The unknown waltz dance history poses several setbacks to the promotion of the dance among most people. In the past, there have been several allusions to a gliding and sliding dance (the waltz) dating as far back as the 16th century. In the 16th century, H S. Beheim, a printer made representations about this dance. Another French philosopher, Montaigne wrote about a dance that he has witnessed in Augsburg in the year 1580. This dance had the partners so close that the faces could touch. Kunz Haas was also of the opinion that the dance was now the godless, spinner or Weller.

In the world of ballroom dances, the waltz dance history is the oldest of these dances dating far back to the mid eighteenth century. The predecessor of the waltz is believed to be a German folk dance, the “Lander”. Throughout this period of time, the “Walzer” dance developed. The origin of the word “Walzer” is traced to the Latin word “Volvere” which means a rotating movement. The waltz was spread to Paris from Germany by napoleons soldiers during the war and later spread across the English Channel to England before spreading to the United States.

Reviewing back to the history of the waltz dance, in the formative years of the nineteenth century, the introduction of the Waltz dance into ballrooms across the world was received with infuriated indignation. This is due to the fact that this dance was the first to have couples dance in a bespoke closed pose- with the gentleman’s arm around the waistline of the lady.

From the year 1830, two Austrian composers Strauss and Lanner gave the waltz dance a remarkable boost. Through this, the Viennese Waltz dance standards were set; this was a very swift version that played at approximately 55- 60 measures for each minute. The swift tempo posed some problems. As time went by, the music lost the pleasurable aspect since the dancers were straining continuously trying to carry on with the music.

Despite the fact that it is not exactly established as to when the waltz dance was introduced in the United States, it is believed to have been introduced in Philadelphia and New York simultaneously. By the mid Nineteenth Century, this dance was resolutely established through out the United States civilization. Since then, more has been recorded about the waltz dance history.

In the latter years of the Nineteenth Century, the waltz dances were being composed to a gradual tempo as opposed to the conventional Viennese rhythm. In the United States, two adjustments were made to the waltz dance at the end of the Nineteenth Century. “Boston” was the first modification which was a dawdling waltz with elongated gliding strides and few and slower turns. This dance also had additional forward and backward movement than the Viennese waltz dance. This adaptation, in the long run, inspired the development of the International and English style that are seen today. The American Waltz style has similarities to the International Style. However, the difference between the two is that the dance positions in the American style are open and the legs of the dancers pass as an alternative of close. “Hesitation Waltz” was the second modification; which engages making one stride to three counts of the measure. Even though the “Hesitation Waltz” is not danced to anymore, a number of its step patterns are
still practiced today.

The clamor about the Unknown Waltz Dance History is long past. At present, the Strauss family’s popularized fast Viennese Waltz. The international style and the slower American dance are particularly popular among dancers from all the age groups. The waltz dance history has been recorded over years although some recordings are not clearly established.

Dancing steps and timing is very important to ballroom dance. In this post, I’m going to show you how to count the steps and timing of Rumba ballroom dance for lady. It’s very easy as long as you are able to move your feet and counting 1,2,3 and 4…

Samba dance origin can be traced back to 16th Century when the Portuguese landed in what is now known as Rio de Janeiro, or at the banks of the January River in the East Coast of South America. Hence the Brazilian influence is very apparent in the Samba dance. Like many dances the Samba too has taken its form from many cultures such the African Culture, the Iberian Culture, the Indian Culture and from other Latin dances.

Samba is a lively, joyful and colorful dance performed with lots of energy and gay abandon. Samba dance origin has been so strong and concrete that till today the Samba dance lends vivacity and color to an occasion and maintains the upbeat mood. The Samba dance is performed in various styles and each style has its own unique attraction. Some examples are the Samba de enredo, a dance performed at carnivals with life and gusto, and the Samba cancon, a dance performed with slower moves and in a relaxed style with a matching musical rhythm.

