Dance Style Descriptions and Event Coverage

Balboa:

A swing dance with a smooth style, and very useful on a crowded dance floor. It is danced in a close hold (Pure Balboa), or the dancers may separate (Bal Swing). As the basic step is small it can be danced to fast music, however Balboa can be danced to all tempos down to Blues.

We have 41 Balboa dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Blues:

Can best be described as up-close-and-personal! There are many different interpretations and styles, but it is typically smooth and slow with personal improvisation.

We have 18 Blues dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Boogie Woogie:

The basic step is 6-count made up of two “triple steps” and two steps. It is typically danced to “twelve bar blues” music.

We have 14 Boogie Woogie dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Charleston:

This energetic dance takes its name from Charleston in South Carolina. A solo or a partnered dance, popular in the 1920s, it is associated with “flappers” and was considered immoral at that time.

We have 31 Charleston dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Collegiate Shag:

An energetic dance to faster jazz music with a lot of leg movement.

We have 16 Collegiate Shag dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Jazz Steps:

A variety of steps and patterns emanating from Lindy Hop and similar dance styles. Some choreographed routines have become well known such as Shim Sham, Big Apple and Tranky Doo.

We have 21 Jazz Steps dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Laminu:

Danced in a close position to very slow music, it can be confused with a slow Balboa, but in reality it has a unique style of its own

We have 3 Laminu dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Lindy Hop:

Originating in New York (The Savoy ballroom in Harlem) in the 1920s/30s, it evolved from many dances (including Charleston, Tap and Jazz). It was revived in the 1980s, and is now the most widely taught of the swing dances.

We have 67 Lindy Hop dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

West Coast Swing:

Derived from an infusion of Lindy Hop and ballroom styles, it has a distinctive line pattern with couples dancing in narrow slots on the dance floor.

We have 19 West Coast Swing dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

1940s Jive:

We have 8 1940s Jive dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Ceroc:

Owned by Ceroc Enterprises, the name being short for “C’est le roc!” It was developed in the 1980s with influences from Jive and Salsa dances.

We have 17 Ceroc dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Leroc:

Originating in France it is derived from Lindy Hop, Swing and Jive styles, with simplified footwork. LeRoc is not franchised but many teachers belong to "The LeRoc French Jive Federation".

We have 19 Leroc dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Modern Jive:

Also known as French Jive, it was developed in the 1980s from a range of styles including Rock and Roll, Lindy Hop and Swing, again with far simpler footwork. It is danced to a wide range in music such as chart, popular, jazz or big band music. Tempos range from fast to slow in Common 4/4 time.

We have 55 Modern Jive dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Rock n Roll:

Originating in the 1950s from the USA, Rock n Roll quickly became popular in the UK and elsewhere.

We have 25 Rock n Roll dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

American Smooth:

A less restrictive competition dance that allows couples more freedom to express themselves and the music.

We have 12 American Smooth dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Foxtrot:

Invented by Harry Fox, this graceful dance can be recognised by its basic rhythm of slow-slow-quick-quick-slow in 4/4 time. Slow Foxtrot is danced in competitions.

We have 29 Foxtrot dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Modern Tango:

A more technical and polished version of the Argentine Tango, with a lot of staccato movements. It is danced in 4/4 time, and is a popular ballroom competition dance.

We have 28 Modern Tango dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Quickstep:

Another familiar competition dance, it follows a 2/4 or 4/4 time beat. It can be likened to a fast Foxtrot with more intricate steps including runs and hops. The dance involves a lot of movement and rotation across the dance floor to a brisk tempo.

We have 30 Quickstep dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Sequence:

Modern Sequence Dancing is an English activity based on the standard ballroom and latin dances, including waltz, quickstep, foxtrot, rumba etc. However everyone dances the same 16 bar routine together. The dance steps are all standardised and often at quite high standards, but because the same routine is being done by everyone they become quite easy and enjoyable.

We have 7 Sequence dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Viennese Waltz:

A faster, flightier version of the Waltz, the Veinnese Waltz in danced in two sets of threes, instead of the common 1-2-3 of the Waltz. This dance involves a lot of spinning and turning around each other, which causes great dizziness.

We have 16 Viennese Waltz dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Waltz:

Danced in closed position, Waltz can be recognised by its basic 3/4 time. It is a graceful dance with long gliding steps, rise and fall, and punctuated with hesitations.

We have 30 Waltz dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Barn Dance:

We have 6 Barn Dance dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Country Dance:

We have 4 Country Dance dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

English Ceilidh:

We have 3 English Ceilidh dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

French Country:

We have 2 French Country dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

International Folk:

We have 4 International Folk dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Scottish Country:

We have 2 Scottish Country dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Square Dance:

We have 2 Square Dance dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

15C:

Balli, Balleti and Basse dances using sources from Italy, Burgundy and England may include up to four different rhythms. Minimal information is given for step descriptions and later sources are often relied on for a more precise definition.

We have 1 15C dance teacher listed in the Dance Directory

16C:

Sources from Italy, France and England. Well-known English Renaissance examples include the galliard, the pavane and the Volta. Floor patterns of dances in the late Renaissance period are frequently symmetrical in pattern, with a strong emphasis on footwork.

