero: A unique blend of slow Rumba and flowing Waltz, characterized by its smooth, gliding movements and dramatic arm positions.
  • Mambo: A fast-paced dance known for its energetic rhythm, sharp movements, and spontaneous feel.

Each style within ballroom dancing offers its unique charm and challenge, making it a diverse and enriching activity for dancers of all skill levels.