Foxtrot
The foxtrot began in the United States about 1912 originating on the vaudeville stage by Harry Fox. It is a distinctly "American" dance that travels counter-clockwise around the ballroom dance floor. Foxtrot is danced to the big band sounds of such artists as Frank Sinatra and Harry Connick, Jr.

Quickstep
The quickstep is lively and energetic, characterized by fast movements, including a variety of hops, kicks, skips, lock steps, and chasses. Danced to big band music, Quickstep resembles the Foxtrot, but is much faster in tempo. Note this dance is not for beginners; the basic elements of foxtrot or waltz should be mastered first.

Tango
The tango is considered one of the most passionate of the ballroom dances. You can see examples of Tango in such movies as "True Lies" and "Scent of a Woman". American tango is danced to strict eight counts, and travels counter-clockwise around the dance floor.

Waltz
The waltzes, both slow and Viennese, are the only dances in 3/4 time. Developed from a German peasant dance, Waltz is best known for its elegance and lightness as couples turn around the dance floor. It was the most popular dance of the 1800s and is still a favorite today. Modern Waltz is danced in ballrooms around the world, but it is also danced in the country-western scene to ¾ time country music.

Viennese Waltz
The Viennese waltz is the oldest and most elegant of the ballroom dances and, like slow Waltz, is unique due to its 3/4 timing. It was first developed in Vienna as a fast paced dance to the music of Johann Strauss, from which a slower version was later developed. The Viennese waltz is characterized with quick motion as couples spin around the dance floor. Note this dance is not suitable for beginners; experience with the slow waltz is highly recommended.

Cha Cha
Cha Cha is an exciting, syncopated Latin dance that originated in the 1950's at the Palladium, New York City by area dance instructors who danced the triple Mambo. The beat is slow and the dance gets its name and character from its distinct triple repetitive foot rhythm or cha-cha-cha. Considered a flirty dance, it is a favorite among many dancers to this day. Cha Cha can also be danced to slower country music with a more American style.

Mambo
This dance was developed in Cuba from the influx of American influence into the rumba. American GI's danced swing moves to rumba music that was sped up. The mambo is the predecessor of cha cha, and many of the same steps can be done in both dances. Considered a little more difficult than cha cha, once learned, the mambo is a favorite of the dance enthusiast. This dance is many times confused with the salsa, which is indistinguishable with regard to steps.

Paso Doble
Paso Doble is an infrequently seen dance that originated from Spain. The movements of the man are symbolic of a matador (a bullfighter), and the woman is his cape. This dance involves many stylized dramatic movements and posturing and is one of the few dances where the male and female partners do different moves. This dance is for advanced levels and is done mostly for competitions.

Rumba
The rumba originated from Afro-Cuban folk rhythms and became popular in the 1930's. The steps are reminiscent of the waltz, but danced slowly and sensuously in a latin rhythm. Danced in 4/4 time, the basic step is quick-quick-slow, quick-quick-slow. Rumba is considered on of the sexiest of the Latin dances.

Bolero
Bolero, like the Rumba, is a slow and sensuous latin dance, but this variation is much slower and more dramatic. Also danced to the timing of quick-quick-slow, the Bolero is more advanced due to the amount of body control and balance required to dance at this slow tempo.

Samba
The samba is the national dance of Brazil. This dance incorporates the jumping actions of African dance tempered with the more sensual movements of ballroom dance to create the form it exists today. Characterized by rhythmic bouncy steps with a latin style body movement, the Samba is a favorite among experienced dancers.

Single Time Swing
The Swing is a lively, upbeat dance with roots similar to the Jitterbug and the Lindy and gained much popularity with the rise of big band music. It is danced with an open frame and slow bouncy footwork. Basic steps and underarm turns are the beginning steps but there is virtually no end to turns, tucks, and kicks.

Triple Time Swing
Also called East Coast swing, Triple Time Swing is an American Folk dance originated in the 1940's and was popularized by Swing Bands, and called the Jitterbug at its much faster tempo. The version we do today is slower and done to the slower tempo of beach music or country music and much more similar to the styling of Shag.

Double Time Swing
Double Time Swing is a combination of both Single Time Swing and Triple Time Swing and can be danced to either tempo. This dance is the hardest of the swings due to the tap steps involved, but adds excitement and variety for the more advanced dancer.

Hustle (3 count hustle)
An American dance created in the 1970's by Van McCoy, it was made popular by the film Saturday Night Fever. Hustle has had a tremendous impact upon the American dance public and still has a string following in the United States. This dance is very similar to the swing but is much faster and smoother. It also has a syncopated back step which differentiates 3 Count Hustle from any of the other swings.

Merengue
This dance originated in the Dominican Republic by combining African and Latin dance styles. Merengue is danced at a moderate tempo with very basic steps and Cuban hip motion, and one can incorporate all the arm movements of the swing and salsa.

Polka
Polka originated as a folk dance in Bohemia and later versions spread throughout the world to become a ballroom craze in the mid-19th century. The Polka is a lively and rapid dance in 2/4 time. It is one of the most enjoyable and exhilarating dances you will ever learn. The basic step is straightforward and characterized by a skipping motion and the couple spinning around the dance floor.

Salsa
Salsa is very closely related to the Mambo, and in fact some forms of Salsa have exactly the same footwork but moved on a different rhythm. Created by Puerto Ricans in New York City in the late 1940's, they modified the timing of the steps to occur starting at the first beat of every four counts and added other style to the existing Mambo dance.

West Coast Swing
The West Coast Swing is a bluesy form of swing danced in 4/4 time to slower tempos than most other forms of swing. This dance differs from other swing styles because it is a "slot" dance. The partners move back and forth as if dancing on a railroad track, and the turns for the lady are in the form of passes. A favorite of many, this dance is all the rage on the West Coast, and is becoming increasingly more popular here on the east coast.

4-Count Swing
A wonderful dance that is perfect for the beginning social dancer. This dance is very easy to lead and follow, and consists of a very basic step and a variety of turns. 4-Count Swing can be danced to most moderate tempo American music. The steady tempo of this dance makes it easy to learn, but the turns associated with it can also be used in the more advanced swing dances and hustles.

Foxxy
The "nightclub" version of the ballroom dance, the Foxtrot, Foxxy is danced to slow American music or ballads. This dance is very easy and a perfect dance for weddings or slow night club dancing. Learning this dance will not only add a little flair to your "regular" slow dance, it will also teach the basics of lead and follow in a closed dance position. Knowing this will help when learning the more advanced ballroom dances.

Two-Step
Two-Step is a country-western style dance that utilizes the steps of the Foxtrot with the turns of the Swing. An exciting upbeat dance, the Two-Step is mainly danced in country-western bars and nightclubs.

Nite Club Two-Step
This is a slow dance that originated in the country-western dance scene. Danced to the same slow music as a Foxxy, but much more structured and difficult. Night Club 2 resembles an American version of the Latin dance, the Bolero.