Types of Dances
We teach virtually every social partner dance there is. Whether you are looking to learn basic social dancing for your next event, make a statement in your local salsa club or milonga, or go for the trophy at your next ballroom competition, our instructors are prepared to help you achieve your goals!
We follow a curriculum endorsed by experts in the ballroom industry, including Dance Vision International Dance Association (DVIDA), and National Dance Council of America (NDCA), and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD).
Our teachers train daily in both the American and International styles of competitive ballroom dancing, along with the latest social dance styles, and are given frequent certification testing to ensure they have the most up to date knowledge of patterns, techniques, and competitive requirements.
For students looking to expand their dance knowledge even further, Dance With Me also provides high level instruction in other popular styles of dance like hip hop, contemporary, and musical theater.
All of this expert knowledge is broken down through our customized teaching process so that our students learn how to dance in a way that is simple, fast, and fun!
Types of Dances We Teach:
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Cha-Cha
Cha Cha is a fun, flirtatious, dance that emphasizes fast footwork, playful hip action, and a strong internal sense of rhythm. Applicable to a wide variety of music styles, this iconic dance is a great way to raise both your heart-rate and your spirits!
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Samba
Samba is an intoxicating dance rooted in the heart-pulsing rhythms of Brazil. It is an excellent dance to work on body isolation, musicality, and personality on the dance floor. Sometimes fast and frenetic, sometimes smooth and sultry, once you start to samba, it is hard to stop.
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Rumba
Rumba is arguably the most sensual of all latin dances, combing long leg lines, rolling hip actions, and beautiful arm styling. One of the slower dances, Rumba puts great focus on core strength, balance, and "Cuban motion." Simple and versatile for the beginner while offering a fun challenge to the competitor, it is no wonder Rumba, with it's seductive rhythm, is one of the most popular dances we teach.
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Paso Doble
Paso Doble is the ultimate dance for those looking to escape into the passion and excitement of latin dancing! Created to mimic the bullfights of Spain, Paso Doble is strong, seductive, and confident. Though rarely used socially, Paso Doble still has great functional value to the student, requiring a strong sense of rhythm, sharp turns, and powerful movement across the floor. For the competitor, the boldness and deliberateness of its presentation provides an enormous benefit. Few dances are more stylized...or more fun.
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Jive
Jive is the perfect dance for those with energy to burn or for those who wish they did! A variation on the classic swing dances of the early American 20th century, Jive emphasizes lightning fast feet, sharp turns, and playful kicks. There is no better cardio workout in the ballroom dance world than a jive, and many a dancer have found themselves more energized and more fit after learning it. With music that begs you to dance, jive is the best way to dance away your cares.
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Cha-Cha
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Samba
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Rumba
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Paso Doble
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Jive
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Cha Cha
Cha Cha is a fun, flirtatious, dance that emphasizes fast footwork, playful hip action, and a strong internal sense of rhythm. Applicable to a wide variety of music styles, this iconic dance is a great way to raise both your heart-rate and your spirits!
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Rumba
Rumba is arguably the most sensual of all latin dances, combing long leg lines, rolling hip actions, and beautiful arm styling. One of the slower dances, Rumba puts great focus on core strength, balance, and "Cuban motion." Simple and versatile for the beginner while offering a fun challenge to the competitor, it is no wonder Rumba, with it's seductive rhythm, is one of the most popular dances we teach.
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East Coast Swing
The East Coast Swing is a descendant of the incredibly popular Lindy Hop style of the American 20's, 30's, and 40's. A great starter dance for those interested in all that swing has to offer, the East Coast Swing can be performed in a simple "single time" form or in it's more common "triple time" rhythm that focuses heavily on energetic movement, a variety of turns and spins and, appropriately enough, a "swinging" action in the hips. Versatile, fun, and challenging, the East Coast Swing is a great dance to have in your repertoire!
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Bolero
Unique to the American Rhythm style, Bolero is a beautiful fusion of smooth, sultry latin movements and sexy bossa nova based rhythms. Few dances are as intriguing or alluring. Sometimes referred to as the "ballroom dancer's latin dance", Bolero layers an almost waltz-like rise and fall action on top of the traditional Cuban motion, making it one of the more challenging dances to learn but also one of the most rewarding.
