Partner/Social Dance, Wedding Dance Lessons, Two Step, Country Dance Lessons, Ballroom, Latin, Salsa, Argentine Tango

Country Dances

This style requires the knowledge of all the dance styles, as within the Country Dances it uses Ballroom, Latin, Swing and it's own Country techniques. So having a basic knowledge of all the styles of dance will assist you when learning the different techniques within the range of Country dances.

Two-Step

Your classic Country dance. The proper way of Two-Stepping is unlike what you might see at the local bars. This dance feels like walking, it is not a smooth or rhythm style dance. It travels around the floor in a counter-clockwise direction even while the lady is turning. Basic count is quick, quick, slow, slow. (1, 2, 3, 5)

Bar-Style Two-Step and or Country Swing

This dance can use a progressive step and a stationery Jive like step, so the dance travels and stops a lot. The count is the same quick, quick, slow, slow timing (1, 2, 3, 5) as Two-Step but can be fun to faster music. There are a bunch of social pattern variations that can be lead-followable. From Alberta to Texas you will see many regional variations of this dance.

Cha Cha

This dance is all about passion and being flirtatious. It is a rhythm, Latin style dance and is danced at a slightly slower tempo within the Country style. It can be known within the country circuit as a Country Cha Cha and though it's style of dance also suits Latin, it can be danced to many Top 40 hit songs. Both have Cuban motion. Basic count is 1, 2, 3, 4 &.

Double Shuffle, 6 Step or Progressive

This dance follows along the same lines as Two-Step, as you can use many of the same dance patterns. This dance though has a triple step instead of the slow, slow count. It's a great alternative for live band music where dancing a Two-Step would be too slow. The basic count is 1 & 2, 3 & 4, 5, 6 (triple step, triple step, walk, walk).

Waltz

Waltz is an elegant dance whether Country or Ballroom. The American style is danced with many open partner positions rather than all in a closed dance frame like the International style. This is a smooth dance and has rise and fall when done properly. The basic count is 1, 2, 3, but is danced 3, 1, 2 for a smooth flow. The music for Waltz is different to other dances as it is in 3/4 timing rather than the standard 4/4 timing.

Triple Two-Step

This is a romantic dance. It would be like walking hand in hand through a park with your loved-one. It is used in Country competitions and it's technique is more complex than Double Shuffle. It flows around the floor with a graceful sway. The basic count is 1, 2, 3 & 4, 5 & 6.

Night Club

This is another romantic dance. This dance embraces the two of you as if no-body else were around. Inspired by the basic stand and sway with each other on the floor dance; this dance has evolved in to a beautiful slow dance that can be danced to many ballads. The basic count is 1, 2 & 3, 4 &

East Coast Swing

A lively dance from the Swing/Jive family. East Coast Swing is the Country style of Swing/Jive. It is danced at a slightly slower tempo than Jive or American Swing. It has a bounce that is down and up, only to neutral. A fun dance that would suit a lot of music played at most functions you may attend. The basic count is 1 & 2, 3 & 4, 5, 6.

West Coast Swing

This dance will get you hooked! Not an easy dance to start with, but this dance is very versatile and works with pretty much any music style out there, It originates from Blues music but is now danced to Pop / Rock / Ballads and many more types of music. There is a big community of dancers that just focus on West Coast Swing. It differs because, unlike most dances where the male and female steps mirror each other, in this dance many steps do not. The basic count is 1, 2, 3 & 4, 5 & 6.

Polka

This is the fastest / liveliest dance of all the Country Dances. It's Country style differs from the German style Polka that some people may be familiar with. This dance has a bounce. It has a lilt and rise but keeps grounded without skipping up off the floor. Make sure you have some room on the dance floor as you could be lapping pretty quick! The basic count is 1 & 2, 3 & 4.

Ballroom Dances

Ballroon dances are smooth dances. They have a reach and pull motion to allow them to glide gracefully around the floor. When done correctly the technique provides swing and sway, rise and fall which takes a lot of control and balance.

Waltz

Foxtrot

A slow dance and relevant music could be your Crooner type songs, like Frank Sinatra, or newer, Michael Buble. The basics of this dance makes it one of the easier dances to start with. Done properly it has rise and fall and a graceful flow. The basic count is slow, slow, quick, quick. (1, 3, 5, 6)

Tango

This dance has a lot of feeling. Like a couple in love but that has had an argument. It has sharp moves but within that has a powerful flow around the floor. Classic American / International style Tango also suits some of the modern music that is played. The basic count is slow, slow, quick, quick, slow (1, 3, 5, 6, 7.)

