Nadir Bayramov and Alisa Matthews dancing to Skyfall choreographed by Denys Drozdyuk

Photo: Alisa Matthews and Nadir Bayramov dancing to Skyfall choreographed by Denys Drozdyuk

DANCE STYLES

Dance Latin America offers top-quality ballroom dance lessons in Houston, TX. We specialize in creating personalized ballroom dance classes so that our dancers can fully utilize their abilities and develop new skills to achieve their goals at their own pace. The following list describes the different dance styles that we teach in our dance classes. The ballroom dance classes that we offer include private ballroom dance lessons, wedding dance lessons, employee wellness/team building lessons, and ballroom dance lessons for DanceSport competitions. If you have any questions about our ballroom dance lessons in Houston or would like to schedule a lesson, please call us at (346) 610-7349 or fill out one of our contact forms, and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. Experience the best dance lessons with our personalized dance classes today.

Cha-Cha

The Cha-Cha is a lively and playful ballroom dance that originated in Cuba. It is one of the Latin American dance styles and is known for its syncopated rhythm and quick footwork. The Cha-Cha evolved from a slower dance called the Mambo. It became a separate dance style in the 1950s and gained popularity in the ballroom dance world. The Cha-Cha is danced to music with a distinct 4/4 time signature. It is characterized by a syncopated step on the fourth beat, giving the dance its playful and energetic feel. The Cha-Cha features quick and compact steps, with a distinctive "cha-cha-cha" step that involves three quick steps in two beats of music. The Cha-Cha is known for its flirtatious and fun character, with playful interactions between partners. Dancers often use playful and teasing movements, and the dance allows for a lot of expression and creativity.

Samba

Samba is one of the Latin American dance styles, and refers to a lively and rhythmic dance that originated in Brazil. It became popular in ballroom dance in the early 20th century. The Samba dance is known for its energetic and syncopated rhythm. The music typically has a 2/4 time signature, and the dance is characterized by quick footwork and bouncing movements. The Samba features a variety of steps and movements, including the basic bounce action, hip movements, and quick foot changes. It is a dynamic and vibrant dance with a lot of body movement and is known for its festive and celebratory nature. Dancers often wear colorful costumes, and the dance is associated with the lively atmosphere of Brazilian carnivals.

Rumba

The Rumba is a slow and sensual ballroom dance that originated in Cuba. It is one of the Latin American dance styles and is known for its romantic and passionate character. The Rumba has its roots in Afro-Cuban dance and music. It gained popularity as a ballroom dance in the early 20th century. The Rumba is typically danced to music with a 4/4 time signature, has a slow tempo and is characterized by a strong emphasis on the second and fourth beats. The music is often romantic and sets the tone for the dance's sensual and emotional nature. Rumba features slow, deliberate movements with a focus on hip and body action. The dance includes elements of swaying, side steps, and Cuban motion. The basic step pattern involves a slow step followed by a quick-quick step. Dancers often use expressive movements and maintain a close connection with their partners. The dance allows for a lot of expression and interpretation of the music.

Paso Doble

The Paso Doble is a theatrical and dramatic dance that originated in Spain, and is inspired by the movements of a Spanish bullfight. The dance became popular in the ballroom dance world in the 1930s. The Paso Doble is danced to music with a 2/4 time signature, and it has a strong, marching-like rhythm. The music often includes dramatic and flamenco-style melodies, enhancing the dance's theatrical nature. The basic steps of the Paso Doble mimic the movements of a bullfight in which the dancers take on the roles of the matador and the cape, with characteristic poses, turns, and dramatic sweeps of the cape. The dance involves strong, purposeful movements, with quick steps and sharp turns. The Paso Doble is known for its dramatic and intense character. The dancers aim to capture the essence of a bullfight, portraying strength, passion, and control. The dance often includes dramatic pauses and moments of stillness to build tension. The Paso Doble is a unique and exciting dance that requires precision and a strong sense of performance.

