Social and

Ballroom Dance
•The setting of the social and ballroom dance is
a social gathering with the more formal
atmosphere than the simple and informal
parties in which the recreational dances are
the usual forms.
•Social and ballroom dancing are generally held
in the evenings.
•The participants are usually in formal attire.
• Social dancing is a non-competitive version of
ballroom and Latin dances.
• It is comprised of all the same dances, like
Foxtrot, Tango, Swing, or Cha-Cha, but designed
to be used in practical settings like wedding
receptions, nightclubs, business functions, or
informal gatherings.
• Social dancing is meant to be enjoyed while
socializing.
Important Skills
for Good Social
Dancing
1. Leading and Following
• The most important skill for good social dancing.
• This is the non-verbal communication from the leader to the follower
indicating the direction, timing, and style, among other things
2. Posture and Dance Frame
• If Leading and Following is a message, then good posture and dance
frame are the antenna broadcasting the signal.
3. Multi-Tasking
• Social dancing is having the ability to converse while dancing.
• Being able to multi-task, like chatting about work or the weather
while Waltzing, takes some practice but allows dancing to develop
into natural use much quicker.
 Competitive
Ballroom Dances
Standard/Smooth Dance
• 1. Waltz
• 2. Viennese Waltz
• 3. Tango
• 4. Foxtrot
• 5. Quickstep
Latin/Rhythm Dance
• 1. Pasodoble
• 2. Spanish Bolero
• 3. Cuban Bolero
• 4. Samba
• 5. Rhumba
• 6. Mambo
• 7. Cha Cha
• 8. East Coast Swing
• 9. Jive
Types of Social
and Ballroom
Dances
1. Samba
• The national dance of Brazil.
• It is a bold, dramatic and very energetic dance and samba’s vertical
bounce action makes it unique.
• A bouncy dance that is partnered for competitions, but as the
national dance of Brazil, it is solo.

• VIDEO
2. Quickstep
• This dance is inspired by the foxtrot and takes on a much quicker
tempo as the name.
• The quickest dance style and it is all about moving energetically
across the floor with hops, skips and flicks.

• VIDEO
3. Jive
• A spicy swing dance set to big band music in which the man leads and
the women encourage more men to ask them to dance.
• An energetic dance, with plenty of knee-lifting, bending, and rocking
of the hips.
• The fastest of the Latin dances.
• VIDEO
4. Foxtrot
• It is a progressive dance.
• Designed to be very smooth, comes with continual flowing
movements.
• Considered the standard of social dances, the elegant foxtrot provides
a solid foundation for all dances and is often called the “get
acquainted” dance.

VIDEO
5. Waltz
• The waltz from German word Walzer meaning "to roll or revolve". It is
a ballroom and folk dance, normally in triple time and performed
primarily in closed position.
• It is considered the mother of modern-day dances.
• Its beautiful sweeping movement allows dancers to practice balance
and control.
• This dance is very slow and elegant and the main technique is rise and
fall throughout.

• VIDEO
6. Rumba (VIDEO)
• Also spelled as Rhumba.
• A ballroom dance of Afro-Cuban folk-dance origin that became
internationally popular in the early 20th century.
• Best known for the dancers' subtle side to side hip movements with the torso
erect.
• The danced with a basic pattern of two quick side steps and a slow forward
step.
7. Swing
• It is a popular social dance characterized by lifts, spins and flips and it
is an upbeat, lively and a lot of fun.
• Freedom to create your own using basic steps
• VIDEO
A. East Coast Swing
• It is the peak of social dancing for a lot of people. It is great because it
works with all kinds of music such as 50s music, country music, rock,
pop, and big band music.
B. West Coast Swing
• Originated in state of dance of California. It is playful, versatile, and
allows dancers to develop their versatility and self-expression a very
popular dance in the southwest and is well-suited to a nightclub or
country western setting.
East Coast Swing dance is made up of two triple steps
followed by one rock step.

The West Coast Swing dance, on the other hand,

involves two walking steps and two triple steps.
8. Cha-Cha/Cha-cha-cha
• A dance coming from Cuba.
• Has many characteristics but the primary one is that you have three
consecutive quick steps as you dance and move around with your
partner.
• It is very creative and one of the most interesting social dances and
one of the most popular Latin dances in the USA

• VIDEO
9. Salsa
• It is a social dance that originates from Cuban folk dance.
The movements are a combination of:
• a. Danzon
• b. Bomba
• c. Mambo
• d. Rumba
• e. Son

• VIDEO
10. Merengue
• Merengue in French Mérengue.
• A couple dance originated in Dominican Republic and Haiti.
• Originally it is a rural folk dance and later a ballroom.

• VIDEO
11. Mambo
• Originated from Cuba in the 1930s and a dance enjoyed throughout
the world both social and competitive dance levels.
• The dance originated as a mixture of Afro-Caribbean and Latin
American cultures.

• VIDEO
12. Tango
• Originated from the streets of 18th century Buenos Aires in Argentina
and Montevideo in Uruguay.
• It is a favorite dance of the European immigrants, former slaves,
working and lower class people.

• VIDEO
13. Bolero
• The dance originated in Spain and has several unique aspects and was
developed in 18th century.
• The dancers either singly or as couples and execute brilliant and
intricate steps to the rhythmic accompaniment of their castanets
• It is the slowest of the rhythm dances.

