SOCIAL DANCING
dancing to, calling the step "the Triple Mambo".
WALTZ - born in the suburbs of Vienna and in the
alpine region of Australia; a smooth dance,
travelling around the line of dance; banned by the
church authorities because it is the dance to use
closed dance position.
POLKA - is defined as vivacious couple dance of
Bohemian origin in duple time; was a basic pattern
of hop-step-close-step; lively Bohemian dance tune
in 2/4 time.
FOXTROT - originated by Vaudeville actor Harry Fox.
The combination of quick and slow steps permits
more flexibility and gives much greater dancing
pleasure.
TANGO (the dance with the stop "Baille Con
Carte"). - Originated in Spain or Morocco, the Tango
was introduced to the New World by the Spanish
settlers, eventually coming back to Spain with Black
and Creole influences. Started with the gauchos of
Argentina.
RUMBA - Afro-Cuban origin, deriving from the days
of Negros Slavery; exotic dance with violent and
sinuous movements of hip, shoulder and torso.
THREE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS:
1. The action is in the feet and the knees;
2. There is a delay shift of weight; and
3. The upper body is upright and quiet, with a focus
on one's partner.
MAMBO - originated in Haiti. The word "Mambo" is
the name of a Voodoo priestess in the religion
brought by the Negroes from Africa; three forms of
mambo: single, double, and triple.
PASO DOBLE - "man's" dance, portraying the story
of the matador with (the female being) his cape,
where the matador is to weild his cape according to
the "anger and intensity" of the roaring boar.
QUICKSTEP - or "joy" dance of ballroom dancing, is
noted as a quick Foxtrot; characterized by a slow-
slow-quick- quick-slow rhythm performed relatively
fast 48-52 bars/min. music that brings out all of the
"frills" it has.
CHA CHA (Cha-Cha-Cha) - an off shoot of the
Mambo. In the slow Mambo tempo, there was a
distinct sound in the music that people began
TEACHER PIERRE LAVELLE, Cuba in 1952. The name
could have been derived from the Spanish CHA CHA
meaning “Nursemaid” or “charchar” meaning to
chew coca Leaves, or from “char” meaning “tea”, or
GUARACHA (fast and cheerful Cuban dance).
RHYTHM: 4/4, 4 beats per measures, all steps break
on count 2. Slow-slow-quick-quick-slow or step step
cha-cha-cha or two three four and one.
POSTURE: head erect, straight back, bent knees,
loose hips, Cuban Rhythm.
FLIRTY STYLE POSITION: Closed Latin position, two
hands held, one hand and no hands in contact are all
used from the cha cha. Eye contact with your
partner should be maintained throughout all
variations.
5 BASIC DANCE STEPS OF CHA CHA
1. BASIC CHACHA
2. SIDE CHACHA/SIDE STEP
3. NEW YORK STEP
4. CHA CHA CHA STEP
5. WHOLE TURN
ELEMENTS OF DANCE ETIQUETTE:
1. Never blame your partner for anything that may
happen on the dance floor. Not if you want him/her
to dance with you again.
2. A request for a dance must be accepted under
almost all circumstances. If you decline a dance, you
yourself cannot dance until the end of the music.
3. No unsolicited teaching on the dance floor! There
is a good chance this will make your partner feel
small and humiliated. Not exactly a great way of
encouraging him/her, or others, to dance with you.
4. Do not monopolize a partner on the dance floor.
Dancers are polite and rarely say no to a dance, but
this is no carte blanche to impose on their kindness.
Dance with everyone, and let everyone dance.
5. On the floor, be considerate of other couples.
Exercise good floor craft: do not cut other couples
off: no aerials or choreographed steps on the dance
floor.
CHA CHA CHA BASIC STEPS: face away from her partner. The cha cha cha
steps are done as a forward Progressive
1. BASIC – Man steps forward L, rocks back on
Basic. The pivots continue on every step until
R, Cha Cha Cha (3 tiny steps-weight changes
the man does a basic, at which time the lady
L, R, L) in place. Man rocks back on R, rocks
follows his lead by joining him in the basic
forward L, Cha Cha Cha (3 tiny steps-weight
Think L foot forward, turn R. pass pass pass;
changes R, L, R) in place. Lady reverses steps.
R foot forward. turn L pass, pass, pass. The
2. SIDE BASIC – Same as Basic except, Cha Cha
man and lady use the same foot work, but
Cha steps travel to side. (Man to L side on
the lady starts one measure after the man.
first cha cha cha, to R side on second cha cha
8. FULL CHASE - Same as Chase/Half Chase, but
cha. Lady does reverse.)
on cha cha cha steps turn 180 degrees again,
3. PASSING BASIC/PROGRESSIVE BASIC –
to face partner. Often the Full and Half
Same as Basic except cha cha steps are done
chases are alternated.
moving forward and backward.
