Dance Styles - Which Are the Ones For You ?

Freestyle/Disco

Freestyle/disco is the trendiest and most popular form of dance in the UK today. In involves runs, spins, kicks and leaps as well as many other diverse steps and movements with lots of different arm and hand actions. The music can be fast and 'beaty' or slow and sensuous, allowing dancers of all ages to use freedom of expression to enhance their style.

Streetdance

Have you ever seen the hottest pop band's music video or performance on Top of the Pops? Then you will already know what Streetdance looks like. Streetdance takes any form of popular music - from pop to hip hop - and choreographs routines to the beats. We have seen that, only too often, the most successful pop acts have made it big by combining Streetdance routines with their tunes and lyrics.



Showdance
This most exciting dance form encompasses the wide spectrum of productions that are Musical Theatre. Shows like Grease, My Fair Lady, Bombay Dreams, The Lion King etc all diverse styles but all embraced by Showdance. A dance form for theatrical performance, preparing the body physically through exercise and stimulating artistic ability through dance movement, improvisation and interpretation of music. The use of hand props, make up and much more - it provides all the 'must have' qualities for today's amateur and professional dancer.



Jive
When Elvis Presley came on at that last wedding reception party you went to, the guests probably took to the dance floor with the Jive. However, there are many different styles of Jive that have adjusted to the various music phases throughout the decades. The 1920s Lindy Hop, 1930s Jitterbug and Boogie Woogie, 1940s Swing, 1950s and 1960s Rock 'n' Roll and French Jive are all styles of Jive. The dance is one of the International Latin American competition dances.



Slowdance

The freestyle equivalent of Foxtrot, controlled balletic/ lyrical jazz movements danced to slower tempo music. Such tunes as Hurt and You are so beautiful being very popular.  


Samba
The Samba leapt from the street of Rio, Brazil. However, the Samba danced in the International competition style Latin American is very different to the original Brazilian party dance.

Rumba

The Rumba provides the setting for sensual and passionate duel between man and woman on the dance floor. With its pulsating and rumbling rhythms, the Rumba is the slow dance of the Latin world and often referred to as the 'Queen' of all Latin dances. The Rumba is one of the five dances used in International competition style Latin American.

Cha Cha Cha

The Cha Cha Cha is another fun and versatile Latin dance and ranks amongst the five dances competed at international level. The dance draws its name from the rhythm of the feet on the dance floor - 'cha cha cha' - and today's version resembles the original Cuban Cha Cha.

Tango Ballroom

The Ballroom Tango is one of the five dances belonging to the International Ballroom Competitions. Many see it as the austere European relative of the raw and compelling Argentine Tango

Paso Doble

During the Paso Doble, the dance floor becomes a Spanish bullfighting arena; the man is the matador; and the woman - the flowing provocative cape that entices the bull. This dance, with its constant echoing of the Spanish Flamenco, is one of the five International Latin competition dances.

Waltz
The world renowned Waltz captures romance and marks special occasions for dancers everywhere. Originally an 18th century Austrian folk-dance, the Waltz is one of the five dances of International Ballroom competitions. The dance is called the 'slow' or 'English' Waltz in countries where the Viennese Waltz is known as the Waltz.

Viennese Waltz

The Viennese Waltz harks back to days when the Viennese aristocracy danced to the music of Strauss and other classical composers. Today the Viennese Waltz is still danced socially, but the 'slow' or 'English' Waltz is more standard. Elegant and classic, the Viennese Waltz is one of the International Ballroom competition dances.

Foxtrot
The Foxtrot is a slow and graceful dance rooted in the Tin Pan Ally of the 1920s. The dance's elegant and beautiful movements make the Foxtrot a challenging dance for ballroom dancers to master. The Foxtrot features in the five International Ballroom competition dances.

Quickstep

The first dancers to take the Foxtrot to a faster tempo introduced the Quickstep. There are echoes of Charleston in the Quickstep with the dance's nimble hops and kicks, making it a lively and energetic expedition to the dance floor. The Quickstep is one of the five international ballroom competition dances.