The original foxtrot was more upbeat than today’s version.  Over time, the dance has undergone a few personality changes, but all the basics that made the dance so appealing are still in place.

The Bronze level foxtrot is closest to Fox’s original dance and consists of fairly simple combinations of walks and chasses that made the dance so socially popular.  The Silver foxtrot added continuity to the walks and chasses and is very similar to the international foxtrot where open and close movements are common.

Meanwhile the English developed a Slow Foxtrot with very precise moves.  The Slow Foxtrot requires long, smooth continuous movements.  That formula did not work well with nightclub dancing and the popularity of the English foxtrot waned.  Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly led the freewheeling American version to new popularity heights.

The American foxtrot features bold open and closed movements.  The footwork is busy with a series of walking steps where the toe leads.  The rise and fall aspects of the foxtrot are displayed in the chasses and involve a three-step move.  Most turns are initiated through contra-body movements.

In the foxtrot, the sway is the inclination of the body to the left or the right with accompanying movements to the side.  Continuity is continuous passing of the feet from step to step without closing chasses.  Three successive passing steps result in continuity.

The foxtrot always begins in a closed dance hold.  This position establishes the dancer’s line and frame.  For social dancing, the position is often adjusted to a semi-closed position.  In the closed position, the dancers stand in front of each other slightly offset to the left.  The lady’s right hand is held by the man’s upper clasp left at the woman’s eye level.  The frame should be sustained but is more relaxed than the waltz.

The foxtrot is very versatile and can be performed to a wide variety of musical styles and tempos.  The slow, quick, quick rhythm constitutes one measure.  A good foxtrot is fun and puts forth a lot of positive energy.

There are several different styles of Tango but all the styles are danced in either an open position with space between the partners or in a closed embrace where the partners are joined at the chest or at the hip.

The count of the tango is either 16 or 32 but with either count the Tango is performed to a repetitive style.  The female is held in the crook of the man’s arm with her head held back.  She rests her right hand on the man’s lower hip.  As the dancers maintain this position, they must connect with the music.  Many dance observers associate strong, showy head movements with the Tango.

Believe it or not, the Tango is one of the easiest dances to learn.  It is especially easy if learning with an experienced dancer.  The basic rhythm is slow-slow and the basic step is walk.  To spice up the dance add some flair and interpretative style.  If you like music, you will like the Tango.

To begin, the partners face each other.  The leader places the right hand on the partner’s lower back.  The left hand is extended out to the side with the arm bent and holding the partner’s right hand in a loose grip.  The partner places the left hand on the leader’s right shoulder.

On the first beat, the leader walks slowly forward with the left foot placing the heel down first.  The partner mirrors the moves throughout the dance.

On the second beat, the leader steps forward slowly with the right foot which moves past the left.  The step creates a slinking look and feel.

On the third beat, step forward with the left foot and quickly side the right foot to the right and shift the weight.

On the fourth beat, bring the left foot slowly to the right with the left leg slightly bent as the legs come together. The weight remains on the right side.

On the fifth beat, shift the weight to your left foot and do a right forward rock step.  While launching a half-turn clockwise, step forward quickly and shift the weight back to the left foot.  Step forward slowly with the right foot to complete the half turn.

Bring the feet together with the left foot next to the right and repeat beats three through seven.  Take it from there and enjoy the Tango!

In a successful Waltz, the movements of each dancer compliment the other.  The woman always mirrors the male’s leading steps.  The male leads the woman through boldly romantic steps, which explains why the dance has become so popular with brides or couples who want to share a memorable dance.

The waltz stems from a 17^th century country folk dance developed in Austria and Bulgaria.  Versions of the dance began to spread throughout Europe in the middle of the 18^th century.  These waltz’s original country folk dance roots explained the upbeat tempo of the lively dance.  Interest in the Viennese Waltz peaked in the Strauss era in the 1800’s.

When the waltz arrived in the U.S. in the mid 1800’s, composers slowed the pace.  Slower turns and longer gliding movements characterized the newest version, which was aptly name the Boston.  Enthusiasm for the Boston faded but evolved into the new American Style Waltz.

Ever since the English and Americans have branded their separate versions of the Slow Waltz.  The English changes resulted in the International Slow Waltz just as the American Style Waltz became distinguished for the dance’s more theatrical movements.

The Viennese Waltz, the International Waltz and the American Style Waltz remain compelling and popular dances.  Each embraces distinctive waltz qualities with turn and gliding motions unique to each version.  Whichever waltz the dancers select, the movements should be progressive with long, flowing movements continuous turns and the definite rise and fall actions all delivered in the strikingly romantic waltz position.

The American Waltz is performed to a slow tempo but features those theatrical solo spins and under arm movements.  The more flamboyant the waltz, the more American the waltz is.  The American Waltz tempo should be fluid and melodic.

The International Slow Waltz embraces long, flowing movements and emphasizes many turns that add drama to the dance.  The very slow tempo allows for powerful movements and retention of perfect form.

The Viennese Waltz is fast by comparison.  Johann Strauss is the most revered of Viennese Waltz composers.  The music is characterized by orchestral sounds and very little use of percussion instruments.  The movements are shorter and robust.

Whichever waltz you prefer, the position of the frame and the head are similar to all three varieties.  This proper positioning allows for the close quarter movements and glorious intimacy unique to a properly performed waltz.

