December 2024 - January 2025
  
Reservation for all classes and events is REQUIRED.  Please call or text (207) 671-7644
This 120-minute class is $150 for 6 weeks per person.
Come with or without a partner.
Private lessons are available.
 

Thursday – December 12, 19, January 2, 9, 16, 23
6-8PM     Ballroom & Latin Basics I (Waltz, Foxtrot, East Coast Swing, Salsa, Bachata, Merengue) – Wells, ME


All Classes in SOUTH PORTLAND take place at: Basics Fitness Center, 380 Western Ave, South Portland, ME 04106
https://aquariusplayground.mailchimpsites.com/dancesport-american-style

All Classes in NEWINGTON take place at: Fox Run Dance Hall, 50 Fox Run Rd, Newington, NH 03801
https://aquariusplayground.mailchimpsites.com/dancesport-fox-run-dance-hall

All Classes in HARRISON take place at: The Ballroom, 50 Main St, Harrison, ME 04040
https://aquariusplayground.mailchimpsites.com/dancesport-harrison-ballroom

All Classes in WELLS take place at: Wells High School, 200 Sanford Rd, ME 04090
https://aquariusplayground.mailchimpsites.com/dancesport-wells-adult-ed


 

For more information on courses offered at 

Wells-Ogunquit Adult Community Education

please go to:
https://adulted.wocsd.org/

200 Sanford Road, Wells, ME 04090

PH: (207) 646-4565
FX: (207) 646-4596

 

American Style Rhythm Dances

A type of ballroom dancing, which evolved from social dancing and is now a fully recognized competitive style of dance. Rhythm style consisting of Cha Cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Bolero and Mambo.
 
CHA CHA: An exciting, syncopated, Latin dance, which originated in the 1950s as a slowed down Mambo, the Cha Cha gathers its personality, character, rhythm, basis, and charm from two major dance sources. It is a derivation of the Mambo through its Latin music, and it is also a stepchild of the Swing, as it is danced to a 1-2-3 step rhythm. The Cha Cha gets its name and character from its distinct repetitive foot rhythm.
 
RUMBA: The Rumba was originally a courtship, marriage, and street dance that was African in origin. The Rumba met some opposition from society’s upper crust because of the suggestive body and hip movements. The characteristic feature is to take each step without initially placing the weight on that step. Steps are made with a slightly bent knee which, when straightened causes the hips to sway from side to side, in what has come to be known as “Cuban Motion.”
 
SAMBA: The Samba is a lively Brazilian dance which was first introduced in 1917 and was finally adopted as a ballroom dance by Brazilian society in 1930. It is sometimes referred to as a Samba, Carioca, a Baion or a Batucado. The difference is mainly in the tempo, since the steps in all four dances are very similar. The style is to bounce steadily and smoothly in 2/4 meter. They say that the Samba was introduced in the United States in 1939 by the late Carmen Miranda.
 
BOLERO: Originally a Spanish dance in 3/4 time, it was changed in Cuba, initially into 2/4 time, then eventually into 4/4. It is now presented as a very slow type of Rumba rhythm. The music is frequently arranged with Spanish vocals and a subtle percussion effect, usually using Congas or Bongos.
 
MAMBO: The spicy Mambo as we now know it grew out of the Danzon (national music of Cuba), and grasped the imagination of the American dance scene at the close of World War II. Later, fast Swing-Jazz and upbeat Latin music joined in to form the updated and uninhibited Mambo. The Mambo is a spot dance and the steps are quite compact.
 
EAST COAST SWING: This dance is frequently referred to as Triple Step swing due to the rhythm of the basic triple step. This dance consists of six and eight count patterns, which require a rock step back by both man and woman to begin. It is a circular dance that is danced with a bounce and is very grounded and not high in the legs. This bounce requires the dancer to stay very smooth and not jump around much. East Coast swing is the base for all swing dances.
 
WEST COAST SWING: This dance consists of six and eight count patterns, which are done in a slot. The woman no longer rocks back as in East Coast swing, but instead she always walks forward on count one. This dance is usually done to medium tempo swing music, frequently slower than East Coast swing. However, those who achieve a high skill level in this dance can and do dance it to faster tempo music. This dance has no bounce and a very smooth feel. Rarely will you see high kicks or moves which require the dancer to leave the floor.
 
MERENGUE: The Merengue is a popular dance of Haiti and the Dominican Republic and is a truly lively Latin dance.  There is an old tale about a very brave and famous military officer who was wounded in battle and developed a limp.  A celebration dance was given for the great hero returning from the war.  Rather than embarrass the hero, who limped on his wounded leg while dancing, all the men present favored their leg as well & thus the Merengue was born.
 
BACHATA: It is a style of dance that originated in Dominican Republic and is now danced all over the world.  Several slightly different styles have emerged but, unlike Salsa, they all share the same basic step.  In partnering, the lead can decide whether to perform in open, semi-close or close position.  Unlike Salsa, Bachata dance does not usually include many complex turn patterns, but they have come to be used more and more as the dance evolves.



American Style Smooth Dances

A type of ballroom dancing, which evolved from social dancing and is now a fully recognized competitive style of dance. The Smooth style allows the dancers to be in open positions allowing for a very “Fred and Ginger” style. 
 
WALTZ: The Waltz appeared as a fashionable dance in Bohemia, Austria, Bavaria and other parts of Europe in the late 1700’s. Danced in 3/4 timing, the recurring, even beats of music send the dancers whirling around the floor enjoying the thrill of the Waltz movement.
 