9. DOUBLE BREAK - Start in 2 hand hold, open
4. CROSS-OVER BREAK – Man steps L to side
to man's R side with a cross over holding
across his R foot. Rock back in place with R
inside hands. Lock outside foot behind
foot, cha cha cha (3 tiny steps-LRL). R foot
leading foot, cross and rock back, cha cha
crosses over L foot to L side, rock back in
cha facing partner. Think: Cross Lock, Cross
place with L, cha cha cha. Lady reverses feet.
Rock, Cha Cha Cha. Generally, 4 Double
The man's lead must be strong on opening
Beaks are done to finish with music.
beat, take ladies R hand in man's L.
10. SWEETHEART - From a two-hand hold, the
preferably with an aligator hold, pulling
man swings lady's R arm diagonally overhead
across to man's R side. This sequence is done
and turns lady into a wrapped, side by side
for an even number of cha cha chas.
position. Then he turns lady back out to basic
5. TURN AROUND - After the 3rd (or odd
two hand hold. The man does the basic step
number) of Cross-Over Break steps, man and
throughout. Lady does 180 degrees turn to L,
lady turn simultaneously away from each
cha cha steps next to man in side-by-side
other-(outside) slow slow end facing partner
hold, then is turned 190 degrees to R,
with cha cha cha steps. Man’s lead for this is
stepping fwd on R for basic position.
to swing lady's arm away as he lets go.
11. STANDARD PEEK A BOO - Man does basic
6. CROSS OVER BREAK WITH UNDER ARM
footwork, when he goes back on R ft, he lifts
TURN - After 3rd cross over, man holds and
his L hand toward his R shoulder (lady's R
raises lady's R hand with his L hand, Lady
arm up to her L side), put man's R hand on
does L slow turning out, R pivot slow to face
her R upper back. Lady's footwork: Rock back
partner and cha cha cha. Man does 4th
on R ft, step L fwd, cha cha cha turning ½ to
crossover break. Can also do a lady's Under
L. Rock back on L ft, fwd on R, cha cha cha
Arm Turn inside direction-man leads into this
turning ½ to R.
by crossing held hand to lady's L side (man's
12. FULL PEEK A BOO - This is a R to R hand or
R) and lifting arm up for lady to go under.
two hand hold variation. Same foot work for
Another variation is that both can turn
both, but man changes hands so that he
outside under raised joined arms.
holds lady' SR hand in his R, crosses his L
7. CHASE/HALF CHASE - Uses Shine Position.
hand over his R, to hold lady's L. From this
Man initiates the chase any time his L foot is
position a window is formed, and partners
free, usually after 2 Basics. Man steps
peek through the double arm windows at
forward on L pivoting to face 180 degrees
each other. Get out with a lady's UAT or a
(faces away from partner), with weight
simple hand change since you are in basic.
transferred to R foot. This is the cue for the
More advanced, use a man's single or double
lady that the Chase has begun. On her next L
head loop to get out.
forward step, she will pivot 180 degrees to
 13. ALTERNATING HANDS - Variation of Full
Peek a Boo, uses same foot work. Man holds
lady's wrist. Pulling R hand across, then L.
(handshake, reverse handshake), could also
hold forearm.
14. CROSS BODY LEAD - Lady rocks bk on R ft,
cha cha cha in place, rock fwd on L, ½ turn to
L on step R, cha cha cha to finish turn and
face ptr. Man starts basic with fwd L, bk on
R, and leads lady across his body, doing cha
cha cha as a side close side. Turn ½ to L to
face ptr for rock step and last cha cha cha.
15. HALF MOON - Start with cross body lead
using R handshake hold, after basic, both do
a side by side with L arms out to side. Go into
a cross over break (5th position break) and
add cross over spins. The lady spins on the
cha cha cha-think: cross step turn turn, cross
step turn turn. The man puts his hand up so
she can use it as pressure against the spins
both L and R. The lady does rock fwd, bk,
spin-rept. The man rocks bk or can also spin.
SWING DANCE
- evolved out of Jazz styles from Pre WWII, known as
JITTERBUG and BOOGIE-WOOGIE.
- a wild dance for the young before being tamed into
JIVE or AMERICAN SWING in the later 1940’s
TEMPO: Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow, Quick,
Quick, Slow.
RHYTHM: 4/4 Triple: 3 quick steps, 3 steps rock back
DOUBLE: step touch, step touch, rock back
LESS COMMON SINGLE: step, step rock back
STYLE: requires a relaxes, easy, bent knees posture.
SWING DANCE BASIC STEPS:
1. UNDERARM TURN RIGHT/OUTSIDE TURN –
Man raises L hand and guides lady under,
continuing triple basic while lady turns. R
under the arms with 2 forward sets of triples,
to face partner on rock back. This can also be
done with partners almost changing places
while lady turns.
2. UNDERARM TURN LEFT/INSIDE TURN –
Same as Underarm turn Right except lady is
guided to her L to turn. This variation is often
preceded by an Underarm Turn Right.