Some Interesting Facts on Samba Dance Origin:
This dance of Brazilian origin was initially a spiritual dance performed during rituals while invoking the blessings of god. It is said that the meaning of “Samba” is “praying to god” or invoking the blessings of a saint. Hence this dance was always performed with spiritual sincerity and it contributed to the cultural development of the Brazilians. The music produced for dancing the Samba was also full of peace and divinity. However Samba dance origin also took a beating at the hands of the Europeans who tried to forbid people from dancing the Samba labeling it as a sinful dance. Despite the suppression Samba survived to later become popular amongst all cultures.

During the early eighteenth century a complimentary Samba dance evolved which was more composite. This Samba dance origin combined the plait figures of the African Negro dance to the swaying movements and the body rotations of the Lundu dance. Gradually the Samba de enredo steps which are more lively and faster were included. Subsequently the Samba like many other dances got modified to suit the geographical areas and culture and the European style of dancing in closed position was also added. Nearly fifty years after the original Samba dance origin it got accepted in the high societal circles of Rio de Janeiro and came to be known as Zemba Queca and later with further modification came to be known as Mesemba.

Over the passing of time and years, the Mesemba too got modified and the 20 century saw the Mesemba being combined with the Maxixe dance of Brazil and this combo dance became very popular in America and in European countries. Many moves of this combo dance was borrowed from another dance called Polka and was danced to Cuban Habanera music. Another offshoot of the Samba was the popular dance Carioca and soon all forms of the Samba were being performed, appreciated and accepted as a dance of substance and a unique art form.

Are you a dance lover? Do you like to perform the various attractive dances? Do you want to learn how to dance the Samba? Well, join the band wagon. There are dancers out there wanting to learn how to dance the Samba and here I am giving you some guidelines. Please understand that most of the dances have some linking factor and hence if you are familiar with any one type of dancing then you are already one step ahead.

There are a lot of dances which originated from Africa such as the Mambo, Tango and also the Samba which is from Brazil. A samba dancer is often called “Sambista” in Brazil and this dance form was used as a cover up for performers of the “Capoeira” which was a forbidden martial art. Samba became very popular and internationally acclaimed and gradually this form of dancing got incorporated in dancing competitions and in dancing performed at balls.

While learning how to dance the Samba you must also be aware that this dance is similar to the Cha-Cha and the difference is in the footwork and music and the samba has a more bouncing quality.

Basic Steps:  As we mentioned there is a lot of footwork in the Samba dance, but there are two Primary movements. They are the Basic Forward Step, and the Basic Backward Step. A combination of these two primary steps will form the six steps in the first primary movement. Please note while learning how to dance the Samba that the moves made by the partners will be exact opposite of each other. For example when the male lead performs the primary forward movement with his left foot female partner will perform the primary backward movement with her right foot and vice versa for all basic steps.

Basic Forward Movement:
Beat 1: Take a small forward step with the left foot. You should move toe first in a sliding movement and shift your body weight onto the left foot.

Beat 2: Now take a small forward step again with your right foot with the same sliding movement and shift weight to the ball of your right foot. This is called tapping and your heel does not touch the floor. The tapping is done with the ball of your foot and the toes and this is an intrinsic part of learning how to dance the Samba.

Beat 3: Return weight to left foot by placing it fully on the floor maintaining the up and down movement.

Basic Backward Movement:  This movement is exactly the same as the above movement using the right foot to begin and instead of moving forward you move backward.

Back tap move: This movement is same as the primary movements with the difference that the tap is performed at the back of the foot which moves on the first count. It is quite easy to learn how to dance the Samba once you master the primary movements and learn to combine them into different patterns.

The Waltz is a graceful and smooth dance performed in a counter-clockwise direction around the dance floor maintaining the line of dance. The waltz dance pattern features a rise and fall character to the dance with a step, slide and step in ¾ time. The shoulders should move smoothly parallel to the floor without going up and down and the rise and fall should be executed with the tip-toeing motion at the end of each step. Dancers are requested to lengthen their steps to give flowing fluidity to the movements. If you learn the box pattern and under arm turn then you would have learnt the main waltz dance pattern.

Basic Box Step: Couples face each other with their body touching each other and their steps should be the exact opposite of each other’s steps. This means that the woman does exactly the opposite of what the man does in relation to foot and direction. Man Forward, woman backward, man left foot, woman right foot and vice versa.