• VIDEO
Distinctive Features of Bolero
• a. Paseo (“walk”)
• b. Bien Parado (“sudden stop”)
• c. Various Beating Steps (battlements)
14. Paso Doble
• It was invented in Southern France and it is a march-like steps were
used in the military coined “Paso Redoble”.
• Beginning in the 18th century. The dance was played during the
matador's entrance into the bullring.
• The man dances as he was a bull and the woman as she was a
bullfighter.

• VIDEO
BASIC STEPS
IN CHA CHA
1. Basic Cha Cha 4x 10. 2 lock steps backwards and 2 lock steps
forward 2x
2. Side step and chacha with open arms 4x 11. Basic Chacha and Spot turn 2x

3. Side step with round arm movement 2x 12. Shoulder to shoulder and double underarm
turn with cha cha 4x
4. Basic Chacha and Spot turn 2x 13. Basic Chacha 4x

5. 2 lock steps backwards and 2 lock steps 14. side step and chacha in place 3x
forward 2x
6. Basic Chacha and Spot turn 2x 15. Side step and New York 4x

7. Side step and New York 4x 16. Basic Chacha and Spot turn 2x

8. Basic Cha cha 4x 17. side step and chacha in place 4x

9. side step and chacha with open arms 4x 18. Basic cha cha till music stops
1. Open position
2. Open Counter position
3. Open position (Cross hands)
• Both partner joining their right
hand/left hand
4. Two-handed open position
• Partners joined hands
5. Cha Cha Footwork (in place)
• Left heel off the floor
• Leg is bent
• The foot moves forward and toes comes down first followed by the
sole of the foot and then the heel
6. Cha Cha Side steps
• Cha cha in place 2 counts
• Chasse to the right/left
7. Timing
• 1,2, cha 3x 1,2, cha 3x
8. Forward Mambo or Check Step
• Move feet forward and weight must be on your left foot
• Move feet backwards and transfer the weight in your right foot
9. Basic movement
• Forward mambo step LEFT
• Mambo step back RIGHT
• Chasse to the left
• Mambo step back RIGHT
• Forward mambo step LEFT
• Chasse to the right
• ( counts 2,3 cha cha cha)
10. Compact Chasse
• Forward and back
• On the spot chasse 3x
• (count 2,3 chachacha)
11. Forward / Backward Lock step
• Start with right foot pointing and placing behind left foot
• Slide right foot forward chased by left foot and step Right foot
forward and Cha cha cha or 1,2,3 only.
12. New York
• Chasse to the right and do a quarter turn
• Chasse to the left and do a quarter turn

• Do it with partner
13. Shoulder to Shoulder
• Rock step starting with your left foot going slightly in front of your
right foot
• Chasse to the left
• (VICE VERSA)
• (Counts 2,3 cha cha cha)
• With Partner
14. Underarm turn
• Use shoulder to shoulder pattern
• Start with chasse to the right ,rock step
• Chasse to the left, rock step and do Underarm turn

• (New York)
• Chasse to the right and do a quarter turn
• Chasse to the left and do the underarm turn
Combination steps
• Chasse to the right (1,2) + Rock step starting with your left foot
+chasse to the right and do spot turn.
• Chasse to the left (1,2) + Rock step starting with your right foot
+chasse to the left and do spot turn.
15. Hand to Hand
• Same steps as New York but partners are
moving backwards
• Counts 2,3 cha cha cha
19. Three Cha cha cha’s
• Combination of hand to hand and chasses

• Chasse to the right + hand to hand 1x

• Chasse to the left + hand to hand 2x
• Chasse to the right + hand to hand 2x
• Chasse to the right + hand to hand 1x
20. Spot turn
• Chasse to the side R/L, turn and move right foot forward, do a quarter
turn, go back and chasse R/L

Combination:
• Chasse to the right (1,2) + Rock step starting with your left foot
+chasse to the right and do spot turn.
• Chasse to the left (1,2) + Rock step starting with your right foot
+chasse to the left and do spot turn.
21. 3 locks
• 3 lock step backwards
• 3 locks step forward
22. Rock Step
• Step with your LEFT/RIGHT foot forward
• Transfer your weight to LEFT/RIGHT foot.
• Step backwards with your RIGHT/LEFT foot
• Transfer your weight as you step backwards
23. Rock Step + Chasse + New
York/Open Arms/Spot Turn

24. Shoulder to shoulder +

Underarm Turn/Double
Underarm Turn
Practical Test: (FEMALE)
•PAIR/GROUP PRESENTATION ON CHA CHA
DANCE (100 pts.)
•WILL BE PERFORMED NEXT WEEK
•ANY MUSIC THAT SUITS YOUR TASTE AND STYLE
•3-5 MINUTES PERFORMANCE
•MAKE SURE TO PRINT OUT THE RUBRICS FROM
CANVAS
Practical Test: (MALE)
•PAIR PRESENTATION ON CHA CHA DANCE (100
pts.)
•WILL BE PERFORMED NEXT WEEK
•ANY MUSIC THAT SUITS YOUR TASTE AND STYLE
•3-5 MINUTES PERFORMANCE
•MAKE SURE TO PRINT OUT THE RUBRICS FROM
CANVAS