American Rhythm
American Rhythm consists of: Cha Cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Bolero, Mambo
American Smooth
A subset of the American Style of Ballroom Dancing which includes the following 4 competitive dances: Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, and Viennese Waltz.
American style
The American style smooth dances allow the dancers to be in open positions allowing much freedom of choreography. The nine dances of American style ballroom dances are divided into two groups: 1) Smooth style consisting of: foxtrot, waltz, tango, and Viennese waltz and 2) Rhythm style consisting of: cha cha, rumba, East Coast Swing, bolero, and mambo.
Argentine Tango
A style of Tango which originated in the streets and salons of Buenos Aires, characterized by its passionate hold and complex leg and foot movements.
Bachata
Sometimes referred to as the “blues music of the Dominican Republic” this Latin dance was developed there, borrowing from the Cuban bolero.
Bolero
A slow Latin dance which originated as one of two forms of Rumba (Bolero Rumba and Son Rumba), and still shares many of the same figures. Bolero differs from Rumba in its tempo and style of music and movement.
Carolina shag
a slotted swing dance that shares many figures with “jitterbug” and east coast swing.
Cha Cha
An exciting, syncopated Latin dance which originated in the 1950’s as a slowed-down Mambo. The Cha Cha gets its name and character from its distinct repetitive foot. The most recently developed of the Latin dances, cha cha takes on a happy, carefree expression and is usually danced to music with a tempo in the range of 110-130 BPM.rhythm.
East Coast Swing
A triple-step swing dance also called jitterbug that is typically danced to jump blues or to country swing songs.
English style
The internationally recognized style of ballroom dancing, as originally established and codified by the English.
Foxtrot
A smooth dance introduced to the public in 1913 by Harry Fox, noted for being the first dance to incorporate into the rhythm a combination of Slows and Quicks. Foxtrot is characterized by smooth, walking-style movements, but can be adapted to fit a variety of musical tempi and style, or to fit onto small, crowded nightclub dance floors.
Freestyle dancing
Any style of dancing that does not involve the dancing of pre-conceived steps, figures or choreography. Often associated with solo (non-partner) dancing.
Hustle
A fast but smooth-moving dance which originated in the nightclubs of the 1970’s disco era, as a modified version of swing. Hustle is noted for its fast and elaborate spins and turns, especially for the lady. It is also very easily adapted to crowded, nightclub dance floors.
International Latin
International Latin consists of Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, and Jive.
International Standard
A subset of the International Style of Ballroom Dancing which includes the following 5 dances: Slow Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, and Quickstep.
International Style
The Internationally recognized style of ballroom dancing. For the five “standard dances,” the couples must remain in closed dance position throughout the dances. The 10 International Style dances are divided into two categories: 1) standard, consisting of waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, slow foxtrot, and quickstep and 2) Latin, consisting of cha cha, samba, rumba, paso doble, and jive.
Jitterbug
An older style of Swing danced in single-rhythm, to very fast big band jazz music of the thirties and forties.
Jive
The International version of Swing. In spite of its fast tempo, Jive is still danced in triple-rhythm.
Latin
A subset of the International Style of Ballroom Dancing which includes Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, and Jive.
Latin dances
The partner dances originating from the Caribbean: mambo, rumba, merengue, etc.
Lindy
The grandfather of all forms of Swing, named after Charles Lindberg, and originating at the Savoy ballroom in the 1930’s as a modified form of Charleston done in dance position. Lindy Hop is currently enjoying a revival with a new generation of swing clubs, musicians, and dancers.
Line dancing
A type of non-partner dancing, primarily associated with the Country & Western genre, where a group of people will dance through a pre-choreographed sequence of movements in unison. The choreography is generally simple, as it is intended for mass-consumption. Examples of Line Dances are the Electric Slide, the Tush-Push, and the Slappin’ Leather.
Mambo
A fast Latin dance, similar to Salsa, which comes from Cuba. Mambo was brought to America in the 1940’s and 50’s and eventually adapted as an American style ballroom dance. Most of the movements emphasize the second beat in the measure, suggestive of the Clave rhythm which is fundamental to Mambo music.
