
![]() Below you will find some basic information about other popular styles of dance. It's so easy when you learn a style of dance. It's even better when you realise that there are so many other styles of dance out there to be discovered. Latin Dances Bachata Bachata known for its hip motion and closer body contact, Bachata is becoming a must-have style for Latin dancers and is a favourite at Salsa clubs. Bossa Nova Social dance from Brazil. 1950's and 60's. No official steps though this craze was short lived. Cumbia Social dance from Colombia. Popularity has spread from Mexico to Argentina. Forro Social dance from Brazil. Forro steps can be seen in Cumbia and Samba. Hustle Hustle originated in the Disco era and is still alive and well today (without the flares and gold chains!). The easy timing is also makes it a great dance for social events where you may trade partners. It can be danced to a variety of pop, Top 40, country music and disco. Hustle songs and artists include: “I Will Survive” – Gloria Gaynor; “Last Dance” – Donna Summer. Kizomba Kizomba is one of the most popular genres of dance originating in Angola. Unlike semba, kizomba music is characterized by a slower and usually very romantic rhythm. Lambada Around 1983, the Carimbó dance started again to be danced in couples, in a 2-beat style, something very close to Merengue, but with more spins. The Lambada spread along the coast until it reached Bahia where it was influenced by the Forró, an old Brazilian style of dance which also had a strong beat. It became a four-beat dancing style, which was distinctive from the original Carimbó. Merengue Merengue is characterised by its Cuban Motion and easy timing, which allows couples to enjoy learning a variety of turns and moves very quickly. The upbeat music creates a fun party atmosphere where everyone will want to get up and dance. Merengue songs and artists include: “Hot, Hot, Hot” – Buster Poindexter; “Cuban Pete” – Jim Carey. Pachanga Described as "a happy-go-lucky dance" of Cuban origin with a Charleston flavour due to the double bending and straightening of the knees. Perreo Perreo is a dance associated with reggaeton music that emerged in the early 1990s in Puerto Rico. Salsa Salsa has become a favourite in the social dance scene because of its upbeat music, variety of turns, and compact movement. Many patterns are interrelated to Mambo, Rumba and Cha Cha. There are many different styles New York (East Coast), Cuban (Miami), Perto Rican, Colombian and L.A (West Coast). Samba Gafieira Social dance from Brazil. Can be danced to a number of rhythms. Semba Semba is from Angola. Semba comes from the singular Masemba, meaning "a touch of the bellies" a move that characterizes the Semba dance. Zouk Social dance from Brazil. Roots in Lambada and Samba. Different styles include - Zouk - Caribbean Zouk, Zouk - Lambada, LambaZouk, ZoukLove or Kizomba and Soul Zouk. Zumba Zumba is a dance fitness program created by Colombian dancer and choreographer Alberto "Beto" Perez during the 1990s. Swing Dances Balboa Blues Charleston East Coast Swing Jitterbug Jitterbug is also known as single-time swing. It is usually done to faster Swing music and is a highly energetic and expressive dance. It could also be referred to as a toned-down Lindy Hop. It is also a spot dance and highly useful on crowded dance floors. Lindy Hop Many people imagine acrobatic lifts and throws when they picture Lindy Hop, but there is a wide variety of movements that can be danced that still show off the fun rhythms of Lindy without getting airborne. Lindy is a perfect dance for big band music and will definitely burn some calories! West Coast Swing West Coast Swing (WCS) was originally danced to slower or medium tempo swing music, but has grown to include faster tempos and Top 40 music. It differs from other swing dances in that it is danced in a “slot” rather than rotationally in the same spot. WCS songs and artists include: “Addicted to Love” – Robert Palmer; “Fever” – Peggy Lee. Argentine Tango Argentine Tango features a more intimate dance position than American Tango. It allows for the development of musicality as the trained tango dancer can express changes in tempo throughout the music. Milonga Tango (Nuevo) Tango (Traditional) Vals |