Today's Exciting Ballroom Dances

Ballroom Dancing is getting the attention of Americans thanks to TV exposure from shows like 'America's Ballroom Challenge', 'Ballroom Bootcamp' and, of course, 'Dancing with the Stars'.

Wikipedia has a very informative section on ballroom dancing.

International Style is the standard for ballroom dancing all over the world. Outside the US, ballroom dance competitions use the International Style syllabus and technique. Inside the US, American Style dancing was developed and popularized by the franchised Arthur Murray and Fred Astaire dance studios. Inside the US, most ballroom dance competitions include both International and American style divisions.

American and International style dances have many similarities. Both include the traditional Waltz, Foxtrot, and Tango, where partners assume the traditional dance hold and progress around the dance floor. Both styles also include Cha Cha, Swing (or Jive) and versions of Rumba. Usually a lady trained to dance one style can follow the other. Of course, men get to choose which style they lead

American Style has 4 'Smooth' and 5 'Rhythm' dances. The Smooth Dances are Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, and Viennese Waltz. The Rhythm dances are Cha Cha, Rumba, Swing, and Mambo. American Rumba is not like International Rumba, and some advanced American Style dancers also do a type of Rumba called Bolero.

International Style has 5 'Standard' and 5 'Latin' dances. The Standard dances are Waltz, Foxtrot, and Tango, also Quickstep and Viennese Waltz. The Latin dances are Cha Cha, Rumba, Jive, Samba and Paso Doble.

Salsa, Hustle (Disco) and West Coast Swing are popular social dances.

Most social ballroom dance events at clubs, resorts, or on cruise ships include music for Swing (Jive), Rumba, Cha Cha, Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Salsa (Mambo), and Hustle (Disco). These are the most popular dances. A Samba or two is also often played. Novice dancers who've only learned some Swing, Waltz, Rumba and Cha Cha won't have to sit out many music selections.  

West End Latin & Ballroom Dance Club usually has expert instructors for all of these dances present at our activities.

The movements and postures of latin & ballroom dances have many similarities so skills learned for one are useful for others. There is also a lot of variety in the family of ballroom dances and the ballroom dances are suitable for many different types of music so ballroom dancing is practical and doesn't get boring. Similarities make learning easy. Variety makes ballroom dancing fun for life!

Discover the excitement of dancing at                                 "Lessons in Ballroom" and                                                        "West End Latin & Ballroom Dance Club"