Latin & Ballroom

Cha Cha Cha

The Cha Cha Cha is a Latin-American dance with 4-beat-count, originally from Cuba. The dance is a further development of mambo and was introduced by bandleader Enrique Jorrin in 1953. It is considered to have gotten it's name after the pattern of the steps: 2 slow steps followed by 3 quick steps (go-go-cha-cha-cha). The dance came to USA through Mexico and from there on to Europe, where it became very popular.

Cha Cha Cha music sample

Fast Facts:

• The Cha Cha is a cheeky, lively and flirtatious dance. It has a catch-me-if-you-can atmosphere, and is light and bubbly.
• It has a distinctive syncopation where 5 steps are danced to four beats hence the 'One, two, cha cha cha' description.
• The dance is originally from Cuba.

Distinctive moves:

• Triple steps (chassez) and rock steps are the basic components of the Cha Cha. Since the Cha Cha is derived from the Rumba and Mambo dances, Cuban Motion is an important aspect of this dance as well as maintaining quick compact steps. Cuban Motion describes the hip motion resulting from the alternate bending and straightening of the knees.
• The dancers should synchronize movements, working in parallel with each other.
• The New Yorker is a characteristic move, where a dancer steps across their partner and checks to change direction.

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Samba

The Samba is originally from Brazil was first introduced in 1917 but was finally adopted by Brazilian society in 1930 as a ballroom dance. This festive dance was popularized in the movies by legendary Carmen Miranda. The Samba is characterized by a steady bounce in 2/4 meter achieved by flexing and straightening the knees while weight is transferred from the ball to the flat of the foot. Please note that there is a significant difference between Brazilian Samba and Dance Sport Samba.

Samba music sample

Fast Facts:

• The Samba is an all-out party dance with origins from Brazil's Rio Carnival. It is made up of many different South American dances incorporated into one. It is very rhythmical with lots of hip action.
• Walking Samba steps and side steps are the basic components of this dance. The major characteristic of the Samba is the vertical bounce action. Steps are taken using the ball of the foot. The accomplished dancer is made to look effortless and carefree with knee action, body sway and "pendulum motion."

Distinctive moves:

• The Basic step is a Volta (a crossing action in front of the body, where you step across with the bounce). You will see a bouncing action predominantly through the knees.
• Look out for the Samba roll – a rolling movement from the waist up. The upper body circles as you create a six-step turning group.
• Many Sambas have a move called a Botafogo, which is a traveling walk with a change of direction from left to right or right to left.
• There should be lots of outstretched arms.
• The samba has a distinctive climax, it ends with throwing of heads back and arms splayed out to side.
• There should be a good balance of moving steps and stationary steps

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Rumba

Steamy! The most famous Latin American dance to gain popularity in North America and Europe is, without doubt, the rumba. Slow and romantic, the Rumba is the most sensual of the Latin dances. Motion is produced through a transfer of body weight and not from direct movement of the hips. Couples dance very closely together, using their body language to express emotion between them. The Rumba is many times referred to as the "Dance Of Love" because couples stare deeply into each other's eyes while they dance.

Rumba music sample

Fast Facts:

• A dance that tells the story of love and eroticism between a man and a woman
• The Rumba relies on the age-old premise of the lady trying to conquer the gentleman by means of her womanly charms. Incorporating all the elements of teasing and withdrawal, it is considered the most sensual of the Latin dances.

Distinctive moves:

• The Rumba should portray romance and therefore have good interplay between the dancers.
• In this dance the emphasis is on the body. Hip actions are produced by controlled transfer of weight from foot to foot.
• Look out for figure-eight hip rolls - this is a hip roll where the hips alternate in a forward movement.
• There are lots of slow stylish body shapes in the Rumba.
• When it comes to the footwork, look for a straightening of legs, and swiveling action in the feet.
• The walks should be strong and direct.
• The body never stops changing its shape.
• No heel leads - the dancers must not walk on the heels of their feet; they are on the balls of feet only.
• Look out for the Cucaracha step - rock to the right or the left, then replace and close.
• Look out for the Fan position - the woman goes on the man's left side at arms length and at 90 degrees to the man.

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JIVE

In Ballroom dancing, Jive is a dance style in 4/4 time that originated in the United States from African-Americans in the early 1940s. It is a lively and uninhibited variation of the Jitterbug, a form of Swing dance. English instructors eventually developed the elegant and lively ballroom Jive, danced to slightly slower music. In 1968 it was adopted as the fifth Latin dance in International competitions. The modern form of ballroom jive in the 1990s-present, is a very happy and boppy dance, the lifting of knees and the bending or rocking of the hips often occurs.

Jive music sample

Fast Facts:

• Jive is a rhythmical and swinging dance which was influenced by the Boogie, Rock & Roll, African/American Swing and the Lindyhop. The roots of the Jive are in New York's Harlem.
• It is the fastest of the Latin dances and should show lots of kicks and flicks and twirling of the woman. Although on first impression it might look like the feet are all over the place in every direction, the feet/legs should actually be under the body and the knees should always be close together.
• Jive doesn't move around the dance floor like other dances.

Distinctive moves:

• The basic movement is chassez to the left chassez to the right and a rock step (changing weight from one foot to the other).
• Look out for the flick, ball, change movement - where you stand on one foot and kick down at the same time.
• Look out for the distinctive kick action in jive where toes are always pointed to the ground when kicking.
• Watch out for the American Spin - when the man lets go of the lady and lets her spin on her own.

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