Foxtrot

A smooth, social dance that feels like a walk in the park.  When thinking of Fred Astaire, it is normally the Foxtrot that comes to mind.  This graceful dance is most easily characterized by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole and Big Band music.  Foxtrot is a favorite in social settings, and “mixers” are often danced to get everyone involved on the dance floor.

Quickstep

The quickstep is a light-hearted member of the standard ballroom dances. The movement of the dance is fast and powerfully flowing, all while sprinkled with syncopation. The upbeat melodies that quickstep is danced to make it suitable for both formal and informal events. Quickstep was developed in the 1920’s in New York and was first danced by Caribbean and African dancers. Its origins are a combination of slow Foxtrot combined with the Charleston, one of the many swing dance styles. While it evolved from the Foxtrot, the Quickstep now is quite separate. This dance gradually evolved into a very dynamic one with a lot of movement on the dance floor, with many advanced patterns including hops, runs, and quick steps with a lot of momentum and rotation. The tempo of Quickstep dance is rather brisk as it was developed to ragtime era jazz music which is quite fast-paced when compared to other dance music.

Tango

This South American favorite is characterized by a staccato rhythm and aggressive style.  Anyone who has seen “Scent of a Woman” can identify with the passion and dynamic between the Tango couple.  This is not a typical social dance, but is a novelty that any dancing couple can really enjoy.

Waltz

A timeless classic that is elegant and distinctive in its rise and fall technique, and unique in its 1-2-3 timing. Waltz music is found in all forms from Country to Classical to Rock.  The Waltz is often thought of as the standard for the Wedding Dance done by a newly married couple.

Viennese Waltz

This high-speed version of the classical waltz maintains its characteristic 1-2-3 timing, although the speed does not allow for the dramatic rise and fall of its slower sister.  Though this dance has fewer patterns, the challenge and fun of this dance is in the speed and partnering skills required to maintain balance, poise and timing together.