Most likely, the slaves working the cane fields had to wear shackles, which made them move with shortened steps, but who knows? Another story is that a king was born with a birth defect which caused a limp and in order to make him feel more comfortable, his court mimicked his movements. One story goes that a military captain was very fond of the dance and when he returned from battle wounded, he had a limp accounting for the unique hip movements used in the dance. As to the origins of the style of movement there are many varying histories. The dance is characterized by a sort of clipped hip movement. Merengue is attributed to slaves in Haiti and the Dominican Republic and dates back to the late 1800s. Merengue is offered in both the Ballroom Sampler Group Dance Class and the Latin Ballroom Group Dance Class. It is a one-step, meaning you take one step per beat, and while the music is upbeat, the moves can be executed without a rush. Merengue is the easiest dance in the world to learn and Merengue music can be heard in Latin nightclubs around the world. The Fox Trot combines slow and quick steps which allow for a great variety in the steps and was originally danced to ragtime music. History of Foxtrotįox Trot is commonly attributed to Harry Fox, who was a Vaudeville performer active in New York in the 1910s and became a nation-wide craze thanks to a number of popular dancers of the time including Vernon Castle and Oscar Duryea. You don't need a partner for this group dance class and you will also learn a sampling of the other major dances. Our Ballroom Sampler Group Dance Class covers the basics of Fox Trot. However, if the floor is too crowded or small, the Fox Trot can easily be adapted so you can do the dance without traveling. It is traditionally danced as a traveling dance (meaning couples move around the dance floor). Fox Trot can be romantic and casual, or danced more formally depending on your partner, mood and the music. It uses songs in 4/4 rhythm, which are the bulk of songs you hear today. It is danced to the great Jazz Standards (think Sinatra). In this later Charleston form, the hot jazz timing of the 1920s Charleston was adapted to suit the swing jazz music of the 30s and 40s.įox Trot is a perfect dance for parties and weddings. Charleston was one of the dances from which Lindy Hop developed in the 1930s. Prior to the 30s the music for the Charleston was ragtime jazz, in quick 4/4 time with syncopated rhythms. Despite its African-American origins, Charleston is most frequently associated with flappers and speakeasies. While the Charleston developed in African-American communities in the United States, it became a popular dance craze in the wider international community in the 1920s. Just like the song says, the Charleston is named after a city in South Carolina. You can learn the Charleston in the regular Monday night East Coast Swing/Lindy Hop Group Dance Class. For instance, when dancing the Charleston with a partner, you can dance side by side, facing your partner or in tandem with your partner.īoth the 1920s and Swinging Charleston styles are popular today, though swinging Charleston is more commonly integrated into Lindy Hop dancing. The basic step allows for a vast range of variations and improvisation. The modern Charleston is danced in many permutations: solo, with a partner, in groups of solo dancers and in groups of couples. (Unfamiliar with Desi's cultural contributions? Please check out this brilliant Babalu from I Love Lucy.) Introduced in the US in the 1950s, Cha Cha rapidly gained popularity in a Desi Arnaz primed-America. Cuban Mambo dancers would sometimes use a triple hip movement in their Mambo, which evolved into a triple-step and thus Cha Cha was born. Like Mambo and Rumba, Cha Cha originated in Cuba. You can learn Cha Cha in both the Latin Ballroom Group Dance Class and Ballroom Sampler Group Dance Class. It also works well with certain club music and Hip Hop of the past few decades. Learn to Dance | The Rhythm Room Dance Studio, Dallas Texas | Types of Dances OfferedĬlick any of the following links to read about each dance: Cha Cha |Ĭha Cha is great fun and is danced to medium tempo music with a Latin beat that is a bit slower than Salsa but faster than Rumba.
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