Argentine Tango
The dance found its way into Argentina where it was re-created by the Gauchos in Buenos Aires. It was actually an attempt on their part to imitate the dance except that they danced it in a closed ballroom position. The Tango caused a sensation and was soon to be seen the world over in a more subdued version.
Argentine tango songs and artists include:
I Am You - Sally Potter
Libertango - Astor Paizzolla
Bolero
The Bolero is a smooth, sophisticated, sentimental love dance. The slower music to which it is performed enchances a feeling of romance. It is the slowest of the Latin dances. It combines controlled movement with dramatic expression of the music.
Bolero songs and artists include:
Con Los Anos Que Me Quedan - Gloria Estefan
Perfidia - Nat King Cole
Sin Excusas Ni Rodeos - Julio Iglesias
From Here to Eternity - Frank Sinatra
Cha Cha
The Cha-Cha adds fun to your dancing through it's syncopated steps and many open movements. The pulsating Latin rhythms make this dance so fascinating. The energetic rhythm of the Cha-Cha encourages you to cut loose and let your personality show.
Cha-Cha Songs and Artist include:
Sexy Back - Justin Timberlake
In these Shoes - Kirsty Maccoll
Black and White - Michael Jackson
Black Magic Woman-Santana
Fox Trot
In 1913, Harry Fox, a vaudeville comedian, introduced a trot to a ragtime song that pushed other trots into the background. It became America's most popular "get acquainted" dance and remains one of the standards of social dancing to this day. The Foxtrot can be danced to a variety of tempos from slow and bluesy to the faster paced sounds of Frank Sinatra and the Brian Setzer Orchestra. A staple at weddings, big band events, and gala balls, the Foxtrot teaches smooth movement, rhythmical timing, and maneuverability.
Fox Trot songs and artists include:
New York, New York - Frank Sinatra
Michael Bublé
It Had To Be why?
You - Harry Connick Jr.
Hustle
The Hustle gives us the fusion of Swing and Disco.
You will encounter the hustle at weddings and nightclubs. It is one of the easiest dances to learn. there are lots of turns and spins which make the hustle exciting and full of energy.
Hustle songs and artists include:
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
Last Dance - Donna Summer
Believe - Cher
Mambo
The wild exciting music and rhythmical body movements make the earhy Mambo irresistible. The overall flavor of the dance is contained in the translation of the word Mambo which means "shake it" or "say it". The mambo allows you to develop your own feeling and expressions and is a very popular dance at mant night clubs.
Mambo songs and artists include:
Tequila - The Champs
Mambo #5 - Perez "Prez" Prado
Cherry Cherry - Neil Diamond
Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin
Merengue
Merengue is sure to get you feeling the motion right away on the dance floor. The beats get your hips moving in no time to any Latin rhythm.
Merengue songs and artists include:
Hot, Hot, Hot - Buster Poindexter
Jump in the Line - Harry Belafonte
Cuban Pete - Jim Carey
Rumba
This dance of love originated at the very beginning of the Cuban and Latin American dance crazes. The romantic music and movement was inspired by a fusion of African rhythms and Spanish melodies making the Rumba the base for all Latin dances including Mambo, Cha-Cha and hip action and, of course, spins and dips. It replaces the 8th grade sway of yesteryear in a whole new way! Because of the slow, sultry beat it's easy to learn a variety of body movements, spins and turns at a comfortable pace. When you're ready, you can interrelate those same pattersn in the faster Latin dances with ease and confidence.
Feel stiff or awkward on the dance floor? Not only is the Rumba easy to learn, it gets your body active and builds your dance confidence. Arthur Murray offers Rumba classes six days a week with any of our professional instructors. Private lessons can be scheduled at your convenience Monday through Friday from 1-10pm and Saturday's by appointment only. Call today and be dancing tonight!
Rumba songs and artists unclude:
And I Love Her - The Beetles
It's Now or Never - Elvis Presley
Besame Mucho - Xavier Cugat
Neon Moon - Brooks and Dunn
Under the Boardwalk - The Drifters
Salsa
This fun, fast-paced Latin dance has been sweeping the nation for several years now! Travel to any city, in almost any country and you'll see that a good Salsa club is never hard to find, and a good Salsa dancer is always in demand. Composed of quick foot switches and multiple spins and turns, this dance is a must have in your repertoire.
Learning to dance the Salsa is fun and certainly a necessity!!! You'll be spinning across the floor in no time at all! Arthur Murray offers Salsa classes six days a week with any of our professional instructors. Private Salsa lessons can be scheduled at your convenience Monday through Friday from 1-10pm and Saturday's by appointment only. Call today and be dancing tonight!!!
Salsa artists include:
Albita
Marc Anthony
West End Mambo
Tito Puente
The Latin Explosion
Celia Cruz
Samba
Sometimes called the South American Waltz, the Samba dance pulsates to a unique Latin rhythm. The Samba is the national dance of Brazil. Today's Samba music is influenced by Jazz and Latin rhythms.