Merengue
An energetic Latin-style march which originated in the Dominican Republic, which emphasizes a straight-ahead 8-count rhythm taken with Cuban Motion. Merengue is now also a subset of the modern club-style Salsa dances.
Modern
The former term for the International Standard style of ballroom dancing. See also International Standard.
Modern Style Ballroom
The term used to describe the ballroom dances of the International Style: waltz, foxtrot, Viennese waltz, tango, and quickstep. This term has largely been replaced by the term standard.
Nightclub Two-Step
An easy-going social dance, similar in movement to the Bossa Nova, first introduced in the 80’s by Buddy Schwimmer and popular amongst the West Coast Swing crowd. Nightclub 2-Step is normally danced to medium-tempo pop love songs and M.O.R., using combinations of Slow-Quick-Quick and Quick-Quick-Slow rhythms.
Paso Doble
A dramatic French-Spanish Flamenco-style march danced in 2/4 time, with man portraying the matador in a bullfight, the lady as his cape. Paso Doble is usually danced to España Cani, the Spanish Gypsy Dance.
Polka
A moderately fast dance (200 beats/minute) in 2/4 time for couples, originating in Bohemia in the 19th century and becoming popular in Europe and in the U.S.A. The dance consists on “triple steps.” The count is 1&2, 3&4.
Quickstep
An English style ballroom dance which is characterized by fast movement, often including a variety of hops, kicks, skips, lock steps and chassés.
Rhythm category
A category of dancing that include the following American Style dances danced at competitions: rumba, cha cha, bolero, mambo and swing.
Rumba
A slow- to medium-tempo Latin American dance in 4/4 time, which is characterized by sensual, provocative movements and gestures, Latin-style hip motion, and playful and flirtatious interplay between man and lady.
Salsa
A hot Latin dance hot which, when danced correctly, displays a lot of shakin’, shimmying, and hip action.
Samba
A rhythmical Brazilian dance in 2/4 time which has been adapted for modern Ballroom dancing and incorporated into the repertoire of the International Standard syllabus.
Slow dancing
A free-form type of social dancing to slow ballad or blues music. Slow dancing has no pre-determined basic steps or stylistic interpretation, although it is typically characterized by a compact dance hold or even a full embrace, with dancers swaying back and forth in a slow, steady rhythm.
Slow Foxtrot
The International version of Foxtrot characterized by long, slow linear movements.
Slow Waltz
An International or American Style dance in 3/4 time which developed from the much faster Viennese Waltz. Slow Waltz is characterized by rise and fall and rotational movement.
Smooth Style Ballroom
The term used in DanceSport events and in general to mean American Style waltz, foxtrot, tango and Viennese waltz.
Standard Style Ballroom
The name that replaced the term modern to mean The International Style ballroom dances—waltz, foxtrot, Viennese waltz, tango and quickstep.
Swing
A generic term to describe any form of Swing, such as East Coast, West Coast, Jitterbug, Lindy Hop, etc.
Swing dances
of dances including East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Jive, Balboa, Shag, and Charleston.
Swinging dances
Smooth dances characterized by swinging movements such as Slow Waltz, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz, and Quickstep.
Tango
In the American and International ballroom styles, a dance in 2/4 time, which originated in Argentina and is characterized by catlike walking action and staccato head movements.
The Twist
A popular dance of the 1950’s popularized by Chubby Checker.
Two Step
A Country & Western dance in 4/4 time, traveling very swiftly around the line of dance.
Two step (night club) A simple dance danced to slow, romantic music.
Two step (Texas)
A fast traveling dance with many turns and normally danced to country music with a tempo range of 170-200 beats per minute. The basic step is like walking, except the timing is quick, quick, slow, slow.
Viennese Waltz
A fast ballroom dance in 3/4 or 6/8 meter, often associated with the music of Johann Strauss.
Waltz
A ballroom dance in 3/4 time which first developed in Vienna as a fast paced dance to the Strauss music of the time, and eventually evolved into the slower version we now know as Waltz (or Slow Waltz).
West coast swing
A cool, sexy, slotted swing dance that spotlights the lady. Like hustle, it’s perfect for nightclub dance-beat music.