Latin Dances Latin American dancing evolved from the fusion of music and dances of different cultures in the New World, including indigenous tribes, Spanish and Portuguese colonists, and West Africans imported as slaves.1 The Latin Dances we teach include: — Salsa/ Mambo - This fun, sexy dance originated in Cuba and is extremely popular to dance socially. — Cha Cha - Also from Cuba, the Cha cha is danced both socially and competitively. It is a playful, flirtatious dance and is usually danced fairly quickly with a sharp, staccato rhythm. — Samba - The national dance of Brazil, Samba is a joyful, infectious dance with a syncopated, bouncing rhythm. — Rumba - The "Dance of Love", Rumba originated in Cuba. It is the slowest and most sensual of the International Latin dances. — Paso Doble - The dance of the matador, Paso Doble originated in Spain. It is primarily danced in competitions. The man represents the bull fighter, and the lady may represent the cape of the matador, the Spanish flamenco dancer, or the bull, depending on her artistic interpretation. — Swing/ Jive - Swing dancing developed in the United States in the early to mid-twentieth century and was extremely popular during the World War II era. There are a number of different styles of swing dancing; we teach Jive, which is fast and energetic, and East Coast, which is slightly slower.   Standard (Modern) Ballroom Dances The Standard Ballroom dances evolved out of the partner dancing tradition of the courts and high society ballrooms of Europe. The Standard Dances we teach include: — Waltz - This slow, romantic dance is characterized by a gliding movement with a gentle rise and fall. It is popular for weddings and other more formal social events. — Tango - The International Tango is an off-shoot of the Argentine Tango, a dramatic, passionate dance from the bordellos of Buenos Aires. — Foxtrot - Perhaps the most popular social dance in the world, the Foxtrot was invented in 1913 by Harry Fox for the Broadway show Ziegfeld Follies. It is characterized by slow, gliding steps, many of which are derived from normal, walking movements. — Viennese Waltz - The oldest of the modern ballroom dances, Viennese Waltz originated in Austria in the late eighteenth century. This fast waltz is characterized by constant rotation of the dancers as they progress around the floor. — Quickstep - The Quickstep is a fast, lively dance characterized by hops, skips, jumps and kicks. It developed as a faster version of the Foxtrot combined with figures from the Charleston.   1 - Reynolds, John Lawrence, Ballroom Dancing: The Romance, Rhythm and Style (San Diego, CA: Laurel Glen Press, 1999), 71.