Dances We Teach
We teach a variety of dances to suit all of our students needs. In general our dance styles fall into two main categories: The Ballroom/Smooth dances and the Latin/Rhythm dances. In the Ballroom/Smooth category are: the Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, and Argentine Tango…in the Latin/Rhythm category: the Salsa, Mambo, Cha Cha, Rumba, Merengue, Samba, Swing, Jive, Lindy, Hustle, West Coast Swing and Bolero.
Please scroll down to see a description of each from our extensive list.
Foxtrot
The Foxtrot is a smooth progressive dance characterized by long, continuous flowing movements across the dance floor. The Foxtrot was introduced into the mainstream in 1913 by a man named Harry Fox. It ultimately became the most popular and lasting dance of the twentieth century, but not before going through many stylistic changes. Compared with today’s standards, the original Foxtrot was moderatly fast, simple and unrefined, not unlike the music of the time. The popularity of the dance stemmed from it’s overall versatility and rhythmic variation (the Foxtrot is noted for being the first dance to introduce the “Slow” count, before which time the popular dances such as the Waltz and the One-Step had only a single-count rhythm). But it wasn’t until the early 30′s that the Foxtrot began to take on a smoother and more flowing quality in contrast to the new and exciting Latin dances hitting the scene.
The Waltz
Waltz is a smooth progressive dance characterized by long, flowing movements, continuous turns, and rise & fall. Graceful and elegant, Waltz dancers glide around the floor almost effortlessly. At 28-30 measures per minute, the tempo is slow at best, but the expressive quality of the music often invites very powerful and dynamic movement from dancers.
Viennese Waltz
The Viennese Waltz is in the genre of Ballroom Dancing. In the historically first sense, the name may refer to several versions of the Waltz, including the earliest waltzes done in ballroom dancing, danced to the music of the Viennese Waltz.
What is now called the Viennes Waltz is the original form of the Waltz and the first ballroom dance in the closed position. However, in Germany, Austria and France, the words “Walzer” (German for “waltz”) and “valse” (French for “waltz”) still refers to the original dance and not the slow Waltz.
The Viennese Waltz is a rotary dance where the dancers are constantly turning either in a clockwise (natural) or a counterclockwise (reverse) direction interspersed with non-rotating change steps to switch between the direction of rotation. A true Viennese Waltz consists only of turns and change steps. Other moves such as the fleckerls, American-style figures and side sway or underarm turns are modern inventions. Furthermore, in a properly danced Viennese Waltz, couples do not pass, but turn continuously left and right while travelling counterclockwise around the floor following each other.
Tango
The Tango is earthly and dramatic. Although walking movements dominate, the Tango walks, having a “stalking” or “sneaking” character, are unlike the walks of the other ballroom dances. Movements are sometimes slow and slithery, and other times sharp and staccato, such as a quick foot flick or a sharp head snap to promenade position. The Tango ahs the same counter clockwise flow of movement around the dance floor, but with lesser sense of urgency in comparison to the smoother and more continuous ballroom dances. American Style Tango, especially at highly-developed skill levels, makes great use of open and alternate dance positions to further showcase the Tango’s dramatic nature.
Argentine Tango
The Argentine Tango originated in Argentina then moved to Uruguay and to the rest of the world later on. In the US, Argentine Tango consists of a variety of styles that developed in different regions and eras, and in response to the crowding of the venue and even the fashions in clothing.
Argentine Tango is danced in an embrace that can vary from very open, in which the leader and follower connect at arms length, to very closed, in which the connections is chest-to-chest, or anywhere in between. Close embrace is often associated with the more traditional styles, while open embrace leaves room for many of the embellishments and figures that are associated with Tango Neuvo.
Tango is essentially walking with a partner and the music. Musicality (i.e. dancing appropriately to the emotion and speed of a tango) is an extremely important element of dancing tango. A good dancer is one who makes you see the music. Also, dancers generally keep their feet close to the floor as they walk, the ankles and knees brushing as one leg passes the other.
The Quick Step
The Quick Step evolved in the late 1920s from a combination of the Foxtrot, Charleston, Shag, Peabody & One Step. This dance is English in origin and was standardized in 1927. The Quick Step is now quite separate from the other smooth or ballroom dances.
This dance gradually evolved into a very dynamic one with a lot of movement on the dance floor, with many advanced patterns including hops, runs, quick steps with a lot of momentum, and rotation. The tempo of Quick Step dance is rather brisk as it was developed to ragtime era jazz music which is very fast paced compared to other dance music.
By the end of the 20th century, the speed of Quick Step as done by advanced dancers has increased even more, due to the extensive use of steps, many advanced patterns today are cued with split beats, such as “quick-and-quick-and-quick-quick-slow.”
The Salsa
Salsa is known as the street version of the famous Mambo. The increase in popularity of Latin music makes the Mambo, Salsa, and Cha Cha Cha the dances to master. These moves from south of the border are sensual as well as invigorating. You’ll be ready to join in the excitement of the latest dance craze of Mambo and club-hop with the best of them in just a few lessons from one of Arthur Murray’s talented instructors.
