Latin
Dances
Like the American Rhythm dances, Latin dances generally stay in a small, confined area of the dance floor but a lot goes on in that space. You do lot's of rhythm, body ticks, jumping around, and all sorts of body isolations which let's you really get loose on the dance floor.
The
ChaCha 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.
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."
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.
International style Rumba tempo is much slower than
the American style Rumba giving more time to fill
space with emotions and body movements.
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 intepretation
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" flavor 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. It is one of the most dramatic of the
dances.
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.
Like the American Rhythm dances, Latin dances generally stay in a small, confined area of the dance floor but a lot goes on in that space. You do lot's of rhythm, body ticks, jumping around, and all sorts of body isolations which let's you really get loose on the dance floor.
ChaCha
Samba
Rumba
Paso Doble
Jive
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