WHAT CAN I LEARN ?   


There are two styles of dances : American and International, we teach both of them. And here are some of the dances we teach...

Smooth
Waltz       Waltz is a smooth dance, traveling around the line of dance. It is characterized primarily by its rise and fall action, accompanied by leg and body swing. Turning movements in both directions are prevalent. Most basic or "Bronze" level movements involve the Chasse Turn action, where three steps are taken with the feet closing on the third step. The noted exception to this is the hesitation action, where only one step is taken on the first beat of the measure, while the remaining two beats are held.
Viennese Waltz       The origins of Viennese Waltz are dated back to 12th/13th centuries and found in the dance called "Nachtanz." The Viennese Waltz originally comes from Baveria and used to be called the "German." However, other people question this origin of the Viennese Waltz. An article which appeared in the Paris magazine "La Patrie" ("The Fatherland") on January 17, 1882, claimed that the waltz was first danced in Paris in 1178, not under the name waltz but as the Volta from the Provence. Presumably this is a dance in 3/4 rhythm, which the French regard as the forerunner of the Viennese Waltz.
Tango       Tango was first danced in Europe before World War I, in 36 bars per minute tempo. It originates from Buenos Aires (Argentina) where it was first danced in "Barria de Las Ranas," the ghetto of Buenos Aires. It was then known under the name of "Baile con Corte" ("Dance with a Rest"). The "dandies" of Buenos Aires changed the dance in two ways. First they changed the so-called "Polka rhythm" into the "Habanere rhythm" and secondly they called it Tango.
      From 1900 onwards several amateurs tried to introduce the dance from Argentina into Paris, but without success. Being rather an exotic dance, a sensuous creation of South nations, Tango initially did not become accepted by the European social establishment. It was, however, still danced in the suburban areas and gained more and more popularity.
Foxtrot       Foxtrot, a dance born in the twenties, was named after an American performer Harry Fox. Initially it was danced at 48 bars per minute tempo. The tempo issue led to the breakaway of Quickstep at about 50 to 52 bars per minute and the continued slowing down of pure Foxtrot to 32 bars per minute by the end of the twenties. At the end of World War I the slow-foxtrot consisted of: walk, three-steps, a slow walk and a sort of a spinturn. At the end of 1918 the wave arose, then known as the "jazz-roll." The American Morgan introduced a sort of open spinturn, the "Morgan-turn," in 1919. In 1920 Mr. G. K. Anderson introduced the feather step and the change of direction, figures you cannot imagine today's Foxtrot without. The thirties had become the golden age for this dance. That is when Foxtrot tunes became the standards of its tempo.
      The great fascination of Foxtrot is the amazing variety of interpretations there can be of what is basically such a simple dance. From swingers to trotters, from smoothies to ripples, from the military to the delicate steppers and more.
Quickstep         Developed during World War I in suburban New York, initially performed by Caribbean and African dancers. It eventually made its debut on the stage of American music-hall and immediately became popular in the ballrooms.
      Foxtrot and Quickstep have a common origin. In the twenties many bands played the slow-foxtrot too fast, which gave rise to many complaints. Eventually they developed into two different dances. Slow-foxtrot tempo has been slowed down and Quickstep became clearly the fast version of Foxtrot, danced at 48 bars per minute tempo. The Charleston had a lot of influence on the development of Quickstep.
Rhythm
Cha Cha       Cha Cha comes from Cuba, Locals would chant the syllable to compulsive triple rhythm. The Cha-Cha unique origins come from three primary sources; it's a spin off from the Mambo, which has it's roots in the Rumba, and captures the Lindy, being danced to one-two-three triple step.
      The Cha Cha is considered a staple in the dance world, with a wealth of music which would apply to the unique and varied rhythm that really make the Cha Cha a great dance for a lot of different types of music other there, from traditional Latin to 50's music, Today's Top 40, House Music, Disco, Techno and a lot of Rap music can be the perfect music for this incredible dance.
Samba       Samba originates from Brazil where it is a national dance. Many versions of the Samba - from Baion (pronounce: Bajao) to Marcha - are danced at the local carnival in Rio. To achieve the true character of the Samba a dancer must give it a gay, flirtatious and exuberant interpretation. Many figures, used in the Samba today, require a pelvic tilt action. This action is difficult to accomplish, but without it the dance loses much of its effect.