Jive

The Jive is a lively and energetic dance that originated in the United States in the 1930’s and 1940’s, primarily influenced by African American and Caribbean dance styles, and swing and jazz music. It is part of the swing dance family and is characterized by its fast-paced and upbeat tempo. The Jive is danced to music with a 4/4 time signature and is known for its lively and swinging rhythm. The music often features a fast tempo, making the Jive a high-energy dance. The Jive includes a variety of fast footwork, kicks, and flicks. The dance has a playful and bouncy feel, with the basic step involving quick steps and triple steps, and dancers often incorporating dynamic kicks, flicks, hops, and jumps into this dance. The Jive is characterized by its energetic and exuberant nature. Dancers maintain a compact and lively frame, and the movements are often playful and fun.

Waltz

The Waltz is a classic ballroom dance that originated in the late 18th century in the suburbs of Vienna, Austria. It gained popularity in the ballrooms of Europe and has since become a standard dance style. The Waltz evolved from Austrian and Bavarian folk dances. It gained prominence in the early 19th century and was initially controversial due to its close-hold position, which was considered scandalous at the time. The Waltz is danced to music with a 3/4 time signature, characterized by a strong downbeat followed by two lighter beats. The music is typically romantic and elegant, composed to match the graceful movements of the dance. The basic Waltz steps involve a smooth, gliding motion around the dance floor. Dancers move in a closed position, with the leader typically holding the follower in a close embrace. The dance includes natural and reverse turns, spins, and the classic box step. The Waltz is characterized by its grace, fluidity, and sweeping movements, and emphasizes a strong connection between the dance partners, with smooth and continuous motion across the floor.

Tango

The Tango is a passionate and dramatic ballroom dance that originated in the working-class neighborhoods and social dance halls of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the late 19th century. It has since evolved into several styles, including the Argentine Tango and the International Tango. It has roots in various cultural influences, including African, European, and indigenous Argentine elements. Tango music typically has a 4/4 time signature and is characterized by a strong, driving beat. The music often conveys a sense of drama and passion, and it can be both rhythmic and melodic. Tango is known for its close embrace and quick, staccato movements. The basic steps involve a series of walks, side steps, and sharp turns. Dancers maintain a strong connection with each other, and the dance often includes intricate footwork and leg flicks. Tango is characterized by its intensity, passion, and connection between the dance partners. The dance allows for moments of stillness and sudden bursts of movement, creating a dramatic and expressive atmosphere.

Foxtrot

The Foxtrot is a smooth and elegant ballroom dance that originated in the United States in the early 20th century. It is characterized by its flowing movements and versatility, making it suitable for both slow and fast tempos. The Foxtrot was developed in the 1910s by Harry Fox, a vaudeville performer, and it became immensely popular in the ballroom dance scene. The Foxtrot is danced to music with a 4/4 time signature. It is a smooth and progressive dance that can be adapted to various tempos, from slow to fast. The music for the Foxtrot can include jazz, big band, or contemporary pop songs. The basic steps of the Foxtrot involve a combination of walking steps and side steps, creating a smooth and gliding movement across the dance floor. The dance includes elements of rise and fall, as well as turns and rotations. The Foxtrot is characterized by its grace, smoothness, and elegance. Dancers strive for a flowing and effortless look, moving gracefully across the dance floor. It is often described as a "walking dance" due to the continuous flow of steps.

Viennese Waltz

The Viennese Waltz is a classical ballroom dance that evolved from the Austrian and Bavarian folk dances and gained popularity in the early 19th century in the ballrooms of Vienna. It is recognized for its graceful and flowing movements. The Viennese Waltz is danced to music with a fast 3/4 time signature. The tempo is significantly quicker than the traditional Waltz, giving the dance a more dynamic and continuous flow. The music is typically classical, and the dance is often associated with the elegant compositions of composers like Johann Strauss II. The Viennese Waltz consists of simple, yet elegant, turning movements. Dancers perform natural and reverse turns, fleckerls (a turning figure), and progressive movements around the dance floor. The closed dance position is maintained throughout, with partners in a close embrace. The Viennese Waltz is characterized by its graceful and continuous rotation. The dancers move in a flowing fashion, executing turns and spins while maintaining an elegant posture. The fast pace and continuous motion make it a more challenging dance compared to the slower Waltz.