3. ALTERNATE UNDERARM TURNS – Lady does
Underarm Turn Left (inside) on 1st measure,
with man's hand wrapping around lady's
waist. Then the man does an inside L
Underarm Turn with lady's arm wrapping
man's waist on 2nd measure.
4. BACK PASS – Man drops L hand, changes
hands to hold only lady's K in his R, which
travels around the back of the man’s waist.
Usual triple foot work, man turns and
finishes with lady's inside (L) underarm turn,
man catches her hand to resume basic. An
alternate variation is the man uses a 1 hand
hold (his L, lady's R) placing her R hand on his
stomach, as he turns L, end with inside UAT.
5. PRETZEL/ARM SLIDE – Start with 1 triple
basic holding hands, partners lift hands
behind necks on the diagonal for triple steps,
release hands sliding into one hand hold for
rock back. Man moves in to resume basic
step.
6. PUSH STEP – Man steps diagonally across R
foot with his L, steps across L foot with R
foot, and usual rock back (L, R.) Can be done
in single or triple rhythm. Lady crosses L foot
with R, R foot with L, rock back. The lead is
with the hands held upright; pressure
applied to the diagonal.
7. SWEETHEART – Use lady's inside turn to
assume cuddle position. Partners stand side
by side with 2 hands held, lady's arms are
crossed in front. Using triple steps, alternate
sides. Use Lady's outside turn to get out of
variation.
8. BUTTERFLY – Uses basic hammer lock
position, or back-to-back slide. Man lifts arm
over his head, ducks under own arm, rock
back. Get into and out of Butterfly with a
lady's outside turn.
9. PEEK A BOO – From a lady's outside
underarm turn, man changes hands to join
his R to lady's R hand. Join L hands above R
hands, using R hands to pull the lady to
man's R side. Alternate sides peeking under
"window". Get out of variation when the
 man's R hand is on top, by swinging into a
lady's underarm outside turn, with man
changing both hands to hold lady's R hand
with his L, L with his R.
10. VARSOUVIENNE/SHADOW – Uses outside
lady's turn with man changing hands as in
Peek a Boo, turning lady into Shadow
position. Alternate lady to L and R side. The
lady must do a fast turn, in some cases a
double turn almost in place to move side and
side. Use lady's underarm outside turn to get
out of this pattern.
11. DISH RAG – Keeping hands joined
throughout, both partners turn under joined
man's L, lady's R arms. Men turn 360 degrees
to L, ladies to R, until facing each other. Turn
is completed in one triple step.
JAZZ
- is as experimental, free form and fluid as jazz, the
music. It's fusion, It's inventive, it's exuberant. And,
like the music, jazz dance is a uniquely American art
form with influences from everywhere. The smooth
and syncopated moves of jazz are always all about
the performance.
- came out of Africa.
JAZZ DANCE BASIC STEPS:
1. JAZZ SQUARE – often done with some
attitude in the upper body, accenting the
motion. Jazz squares can be executed in
groupings of two or more, repeated on the
same side.
Step forward on the right or left foot.
Cross the other foot over the first foot.
Step back with the first foot.
Bring the feet side by side.
2. JAZZ WALKS – basically regular walking
combined with a tiptoeing motion that
makes the walk like a cat strut. Jazz walks are
beautiful and sexy ways to transition from
one part of your routine to another, and
they're also great as choreography of their
own.
3. ISOLATION – one of the key skills for any jazz
dancer is to be able to move parts of the
body individually. For hands and other
extremities this is pretty easy, but to master
jazz you need to be able to isolate the chest
and hips as well, and this is almost always a
part of any jazz dance warm-up.
To isolate your hips as an exercise, follow
these steps:
Loosen your knees.
Extend your arms out to the sides.
Holding your chest and your legs as still as
possible, swing your hips from side to side.
4. CHASSE – your chassé step can take on a
variety of different looks based on the speed
with which you execute it. Accent the step
with your arms to create artistry for this
movement.
Step one foot forward (or to the side).
Bring up the second foot behind the first
foot.
As you bring up the second foot to join the
first one, immediately step off the foot to
create a skipping movement across the floor.
5. JAZZ LAYOUT – another classic move, and is
often used in posters and images to convey
some of the excitement of jazz dance. This
dramatic move is performed by:
A straight kick high up in the air.
Simultaneously doing an extreme back bend,
head arched back and arms extended.
This iconic jazz step requires excellent
balance and flexibility when done in this
extreme manner. Simpler versions involve
doing a back bend without any sort of kick.
6. STAG LEAP – very high jump, simulating
splits in the air, only one leg is bent so the
foot is tucked under the knee.
7. PIVOT STEP – one-foot steps in front of the
other, and then the body pivots around
back into the original position.
8. FAN KICK – the body stays in place while
one leg starts inward and kicks all the way
around to its original position.
9. DROP – used in more modern jazz routines,
a drop is when a dancer executes a
controlled fall from an isolated position.