फ्रीस्टाइल डांस के बुनियादी कदम
फ्रीस्टाइल डांस के बुनियादी कदम
How To Swing Dance: Beginner Guide with Videos - Passion4Dancing
Like all Ballroom dances, Swing dancing is based on specific basic steps ... Including American & International style videos. Membership Info & Registration. Get ...
Ballroom dances
Like all <anchor>Ballroom dances</anchor>, Swing dancing is based on specific basic steps that once mastered can be applied to all kinds of turns, hand swaps and spins. Below you will learn the 2 main basics steps of Swing.
23+ Different Ballroom Dances Explained
# Types of Ballroom dance styles – 23+ Ballroom dances

In the Ballroom dancing world there are so many different Ballroom dances that it’s hard to get an overall picture of all the different types of Ballroom dance styles that are out there.

While there are many Latin dances and Ballroom dances, most of them can fit in to at least one category or style. Depending on which part of the world you live in, the styles and dances may differ slightly, so keep that in mind.

Below we have included the most popular Ballroom dance styles in the following order: American Style, International Style, Latin nightclub style, Swing dances and other popular partner dances. Below you will find the specific dances that fall under each style with a brief description.

## American Style

This is a style that is mainly danced in the United states but it is gaining popularity in other parts of the world recently. It’s main purpose was to make social dancing easy to pick up. It is danced both socially and competitively just like the International style (below). The Ballroom dances that fall under this style are broken down into 2 more types: American Rhythm and American Smooth. Below you’ll find all the dances that fall under this style.

American Rhythm Ballroom dances

### American Rhythm Dances & Characteristics:

### Cha Cha

### Rumba

### Swing (East Coast)

### Bolero

The Bolero is the slowest of the Rhythm dances and has a very graceful way of moving with rise and fall and lots of shaping.

### Mambo

This dance is fast with lots of body actions and ticks to accentuate the Latin music.

### American Smooth Dances & Characteristics:

### Waltz

### Foxtrot

### Tango

This dance is very dramatic dance with lots of sharp movements and mostly danced with bent knees the entire time. Tango Basic steps lesson

### Viennese Waltz

A quicker waltz that incorporates continuous turning around the floor. How to Viennese Waltz.

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## International Style

This is a style that is danced all around the world. This style has very specific syllabus that dancers strive to master. It is danced both socially and competitively. Those that choose to study this style spend a lot of time working on the style and technique which is very strict and somewhat complex. The dances that fall under this style can be broken down into 2 more types: International Latin and International Standard.

International style dances

### International Latin dances & Characteristics:

### Cha Cha

### Samba

This partner dance mimics the Brazilian “Carnival” feeling and there is lot of “bounce” action created through knees and ankles. Learn International Style Samba

### Rumba

This is the slowest dance in the International Latin style and it’s sensual character is meant to emphasize hip and body actions. Learn International Style Rumba

### Paso doble

This dance is very dramatic character and shaping – with the man and woman constantly challenging one another. Learn International Style Paso Doble

### Jive

This is the quickest dance in this style and has lots of kicks. The idea is to show lots of energy and personality in this dance. Learn International Style Jive

### International Standard dances & Characteristics:

### Waltz

The Waltz is very graceful in movement and character. There is a strong “rise and fall” (up and down) technique used though out the figures. Learn International Style Waltz

### Foxtrot

A very smooth dance with both partners gliding effortlessly across the dance floor as if they have “ice skates” on without them. Learn International Style Foxtrot

### Tango

The International Tango has lots of quick, dramatic movements and shapes. The dancers walk with a staccato technique. Learn International Style Tango

### Viennese Waltz

This classy dance has fast foot actions to 1,2,3 timing, and is limited in figures to show off the spinning around the room. Learn International Style Viennese Waltz

### Quickstep

The quickest dance in this style. It is all about moving energetically across the floor with hops, skips and flicks. Learn International Style Quickstep

As you can see both the American and International styles have very similar dances with just a few differences in the dances used. The main difference between the 2 styles are the syllabus steps and technique.

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These 2 styles are the traditional types of Ballroom dance and now I will share some other styles that fall under the umbrella of Partner dancing and often associated with Ballroom dancing, but they are non-traditional Ballroom dances.

## Non traditional Ballroom Dances

### Latin Nightclub style

Please note: This style doesn’t belong to “the core” of Ballroom dancing style. This is a style that is mainly danced in Latin nightclubs to Latin music. People love this style because it is very fun and social.

Latin club dances

### Core Latin Club dances & Characteristics:

### Salsa on 1

The Salsa is one of the hottest Latin dances out there with lots of underarm tuns, hip action and styling. Learn the Salsa basic steps

### Salsa On 2

This style of Salsa has the same characteristics as the “On 1” style, but the main difference is you step fwd or back on count “2” instead of count “1”.

### Merengue

One of the easiest and funnest dances to learn. The Merengue music has very strong beats that tells the dancers to switch weight from foot to foot to that beat.

### Bachata

### Cha Cha (Club style)

The dancers keep the step, step, cha, cha, cha rhythm as they lead and follow into different moves and turns.

### Kizomba

This dance gained popularity recently and now danced all over the world. It’s character is somewhat of a mix between Argentine Tango and Salsa.

