Open House!
Rumba
This dance of love originated at the very beginning of the Cuban and Latin American dance crazes. The romantic music and movement was inspired by a fusion of African rhythms and Spanish melodies making the Rumba the base for all Latin dances including Mambo, Cha-Cha and hip action and, of course, spins and dips. It replaces the 8th grade sway of yesteryear in a whole new way! Because of the slow, sultry beat it’s easy to learn a variety of body movements, spins and turns at a comfortable pace. When you’re ready, you can interrelate those same patterns in the faster Latin dances with ease and confidence.
Feel stiff or awkward on the dance floor? Not only is the Rumba easy to learn, it gets your body active and builds your dance confidence.
Rumba Songs And Artists Include:
- And I Love Her – The Beatles
- It’s Now or Never – Elvis Presley
- Besame Mucho – Xavier Cugat
- Neon Moon – Brooks and Dunn
- Under the Boardwalk – The Drifters
Cha Cha
The Cha-Cha adds fun to your dancing through its syncopated steps and many open movements. The pulsating Latin rhythms make this dance so fascinating. The energetic rhythm of the Cha-Cha encourages you to cut loose and let your personality show.
Cha-Cha Songs And Artist Include:
- Sexy Back-Justin Timberlake
- In these Shoes-Kirsty Maccoll
- Black and White-Michael Jackson
- Black Magic Woman-Santana
Swing/East Coast Swing
Swing is known as the most uniquely American of all the dances. Characterized by swing-outs, kicks, jumps, and spins, this buoyant Big Band dance is certainly contagious. Since the birth of “Swing” music in the mid 1930′s, the Swing dance craze, which is also known as Lindy, Jitterbug and East Coast has been an American icon. Not only is this dance a staple at weddings, but you can find it anywhere from smoky blues clubs, to the fast paced Big Band sounds of Glen Miller and Benny Goodman. You can’t go wrong big splash on the big screen and in night clubs everywhere – the last on, often featuring the sounds of the Brain Setzer Orchestra, popularized the 40′s style Lindy. Movies like Swing Kids and A League of Their Own put Swing dancing on the top of the “need to know” list!
Learning to dance the Swing is fun and easy! Get ready for your upcoming wedding, reunion or cruise by learning to dance today. You’ll be spinning across the floor in no time at all!
Swing Songs And Artists Include:
- In The Mood – Glenn Miller
- Rock Around the Clock – Bill Haley and the Comets
- Start Me Up – The Rolling Stones
- Jump, Jive, An’ Wail – Lious Prima or the Brian Setzer Orchestra
Merengue
Merengue is sure to get you feeling the motion right away on the dance floor. It develops Cuban Motion and is the simplest Latin dance to learn. The beats get your hips moving in no time to any Latin rhythm.
Its uncomplicated timing makes it easy to feel the music and adapt to any partner. It is the only Latin dance that combines one-step timing with Cuban Motion and therefore is a help to all Latin dances. The march type beat sharpens timing & coordination and the proper use of the accent will develop a clearer interpretation of musical rhythm.
Merengue Songs And Artists Include:
- Hot, Hot, Hot – Buster Poindexter
- Jump in the Line – Harry Belafonte
- Cuban Pete – Jim Carey
Jive
Jive is an international competitive Swing dance with elements of the Lindy Hop and Jitterbug. Characterized by up-tempo single-time music danced with triple steps done primarily on the toes with very lively movement.
Hustle
The Hustle gives us the fusion of Swing and Disco. You will encounter the hustle at weddings and nightclubs.
Hustle originated in the 1970′s Disco Era and was popularized by John Travolta in the movie “Saturday Night Fever.” Both the music and the dance swept the country like wildfire, and although the white suits and gold chains have faded away, the dance has stayed. It is one of the easiest dances to learn. There are lots of turns and spins which make the hustle exciting and full of energy.
Hustle Songs And Artists Include:
- I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
- Last Dance – Donna Summer
- Believe – Cher
Lindy Hop
Popular musical groups of today have revived interest in the musical styles from the original Lindy Hop Era and have fired the imagination and enthusiasm of a whole new generation of Lindy Hop dancers. However, the acrobatic style used for exhibitions is not the same as the quietly rhythmic Lindy enjoyed by most dancers on the ballroom floor.
West Coast Swing
West Coast Swing is a flirtatious dance that combines the mood of the blues with the spontaneity of swing.
This stylized Swing dance popular west of the Mississippi from Kansas to California. Danced to slow or medium tempo Swing or Disco music and characterized by slot movements, taps and shuffles, coaster steps, and push and pull action of the dancers.
In the 1940’s with the wild abandonment of the Jitterbug being banned from dance halls due to too many injuries, Arthur Murray developed and documented several swing steps that he later called “Sophisticated Swing”.
West Coast Swing Songs and Artists Include:
- Some Kind of Wonderful – Joss Stone
- Somethin’ to Talk About – Bonnie Raite
- Take Back the Night – Justin Timberlake
- Addicted to Love-Robert Palmer
- Brown Sugar-Rolling Stones
Samba
Sometimes called the South American Waltz, the Samba dance pulsates to a unique Latin rhythm.
The Samba is the national dance of Brazil.
Samba improves the flexibility of the body and helps achieve easy movement and lightness. The Samba rolling action teaches the body to be supple. To move lightly, quickly, and smoothly without effort takes study but only at the start. Although considered a good exercise, Samba should be danced smoothly and in a relaxed manner giving the appearance of effortless movement. Today’s Samba music is influenced by Jazz and Latin rhythms.
Samba Songs And Artists Include:
- One Note Samba – Antonio Carlos Jobim
- Macarena – Los Del Rio
- Copacabana – Barry Manilow
- Quando, Quando, Quando – Engelbert Humperdink
