Latin dances
Latin Dances
Latin-American Dance Styles are very popular today. Latin dances are very exciting, from dancing the salsa to bachata, rumba, to cha-cha and others. Many of these dances hold their roots in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Columbia, Dominican Republic just to name a few.
Long before the many dances that we know today, Latin American styles originated from indigenous people across Latin American cultures. The unique and intricate dances these people were dancing were part of their heritage, dancing them at gatherings and rituals and being a vibrant culture. While those dances may have changed some, the spirit and soul of those dances have transcended into the Latin American dance styles we see today.
Salsa
Salsa is the unique blending of traditional Latin sounds and dance steps of the Mambo and the Cha Cha with the freedom and turning actions of Swing and Hustle. A true nightclub dance that fits onto small crowded floors, a real must for Latin social dancing.
HISTORY OF SALSA:
Salsa is the Spanish word for “sauce” denoting a spicy or hot flavor. As a dance it can be danced to a variety of different rhythms. Generically salsa music encompasses many Afro-Latin rhythms driven by the clave (two wooden sticks struck together). Today’s Salsa is the result of many years of rhythmical evolution due to economical, social and political change. Salsa is the national music and dance of Puerto Rico. Many of the Salsa dance patterns are closely related to those of the Mambo.
Merengue
Merenque develops Cuban Motion and the ability to adapt to any partner.
It is the only Latin dance which combines one-step timing with Cuban Motion and therefore is a help to all Latin dances. The march type beat sharpens timing and coordination and the proper use of the accent will develop a clearer interpretation of musical rhythm.
Samba
Samba improves the flexibility of the body and helps achieve easy movement and light-ness. 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.
Sometimes called the South American Waltz, the Samba pulsates to a unique Latin rhythm.
HISTORY OF SAMBA:
This national dance of Brazil became the rage of its society in the 1930’s but began as an exhibition dance in Paris in 1905. Movie star & singer Carmen Miranda, is credited with making the dance popular in the U.S. in the early 1940’s.
MUSIC:
Today’s Samba music is influenced by Jazz and Latin rhythms. It is written in 2/4 or 4/4 time. The music is festive and fast paced with a sound associated with Rio’s Carnival.
The basic count is “Slow a Slow” or “1 & 2”.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Walking steps and side steps are the basic components of Samba. The major characteristic of the Samba is the vertical bounce action. Steps are taken using the ball of the foot. Knee action along with body sway and “pendulum motion”, in the accomplished dancer, is made to look effortless and carefree.
Bolero
The Bolero is a smooth, sophisticated, sentimental love dance. The emphasis is on smoothness and graceful turns with much communication between partners. The slower music to which it is performed, enhances a feeling of romance.
Cha Cha
Cha Cha adds fun to your dancing through its syncopated steps and many open movements. When you can dance many interesting combinations with ease, you and your partner will be able to feel the pulsating Latin rhythms which make this dance so fascinating.
The energetic rhythm of the Cha Cha encourages you to cut loose and let your personality show.
HISTORY OF CHA CHA:
One of the most popular Latin dances in the U.S., the Cha Cha began as a variation of the Mambo called triple Mambo. It was so easy and so much fun, it became the rage of the early 1950’s. It’s infectious one-two, one-two-three, rhythm demands that sitters become dancers. Everybody can learn the Cha Cha.
Rumba
Learning the Rumba is a prerequisite for good Latin Dancing. The Cuban Motion is essential in most all Latin dances. The Rumba is used by good dancers everywhere and provides interesting variety suited to a limited space. Neat, attractive, precise footwork gives you confidence in your dancing.
The Rumba will sharpen your sense of rhythm, timing and muscular control.
HISTORY OF RUMBA:
The Rumba was at the beginning of the Cuban and Latin American dance crazes.
Danced to music inspired by African rhythms and Spanish melodies, the Americanized Rumba was the basis for the Mambo and Cha Cha in the U.S. Rumba rhythms have found their way into Country Western, Blues, Rock & Roll and other popular forms of music.
Mambo
Mambo is a fusion of Cuban and American dancing. The music is characterized by a stirring Afro-Cuban beat. Mambo is an exciting dance which allows you to develop your own feeling and expression. Because Mambo is such a fun dance good Mambo dancers are always popular and in demand as partners.
The wild exciting music, and rhythmical body movements make the earthy Mambo irresistible.
HISTORY OF MAMBO:
In the 1940’s Americans became fascinated by Latin American rhythms. The original Mambo music, El Guardia Con El Tolete, had its beginning in 1944 as a Rumba with a riff improvisation. The Mambo combined American Jazz with the Afro-Cuban beat.
Arthur Murray Studios became famous for turning out some of the best Mambo dancers of the era. As the parent of Cha Cha and Salsa, the Mambo is an exciting challenge for all dancers.
MUSIC:
Mambo music is written in 4/4 time with each measure divided into four beats with the important musical accents occurring on the first and third beats. This dance can be done over a wide range of tempos.
Bachata
The Bachata is a dance with simple footwork and strong hip movement.
The music is romantic in nature and therefore reflects the story of love and heartbreak. Bachata steps involve many optional turns for the lady.
HISTORY OF BACHATA:
The Bachata originated in the countryside of the Dominican Republic. The dance is a direct reflection of the music being played in the night clubs during the 1960’s. The Bachata has close ties to the Cuban Bolero.
