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American Rhythm
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| The Competitive Rhythm Dances (also called American
Rhythm) include: Cha Cha, Rumba, Swing, Bolero and Mambo. |
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| Social Rhythm Dances include: Salsa, Merengue,
West Coast Swing, Lindy, Hustle and many others. |
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| Cha Cha —
Cha-cha is a faster dance with a Latin feel to it. The basic has eight
counts, with the cha-cha in the middle and at the end (on each half
of the basic). It generally stays in the same place on the dance floor
and is therefore called a "spot" dance, although it does
have steps that move. This is one of the dances where people get to
wiggle their hips ("cuban motion"), although you certainly
don't need to do that to enjoy the dancing! |
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| Rumba —
Rumba is a slower dance that has a Latin feel to it. It has a box
step basic in eight counts and has the characteristic "hip-wiggling"
("cuban motion") that is present in all of the rhythm and
Latin dances. Although the basic is a box step, like the waltz, the
moves are similar to the cha-cha. This dance was featured in the movie
"Strictly Ballroom," along with the paso doble. |
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| Swing —
Swing is a dance that is popular with big band music, but can be done
to any kind of music with a good beat that is relatively fast. The
basic is a six-count basic, but has eight-count steps and can be expanded
to any number of even counts. Eight-count steps are generally referred
to as lindy-timing steps. This dance is energetic and can include
a lot of turning for the lady! Older generations may know this dance
as the jitterbug. Depending on the speed of the music, swing can be
done slow (triple-time swing), medium (double-time swing), or fast
(single-time swing). |
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| Bolero —
Bolero is a rhythm dance that is slower than the rumba. It's basic
is more like the cha-cha and is even in eight beats. It is characterized
by long flowing movements and is the smoothest of the rhythm dances.
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| Mambo —
Mambo originally became popular in the 1960's, and was revived by
the movie "Dirty Dancing." It is a rhythm dance similar
to cha-cha and rumba but faster. It's roots are in Africa and Cuba.
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| Samba —
Samba is another Latin/rhythm dance similar to rumba and cha-cha.
It has a box step basic and a pulsing beat. This dance is originally
from Brazil. |
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| Salsa —
A popular Latin nightclub dance which evolved as a modified form of
Mambo. |
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| 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. |
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| West Coast Swing —
West Coast Swing has a similar six-count basic to swing (also known
as east coast swing), but it is a slot dance. This means that the
basic and all the variations stay within a slot (imagine train tracks)
and don't rotate, so couples can line up side-by-side on the dance
floor and never run into each other. This dance is also a little slower
than east coast swing, and uses more rhythm and blues type music.
This dance started in California, and there are now entire clubs dedicated
to dancing west coast swing.swing). |
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| 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. |
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| 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.
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