The man keeps his left foot forward, then steps sideways with his right foot and follows up by placing his left foot alongside the right foot. Simultaneously the woman does the opposite. She keeps her right foot backward, steps sideways with her left foot and places the right foot alongside the left foot. This will complete a half turn of the box pattern. Then the man steps backward with his right foot, steps sideways with his left foot and places the right foot alongside the left foot. The female partner mirrors this step thus completing the box. Remember that in waltz dance pattern, the box step pattern is the basic one which will help you to execute other steps too.

Underarm Turn: The male lead dancer gives the sign to commence the underarm turn by elevating his left hand enabling the female follower to turn. The woman takes six steps while moving forward and rotating simultaneously and returns to her original position by the time she finishes the sixth step.

Dance Position: Both partners should hold their bodies erect with a firm body posture to provide enough tension for lead dancer to lead and the female follower to follow. The body stance should not be sloppy or slack. The male lead holds the female follower’s right hand in his left hand. The female follower should remember to lightly place her right hand on his left hand and not hold the male lead’s hand. The female follower should rest her left hand on the right upper arm of the male lead and the male keeps his right hand below her left arm just under the shoulder blade.

Waltz Music: Music for the Waltz dance pattern has a ¾ time beat counted as 1, 2 and 3, with a step performed for each beat.  All dancers dance in a single direction, circling and dancing around the floor creating lovely rotating movements. Thus when all the couples adhere to the waltz dance pattern there is minimum collision among dancers.

Tango is a dance in which a walking style of step is a basic part. Argentine Tango dance steps may look easy to learn for beginners, but as you proceed you will realize that there are complicated movements involved in this walking style too.

Switch on the music and with your eyes closed listen to the song imbibing the rhythm and beat. Concentrate on the major beat and start practicing to step on every major beat till your body gets a feel of the music and you are able to walk with eyes open stepping only on major beats. Try to master this Argentine Tango Dance step steadily.

Individuality of Tango Style
The feet stepping style in the Argentine Tango dance step is quite similar to the walk dance steps of various other dances such as the foxtrot, fast step, Texas Twin step and others. However these dances can be easily differentiated when you watch the movement of the dancers along with their partners and the way they interact while dancing the Tango.

One way of mastering this dance is by practicing to walk-dance without music. Each step you take should be with the balls of your foot rather than heels. Balancing on the balls of a foot is characteristic of jungle animals when they prepare to pounce on their prey like the lion or tiger. Imagining this posture will help you to assume the same powerful yet graceful style when you do your Argentine Tango dance step.

Tango Dance in block-like Pattern:
Have you been to Tango dance theme parties? By the way these parties are called “milongas”.Have you enrolled for any Argentine Tango dance step course? If you have then you will realize that the tango dance includes a huge variety of step patterns which at first sight seems very complicated and confusing. But in reality they are just a combination of simple steps mixed in varying ways to form a unique style.

La Caminata also known as “the Walk” forms the basis of Tango dancing. This foundation step will help you learn the mixed patterns and exclusive styles easily. The “Twin-Step walk” is a kind of Argentine Tango dance step which is performed in a block-like pattern. There are several variations of this step. Among the variations “The Stroll” is a hot favorite.

“The Stroll” (el paseo):
1. Partners face each other and keep their feet together like a normal standing posture. Keep weight on one foot.

2. Male partner takes a step forward with left foot following up with a step forward with right foot alongside the left foot.

3. Female partner takes a step back with right foot following up with a step back with left foot alongside the right foot.  Retain weight on left foot to allow right foot to start the next round. Remember that your feet should never be apart at still positions. This is a basic Twin step walk which can be modified to vary dancing patterns in Argentine Tango dance steps.

The Salsa is a fast, seductive, sexy and exciting dance and it is said that the name “Salsa” was derived from the Spanish word sauce which can be spicy, sweet and sour all at the same time. The dancers do not move around too much while dancing Salsa and sort of dance in a small area thus getting another name “Slot dancing“. These are some Salsa dancing basics which you should know.