TANGO: The American Style Tango is a progressive moving along the line of dance using body movement. A staccato movement of the feet and flexed knees highlight the dramatic style of the Tango.
 
FOXTROT: The Foxtrot remains the most popular social dance in the world today. Little did Harry Fox realize that his trotting on a New York stage in 1913 would become an overnight success. The Foxtrot is the foundation for many of the social dances that followed. It is enjoyed by all age groups for its ease of movement and smooth style. Foxtrot music is played by most social dance orchestras and is one of the easiest dances to learn in the American Style.
 
VIENNESE WALTZ: This dance originated in Mid-Europe some 400 years ago. The music is fast in tempo and sends the couples whirling around the floor–first one way and then the other.

 
 
Other Popular Social Dances

ARGENTINE TANGO: The Argentine Tango is a beautiful, improvisational social dance that has developed over the last century in the City of Buenos Aires. It is a true dance of leading and following. Many find Argentine Tango quite challenging, commanding an advanced knowledge of dance skills for partner dancing. Argentine Tango, with it’s dramatic character and use of leg and foot actions, uses slower music and progresses counter clockwise in the line of dance.

NIGHT CLUB TWO-STEP: Night Club Two- Step, not to be confused with country two-step, is one of the most practical and versatile social dances ever conceived. It is designed to be used with contemporary soft rock (“Love Song”) music. This type of music is common just about everywhere, nightclubs, radio, etc. The rhythm of the dance is very simple and rarely changes from the 1 & 2 count. This simple romantic dance fills a gap where no other ballroom dance fits. It gives the dancer, either beginning or advanced, the opportunity to express and create without a rigid technique being required. It’s attractive, romantic, and a real asset to learn since it will be used often. 

 SALSA: The word Salsa means sauce, denoting a “hot” flavor, and is best distinguished from other Latin music styles by defining it as the New York sound developed by Puerto Rican musicians in New York. The dance structure is largely associated with mambo type patterns and has a particular feeling that is associated mainly with the Clave and the Montuno.
 
HUSTLE: The Hustle (Disco) is a member of the Swing family, and is like the West Coast Swing in pattern. It has a distinct flavor, utilizing Disco style music & revived partner style among nightclub dancers in the 70’s. Hustle is danced to the contemporary pop dance music of the last 20 years. It is a fast, smooth dance, with the lady spinning almost constantly, while her partner draws her close and sends her away.
 
COUNTRY WESTERN: Country Western encompasses many dance forms or styles, which are typically danced to country-western music, and which are stylistically associated with American country and/or western traditions.
 
SINGLE TIME SWING: Single Time Swing is East Coast except without the triple step. It is basically taught to beginners in order to get them dancing quickly.  It is also done when the music is too fast for the East Coast Swing.

International Style Latin

 
Latin American dances are danced to a Latin American beat. “Latin” is the term for International Style, “Rhythm” is the term for the American Style.
 
CHA CHA: During the 1950s, the Cha Cha was made famous by many Latino bands such as Xavier Cugat and Prez Prado. Cuban in origin, the Cha Cha rhythm is found in much of today’s popular music.
 
SAMBA: The Samba originated in Brazil and, unlike the other Latin dances that are stationary, it has a traveling action around the floor with lots of spins and controlled bounces.
 
RUMBA: The Rumba is Cuban in origin and is often referred to as the dance of love. Sultry and romantic, the music is a mixture of African and Latin rhythms.
 
PASO DOBLE: The Paso Doble is a theatrical Spanish dance that characterizes the man as the matador and the lady as his cape. Based on Flamenco dancing, the character of the dance is arrogant and passionate.
 
JIVE: The Jive is a very fast, acrobatic, lively dance made popular during World War II by the swing music of Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey and Glen Miller.


 International Style Standard

You may hear the terms Standard, Modern and Smooth in relation to the Ballroom dances and wonder how they differ. They all represent the dances with the man holding the lady in his arms and moving around the floor. The term “Standard” has replaced “Modern” as the name for the International Style dances.  

WALTZ: Danced in European courts in the mid 1700s, the romantic Slow Waltz is an offspring of the faster Viennese Waltz in 3/4 time. The rhythm was gradually slowed down over time as songwriters of ballads and love songs chose to compose in a slower and more comfortable tempo. This dance has continued to rise in popularity at anniversaries, graduations, and weddings.
 
TANGO: The Tango originated in the bordellos of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and is done in a slightly different manner than other dances. The hold is very different, with the lady’s arm under the man’s, which creates a tighter hold for a quick staccato action and stylized poses (not to be confused with Argentine Tango).
 
FOXTROT: The Foxtrot is one of the most deceiving dances. It looks very easy, but is one of the most difficult dances to do. The dance originated in 1913 when a vaudeville performer by the name of Harry Fox performed a little trot which appealed to the social dance teachers in New York and thus the Foxtrot was born. It has gone through many changes since that time, and is now comprised of more soft and fluid linear movements.
 
VIENNESE WALTZ: The Viennese Waltz is a fast Waltz which originated in Austria. Joseph Lanner and Johann Strauss wrote the first waltzes in the early 19th century. In the middle of the 20th century, the German, Paul Krebs choreographed the Viennese Waltz style to which we dance today. The dance enjoyed a great deal of popularity not only in Europe, but also in America, and has been used in many Hollywood productions.
 
QUICKSTEP: As the name implies, the Quickstep is a very quick and lively dance, comprised of hops, skips and kicks. The dance began as a quick version of Foxtrot mixed with the Charleston, and musical “Jazz” influences.