Our instinct tells us to express rhythm. Just as children bob their heads to music and senior citizens tap their canes to the beat, dancing comes naturally to both young and old alike. Some form of social dancing has probably existed since the beginning of time, moving from ritualistic dancing to social interaction for pure enjoyment. Modern ballroom dancing has withstood the test of time and is now more popular than ever. Both American and International style ballroom dances are divided into the following categories:


Rhythm:
Bolero . Cha-Cha . E Coast Swing . W Coast Swing . Hustle . Lindy Hop . Mambo
Merengue . Polka . Rumba . Salsa . Samba . Two Step

Steamy! The most famous Latin American dance to gain popularity in North America and Europe is, without doubt, the rumba. Slow and romantic, the Rumba is the most sensual of the Latin dances. Motion is produced through a transfer of body weight and not from direct movement of the hips. Couples dance very closely together, using their body language to express emotion between them. The Rumba is sometimes referred to as the "Dance Of Love" because couples stare deeply into each other's eyes while they dance.


Smooth:
Foxtrot . Tango . Viennese Waltz . Waltz

© Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Inc 2005