Viennese Waltz
The Viennese Waltz has a strong Austro/Hungarian influence. Reflection of High Society and fashion of the 18th Century. A dance that became an excuse for the gentlemen to get close with the ladies to the ‘Pop’ music of the times – Strauss.
Waltz
Romantic themes of a melodic and harmonic dimension, with measured amounts of turns and swirls help capture the essence of the Waltz, giving rise to a dreamy atmosphere. It is sometimes referred to as the ‘slow’, or ‘English’ Waltz in countries where the Viennese Waltz is known as the Waltz. First introduced to English Society in the summer of 1816 and succeeded in causing quite a stir with articles in the newspapers of the day referring to an end of moral standards due to the closeness that dance partners had to each other.
Tango Ballroom
The Tango expresses a love/hate relationship between a man and a woman. A sharp staccato like attitude with a deep and soft swirling undertone: thus emulating the story of love/hate – The European version of a dance borne in Argentina. Lots of stories about it's origins but essentially can be traced from the Argentine via France and found it's way to British shores in about 1912 with Tango Teas held at the Savoy Hotel for fashionable society members. In the Ballroom Tango, contact is maintained at the hips and the couples' upper bodies are arched apart, whereas in Argentine Tango the contact is mainly in the upper body, allowing the couple to dance cheek-to cheek. Popularised and danced in films such as; 'True Lies' with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis, 'Scent of a Woman' with Al Pacino, Baz Luhrmann's film Moulin Rouge danced to a very powerful version of the old Police hit 'Roxanne' and 'Shall we Dance' with Jennifer Lopez and Richard Gere.
Argentine Tango
Not a Ballroom dance, Argentine Tango was born in Buenos Aires and is a raw and authentic dance which, like many Latin dances, explores and tests the relationship between man and woman. The man and woman are equal and with the movements weaving contact and separation, the dance suggests that either partner may be seduced. Argentine Tango has a great range of hold positions, from an open embrace with many variations, to a more traditional close hold where the couple are cheek-to-cheek, chest-to-chest. As there are a wide variety of steps and sequences and the dance is of an improvisational nature, the music for Argentine Tango is a lot more varied than that of the Ballroom Tango, hence musically there is wide range of music to suit every taste. Initially popularised in the 1921 film 'The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse' with the silent screeen star Rudolph Valentino.
Foxtrot
Emulating class, style and panache with its ease of lateral swing, a real smoothie!! Originally Mr Harry Fox’s trot, an American Comedian who introduced a special form of walk in his vaudeville act in around 1914 - the dance was quite wild and very fast and more akin to the tempo of a quickstep, the English society influence eventually calmed down and refined the dance into what you see today with the 'Slow' Foxtrot first being danced at the 1927 Star Championship.
Quickstep
Thoughts of ‘trick steps’, ‘flickers’, ‘hops and kicks’, combined with speed conjure up a picture of happiness and good times. It's predecessors were the 'Quicktime Foxtrot and Charleston' introduced at the 1927 Star Championship.
Cha Cha Cha
A Cuban club scene of a girl teasing a boy, by being cheeky and sensual. Sharp and accented. The Cha Cha Cha was based on a rhythm introduced in the 1950's by a very popular Cuban singer/Band leader/Composer, Enrico Jorrin.
Samba
The Samba is a Brazilian influenced dance with a carnival type atmosphere and amazing contrasting percussive rhythms. Originally popularised in the United States of America in around 1914.
Rumba
The Rumba is often referred to as the dance of ‘Love’. Soft flowing movements with contrasting stillness. A passionate and sensual duel between man and woman on the dance floor. The Rumba is thought to have originated in Cuba from a dance called the Guajira.
Paso Doble
The Paso Doble comes originally from Spain, but developed in France. The Man is the Matador – Lady is the Cape. Broad sweeping actions from the man lead the lady to emulate the cape. The story of the Bullfight. Not all strong actions.
True story is of the Matador parading proudly through the streets on his fine white horse. Entering the arena to a rapturous applause from the crowd. He displays his prowess with the Cape. The bull approaches – a fight ensues – to the death! The dance has echoes of the Spanish Flamenco and ballet. This dance was featured in Baz Luhrmann's low budget, but extremely funny film made in 1992 in Australia 'Strictly Ballroom'.
Jive
From the USA 'Lindy', ‘Lindy Hop’, ‘Boogie Woogie’, ‘Swing’, ‘Jitter Bug’, 'Twelve-Bar Blues', ‘Rock 'n Roll’ and ‘Ceroc’: All sister jives to todays competitive jive. Can be incorporated to add colour and texture to a routine. A happy party atmosphere. Most are based on Afro-American music, Rock 'n Roll using the USA's heavy down beat music of the 1950's. The 'Lindy' was probably where it all started when people danced and jumped for joy when in 1927 newspapers reported that Charles Lindbergh had been successful in flying solo across the Atlantic with headlines of 'Lindy hops over Atlantic'.
Salsa
Salsa is a hot, fun and flirtatious Latin American dance, fuelled by Afro-Caribbean rhythms and all-night partying. The dance fuses Cuban, Puerto Rican and Columbian styles into simple and lively movements. One of the Samba family.
Merengue
The Merengue is another of the Samba family, with many of the moves like those of the Salsa, but with a slower tempo making the dance easier to pick up.
Mambo
Bought back to life by a memorable appearance in the hit film ‘Dirty Dancing’ starring Patrick Swayze and when Lou Bega released the song ‘Mambo Number Five’. A forerunner of Salsa, Mambo is defined by 1950’s Cuban Jazz and accompanied by fast and fun moves.
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