A beginner’s primary moves of Salsa are very simple. This has an eight count rhythm divided into four beats each. One four beat count is called a bar and so the primary move consists of two bars of musical rhythm. In Salsa dancing basics there are steps for the first three beats and the fourth beat is skipped or just a tiny tap is done for comfort. The same is repeated for the second bar too. In a bar the first 2 beats are fast the third beat is slow finishing in the fourth beat. Since it is a fast dance the Salsa is danced to a count of up to 180 beats per minute.

The basic steps are as follows. Male lead in first bar: left foot forward step, right foot replace weight at same point, left foot back again to step beside right foot. (Optional: fourth beat, you can do a tiny tap with right foot for balance) Second bar: right foot backward step, left foot replace weight at same point, right foot forward again to step beside the left foot.(optional: you can do a tiny tap with left foot for balance).

The female follower does exactly the reverse of the male lead. What the man does in the second bar she does in the first, and what the male lead does in the first bar she does in the second bar. A variation and combination of the Salsa dancing basics form the moves for the rest of the dance.

Variation 1: Instead of stepping forward, you take a step sideways to the left; replace right and step back into position.

Variation 2: Instead of stepping backward you take a sideways step to the right, replace left and step back into position.

Variation 3: The Cuban style of Salsa ballroom dancing basic is followed by the Latin Americans in which there is cross body movement. The male lead takes a step forward on the first beat and on the second and third beat he steps sideways to right while turning at an angle of 90 degrees to the left. The female follower does the opposite and they will now be standing side by side. On count five the male lead takes a step backward and on six and seven a step sideways to the left and turn again 90 degrees. The woman does the opposite and by the end of the eighth beat they will be facing each other again only in opposite positions. Hope you can learn these Salsa dancing basics fast.

The origin of Salsa dance is a little tough to be traced. Perhaps the main reason is that this is also a dance which has mixed origin.  Some say it came from Cuba and some say it came from Puerto Rico. So it is safe to assume that Salsa is a combination of a dances performed by Africans, the Latins,  the Caribbean dancers  as well as dances of Puerto Rico and Cuba. Or at least each geographical area has played a role in the evolution of the salsa dance.

Similar to the Tango, Mambo and other dances the Salsa too took wings and flew to the US in the early 1940s. Here in the city of New York the origin of Salsa dance got a face lift by the Latin, Cuban and Puerto Rican community and what we dance today as the Salsa is this modified version. Besides the modification the Salsa also borrowed some steps from Rumba and Mambo. Trumpets, Cowbells and Congas are some of the instruments which give accompanying music for the Salsa dance besides the Claves and the Timbales.

Since Salsa has borrowed steps from Mambo it is natural that there is similarity in dancing styles. Both have six dance steps for a count of eight and the moves are also distinctly similar at times. The difference is that the mambo is danced with maximum backward and forward movements and the Salsa has included a lot of turns and it has a number of side stepping moves like the chases.

Even though the origin of Salsa dance did not take place in New York, this great city is responsible for its name “Salsa”. This name was given to represent its mixed dance and music origin from different Hispanic countries and its music like Guarcha, Merengue, Cha-Cha-Cha-, Charanga, Rumba and mambo to name just a few.

The Salsa is a lively dance performed with passionate energy and with a lot of sensuous movements. Salsa  is usually danced with a partner because of its sensuous and passionate character but can also be performed singly and appreciated for its footwork and dance moves. The origin of Salsa dance says that the name Salsa was aptly derived from the Spanish word “Sauce” referring to its spicy flavor.

The Salsa is a fast dance with some slow movement in between performed in two bars of four beats each with three dance steps for each of the four beats. The dancers shift their body weight during the skipped beat and raise heels and drop hips getting ready for the next step. The steps go left forward, right replace , both together, skip and then right backward, left replace and both together, skip.  The Salsa can be performed in a range of 120-180 beats per minutes. Now that you know the origin of Salsa dance, I am sure you feel like learning it, right?

