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There are two main categories when talking about standard dancing – the International Standard and the American Smooth. The International Standard Style, which originated in England, includes five dances: Waltz, Tango, Vienesse Waltz, Foxtrot and Quickstep. This style is danced widely in competitions, both in the United States and throughout the world. In this style, the dancers must remain in closed position and never loose contact throughout the dance. The American Smooth dances consist of: Waltz, Tango, Vienesse Waltz, and Foxtrot. In this style, partners may separate from closed position and dance apart from each other. American Smooth is danced at competition events across the United States. |
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The Latin dance styles are grouped into two main categories: American Rhythm and International Latin. |
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We teach a variety of specialty dances at Step in Time Studio including the Polka, Hustle and Night Club Slow Dancing. If you are interested in learning a specific dance and are not sure whether we teach it or not, please feel free to email us at info@StepInTimeStudio.com or call (215) 491-9696. |
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| Waltz Waltz is a popular dance for weddings and is often used for father/daughter and mother/son dances. Waltz is characterized by rise and fall and sways which give the dance a floating, pendulum swing quality. This dance develops balance and control.  |
| Tango The American and International Tango styles danced in ballrooms today have a unique style expressed in quick double takes with the head and stalking cat’like movements complete with lunges and dips. Tango has a flavor unlike any other dance. It is a dance that is both showy, yet is very intimate. |
| Vienesse Waltz The Viennese Waltz is a fast highly refined rhythm which travels counter clockwise around the room at 60 measures per minute which for the beginner can be a bit overwhelming but with practice is a lot of fun and beautiful to watch. In American style Viennese Waltz couples can break hold, may spin away from each other, and do movements out of dance position. In International Waltz, couples must remain in closed hold throughout the dance. |
| Foxtrot Foxtrot provides a good foundation for all dances. It teaches good posture, floor craft and instills confidence in the beginner dancer. Foxtrot is an extremely useful dance socially and can be danced to a variety of musical styles. Most slow dances played at weddings and social affairs, are foxtrots. Many brides and grooms select this rhythm for their first wedding dance. |
| Quickstep Quickstep is the English Style version of the fast Foxtrot. It consists of walks and chasses and quick hopping steps danced to very happy, upbeat music. Quickstep has a contagious rhythm and is great fun to dance. |
| Rumba Rumba is a slow 4/4 time romantic dance with flirtatious movements. The American Style Rumba is danced with the “box” step pattern to a slow-quick-quick timing with Cuban Motion (hip movements). This dance is often called the “dance of love”. Rumba is a spot dance and therefore does not travel around the room. International rumba is more highly styled and is commonly seen in ballroom dance competitions. |
| Swing/Jitterbug/Jive Swing is an all american dance which dates back to the 1920’s. In the 1930’s and 1940’s, the terms lindy hop, jitterbug and swing were all used to describe the same style of dancing taking place on the streets, in night clubs, in contests and in the movies. Swing mania hit and swing dancing has enjoyed continuing popularity through the years. East Coast Triple-Time Swing is more easily danced to a slower swing tempo. Single-Time Swing is great for the faster tempos. Swing is a fun, up beat rhythm which is uniquely American. Jive is the Inrternational Style version of Swing. It is very energetic and is danced to a faster tempo. |
| Samba Samba is an energetic, fun rhythm. It is characterized by the basic “Samba Bounce “ and many of the popular Latin songs today are Sambas. The dance is written in two quarter time and is basically counted 1 a 2. This is a dance which makes dancers and non-dancers alike want to get up and move to the contagious pulsating rhythm. |
| Cha-Cha The Cha-Cha is perhaps the most popular of the latin rhythms and is a fun dance. Music arrangers are able to adapt many popular melodies to the cha cha cha rhythm and therefore create a continuous interest in the dance. Cha-Cha music has an energetic rhythm and is composed in 4/4 time and the rhythm is counted 2-3-4 & 1. The steps are small and are taken with the ball of the foot first to execute the hip action. Cha-Cha is a spot dance and therefore does not move around the line of dance. |
| Mambo/Salsa Mambo is an exciting dance that has patterns in common with other Latin dances. It is a flirty and fun social dance. The steps are small and are taken on the ball of the foot with the knees flexible to allow for the hip action. Salsa is a street version of Mambo. Musically the main difference is that Mambo music holds on the one beat and Salsa music hits on the one beat. The steps are pretty much the same. In Mambo more time is spent in closed hold and the man breaks on 2. In Salsa more time is spent in a two handed or open position and the man breaks on 1. Whether you call it Mambo or Salsa, it is fun to dance. |
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