Samba songs and artists include:
One Note Samba - Antonio Carlos Jobim
Macarena - Los Del Rio
Copacabana - Barry Manilow
Quando, Quando, Quando - Engelbert Humperdink
Swing/Jitterbug
Swing is known as the most uniquely American of all the dances. Characterized by swing-outs, kicks, jumps, and spins, this buoyant Big Band dance is certainly contagious. Since the birth of "Swing" music in the mid 1930's, the Swing dance craze, which is also known as Lindy, Jitterbug and East Coast has been an American icon. Not only is this dance a staple at weddings, but you can find it anywhere from smoky blues clubs, to the fast paced Bid Band sounds of Glen Miller and Benny Goodman. You can't go wrong big splash on the big screen and in night clubs everywhere - the last on, often featuring the sounds of the Brain Setzer Orchestra, popularized the 40's style Lindy. Movies like Swing Kids and A League of their Own put Swing dancing on the top of the "need to know" list!
Learning to dance the Swing is fun and easy! Get ready for your upcoming wedding, reunion or cruise by learning to dance today. You'll be spinning across the floor in no time at all! Arthur Murray offers Jitterbug classes six days a week with any of our professional instructors. Private Swing lessons can be scheduled at your convenience Monday through Friday from 1-10pm and Satuday's by appointment only.
Swing songs and artists include:
In The Mood - Glenn Miller
Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley and the Comets
Start Me Up - The Rolling Stones
Jump, Jive, An' Wail - Lious Prima or the Brain Setzer Orchestra
Tango
The Tango was stylized by the Gauchos of Argentina where they danced it circling the bar tables after a hard day's work. It became the rage in 1921 after Rudolph Valentino brought its romance and allure to the silent screen in "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse". Its passion and excitement has most recently been captured in movies such as True Lies, Scent of a Woman and Shall We Dance? The Tango is known as one of the most powerful and dramatic dances, characterized by staccato movements, dips and gancho flicks. It's commonly referred to as the "dancer's dance" where the men get to be men and the women love it! Creating amazing leading and following skills, it's truly a favorite for all that learn it.
Interested in learning to dance the Tango? Arthur Murray offers Tango classes six days a week with any of our talented instructors. Private Tango lessons can be scheduled at your convenience Monday through Friday from 1-10pm and Saturday's by appointment only.
Tango songs and artists include:
Santa Maria - Cotan Project
La Cumparsita - Julio Iglesias
Whatever Lola Wants - from "Damn Yankees"
Por Una Cabeza - from "Scent of a Woman"
Two-Step (Country Western)
In the old Western days when women were not allowed to dance with men, men danced together and that is the reason for the hand on the shoulder holding a can of beer and the other hand to the side. The only women who eventually danced with these men were Indian Squaws and that is where all the turns came about, because Indian women loved to spin. Two-step is a Western dance whose popularity has spread all over the United States.
Two-step can be danced to contemporary country music and is a very popular dance at many country western clubs and social events.
Two-Step songs and artists include:
All Jacked Up - Gretchen Wilson
Party of One - Trick Pony
Down by the Chatahoochee - Alan Jackson
Viennese Waltz
From Strauss Waltzes to music by contemporary artists, Viennese Waltz music has inspired people to dance for generations.
Viennese Waltz songs and Artists Include:
Angel - Sarah McLaughlin
Once Upon a December - Deana Carter
Have you ever really loved a woman - Bryan Adams
Blue Danube - Johann Strauss
Waltz
Known as the dirty dance of it's time, its elegance and grace is a timeless classic. Perfect for your first dance as husband and wife or for that elegant black-tie affair you can't go wrong learning this flowing movement. Characterized by sweeping turns and gliding movements, when you really learn how to Waltz you'll feel as though you're floating across any dance floor.
Do you want to sweep her off her feet? The Waltz is not only beautiful; it teaches amazing balance, control, posture, and grace. Getting married? Have the first dance you envision by learning to dance today. Arthur Murray offers Waltz classes six days a week with any of our professional instructors. Private Waltz lessons can be scheduled at your convenience Monday through Friday from 1-10pm and Saturday's by appointment only.
Waltz songs and artists include:
Send in the Clowns - Steven Sondheim
Turn Around - Kenny James
From my First Moment - Charlotte Church
Moon River - Andy Williams
West Coast Swing
West Coast Swing is a flirtatious dance that combines the mood of the blues with the spontaneity of swing.
In the 1940's with the wild abandonment of the Jitterbug being banned from dance halls due to too many injuries, Arthur Murray developed and documented several swing steps that he later called "Sophisticated Swing."
West Coast Swing Songs and Artists Include:
Some Kind of Wonderful - Joss Stone
Somethin' to talk about - Bonnie Raite
Addicted to Love - Robert Palmer
Brown Sugar - Rolling Stones
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