Dancing is a good hobby and can sometimes become addictive too. But no matter, dancing is a fantastic exercise and so you can kill two birds with one stone. keep fit and learn an art. So, which form of dance have you chosen? Is it the Salsa?  Then here are some Salsa dance facts which will be helpful.

There are a lot of walk steps incorporated into the Salsa dance moves. So, if you just remind yourself of these Salsa dance facts whenever you practice, it will make it easier for you to learn Salsa dancing. In this article I am mainly mentioning the “DO NOTs ” in Salsa dancing.

Fact 1: Do not double step with the same foot:

Just like when you are walking the Salsa dance moves are always with alternate feet movements. How do you walk? left, right, left, right, left, is it not? Similarly in Salsa dance too , it is the left foot first, then step with right follow up with left foot again and then start again with right foot. Only the placement of the step may change from forward to backward and vice versa. Weight shift of the body from left leg to right leg and back will also take place naturally. So, if at all you do a double step, then you have made a wrong move.

Fact 2: Do not extend your Strides:

Another very important salsa dance fact is to keep your strides normal as when you walk. OK, do you want to know what a stride is? A stride is the the distance to which you keep your foot forward when you walk or the length between the two feet when you walk. A person normally maintains the same distance between his feet while walking and lengthens the stride when running or going somewhere in a hurry. It is important that you keep your stride normal while dancing the salsa. Why?  Because the Salsa is a very fast dance and you need to alternate between quick steps and slow steps matching the rhythm and this cannot be done if you lengthen your stride. So REMEMBER: if you shorten your stride you will be too fast and if you lengthen your stride you will be too slow.

Fact 3: Do not restrain your hands:

There are some things which our body does naturally that we do not realize that it has performed an action. One example is the swing of our hands while walking. Just try keeping your hands still while walking and you will see that it is practically impossible. To maintain proper balance of the body our left hand swings when our right foot moves and vice versa. The same principle is to be followed while dancing the Salsa. This is a very important Salsa dance fact which you have to keep in mind while learning Salsa.

Tango dance is very popular in social circles and at parties and Tango dance moves are energetic, expressive of emotion, seductive and joyful. Tango is danced with partners and they perform the dance with precise yet passionate energy. Tango like various other dances also has a lot of offshoots which are equally popular. Some of the popular styles are Tango Argentino which lays emphasis on complex footwork and thence earning a name “war of legs”. The Canyengue is another Tango offshoot but fairly similar to the original dance. Then there is the Finnish style of Tango, the Ballroom Tango which was evolved due to European influence and a quite a few more styles. The basic Tango dance moves will be similar in all these styles and the additional variations, twirls and sways as well as the music used differentiates the styles.

Some of things to keep in mind while learning the Tango dance steps are the expression, the posture of your body,  the basic moves and the promenade moves and the arm holding technique.

The Expression: Your emotions of happiness, intimacy, seduction, passion should be expressed through the way the body moves in tune with the musical rhythm and the foot movement.

The Posture: Both partners should hold their body with a slight rigidity which will give a resistance that will maintain balance and help the lead to direct and the follower to respond. The hip movements should be well defined to accentuate the passionate energy and in comparison to the hips the upper part of the body will be fairly still.

The Basic Tango Dance Moves: The male lead takes three steps forward left, right, left for the first three beats, then follows up with a sideways move to the right with right foot on the fourth beat and on the fifth beat brings left foot to rest by the side of the right foot. In the complimentary Tango dance moves, the female follower takes three steps backward, right, left, right, follows up with a sideways move to the left with left foot and on the fifth beat brings the right foot to rest by the side of the left foot.

The Promenade Tango Dance Moves: This move is performed with the couple standing beside each other. They take 2 slow steps forward and then turn to face each other. The female follower does this by pivoting on her feet and turning 90 degrees. They finish by bringing both the feet close together. This move is performed for movement across the dance floor.

Hand holding: Female followers right hand resting on male lead’s left hand. The male lead’s right hand on female’s left shoulder and female’s left hand on male lead’s upper arm. Minimal eye contact is maintained and direction and response are only through fingers. You can learn the Tango dance moves by enrolling in a dance course for perfection.