Dance Class

Polka Style

energetic and lively dance that is similar to a 2-step, but with a hop on the pick up beat.

Polka Musical notation

step close step hop | step close step hop |

Q. Q. S. | Q. Q S. |

1 &. 2 ah. | 1. & 2 ah .|

Waltz Style 

Accent on the first beat with a fall and rise pattern. ¾ time; can be slow medium or fast tempo.

Waltz Musical Notation 

¾ S S S

….1 2 3

Merengue

trendy salsa which has an exciting uneven beat in the rhythm pattern. It is 4/4 time and the dance follows the basic beats of the measure as its rhythm.

Merengue Musical Notation

| Q’ Q Q Q |

| __ __ __ __

| 1. 2. 3. 4. | (even rhythm)

Merengue Style

Feet are placed flat, but the weight is on the ball of the foot for easy balance. It is a controlled hip movement from a bent knee action with each step. A slight rock in the shoulders to accompany the foot pattern is optional.

Cha Cha

4/4 time,

Folk Dance

Applied to dances of European origin. Folk is an Anglo Saxon word that means “people”

Ethnic Dance

Appleid to group dances that grew from tribal rituals, especially in non-Western countries.

Social Dance

applied to dances in our current culture

Ballroom Dance

Developed from pre-classic court dances. Has 2 different styles: American & international

International Ballroom Dancing

The ‘competitive style’; about maintaining connection with partner, lead and follow operate around the common centre as they move.

American Ballroom dancing 

more open position with underarm turn, lines created between partners are more open. Dips, turns, and side-by-side moves are encouraged. It is most often found in the social ballroom dance floor.

Styles of American Categories

Country: polka, chacha, two step, east/westcoast swing, waltz, and lline dances. 

Latino: Slasa, merengue, tango, etc. 

Swing: East/west coast, lindy hop, balboa, shag. 

Other: Hustle, shag, nightclub

Styles of International Categories

only 2!

Standard: foxtrot, quick step, waltz, viennese waltz, and tango. 

Latin: Rumba, cha cha, samba, jive, and paso doble.

Foxtrot and jive Rhythmic pattern

slow slow quick quick

Polka Rhythmic pattern

quick quick slow

Waltz rhythmic pattern

slow slow slow

Tango rhythmic pattern

slow slow quick quick slow

Merengue Rhythmic Pattern 

quick quick quick quick 

Polka Positions

• 1 hand joined

• 2 hands joined

• closed position

• open position

Polka Steps

• gallop in direction of travel 

• gallop side by side 

• side gallop 2 hands joined 

• reverse gallop

• stamping around partner 

• heel-toe (L/R)(FWD/BKWD)

• Gravevine partner change

Waltz Position 

• Open

• semi-open, closed

• 2 hands joined

• 1 hand joined

• R/L Parallel 

• Reverse Open 

Waltz Steps

• basic

• basic progressive

• box step

• hesitation

• underarm twirl

• cross step 

• wisk step

• grapevine

• twinkle

• box twirl 

• ½ turn 

• ¼ turn

• side by side changes

• criss cross change

• passing twinkle

• around the world 

Merengue Positions

• shine 

• 1 hand joined 

• 2 hands joined 

• flirtation 

• wrap

• latin social 

• sweetheart 

Merengue Steps

• basic 

• basic side to side 

• side breaks 

• chasse 

• Mambo 

• she turns he turns 

• wrap 

• elbow locks 

• windows (L/R)

• Goboncho Sequence 

Cha Cha positions

• shine

• latin social

• 2 hands joined

• flirtation

• wrap

Cha Cha Steps

• basic

• cross over break

• 5th position break

• under arm twirl

• side by side break

• chase

• 3 steps

• closed ½ turns

Rhythm

regular pattern of movement and or sound. The relationship between time and force factors. It can be felt, seen or heard. 

Beat

Basic unit that measures time. The duration of time becomes established by beat, pulse, as it is repeated. Referred to as the underlying beat

Accent 

The stress or emphasis placed on the beat to make it stringer and louder tan the others. The primary accent is on the first beat of music. Depending on the style there may be a secondary accent.

Measure

a group of beats made by the regular occurrence of a heavy accent. It represents the underlying beat enclosed between two adjacent bars of musical staff.

Meter

Metric division of a measure into parts of equal time value and regular accents. It can be recognized by listening for the accent on the first beat.

Syncopated 

when the accent is placed on the unnatural beat or off beat. 

Leading

primarily done with the use of the body, arms, and hands. controls direction, progression, steps, etc. Gentle but firm frame direction will ensure they couple moves as a unit

Following

must adapt rhythm and style; maintaining easy resistance, alert and easy to move.

Swing Musical Notation

S S. QQ

12 34 56

4/4 time

Swing positions

• swing social

• 2 hands joined

• flirtation

• wrap

• octopus

Swing Steps

Single, double, and triple lindy

outside twirl

inside twirl

wrap

she goes he goes

overhead slide

row step

waist slide

change hand behind the back

swivel walk

lift

Tango musical notation

S S. Q Q D/S

12 34 1 2 3 4

4/4 time

Tango Positions

closed, open, semi-open, reverse open, 1 hand joined

Tango steps

• Basic

• left turn

• open break (with turn or twirl)

• Cross step (with ¼ turn)

• single fan

• double cross

• double fan

• butterfly

• corte

Closed position

Shine position

Sweetheart position

Open position

Left Parallel position

Right Parallel position

Wrap position

1 hand joined side by side

Reverse open position

flirtation position

Social Dance and characteristics of social dance

has the primary focus of interacting with others. It usually includes music, rhythm and reflects current times.

Categories of social dance

• Alone in a group - many dancers but none relate to one another

• partners - connected to another (lead & follower)

• Line dances - choreographed, repetitive sequence

• Dances done in a circle - a social formation that allows people to join in.

Benefits of Social dance

joy in rhythm, meeting people, mental refreshment, exercise, goal-setting, competition, accomplishment.

Musical Structure

1. underlying beat the provides a consistent tempo.

2. beats are clustered into measures

3. time signatures are consistent within a song

4. measures are clustered into phrases in exponential fashion

5. consistent tempo remains

Point of Balance

the point just below the diaphragm where you can easily shoft your weight in many directions with out losing your balance. (higher than CoG).