Learn to Dance to These Favorites!

Waltz: This "mother of all dances" originated in Italy in the 1600s as a round dance called the Volte. It arrived in America in the early 1800s and was the first social dance in which a woman was actually held in a man's arms. Learning to Waltz is elegant, and it helps develop graceful movement and poise. Every wedding reception, social event and holiday party includes Waltz steps!

Merengue: Considered too scandalous when it was introduced to the United States in 1941, the Merengue went into eclipse until 1957 when Xavier Cugat resurrected it. Its point of origin is uncertain; both Haiti and the Dominican Republic claim it, and it contains elements of both cultures. It's fun and exciting.

Swing: First known as the Lindy (in honor of Charles Lindberg and his historic hop across the Atlantic), this perennially popular dance emerged in the late 1920s. It combined steps from the Black Bottom, and was also known as the Bop and Push, the Hustle and Boot Scoot, Shag, Charleston and Hop. During the war years it re-emerged on the East Coast as the Jitterbug-Jive and on the West Coast as Swing. You can rock and roll with Swing!

Disco: A kind of dancing more than a specific dance, Disco has strong roots in Swing, Samba, Cha Cha, Mambo, Merengue, Fox Trot and Tango. The most popular version, the Hustle (of "Saturday Night Fever" fame), is believed to have originated in New York in 1970. This free-form style is still one of the most popular at all night clubs and socials.

Rumba: The Rumba is an increasingly popular romantic Latin dance dating back some 400 years. The Rumba sometimes substitutes for those in-between tempos and features a subtle or relaxed (lateral) hip motion and Latin styling. Rumba hip movements are used in most of the popular Latin dances as well as the free-style of Disco and night club dancing.

Samba: A street festival dance that originated in Brazil, the Samba was introduced to the United States in the late 1920s in a Broadway play called "Street Carnival."

Tango: Rudolph Valentino single-handedly danced this Latin import into nationwide popularity beginning in 1910. Although widely believed to have originated in Argentina, it actually may have come from Spain. It's dramatic, exciting, and is known as the "Dancer's Dance." The Tango, with its staccato movements, greatly improves a man's lead or a woman's ability to follow and develops a "strong sense of feeling" for music.

Mambo: Introduced by band leader Anselmo Sacaras in 1944, the Mambo -- a merger of Swing and Rumba -- caught on in the 1950s and remains very popular today.

Cha Cha: An offshoot of the Mambo, the Cha Cha evolved out of a popular movement in slow-tempo Mambo called the Triple Mambo. By 1954 it had evolved into a dance all its own. It's a "must" style to know -- the all time favorite Latin dance.

Fox Trot: Created in 1912 by Harry Fox, the Fox Trot was the first dance that permitted people to hold each other closer than arm's length. The Fox Trot was the first to be tagged "indecent behavior." Today its still the most popular of all social dances. Some people refer to the Fox Trot as the "Slow Dance," the "Two-Step," or a "Conversational Dance" because of its closeness and the ability to carry on a conversation at the same time. The Fox Trot is good for developing smoothness and ease of movement.

Salsa: A peppery version of the mambo, laced with steps from other Latin dances. The Salsa is performed to a fiery, fast tempo. Some call it a form of Latinized rock 'n roll. It's high-energy and all fun!