My favorite show on the air is “Dancing With The Stars.” Of course, everyone (except me) dishes about their all-time favorites – “American Idol,” “House,” or “Desperate Housewives.” But there is something so effervescent about “Dancing With The Stars” that gets me every time. Whether its Bruno’s rambling or a celebrity’s failed quickstep routine, the show is so classic, like OMG! Who doesn’t become entranced by the dances or attempt to try them out?
Here are some fancy ballroom dances we ought to try on the dance floor…
Viennese Waltz
The Viennese Waltz is a dance that won’t come naturally to you (like any other dance); it’s fast-paced and challenging. Mastering this dance requires endurance and effort for both dancers. It has very few patterns – a natural turn, reverse turn and two change steps, which are all interlinked. Once you’ve balanced all three steps, it’s an experience that will turn you into a dancing expert! As the eyes can see, a little quick step action won’t hurt either.
Argentine Tango
This Argentina-inspired dance offers sultry and dramatic overtones as a cultural practice. The dance inhibits strident and sharp movements and infuses lots of head-turning and quick steps, which are very elegant in nature. A playmaker who desires melodic intrigue will find this dance enchanting!
Cha-Cha-Cha
Can you hold out for the cha-cha-cha? The trademark dance derived from Cuba as an energetic rhythm of four split beats consisting of three steps in all. As the man takes the lead, he counters his partner around the dance floor with a combination of hip and foot-action steps. Much responsibility is thrust on the male dancer…which is definitely a turn-on!
Rumba
If your comfort zone is playing hard to get, then this dance is for you! The Rumba dance eases the tensions between man and woman, and rises to the occasion with rhymthic and steamy hip action. Its tender and basic movements are unique to that of a Marilyn Monroe in her heyday. In this dance, slow and steady wins the race!
Foxtrot
The American smooth balladry is composed of mid-tempo jazz music that is worth a try after sampling the simplistic rhythms of this dance. Its vibe consists of extended, flowing movements packed with walks and light-hearted paces. The dance puts you in the mind of Gene Kelley from “Singing In The Rain.”
Quickstep
There are parallels between the Quickstep and Ragtime music. It’s up-tempo and continuous with a pattern of 4/4 time beat, at about 50 bars a minute (in other words, it’s very fast). And the styles consist of random hops, jumps and skips that channel from one beat to the next. Your best bet is to keep up with the motions as much as possible!
Jive
The basic Jive dance retains modern grooves we grew to love during the Rock & Roll, Swing and Boogie era. Its high-flying intensity works the legs, hips and knees similar to that of a daredevil. The lead male is known to string the woman along, and throw her up in the air. We never expected something so daring!
Paso Doble
The Spanish dance, Paso Doble, is a fiery rendition of a bull fight. It’s dramatic and enlightening to a curious bystander awaiting to take on challenges. The tempo can reach 120-124 beats per minute which is a cause for concern if you’re not careful. But the dance has strong steps and a robust energy similar to that of a marching band.
Samba
The Samba dance has origins in Brazil where it is embraced as a carnival celebration. But on the dancefloor it enlists a social and uptempo vibe which people love. It requires a straight body and quick steps of about a 100 beats per minute. A slight bending of the knee is needed to enforce the dance moves before mastering a cultural favorite.
Salsa
The famed Salsa dance is short, collective and very romantic. It slightly appeals to the woman due to the man’s dominant presence, but it can be abrupt and passionate for a new dancer. The timing of it can be brisk so don’t lose your step! You have to count for three beats, and it’s so easy to get entangled if your diverted by the fluidity of the techniques.
