About the Dances
Slow Waltz (American)
A slow dance in ¾ time developed in the 18th century from the faster Viennese Waltz of Bavaria (Austro-Hungary).
Time signature: ¾ with the first beat accented.
Each step = 1 beat.
Tempo: 31 – 33 bars per minute.
Quickstep (International)
Essentially, a fast foxtrot having a bright rhythm and carefree character.Lots of fast footwork and infinite variety of steps.
Time signature: 4/4 with the first and third beats accented.
A “slow” count = 2 beats.A “quick” count = 1 beat.
Tempo: 48 – 52 bars per minute.
Slow Foxtrot (American)
Known as “the dancers’ dance”, the slow foxtrot is characterized by long, gliding, very smooth steps, requiring good control and ease of movement.
Time signature: 4/4 with the first and third beats accented.
A “slow” count = 2 beats.A “quick” count = 1 beat.
Tempo: About 30 bars per minute.
Tango (American)
 The tango originated in Argentina, combining the rhythms of African slaves (the candombe) with the music of the Pampas (the milonga) and the music of the early Spanish colonists.The result was a dance that took Paris by storm during the 1920’s.Originally described as a dance of sorrow, the original tango speaks of fatality and painful destinies. During the 20th century the dance became increasingly refined and took on a more romantic and nostalgic character. The International Tango has a sharper and more staccato movement than the American Tango.
Time signature:2/4 with both beats accented.
A “slow” count = 1 beat.A “quick” count = ½ beat.
Tempo:About 33 bars per minute.
Viennese Waltz
A fast waltz with a long ancestry.Originating as a folk dance in the alpine regions of central Europe, the dance originally consisted of the Fleckerl, a step in which the lady rotates around the man on the spot. Travelling turns were developed later during the 18th and 19th century in the great ballrooms of Vienna.
Time signature: ¾ with the first beat accented.
Tempo:52 – 56 bar per minute.
Cha Cha:
 A lively, syncopated latin dance which developed from The Mambo in Cuba during the 1940’s and 1950’s.
Time signature: 4/4. There is a musical accent on the first beat of each bar.
Tempo: 28 – 30 bars per minute.
Samba:
This pulsating dance was first introduced in Brazil in 1917 and was eventually adopted as a ballroom dance in the United States in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s.
Time signature: 2/4 with a musical accent on the first beat and a percussive accent on the second beat.
Tempo: 50 bars per minute.
Rumba:
A sultry, romantic dance, the Rumba is of Cuban/African origin. It was first introduced to ballrooms during the 1920’s and rose dramatically in popularity during the 1950’s.
Time signature:4/4.There is a musical accent on the first Beat of each bar and a percussive accent on the fourth beat of each bar.
Tempo: 27 bars per minute.
Jive:
 Also known as “East Coast Swing”, this American dance Became popular during World War II by the swing music of The big bands. This “triple step swing” consists of six and eight count patterns with rock steps in between.
Time Signature:4/4.There is a musical accent on the first beat of each bar with percussive accents on the second and fourth beats.
Tempo: 44 bars per minute.
Bolero:
Originally a Spanish dance in ¾ time, the Bolero evolved in Cuba into a very slow type of rumba in 4/4 time.This romantic dance is characterized by sweeping movements, rise and fall and plenty of sway.
Time Signature: 4/4.Soft and subtle percussion effects.
Tempo: 24 bars per minute.
Mambo:
The fast-paced Mambo originated in Cuba but did not achieve popularity in the United States until the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. It is a spot dance characterized by small, compact steps.
Time Signature:4/4
Tempo:51 – 54 bars per minute.
Tango (American)
The American style Tango is a progressive dance which moves along the line of dance. It has a smoother, less staccato movement than the International Tango and a slightly slower tempo.
Time Signature: 2/4
Tempo: 31 – 32 bars per minute.
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