Dancing Basics

You see this crossing move in samba a lot in Dancing With The Stars and other dancesport events on TV or live. This samba move is also executed on the social dance floor, but if you cannot do it,...

Today (July 26th) is Mick's birthday and as he is my long time, imaginary rock-n-roll boyfriend, I felt compelled to share with you the key to getting your swagger-like-Mick-Jagger ON. Yeah yeah,...

This is a basic how-to for achieving a split. If you are an athlete who needs to perfect their splits and over-splits, check out my article entitled, "How to perfect your splits"

The Original moonwalk was popularized by the legendary Prince of Pop, Michael Jackson. This particular dance move makes the dancer appear to be gliding almost above the surface. Learning the...

Krump dancing is referred to as Krumping. It is a hip-hop style dance with very aggressive movements. The idea is to use all of the raw emotion that is inside of you and turn it into a stomping...

Tackling the tango is no easy proposition. There is style to consider, as tango comes in many flavors: Argentine, Uruguayan, Finnish, vintage--and, of course, ballroom, the style seen on "Dancing...

It’s fun to belly dance with finger cymbals. Finger cymbals (also known as zils or sagat) are often associated with belly dancers, but what most people do not realize is that the cymbals are...

I got a phone call the other week from a friend of mine who was using hushed tones to communicate her message to me. While I couldn't understand what she was saying and asked her to speak louder,...

Hip action is a very important part of the Cha Cha, or any Latin Ballroom dance, for that matter. A mastery of the hips will not only allow you to move correctly and display the patterns, but you...

Spiral turns are a beautiful technique utilized mostly in competitive-level dancing. They are most popular in the Rumba, as the slowed rhythm allows ample time for demonstrating the technique and...

The famed Rumba walk is one of the most widely practiced basics in any studio. Although some can get carried away with the technique, emphasizing its practice for hours upon hours per week, there...

International Cha Cha differs from American Cha Cha in that it is designed more for a competitive atmosphere rather than a social one. Thus, the patterns are more difficult to master and require a...

Argentine Tango is made up of styles from different regions and time periods, originating from Argentina and Uruguay. It is danced in an embrace that can be open, closed or at arms length. Feet...

Hot-blooded, Latin music and graceful, sweeping steps across the dance floor equal the tango. Here's how to learn a move or two in the tango, the dance of love.

Tribal belly dancing is a beautiful sight to witness. It is customarily passed down among members of the tribe and every move has a significant meaning. Practitioners study a lifetime in order to...

Many beginners struggle with smoothness and timing due to the hustle's three-count pattern. However, once you master the hustle, you'll have another dance to use at clubs.

Bachata is a Latin dance originating in the Dominican Republic. It is a romantic dance, as partners hold each other close and sway to the music. Follow these steps, listen to a few bachata songs...

Winning a crowd on the dance floor has long been a popular dream. Whether done in teams or individually, competitively or casually, almost anyone can become a dancing king. While artists like ABBA...

Dancing is an art that requires practice and patience. You are more likely to succeed by being consistent in your training sessions. If you are keen to improve your skill, follow these...

The jive is just like swing dancing but much faster. In competition the jive is the last dance performed due to its quickness. There are many variations of the jive-single, double and triple-each...

A feather step contains 3 or 4 steps used in the international style foxtrot dance. Feathering, as it is popularly called, is an action that is fundamental not only in the foxtrot but in other...

While most dance moves with a partner require natural opposite steps, the inside partner step allows dancers to move in the same direction. In fact, one partner's feet will actually take the place...

A barn dance is usually developed to serve rural farm people as a type of recreation after their long hours of work. City dwellers who are looking for the "good old times" are also popular...

When you are trying to learn how to perform a dance, the footwork can be complicated and difficult to remember. Luckily, many common partner dances only require the moves of the box step. The box...

A common move in Latin dancing, particularly salsa, is the cross body lead. Basically, it is a turning version of the box step. Timing is important to pull off this moderately complicated move. To...

The lock step is a basic crossover dance move where the crossing foot and the legs come together closely and seem to be locked. A dancer can perform the lock step as a single step or as a whole...

The dosado (pronounced doe-se-doe) is a basic dance move that is used in such dances as the polka and the square dance. The name refers to the French term "dos-a-dos" which is translated as...

The decision to become a dancer shouldn't be taken lightly. There is more involved than having a passion for music and movement. Dancing is a sport and dancers are athletes. Athletes must learn to...