      Samba has a very specific rhythm, highlighted to its best by characteristic Brazilian musical instruments: originally called tamborim, chocalho, reco-reco and cabaca.
Rumba       The Rumba originates from Cuba as a typical dance of a hot climate. It has become the classic of all the Latin American dances. In its present form many of the basic figures of the dance retain the age-old story of woman's attempt to dominate man by the use of her feminine charm. In a well choreographed dance there will always be an element of "tease and run;" the man being lured and then rejected.
Paso Doble       Paso Doble originates from Spain. It developed on the basis of movements performed by the matadors during the bull fights. In Paso Doble the man (matador) is in focus more than in any other dance. The lady is left with playing a role of a cape ("cappa") the red canvas of the torreador or a bull, depending on circumstances. The dance came into fashion around 1920.
Jive       Jive, which originated in America, had been initially developed from a dance called "Jitterbug" by eliminating all its acrobatic elements and polishing the technique. The first description of Jive made by London dance teacher Victor Silvester was published in Europe in 1944. The Boogie, Rock & Roll and the American Swing also influenced this dance.
      Jive is a very fast, energy-consuming dance. It is the last dance danced at competitions, and dancers have to show that having danced four dances they are not tired yet and still ready to go hard at it.
Mambo       The Evolution of the mambo was almost entirely the work of one man: Perez Prado. In the early 1930s latin style dance bands were coming increasingly before American audiences. Then during the 1950s', Perez Prado recorded a song called "Mambo Jambo" and the fun began.
Salsa       Salsa is a syncretic dance genre from Cuba, as the meeting point of European and African popular culture. It later spread to Puerto Rico and the rest of the Caribbean Isles. Salsa is essentially Cuban with deep Afro-Cuban beats, and additional musical influences from Son, Guaguancó, Rumba. Salsa was later improvised to regional rhythms such as Boogaloo, Pachanga, Guaracha, and Bomba.
      Salsa is normally a partner dance, although there are recognized solo forms, line dancing (suelta), and Rueda de Casino where groups of couples exchange partners in a circle. Salsa can be improvised or performed with a set routine. Salsa is popular throughout Latin America, and also in the United States, Spain, Japan, Portugal, France, Eastern Europe and Italy.
East Coast Swing       East Coast Swing, originally called the Lindy Hop, was born in the south of the United States and is the most famous American folk dance. The best forms of Swing included the Charleston, Black Bottom, Shag and the Lindy Hop. In the early 40's these forms consolidated into what was called the Lindy. About 55 years ago the Swing was danced in the Harlem section of New York City. At a time when such band greats as Chic Webb, Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman were holding sway. It was in Harlem where the Swing took on most of today's popular steps and styling.
West Coast Swing       West Coast Swing has quickly gained popularity across the United States because of its more sophisticated style and easy adaptation to today's modern Rock Music. Originally a regional style popular in the West and Southwest of The U.S.A, West Coast Swing made its bid as a nationally accepted style of Swing in the late 50's and has been gaining strength ever since. It is possible to dance West Coast Swing in a relatively small area, providing the dancers have an assortment of dance breaks.
Merengue       Both Haiti and the Dominican Republic claim that the Merengue originated in their country. When couples got up to dance the Merengue, the man favored his left leg and the lady favored her right leg, flexing their knees a bit more than usual and at the same time leaning the body slightly to the same side. Over recent years, the Merengue has been danced with much the same motion as the Rumba and Mambo, utilizing Cuban Motion.
Hustle       The Hustle is a catchall name for several disco dances which were extremely popular in the 1970s. Today it mostly refers to a unique partner dance done in ballrooms and nightclubs. It has some features in common with swing dance. It's basic steps are somewhat similar to the Discofox, which emerged at about the same time and is more familiar in various european countries. In the 1970s there was also a line dance called the Hustle--which is regaining popularity as people throw 1970s theme parties or schools have 1970s dance performances. Modern partner hustle is sometimes referred to as New York Hustle.
Bolero       The Bolero was introduced to the United States in the mid 1930's. At that time, it was danced in its classical form which was performed to a constant beat of drums. It memrged from this classical form to what was called "Son". From the "Son" came the faster and livelier tempos which were later termed Rumba and Guaracha. Originally created by Sebastian Cereza in the year 1780, the Bolero has remained a true source of expressing sensuous feeling which accounts for it being called "The Cuban Dance Of Love".