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Mambo
Mambo is the quintessential latin dance. Steeped in afro-cuban musical history, a good mambo relies on exceptional rhythm, coordinated rib and hip movement, and expression. Differing slightly from the salsa, Mambo "breaks" on the second count of a music measure, which provides an excellent opportunity for the student to improve musicality along with the many physical skills the dance offers. Perhaps most importantly, Mambo teaches the joyful "soul" of how to latin dance.
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Cha Cha
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Rumba
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East Coast Swing
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Bolero
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Mambo
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Waltz
The Waltz is arguably the most recognizable of all ballroom dances. With it's signature 3/4 timing, airy rise and fall, and music box-like hold, no other dance better conjures images of romance and grace. As functional as it is lovely, waltz is the perfect dance to improve balance, strength, and softness in your movement.
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Tango
Most know that the Tango is the dance of seduction, of mystery, and of passion. However, tango can also be hauntingly beautiful and deeply introspective. Tango's unique hold and cat like style of movement not only make it a show stopper on the floor, but a great method for learning musicality, sharp footwork, strong body carriage, and powerful leg actions. An excellent dance to get "lost in", tango challenges both the body and mind.
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Foxtrot
If you have ever dreamed of dancing in a long gown or a sleek tuxedo and floating across the floor like Fred and Ginger, then Foxtrot is the dance for you! Rooted in the music of "The Great American Songbook", foxtrot is an elegant dance that glides effortlessly across the floor before whisking into a series of pivot turns or picturesque lines. The classic dance for a wedding or gala, foxtrot is simple enough for beginners to learn quickly and broad enough to challenge ballroom enthusiasts for years.
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Viennese Waltz
Viennese Waltz's defining characteristic is its whimsical turning. Significantly faster than it's namesake, Viennese waltz harkens back to the grand balls of Austria, and is arguably the "dreamiest" dance of all. While it is not as common socially in this day and age, it is still an excellent dance for learning grace, agility, balance, and posture. It is dashing, graceful, and few sights compare to the grandeur of a room full of couples waltzing around the floor!
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Quickstep
Quickstep is unmistakable in it's playful gliding, jumping, and sometimes running motion across the dance floor! This smooth alternative to swing dancing is similarly danced to the classic sounds of American big band music. Although quickstep looks intimidating to the television or competition viewer, the basics of the dance are surprisingly easy and enormously fun! Quickstep is a wonderful dance to work on smooth movement, proper dance frame, and obviously, fast feet.
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Waltz
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Tango
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Foxtrot
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Viennese Waltz
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Quickstep
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Waltz
The Waltz is arguably the most recognizable of all ballroom dances. With it's signature 3/4 timing, airy rise and fall, and music box-like hold, no other dance better conjures images of romance and grace. As functional as it is lovely, waltz is the perfect dance to improve balance, strength, and softness in your movement.
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Tango
Most know that the Tango is the dance of seduction, of mystery, and of passion. However, tango can also be hauntingly beautiful and deeply introspective. Tango's unique hold and cat like style of movement not only make it a show stopper on the floor, but a great method for learning musicality, sharp footwork, strong body carriage, and powerful leg actions. An excellent dance to get "lost in", tango challenges both the body and mind.
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Foxtrot
If you have ever dreamed of dancing in a long gown or a sleek tuxedo and floating across the floor like Fred and Ginger, then Foxtrot is the dance for you! Rooted in the music of "The Great American Songbook", foxtrot is an elegant dance that glides effortlessly across the floor before whisking into a series of pivot turns or picturesque lines. The classic dance for a wedding or gala, foxtrot is simple enough for beginners to learn quickly and broad enough to challenge ballroom enthusiasts for years.
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Viennese Waltz
Viennese Waltz's defining characteristic is its whimsical turning. Significantly faster than it's namesake, Viennese waltz harkens back to the grand balls of Austria, and is arguably the "dreamiest" dance of all. While it is not as common socially in this day and age, it is still an excellent dance for learning grace, agility, balance, and posture. It is dashing, graceful, and few sights compare to the grandeur of a room full of couples waltzing around the floor!
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Waltz
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Tango
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Foxtrot
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Viennese Waltz
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Salsa
The Salsa is arguably the most popular of all current partner dances, and for good reason. The salsa is a fun, flirty, and simple dance designed to accommodate the many different styles of music that make up it's history. Usually danced quite quickly, salsa is a fun way to get in shape, work on musicality, and introduce yourself to the "language" of latin dancing.
