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Cha-Cha
The mid-tempo Cha-Cha is a spin-off of the
Rumba and the Mambo. With its two slow steps followed by three quick ones
(rock step, cha-cha-cha), this sensual, energetic dance is extraordinarily
popular with old and young alike.
The tempo is slow and staccato, making it easy for dancers to inject their
own personality into the patterns. The Cha-Cha-Cha rhythm can still
be heard in the music of contemporary performers like Ricky Martin, Enrique
Iglesias and Gloria Estefan.
Fox Trot
While most people think that Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers created the
Fox Trot, it was really a vaudeville performer named Harry Fox who introduced
this fun, theatrical dance to the world. Fox Trot dancers travel around
the perimeter of the room in a counterclockwise direction in a basic rhythm
of slow-slow-quick-quick. Still a classic dance for wedding receptions,
the Fox Trot is a true American favorite.
Mambo
A Cuban bandleader named Perez Prado
is credited with starting the Mambo dance craze in the mid-1950s. Prado
took the rhythm of the dances performed by the sugar-cane cutters and
syncopated it. This dance may be described as a riff or a Rumba with a
break or emphasis on 2 and 4 in 4/4 time.
The Mambo can be danced according to the individual dancer's temperament.
Conservative dancers can maintain a closed position, while more daring
dancers can perform breakaway steps and completely separate themselves
from each other.
Merengue
The Merengue, the national dance of the Dominican Republic,
was created in the mid-1950s. With its simple steps and 1-2 march-like
rhythm, it was rumored to be initially performed by the guests of a crippled
general in the Dominican Republic who wanted to imitate him as he dragged
his lame right leg across the floor! The Merengue is known for its liveliness,
with a step on every beat, knee action, and wiggles from side to side.
Since it doesn't move around the dance floor, it's perfect for small,
crowded dance floors.
Rumba
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, 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.
Samba
The spirited Samba always gets feet tapping! Originally
from Brazil, the festive Samba was popularized in the movies of Carmen
Miranda. The Samba is characterized by a steady bounce in 2/4 meter achieved
by flexing and straightening the knees while weight is transferred from
the ball to the flat of the foot. This happy and bouncy dance is always
fun!
Swing
The Swing started in the 20s along with the explosion of
jazz music. Many different forms of the Swing exist, such as the Lindy
Hop, Jitterbug, Jive and the Shag. But all of them include turns and intricate
hand movements. Advanced swing dances even involve throws and flips! These
dances are always very athletic, fast, and playful!
Tango
The Tango, a sensual, dramatic dance made famous by Rudolph
Valentino, originated in Buenos Aires and was stylized by the Gauchos
in Argentina before making it to the United States. The Tango is known
for flexing steps and posed pauses. Widely considered to be the
"dancer's dance," it has become even more popular due to its
presence in films like "The Scent Of A Woman" and "Evita."
Waltz
The Waltz, with its ¾ rhythm and strong accent on
the first beat, was born in the suburbs of Vienna. When the dance was
first introduced in the early 19 th century, people were shocked since
it was the first ballroom dance where the man put his hand on a woman's
waist! But through the music of Johann Strauss, the waltz gained in popularity
and quickly became one of the most popular of all dances. This easy and
flowing dance is still commonly seen at weddings and other social events.
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