Dance StylesBallroom Dancing
The first account of ballroom dance was recorded in Europe by French philosopher Michel de Montaigne. He spoke of a gathering in Germany where couples danced so closely that their noses touched. Unlike anything he had seen before, he was captivated by the movement. Romantic, poised, and mesmerizing.
Today, ballroom dance is a fantastic way to connect with your body, learn a new skill, socialize, and have fun with a partner. Ballroom dancing is the art of moving together as one, with dancers gliding across the floor as a unit.
Ballroom Dance Is
for Everyone
Whether you are a solo dancer without a partner or enjoy taking classes with your spouse, our ballroom dancing classes are for everyone. Ballroom dance is timeless, sophisticated, and is enjoyable to learn.
Ballroom Dance Variations
Ballroom dancing is performed in several different variations, with each different dance having its own unique characteristics and techniques. Although varied, each style shares the same fundamental elemental elements of ballroom dance.
Waltz
Waltz is known to be the oldest of modern ballroom dance forms, born in the mountains of Austria and neighborhoods of Vienna in the 13th century. To ‘waltz’ means to “revolve”, since dancers seemed to float over the floor together. Waltz is slower than the Viennese Waltz and consists of a 1-2-3 step pattern.
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American Tango
American Tango is derived from Argentinian Tango, which became popular in the 19th century. American Tango is considered to be the more formal style of the two varying Tangos. Intimate and romantic, Tango is an exciting ballroom dance form that includes intricate footwork and dance patterns to a specific rhythm.
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Foxtrot
The FoxTrot is a poised two-step dance making its debut in the early 1900s. Today, the FoxTrot remains popular due the simplicity and versatility of the dance. The slow-slow-quick-quick pattern allows dancers of all levels to glide across the floor with ease.
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Viennese Waltz
Once frowned upon in the 1700s for its romantic nature, the Viennese Waltz is now adored for its intimacy, speed, and elegance. A faster version of the Waltz, Viennese Waltz picks up the pace at about 180 beats per minute as dancers sail across the ballroom floor as one.
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Quickstep
A famous dance of the 1920s, the Quickstep is nothing short of exciting. Held in close position, dancers will hop, skip, flick, point, kick, and cross their feet during the dance. This is a fast and fun ballroom form that sparks joy in every step.
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Peabody
The Peabody is a rendition of the Quickstep, but danced at a faster speed. While the Quickstep dances at 48-52 measures per minute, the Peabody is a spirited dance performed at 60-62 measures per minute. The Peabody is also referred to as The American Smooth dance.
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Argentine Tango
The Argentine Tango originated in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the 19th century. This passionate, intricate, and romantic ballroom dance form brings two together as one, as the saying goes— it takes two to tango. Consisting of an upbeat rhythm and several staple steps, the Argentine Tango is an exhilarating form of latin ballroom dance and an excellent form of exercise.
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Milonga
Milonga latin ballroom dance refers to the Argentinian music genre Milonga, and is classically danced to Milonga music. Milonga is much like the Argentine Tango, sharing foundational elements. Milonga differs from the Argentine Tango in that the movement is more relaxed, yet faster-paced.
Learn MoreBallroom dances are smooth and graceful, requiring strong use of the feet and close proximity to your partner. The romantic nature of ballroom dances makes them the most popular for Weddings and Anniversaries (the waltz in particular).
Trust Arthur Murray to teach you the beats and give you quick feet!