The Mambo
In the 1940s people who loved dancing became fascinated by Latin American Dancing and it’s rhythms. The Mambo was formed and became American Jass with the Afro-Cuban beat. For dancers, the Mambo was an exciting challenge, and great to dance. And today the Mambo is exciting to watch.
Cha Cha Cha
Originally known as the Cha-Cha-Cha. This dance became popular around 1954. The Cha Cha Cha is an offshoot of the Mambo. In the slow Mambo tempo, there was a distinct sound in the music that people began dancing to, calling the step the “Triple” Mambo. Eventually it evolved into a separate dance, known today as the Cha Cha Cha.
The dance consists of three quick steps (triple step or Cha Cha Cha) and two slower steps on the one beat and two beat.
The Cha Cha Cha is one of the five dances of the “Latin American” program of international ballroom competitions and was laid down in the 1960s by the famous ‘Walter Laird.’
In general Cha Cha Cha steps should be kept compact and the dance is danced generally without any rise and fall, and in many respects the technique differs significantly from the earlier days. Also, the International Style diverged from the technique of the American Style Cha Cha Cha.
The Rumba
The Rumba shows your sense of rhythm and the beauty of a m an and a woman dancing together. Rumba started in Cuba, and made the Latin American world want to dance which in turn formed the Latin American dance craze. Danced to music inspired by African rhythms and Spanish melodies, the Americanized Rumba was the basis for the Mambo and the Cha Cha Cha in the United States.
Merengue
Animation comes from having fun and being willing to show it this is the Merengue. There are two schools of thought as to how this captivating dance began. One says it started as a peasant dance in the Dominican Republic by African slaves. The dragging of one leg relieved chafing of leg irons. Another says a returning war hero, a General Merengue, danced, dragging an injured leg. Today the exciting rhythms of the Merengue inspires dancers all over the world to move with its intoxicating beat.
The Samba
The Samba is the Dance of Rhythm! This is the national dance of Brazil. It is extremely popular today because it is easily adaptable to different rhythms, plus Samba is not only taking steps it also includes a bounce action to some of the rhythms, which makes it so much fun to learn. Anybody who loves the hot weather and the Carnival atmosphere will enjoy dancing the Samba.
The Swing/Jitterbug
The Swing brings forth a bouyant personality and the sprightliness of the dance becomes contagious. Whether you’re Jump-Jiving’ or doing the Dirty Boogie, Swing is the thing. It’s energetic, alive, and a lot of fun. These dances, popular in the first half of the last century, have become “all the rage” again. Arthur Murray can teach you to swing in the new millenium in no time at all.
Jive
The Jive originated in the United States from African-Americans in the early 1940s during the World War II Era. It is a lively and uninhibited variation of the Jitterbug, a form of Swing dance. In ballroom dancing, Jive is one of the five international Latin dances. In competition it is danced at a faster speed than swing & characterized by up-tempo single-time music danced with triple steps done primarily on the toes with very lively movement.
Many of it’s basic patterns are simliar to these of the East Coast Swing with the major difference of highly syncopated rhythem of the Triple Steps (Chasses).
Hustle
The Hustle is Swing and Disco put together! In the early 1970s, a modified Lindy Hop or Jitterbug became popular in the crowded discos within the US. It was called The Hustle, it is still popular today and enjoyed very much.
The Lindy
The Lindy Hop is an African American dance that evolved in New York City in 1927. It is a fusion of many dances that preceeded it or were popular during it’s development but is mainly based on jazz, tap, and the Charleston. The Lindy Hop co-evolved with jazz music and is a member of the swing dance family. It is frequently described as a jazz or street dance.
In it’s development, the Lindy Hop combined elements of both solo and partner dancing by using the movements and improvisation revived in the 1980s by American, Swedish, and British dancers. Lindy Hop dancers and organizations can now be found in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Oceania.
The West Coast Swing
West Coast Swing (WCS) is a partner dance derived from the Lindy Hop. It is characterized by a distinctive elastic look that results from it’s basic extension-compression technique of partner connection, and is danced primarily in a slotted area on the dance floor. WCS is a stylized Swing dance popular west of the Mississippi from Kansas to California. Danced to slow or medium tempo Swing or Disco music and characterized by slot movements, taps and shuffles, coaster steps, and push and pull actions of the dancers.
The Bolero
The Bolero is a name given to more than one type of Latino music and its associated dance and song. The term covers several styles, all of relatively slow tempo. In all it’s forms, the bolero has been popular for over a century and still is today. The Spanish and Cuban forms apparently have separate origins. It is now present as a very slow type of Rumba rhythm. This dance is often said to have the rise and fall of Waltz, the contra-body motion of Tango, and the rhythm of Rumba. It is a favorite of dancers, as it incorporates many techniques simliar to other dances to create a slow, sensual, romantic dance.