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Argentine Tango
The Argentine Tango, so named in ballroom circles to distinguish it from its more formal counterpart, is one of the most easily recognizable and beloved dances in the world. Although its more taboo origins are widely known, the sultry, passionate, dance that comes from deep in the heart of Buenos Aires is now seen as a beautiful expression of romance, drama, and sometimes even playfulness. Noted for its closed embrace, improvisational swivels, and quick leg flicks the Argentine Tango is the perfect dance for those looking to escape life for a while.
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Hustle
The Hustle is perhaps the most misunderstood of all partner dances. It is often associated with the song that bears its name or perhaps the iconic moves of John Travolta. However, the hustle as a partner dance is a fast paced, quick turning, show stopper on the dance floor that is sure to be a hit at any wedding reception or gala. Hustle takes its cues from latin dancing, but its heart lies in the club beats found in the 1970's New York discotheques of its origin! Hustle is the perfect dance for beginners looking to make a splash!
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Kizomba
Hailing from Angola, the Kizomba is one of the most recent partner dances to sweep the country. Kizomba relies heavily on close partnering and musicality and is a dance that is very easy to get hooked on. Although the dance can be quite sensual if desired, it is not out of place on a social dance floor and is sometimes confused with other dances of similar musical styles. The basic steps can be learned quite quickly, but a lot of skill and body awareness goes into mastering this passionate dance.
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Bachata
The sexy Bachata is rooted in guitar music from the Dominican Republic and has taken the salsa club dance scene by storm! Like Kizomba, the basics of bachata are quite simple to learn, making it a fun dance for beginners, but the subtleties that make bachata so alluring can keep a student occupied for a long time. Bachata features a very grounded leg action, smooth hip motions, and a signature "tap" accented on the fourth beat of a measure either with the the hip or the foot. Anyone looking to enjoy a night of salsa dancing will certainly want to learn some bachata as well!
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Merengue
The Merengue is an infectiously upbeat Caribbean dance and the perfect way to ease into the art of latin dancing. One of the simplest of all partner dances, Merengue focuses on playful "marching" steps, gradual turns, and strong rib and hip actions. However, there are plenty of advanced steps and techniques to be learned from Merengue, and all latin dancers should spend some time taking in all it has to offer.
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Bolero
Unique to the American Rhythm style, Bolero is a beautiful fusion of smooth, sultry latin movements and sexy bossa nova based rhythms. Few dances are as intriguing or alluring. Sometimes referred to as the "ballroom dancer's latin dance", Bolero layers an almost waltz-like rise and fall action on top of the traditional Cuban motion, making it one of the more challenging dances to learn but also one of the most rewarding.
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West Coast Swing
The West Coast Swing, so named for it's Californian roots, is most easily recognized by it's slick, playful, and improvisational style that is danced "in a slot." The West Coast style of swing is more laid back, smooth, and admittedly sexier than it's bouncier, more energetic Eastern counterpart. There is virtually no better dance for practicing partnering skills as West Coast is extremely versatile, multi-layered, and highly "conversational" between partners.
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Salsa
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Argentine Tango
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Hustle
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Kizomba
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Bachata
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Merengue
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Bolero
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West Coast Swing
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Hip Hop
Hip hop is an incredibly popular genre of dance that includes a wide variety of body actions designed to accentuate the rhythms of urban music past and present. Embraced more and more by dancers of all ages, hip hop dancing is a fun way to stay fit, improve coordination, and learn musicality!
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Contemporary
Contemporary dance, as it is commonly known, encompasses a wide range of dance styles including classical ballet, jazz, and modern and focuses heavily on the use of dance as a form of expression - sometimes deeply personal and sometimes existential. More and more, contemporary dance elements are being incorporated into traditional ballroom and latin performances creating a new fusion style that is compelling, challenging, and inspiring.
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Musical Theater
Musical theatre dancing is less of a particular style, and more of a description of dancing that is rooted in the diverse history of Broadway musicals. Relying heavily on a knowledge of ballet, tap, and jazz, musical theater dancers are, first and foremost, actors and place a high focus on musical interpretation. Partner dancing has always been intertwined in musical theater and is becoming more and more prevalent as ballroom dance begins to be the focus of more and more live stage productions.
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Hip Hop
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Contemporary
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