12 TYPES OF

BALLROOM
DANCES
The cha-cha is a lively, flirtatious ballroom dance
full of passion and energy. The classic "Cuban
motion" gives the cha-cha its style. Partners work
together to synchronize each movement in perfect
alignment.
The foxtrot is a ballroom dance that is lots of fun
and simple to learn, making it an excellent dance
for beginners. In the foxtrot, dancers make long,
smooth, flowing movements across the floor to
swing or big-band music.
Jive is a ballroom dance style that originated in
the United States with African-Americans. It is a
lively form of swing dance and a variation of the
jitterbug.
The Lindy Hop is the ballroom dance considered
to be the father of all swing dances. It is known for
its athletic style and often contains aerial jumps,
twists, and flips. It was named for Charles
Lindbergh's (Lucky Lindy) transatlantic flight and
popular in the 1930s.
The mambo is one of the most emotional Latin
American ballroom dances. Swaying hip
movements, facial expressions, arm movements, and
holds all contribute to the sensuality on display in the
dance. It's different than what modern Americans call
the mambo and was hot in the 1940s and '50s in Cuba
and New York, after being invented by Perez Prado.
The paso doble is one of the liveliest ballroom
dances, originating in southern France. It is
modeled after the sound, drama, and movement of
the Spanish bullfight and is danced to music used
during a bullfight.
The quickstep is a quick version (naturally) of the
foxtrot. It is a ballroom dance composed of
extremely quick stepping, syncopated feet
rhythms, and runs. The quickstep is exciting to
watch but among the most difficult of all the
ballroom dances to master.
The rumba is considered by many to be the most
romantic and sensual of all Latin ballroom
dances. It is often referred to as the "Grandfather
of the Latin dances" and its music has an
insistent 4/4 beat. The ballroom version derives
from Cuban son.
Possibly the most popular of all Brazilian
ballroom dances, both young and old enjoy
dancing the samba. It can be performed solo,
such as during the Carnival in Rio de Janiero,
or with a partner socially.
The tango is one of the most fascinating of all
ballroom dances. This sensual dance originated in
Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the late 19th century.
The style used in competitions today is different
than Argentinian styles of tango.
The Viennese waltz is a quick rotating ballroom
dance with a subtle rise and fall. It is considered by
most to be one of the most difficult dances to learn.
The simple and elegant rotational movement
characterizes the Viennese waltz. It's up to four times
faster than the regular, or slow, waltz, and the steps
are slightly different.
The waltz is one of the smoothest of ballroom
dances. It is a progressive dance marked by long,
flowing movements, continuous turns, and rise
and fall. The dance is so graceful and elegant that
waltz dancers appear to glide around the floor
with almost no effort.