### The Swing Dances

The Swing dances originated from 1920’s and 1930’s and are usually filled with energetic turns, lifts, footwork flares and musical interpretations.

Swing dances

### Swing dances & Characteristics:

### West Coast Swing

This Swing dance is derived from Lindy Hop and has a sleek style that is achieved by “elastic connection” between the partners, allowing them to work off one another and improvise.

### East Coast Swing

This Swing dance is also influenced by Lindy Hop and it is known for its underarm turns. There is a “triple time” swing and a “single time” Swing.

### Lindy Hop

This is the dance that inspired many of the Swing dances out there. It is a partner dance that became popular during the 1930’s Swing era. It has a combination of rock steps, walks and triple steps.

#### Not so popular now-days swing dances:

#### Charlston

#### Balboa

#### Shag

#### Jitterbug

#### Boogie-woogie

#### Other Popular Partner dances:

#### Hustle

#### Nightclub 2 step

#### Country 2 step

#### Polka

#### Argentine Tango

#### Peabody

While there are literally tens more dances out there, I focused on the most popular ones.

### Watch a Video Summary of this article:

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### Comments

1. Claudio Csays

   October 6, 2012 at 8:29 am

   Another very informative article. Thanks for posting it.

   I have a question wich I hope is related to this article.

   I recently watched a movie with Daniel Day-Lewis and Winona Ryder called ”The Age of Innocence” in the movie they were dancing what some type of Waltz, the strange part of it is that they were dancing in a Clockwise Direction.

   I know that the Waltz is a very old dance , but I have always been told to dance it in a Counter Clockwise direction.

   Did at some point people danced the waltz in a Clockwise direction?

   Reply

   - Leonsays

     October 11, 2012 at 11:05 pm

     Hey Claudio,

     Mhhh. I don’t know if they used to dance clockwise …. I think they probably did it for the movie because well…. it’s a movie so they didn’t care for it to be perfectly “The Ballroom way”. By the way, is that a good movie?

     Reply


2. Claudio Csays

   October 13, 2012 at 2:58 pm

   Thanks for the reply. Leon

   Here is a youtube clip of the dance in the movie .

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zPgnTlsXco&feature=relmfu

   They keep doing the same clockwise turn over and over. If you have a minute please watch it and let me know what you think.

   The Age of Innocence. Is a great movie and great music if you got a good pair of speakers.

   Reply

3. Tony Warnocksays

   October 14, 2012 at 8:35 am

   From the clip, it looks like the LOD is counter-clockwise, just as now. (And just as in the old dance manuals at the Library of Congress.)

   The couples are also spinning around their own axes.

   Reply

4. Claudio Csays

   October 15, 2012 at 3:06 pm

   You are right Tony. the couples may be spinning in a clockwise direction, I guess that it what confused me. But as you said the LOD is counter clockwise. All is well

   Reply

5. Leonsays

   October 16, 2012 at 9:14 am

   Yes it looks counter clockwise to me…

   Reply

6. Karen Martinsays

   May 21, 2015 at 8:03 am

   Hmm, you’ve forgotten to mention Australian New Vogue! These are sequence dances of 16 or 32 bars and many of them are based on specific dance styles such as waltz, foxtrot, rumba, tango, swing. Some of them are danced competitively in Australia and they are also popular as social dances as the simplified steps and repetition enable beginners to pick them up easily. Lots of fun!

   Reply

7. Robert C. Quinnsays

   July 3, 2015 at 11:16 am

   Leon,

   The article on dance style causes two reactions. One how edifying to learn the great variety of dances. Two the number tends to overwhelm me. Thank you this has been a great dance site.

   Robert

   Reply

8. Bob Luciansays

   January 27, 2018 at 3:10 pm

   A bit disappointed that the Peabody was not mentioned on your list….

   Reply

   - Leon Turetskysays

     October 17, 2018 at 9:30 pm

     Hi Bob,

     Thanks, I have included it in the “Other popular dances” at the end.

     Reply


9. pankssaxenasays

   June 22, 2018 at 3:21 pm

   can anyone tell me which dance style most couples do in movie and serials

   Reply

   - Leon Turetskysays

     October 17, 2018 at 9:31 pm

     Some of the poplar dances in movies would include: Waltz, Rumba, Foxtrot and Swing.

     Reply


10. rogersays

    February 17, 2020 at 2:54 am

    We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.

    Reply

11. rogersays

    February 24, 2020 at 7:47 pm

    Great dancers are not great because of their technique; they are great because of their passion.

    Reply

12. patriciasays

    June 29, 2020 at 10:30 pm

    Good post I’ve learned a lot here in this post thank you very much.

    Reply

13. Christian Casinosays

    October 22, 2020 at 8:44 pm

    How cha cha compared to boogie- woogie dance?

    Reply

14. Richiesays

    October 25, 2020 at 9:29 pm

    may I join without a females partner

    Reply

    - Leon Turetskysays

      October 28, 2020 at 4:00 pm

      Of course, you can work on your own steps!

      Reply


15. Bernard Pistillisays

    October 16, 2022 at 3:55 pm

    Your advice : Man leads – Ladies follow – is some of the best advice I’e seen and I suggest it to all of my partners.

    Reply

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