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Latin American Dances
Below is a selection of Latin American dances that
are taught at the school:
Details of these dances can be found by clicking each of
the dance names above.
Rumba - 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 swivelling action in the feet.
The walks should be strong and direct and the body never
stops changing its shape. There should be no heel leads -
the dancers must not walk on the heels of their feet; they
are on the balls of feet only.
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Forward basic - 3 steps (one step forward, replace,
side)
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Back basic - 3 steps (one step backward, replace,
side)
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Hip twists
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Spot turns - a turn on the spot which takes 3 steps
to either the left or to the right
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Forward or backward walks - as the Rumba is a fairly
static dance so these walks are used to help the couples
move around the floor. When walking they should
employ a good hip action
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Fan position - The girl goes on the man's left side
at arms length and at 90 degrees to the man
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New York - The couple both step forward in promenade
position (side by side) and holding hands at the same
time
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Cucaracha - rock to the right or the left, then
replace and close |
 Cha cha - 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 (Chasse) and rock steps are the basic
components of the Cha cha. Since the dance 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 Cha Cha and
the Rumba have the same basic steps, they are just danced to
a different rhythm. The Rumba is romantic whereas the Cha
Cha is bright and lively.
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Forward basic - 3 steps (one step forward, replace,
side) |
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Back basic - 3 steps (one step backward, replace,
side) |
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Hip twists
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Spot turns - a turn on the spot which takes 3 steps
to either the left or to the right |
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Forward or backward walks - as the Rumba is a fairly
static dance so these walks are used to help the couples
move around the floor. When walking they should
employ a good hip action |
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Fan position - The girl goes on the man's left side
at arms length and at 90 degrees to the man
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New York - The couple both step forward in promenade
position (side by side) and holding hands at the same
time |
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Cucaracha - rock to the right or the left, then
replace and close |
Paso Doble - Fast Facts:
The Paso Doble on the competition floor should create a
Spanish Bull Fighting atmosphere. The Paso Doble is
the dance for the Man, which allows him to fill the "Space"
with strong three-dimensional shapes and movements danced
with "Pride and Dignity."
The woman's role varies depending on the interpretation
of the dance. The woman can take the role of the
matador's cape, the bull or even the matador at different
times within the dance. Characteristics of the Paso
Doble are the "Marching" flavour given to the steps and the
cape movements creating the required tension between both
dancers. It is one of the only dances that is danced
only in the ballroom world and is one of the most dramatic
of the dances.
Distinctive moves:
There are strong Flamenco influences in the dance where
the use of castanets is simulated.
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Look out for chassez
cape - the man using the woman as the cape to bring
her around |
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Apel - this is when
the man stamps his foot - this should be very
strong. The man would stamp his foot as if he
was trying to attract the bull's attention (the bull
often gets distracted by the crowd in a bull fight). |
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Lines - we should see
good strong lines ( line is like a poise, or a
freeze - a strong shape) |
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Walks - we should see lots of these - very strong
and proud. All of the walks should be on the
heels, with strong heel leads. |
 Samba - 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:
There should be a good balance of moving steps and
stationary steps and there should be lots of outstretched
arms. 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.
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Volta - this is the crossing over of the feet -
these can also be done on the spot and are known as Spot
Voltas |
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Samba
roll – a rolling movement from the waist up.
The upper body circles as you create a six-step
turning group. |
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Many Sambas have a
move called a Botafogo, which is a travelling walk
with a change of direction from left to right or
right to left. |
The samba has a distinctive climax, it ends with throwing
of heads back and arms splayed out to side.
 Jive - 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 one of the fastest 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). There should be lots of kicks and flicks.
These should be executed with a beautifully pointed toe and
sharp action. The dance should be full of lots of
bright, lively, fast movements with mountains of energy.
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Kick - comes from the hip |
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Flick - comes from the knee |
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Change of Places - when the couple change sides |
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American Spin - when the man lets go of the lady and
lets her spin on her own |
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Pivots - continuous turns (spinning around) |
The
feet/legs should be under the body - the knees should
always be close together. There will be a core heartbeat that runs through the
choice of music - which doesn't let up
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