s
DiscoMost Disco dances have strong roots in Swing, Samba, Cha Cha,
Mambo, Merengue, Fox Trot and Tango. The Hustle is believed to have
originated in New York in 1970. It went through many variations in the
1970s, with line dances for groups of people, solo movements that came
and went, and partnership dances. These partnership dances included
The Basic Hustle, Latin, Spanish and Tango Hustle, and the most
popular Street, Three-Count or Swing Hustle that originated in
California as the street Hustle by skaters in Venice and Malibu. Disco
is often danced to contemporary pop music of the last 20 years.
Kouta stays alive
SalsaSalsa is a Spanish word, which when translated literally means
"sauce". Hot, spicy, and full of exotic Latin flavour, the dance is
true to its name. In terms of footwork, steps in all directions are
normally taken first with the ball of the foot in contact with the
floor, and then with the heel lowering when the weight is fully
transferred. The hip action is usually relaxed and subtle, especially
for men. In general, arms are held at or slightly above waist level.
The Salsa hold is considerably more relaxed than the basic Latin hold,
allowing for more freedom of arm movement.
Chris Hemsworth fires up the dance floor
Argentine TangoThe Argentine Tango is a social dance that originated
in the bars, clubs and brothels of Argentina in the late 1880s. With
less expressive and more intimate movements than the Ballroom Tango,
the Argentine Tango is characterised by close embraces and a definite
lead and follow pattern. It's danced in an embrace that can vary from
open, in which the leader and follower connect at arms length, to very
closed, in which the connection is chest-to-chest, or anywhere in between.
Tamsyn Lewis nimbly prances around the dance floor
Ballroom
Modern WaltzIn the early 19th Century another turning dance, the
"Waltzen", became popular in many parts of Germany and Austria, with
local variants named after their area. The popular step from Landl ob
der Enns in upper Austria became known as the Landler. Meanwhile, a
more sedate form of the fast Viennese Waltz evolved in America around
1834, known originally as the Boston. The Modern Waltz is said to be a
combination of the Landler and the Boston derived in England about 1910.
Alicia and John-Paul waltz up a storm
Modern TangoThe Modern Tango is probably a result of Spain's Flamenco
dance merging with the African slave dance the Tangano, and a host of
other folk dances infiltrating South America. In the Buenos Aires
slums in the late 19th century, they both merged with the Habanera – a
Cuban folk dance – to provide a new step; the Milonga. Originally the
Milonga was a soft private dance, with emphasis on leg movements. In
Paris in the 1930's, it was combined with other ballroom dances and
given a staccato action, moving the emphasis to the torso and head, a
characteristic which remains.
It takes Ky and Masha to tango
FoxtrotOne story says it was introduced as the Castle Walk into
nightclub performances of Vernon and Irene Castle, and popularised by
Harry Fox in the stage show Ziegfeld Follies in New York in 1913 - and
named after him. Others say it mimicked the gait of a horse, or even a
fox. Regardless, the step was fashionably rebellious against 19th
Century dancing, as it used parallel feet rather than turned out feet
used in Victorian dances. About 1922, the trotting steps were
discarded for a less energetic movement called the Saunter and by 1927
it was called the Slow Foxtrot with gliding movements.
Foxy couple, Chris and Trenton
QuickstepAs Ragtime music evolved into Swing through the 1920s, new
dances the Charleston, Shimmy and the Black Bottom became popular in
America. Elements of these three dances, popularised on stage by the
Ziegfeld Follies became absorbed into a faster version of the Foxtrot
after a visit by Paul Whiteman's band to the UK in 1923. The
Charleston step and the Scatter Chasses were introduced into the
Quickstep by Wally Fryer and Vi Barnes in London in the 1940s.
Ada and Aric demonstrate perfect Quickstep form
Latin
RumbaThe Dance of Love, the Rumba is the most sensual of Latin dances
with the lady dominating the man using her womanly charms.
Incorporating teasing and withdrawal, partners dance to each other not
the audience.
Leeanne and Dicko perform a red hot rumba
SambaThe word Samba is supposedly derived from a West African Bantu
word meaning "to pray" or invoke spirits of ancestors. It is said to
be a dance that can send people into a trance. It is danced annually
at Rio's Carnivale.
Brodie sizzles
Jive From its start in 1927, the Jive shocked adults who tried to ban
it. American GIs in World War II took it to Europe but it was danced
underground due to its "corrupting influence". It's a variation of the
Jitter Bug adding rock'n'roll and swing.
Ada gets down and jives
Paso DoblePaso Doble Made famous in the movie "Strictly Ballroom", The
Paso Doble is a Spanish gypsy dance based on the bullfight. The man
represents the bullfighter, Torero, and the lady his red cape or
cappa. It is danced to the characteristic march music used for the
procession at the beginning of a corrida.
Chris and Trenton do the Paso Doble
Cha ChaWhen the English dance teacher Pierre Lavelle visited Cuba in
1952, he saw the Rumba danced with extra beats. He returned to Britain
and began teaching these steps as a new dance.
Simone loves to cha cha

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