We have 2 16C dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

17C:

Early C17 sources are scant. However the Inns of Court give examples of relatively simple dances such as Almaines and measures. The publication in 1651 of the first Playford Collection of Country Dances provided a source which still enjoys world-wide popularity to this day. By the end of the century the Baroque style of dance had arrived from the French Courts.

We have 2 17C dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

18C:

In the first half of this century Baroque dance continued to be popular but the increased complexity of the steps led to a split between amateur and professional dancers with the latter training for what is now called ballet. The Minuet however remained an important social dance until almost the end of the century. Steps became more energetic in Regency times with Quadrilles and lively country dances, mostly in longways sets, being popular. Early forms of the Waltz and other face to face couple dances came into the Ballrooms.

We have 1 18C dance teacher listed in the Dance Directory

19C:

The longways country dances popular at the beginning of the century became less popular as the square formation of the Quadrilles took over. The Waltz was the signature dance of the latter part of the century and there were the beginnings of recognisable Ballroom style couple dances.

We have 2 19C dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

20C:

With the development of recorded music there was an explosion of different styles of dance. Rag-time followed by social dances which now carry the title of Old Time Dancing / Classic Dancing grew in popularity and dance halls were built to cater for these. The 20s is renowned for the Charleston evolving into the more energetic Black Bottom and Big Apple. During the 30s and 40s social Ballroom dances continued to enjoy popularity. Swing dancing came in from America with the arrival of the American Forces though the older dances still retained their popularity with most of the people. In the mid to late 50s this gave rise to the jive and rock and roll styles of dance. With the arrival of the Twist in the 60s partner dance went out of fashion and solo freestyle dancing became popular. Many new styles evolved. Nevertheless traditional country dance styles remained popular, and older styles were rediscovered.

We have 1 20C dance teacher listed in the Dance Directory

Cha Cha (Ballroom):

This medium tempo Latin dance has a very distinct rhythm pattern of one, two, cha-cha-cha, five, six, cha-cha-cha, or two steps followed by an even triple step.

We have 11 Cha Cha (Ballroom) dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Jive (Ballroom):

This dance is the fastest in the Latin section of the competition dances, and requires the most energy. It was developed with influences from Lindy Hop, Jitterbug and Rock n Roll.

We have 11 Jive (Ballroom) dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Paso Doble:

This dance is traditionally highly choreographed to model Spanish Bullfighting. The leader plays the part of the Matador and the lady often represents his cape. It is rarely danced socially.

We have 16 Paso Doble dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Rumba:

Often considered the most sensual of the Latin dances, it is believed that the Rumba originated from a Cuban marriage dance.

We have 29 Rumba dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Samba:

A fun dance with a festive mood and style, danced in 2/4 time or 4/4 time.

We have 31 Samba dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Argentine Tango:

A social dance which has its roots in Argentina, Uruguay and Chile. Tango is a partner dance characterised by a “walking” movement and footwork “decorations”. Musicality is an extremely important element of this emotional dance.

We have 47 Argentine Tango dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Cha Cha (Club):

We have 40 Cha Cha (Club) dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Mambo:

We have 13 Mambo dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Merengue:

Danced to a two-step beat, Merengue has a hip swaying movement. Both partners bend their knees to the left and right making their hips move from side to side.

We have 29 Merengue dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Salsa:

An informal dance style that is very popular today. Partners usually occupy a fixed area of the dance floor with little travelling. Salsa is derived from a range of dance styles from Latin America, North America and Cuba.

We have 51 Salsa dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Ballet:

Loved for its beauty, elegance and flow, ballet is a classical dance with an emphasis on execution of turnout and graceful movements. It encompasses total body awareness and alignment, with precise positioning of arms, legs, upper body and head carriage.

We have 7 Ballet dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Contemporary:

We have 4 Contemporary dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Irish Step:

We have 2 Irish Step dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Jazz:

We have 7 Jazz dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Line Dance:

A line dance is a formation dance in which a group of people dance in one or more lines, executing the same movements

We have 7 Line Dance dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Modern:

We have 4 Modern dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Street/Hip-Hop:

A high energy non partnered dance, Hip-Hop movements include popping and locking. “Breaking” is also a key element of this style. Street dancing, using similar movements, is believed to originate from the streets of New York.

We have 11 Street/Hip-Hop dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

African:

We have 1 African dance teacher listed in the Dance Directory

Belly:

This style was developed in Arabic and Middle Eastern areas. It is also known as "Oriental" dancing. Most of the movements and basic steps are circular, using one part of the body such as shoulders or hips. A belly dancer can also perform shimmies and roll his/her belly muscles. It is not generally a partner dance.

We have 7 Belly dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Flamenco:

We have 1 Flamenco dance teacher listed in the Dance Directory

Tap:

Derived from the traditional rhythms of African slaves brought into America, tap dancing is characterised by the rhythmic sounds made by the dancer’s feet. Footwork patterns are complex and intricate, with frequent use of syncopation. Unlike most other forms of dance, tap dance can be performed without musical accompaniment.

We have 10 Tap dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory

Clog (Side):

We have 1 Clog (Side) dance teacher listed in the Dance Directory

Morris:

We have 1 Morris dance teacher listed in the Dance Directory