Salsa

Salsa is a lively and popular dance style that originated in the Caribbean, particularly in Cuba. It is a fusion of various dance styles, including Afro-Cuban and Latin American influences. Salsa is known for its energetic and rhythmic movements, and it is danced to a genre of music with the same name. Salsa music typically has a syncopated rhythm, often with a 4/4 time signature. The music incorporates a variety of instruments, including percussion, brass, and piano. Salsa music is diverse, encompassing various sub-genres such as salsa dura, salsa romantica, and salsa timba. Salsa is a partner dance, and the basic steps involve a combination of quick footwork, turns, and spins. The dance features a distinct pattern of three steps and then a pause or tap on the fourth beat, known as the "quick-quick-slow" pattern. Salsa is characterized by its lively and social nature, with the dancers often engaging in intricate footwork, hip movements, and quick turns. The lead and follow roles are important, and partners maintain a close connection throughout the dance.

Bachata

Bachata is a popular Latin American dance and music style that originated in the rural areas of the Dominican Republic in the early to mid-20th century. It has evolved over the years and gained international popularity for its romantic and rhythmic qualities. It started as a genre of music characterized by its guitar-based melodies and emotionally expressive lyrics. The music associated with Bachata typically has a 4/4 time signature and features a distinctive guitar pattern. It blends elements of bolero (a slow-tempo Latin dance and music style) with other Latin and Caribbean influences. Bachata songs often focus on themes of love, heartbreak, and daily life. Bachata is a partner dance, and the basic steps involve a series of side-to-side and forward-and-backward movements. It is danced in a close embrace with a partner, and there are various turns, dips, and footwork variations that dancers can incorporate into their repertoire. Bachata is known for its sensual and intimate nature. The dance often involves close contact between partners, and dancers use body movements, hip sways, and footwork to express the emotions conveyed in the music.

Merengue

Merengue is a lively and popular Latin American dance and music genre that originated in the Dominican Republic in the 19th century. It is characterized by its upbeat tempo, simple steps, and energetic movements. It is considered the national dance of the Dominican Republic and is an integral part of its cultural heritage. Merengue is danced to music with a 2/4 time signature and features a distinctive syncopated rhythm with a strong emphasis on the first beat of each measure. Merengue is known for its simplicity, making it accessible to dancers of all levels. The basic step involves a series of marching steps in a side-to-side or forward-and-backward pattern. Partners maintain a close dance hold, and there are variations that include turns, spins, and hip movements. Merengue is characterized by its lively and festive nature. The dance often incorporates playful and flirtatious movements, with dancers expressing joy and enthusiasm. The dance allows for improvisation and encourages dancers to have fun on the dance floor. Merengue's infectious rhythm and easy-to-follow steps make it a favorite dance for socializing and celebrating.

Argentine Tango

The Argentine Tango is a passionate and improvisational social dance that originated in the working-class neighborhoods and social dance halls of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the late 19th century. Argentine Tango music is characterized by its emotional and evocative melodies. The rhythm can vary, but it often has a 4/4 time signature. Tango songs, known as tangos, convey a wide range of emotions and themes, from love and passion to heartbreak and nostalgia. The Argentine Tango is known for its improvisational nature. While it has basic steps and figures, dancers often create their movements on the spot, interpreting the music and responding to each other's lead and follow. The dance involves intricate footwork, close embrace, and dynamic changes of direction. The connection between dance partners is a central aspect of Argentine Tango. Dancers maintain a close embrace, and communication is conveyed through subtle body movements, shifts in weight, and non-verbal cues. The dance requires a high level of trust and sensitivity between partners. Argentine Tango is characterized by its intensity, passion, and intricate footwork.

Swing

"Swing" refers to a family of dances that developed with the swing style of jazz music in the United States during the 1920s-1940s. These dances are characterized by a strong emphasis on improvisation, energetic movements, and a playful spirit. Some of the popular swing dances include the Lindy Hop, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, and Jitterbug. Lindy Hop is often considered the original swing dance, and is known for its energetic and athletic style, incorporating both eight-count and six-count patterns. It includes various spins, turns, and aerials. East Coast Swing is a simplified form of the Lindy Hop that emerged in the 1940s. It is often referred to as the "jitterbug" and is characterized by its basic six-count patterns. East Coast Swing is a popular social dance and is commonly danced to big band and rock and roll music. West Coast Swing developed on the West Coast of the United States as a smoother, more refined version of swing dance, and is typically danced to slower tempos and allows for a greater emphasis on partner connection, improvisation, and intricate footwork.

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