Dancing Basics

Begin by watching the pros in action. The TV show "Dancing with the Stars" is a great primer on the steps and turns that are fundamental to almost any dance form. Films such as "Dirty Dancing,"...

Being able to count music is not just for musicians--dancers, too, require the same ear to be able to fully utilize a piece of music or song to their advantage. Counting rhythm can vary in...

One of the characteristics that sets Bolero apart from other Latin dances is the rise and fall that occurs throughout the dance. All other Latin dances are danced completely level—you...

The two-step is a popular dance combination in Country-Western partner dancing and group line dancing. The two-step combination is used in many traditional dances like the foxtrot and polka, while...

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.

East Coast Swing, a basic dance for both men and women, is one of several fundamental types of swing dancing. If you want to start swing lessons, East Coast, also called the Lindy, was very...

The cha-cha is a traditional Latin dance that migrated from Cuba with Cuban immigrants in the early 1900s. This dance, however, is not an old-fashioned one. The cha-cha transcends generations...

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...

The closed change refers to a portion of a certain dance, usually the box step. A change is the direction where the dancer is headed: right, left, front, back or diagonally. A closed change...

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...