Click Here for the Best Way to Learn the Cha Cha

Like most of today’s dancing music, the Cha Cha is 4/4 time so dancers perform four steps per bar.  On the fourth beat, the music tells you to step side and close to your dancing partner.  This is accomplished by a drag of the step foot followed by a drag of your other foot to close.  You have just performed the distinctive Cha Cha for which the ballroom dance is named.

Many Cha Cha instructors count the Cha Cha with slow-slow-quick-quick-slow but that can be confusing.  Beginners may prefer to think rock-rock-side-close-side.  That count draws a nice perspective of the rhythm and the image.

As in most Latino dances, the dancers commence steps on the 2nd beat of the music and change weight from one leg to another between beats.  In the Cha Cha, the dancer’s feet only move on the 1st, 2nd and 4th beats.  It is the change of weight that gives the dance its distinctive look and feel.  Weight changes take place halfway through the 1st and 2nd beats, on the 3rd beat and halfway through the 4th beat and on the 1st beat.  So, counting from the second beat of the music, the preferred count is 2 & 3 Cha-Cha, 1.

There are two basic moves in the Cha Cha.  These moves are best described as the Forward Basic Movement and the Back Basic Movement.  There may be variations of body position and various combinations, but these two movements create the Cha Cha.  In the Cha Cha, a move generally consists of any sequence of eight steps.

In the Cha Cha, when the man moves a foot forward, the female moves her opposite foot backwards.  When the man performs the Forward Basic Movement, the woman is performing the Back Basic Movement.  The man’s Forward Basic Movement is followed by his Back Basic Movement.

It is from the Back Basic Movement that the fancy moves originate.  After the man steps back on his left foot and the woman steps forward on her right, they both step back.  This step is initiated by the man pushing the woman back to prevent her from stepping forward.  Now, the dancers are in position for those showy steps.  Cha Cha Cha!

Click Here to Learn How to Dance East Coast Swing

Unlike the Foxtrot, the East Coast Swing is a non-progressive dance.  Like the Foxtrot, the swing is written in 4/4 time with emphasis on the first and third beats.  Swing dances can be written in Single Swing, Double Swing or Triple Swing.  The Single Step Swing includes slow-slow-quick-quick step.  The Double Swing utilizes a quick-quick-quick-quick-quick-quick move while the Triple Step employs quick-n-quick, quick-n-quick, quick-quick steps.

The East Coast Swing includes the use of a back rock step.  The back rock either follows a step, a step touch or a triple step.  The man always leads with the left foot and back rocks on the left foot as well.

The East Coast swing is a fast, exuberant dance.  The partners must maintain control, which is accomplished by the proper handgrip.  In the two hands position, the man extends his arms forward with palms up.  The woman places her hands palms down on her partner’s hands.  The fingers are cupped to ensure a good, solid grip.

The dancer’s arms act as the rudders. They must remain firm to direct the flow.  Floppy or loose arms will prevent following the partner’s lead.  With the swing, rehearsal time is a good idea.  Once it clicks in though, the dancers are in for an especially invigorating performance.

The East Coast Swing necessitates small steps.  For beginners, the biggest error in learning the dance is steps that are too long.  Shortening the steps allows for quicker, more balanced moves.  Our favorite ballroom dancing DVD course teaches this exactly.

Unlike many other dances, in swing dancing, the frame gives way to the counter balancing postures of the dancing partners.  The best counterbalancing is achieved when the partners lean back slightly.  This forces the dancers to keep their feet under their bodies.

The short, crisp steps in East Coast Swing are initiated from the inside of the ball of the foot.  Using the ball to lead the push off or back rock allows for punchy steps.  East Coast Swing is not a toe dance.  Follow the balls of your feet to a fast night on the town.

Ballroom Dance DVDs seem to be a dime a dozen these days.  Lots of people are rediscovering the art of ballroom dancing. Especially with the phenomenon of TV shows like “Dancing with the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance”. It seems like everyone wants to learn how to dance the Samba. Or the Foxtrot, the Jive, the Rumba, the Cha Cha, Latin Salsa, Swing….the list goes on and on.

Maybe you like these dance shows on TV and want to emulate the fancy dancers techniques. Or maybe you’re just tired of sitting out when all your friends and family are dancing at weddings and parties. Or perhaps you can dance a little, but you have a fear of dancing on two left feet with no rhythm.

Whatever your reason for wanting to learn Ballroom Dance, there are a number of Ballroom Dance DVD home training courses available on the market today to help teach you, especially if you are a beginner.

You really can discover how fun learning ballroom dance can be - without leaving your house. Or at least that’s the promise a lot of Ballroom Dance DVDs and instruction courses are making these days.

The problem is, many of these Ballroom Dance DVDs offer little useful content. Most of these books and dance videos offer introductory lessons and then kind of “leave you hanging”. It can be a task in and of itself to just locate a good dance instruction course, especially a dancing for beginners-type course.

If you do it the wrong way or use the wrong instruction course, learning how to ballroom dance will become more work than fun. And then you won’t want to continue, and you’ll regret having spent your money on these courses and videos.

Well, you no longer have to wonder “Which is the best Ballroom Dance Course?” because we have done the hard part for you.  On this site, you will find reviews of the different “Learn How to Ballroom Dance” courses. Please, don’t waste your money on useless instruction videos.

We really like Learn and Master Ballroom Dance because it is perhaps the most complete Ballroom Dance DVD course we have come across. Louis Let’s Dance is a pretty good runner up because it’s cheap, but it isn’t as cmplete and Learn and Master Ballroom Dance is. You have to decide between the quality of content vs. the price you pay. Hopefully our reviews help you make the right decision!