Quickstep

With striding steps, this dance moves around the floor quickly.. The technique to keep this dance smooth and graceful but also lively is the thing to master. Not a beginner dance but a joy to watch and experience when done correctly. The basic standardized count is slow, quick, quick (1, 3, 4.). Or dancing through split measures SQQS

Vienesse Waltz

A faster Waltz. Known in some format as Old-Time Waltz. The technique to keep this dance smooth and graceful as it turns so quickly around the floor is the thing to master. It can be adapted to a more simpler style when a Waltz is necessary but the music is faster than your standard slow Waltz. The basic count is 1, 2, 3.

Latin Dances

All Latin style dances have Cuban motion when done correctly. Isolation of the back, ribs and hips. Some dances are slower and some are faster. They all have a powerful delivery with the motion being more staccato.

Cha Cha

This dance is all about passion and being flirtatious. It is a rhythm, Latin style dance and within the Latin style is danced at a faster tempo than the Country style. Although it's style of dance also suits Country, it can be danced to many Top 40 hit songs. Both have Cuban motion. Basic count is 1, 2, 3, 4 &.

Rumba

American style Rumba is dance at a slightly faster tempo than International style Rumba. Done correctly this dance will have a Cuban motion. Known for it's sexy Rumba walks this dance is a romantic dance. The basic count is slow, quick, quick, slow (1, 3, 4, 5.)

Samba

An upbeat dance with a unique tempo. This dance has Cuban motion. This dance has a sharp but fluid style which is fun and lively. The emphasis being on the later part of the beat making the basic count 1, a, 2, 3, a 4.

Jive

This dance is fast in the International Latin style and the steps are danced more on the spot. It has a triple step count. The basic count is 1 & 2, 3 & 4, 5, 6. A popular dance for social events to 50's, 60's, 70's music.

Street Latin Dances

These dances are still categorized as Latin style dances, but are more your street style Latin dances than Ballroom style Latin dances.

Salsa

Maybe the most common socially danced is LA style Salsa which starts on beat 1. Salsa can also be danced on 2 (Mambo) which is the same format just starts on a different beat with some pattern variations. A dance with lots of spinning for the lady. This dance has Cuban motion and the music is usually quite fast so steps are small with lots of body isolation to ribs and hips. The basic count is 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7.

Merengue

This is the simplest dance of all! This dance has Cuban motion. It's patterns can be simple or complex but as the step count is consistent and simple the patterns are easier to comprehend. The basic count is 1, 2.

Argentine Tango

Whereas Ballroom Tango is very formalized, Argentine tango is danced in an embrace that can vary from very open, in which leader and follower connect at arm's length, to very closed, in which the connection is chest-to-chest, or anywhere in between.

Tango dance is essentially walking with a partner and the music. Dancing appropriately to the emotion and speed of a tango is extremely important to dancing tango. A good dancer is one who transmits a feeling of the music to the partner, leading them effectively throughout the dance. Also, dancers generally keep their feet close to the floor as they walk, the ankles and knees brushing as one leg passes the other.

Argentine tango dancing relies heavily on improvisation; although certain patterns of movement have been codified by instructors over the years as a device to instruct dancers, there is a "basic step" called "basico". One of the few constants across all Argentine tango dance styles is that the follower will usually be led to alternate feet. Another is that the follower rarely has his or her weight on both feet at the same time. In many modern variations of Argentine Tango, particularly in Europe, teachers of Tango may establish a "basic step" in order to help students to learn and pick up the "feel" of the dance.

Swing Dances

These dances originated from Charleston, then came Lindy (Hop). This then split in to Big Band music and Blues music, the Big Band music became the style for Jive, American Swing and East Coast Swing (Country) and Blues music became the style for West Coast Swing (though nowadays is danced to all kinds of music).

East Coast Swing

A lively dance from the Swing/Jive family. East Coast Swing is the Country style of Swing/Jive. It is danced at a slightly slower tempo than Jive or American Swing. It has a bounce that is down and up only to neutral. A fun dance that would suit a lot of music played at most functions you may attend. The basic count is 1 & 2, 3 & 4, 5, 6.

American Swing

This is danced at a slightly slower tempo than International style Jive but a little faster than East Coast Swing (Country) and has the emphasis on the 2 rather than 1 with the step on 2 being a slight side step rather than on the spot. A popular dance for social events to 50's, 60's, 70's music. The basic count is 1 & 2, 3 & 4, 5, 6.

Jive

Single-Step Jive

This dance is a single count step pattern to keep it simple and easier to dance to when the music gets faster. A popular dance for social events to 50's, 60's, 70's music. The basic count is 1, 3, 5, 6.

Other Dances

Disco Waltz (Slow dance to ballads)

This dance was created for wedding couples as a simple dance style for their First Dance. It suits most Ballads. With simple step patterns and some slow turns it's a perfect alternative to the "High School" sway. The basic count is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Hustle

A 70's inspired dance style. Normally danced to Disco Music. The basic count is &,1, 2, 3.

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