MUSIC:
The music of Bachata is the root of the dance. The tempo is slow, approximately 120 beats per minute, and is played in 4/4. Bachata music can be referred to as Latin “blues” music. It usually tells the tale of sadness in love and is the most romantic genre of guitar music this century.
Swing
The Swing is a spot dance with a carefree relaxed style and is a dance easily mastered by most people. The various speeds of music are excellent training for quick footwork and good leading and following which will add comfort and ease in most other rhythm dances.
After mastering the patterns both men and women will find Swing a fun and exciting dance to learn and practice.
Perhaps the most uniquely American of all dances, the Swing brings forth a buoyant carefree movement. It’s one of the dances that becomes contagious.
HISTORY OF SWING
The Lindy (Swing) picked up where the Charleston left off. It had “swing-outs”, “break-aways” and “shine-steps”. With the birth of “Swing” music in the mid 1930’s the Lindy climbed the social ladder. In August of 1935, at the Palomar Ballroom, bandleader Benny Goodman played a Fletcher Henderson arrangement of “Stompin’ at the Savoy”.
The rest, as they say, is history. The dance craze swept the nation, and depending on where you lived, it was the Jitterbug, the Lindy Hop or the Swing. Since those days, each successive generation has “discovered” the fun of Swing. This most uniquely American dance is enjoyed all over the world.
MUSIC:
Swing, Jitterbug, Jive, Shag, Lindy Hop, etc are normally written in 2/4 or 4/4 time with the musical accents occurring on the second or second and fourth beats of a measure.
Swing includes two general rhythms: Swing Rhythm – 1, 2, 3 & 4, 5 & 6 or it’s equivalent
Jive
If there is any dance that epitomizes fun it’s the Jive. This light-hearted dance is filled with enough rhythmical expression to send any dancer spinning. Don’t be fooled though, this fun dance has very exacting footwork and technique requirements to be properly performed.
This is a fast-paced dance form that originated in the 1930s and became popular in the 1940s. It involves sharper movements and features a lot of kicks, flicks, and twists, and is danced to lively music with a strong beat. Jive is often considered a more advanced version of swing, as it requires a faster tempo and more intricate footwork.
Jive is part of the swing family, Jive is fast, precise, and all kinds of fun. Get that heart rate going when you explore the Jive, then stick around for the technique class immediately following so you can get a better feel for it.
Paso Doble
Musical Interpretation is a must in the classic Paso Doble. All the drama of the Bullfight can be felt with every passing step as the matador, portrayed by the man, and the cape, portrayed by the female, twist, turn and pass in a unified manner to elude the threat of the bull.
The Spanish March or One Step. It makes an especially good exhibition routine when the man styles his body movements to look like a bullfighter and leads his partner in and out of the patterns as if she were a cape. It is usually in 2/4 time.
Lindy Hop
HISTORY OF LINDY HOP:
Originally named by Ray Bolger after Colonel Lindbergh’s historic first flight across the Atlantic, this popular Swing style had as much “getting into the air” as possible. The more acrobatic versions were limited to ballrooms, of which the most famous was New York’s Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. 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 for a whole new generation of Lindy Hop dancers. The acrobatic style used for exhibitions and competition is not necessary for today’s good dancers to enjoy this perennial favorite. The rhythmic patterns take place over two measures of music and can be danced to a variety of musical interpretations.
NOTE:
Related dances are the Charleston, Black Bottom, Shag, Jitterbug and more recently East Coast Swing and West Coast Swing. Many Lindy Hop patterns are used in other Swing Styles to add variety or provide a change of pace.
MUSIC:
Lindy Hop, Swing, Jitterbug, etc are normally written in 2/4 or 4/4 time with the musical accents occurring on the second or second and fourth beats of a measure. Lindy Hop has a general rhythm of 1, 2, 3 & 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 or it’s equivalent. Lindy Hop may be danced comfortably over a wide range of tempos.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Usually danced to faster swing music, Lindy Hop is danced with kicks and flicks of the foot.
The more energetic, acrobatic dancers may add “airsteps” to their dancing which were first created in 1935 by a young dancer named Frankie “Musclehead” Manning.
Argentine Tango
Originating in Buenos Aires, Tango is the romantic icon for passion, intensity, and skill. Including the styles of Argentine Tango, Tango Vals & Milonga, these dances are great for learning beautiful foot and leg action and great lead and follow skills. Films such as ‘Scent of a Woman’ and ‘True Lies’ feature this beautiful style.
Milonga
Milonga is a term used for both a social tango gathering, as well as the faster version of the Tango itself. With lightning-fast footwork and playful movements, advanced Milonga dancers put the thrilling musical rhythm at center stage. Beginners can enjoy the Milonga by simply walking to the beat of the music!
Argentine Tango Waltz
Taking inspiration from the waltzes of Vienna, Tango musicians began around 1910 to compose songs with a swaying 3/4 rhythm. The Tango Vals is accompanied by a strong underlying pulse and exciting musical rhythms. Dancers incorporate sweeping elegant movements, inspired by the Viennese Waltz. With a basic knowledge of Argentine Tango, newcomer Tango Vals dancers can have fun with classic Tango patterns, such as Salida and Ochos.