Dancing Basics

Crossing in the Four-Step is something you can add to the basic steps of the Charleston. This will give the dance more pizazz as well as make the dance all the more fun to perform.

The line dance is a fun dance that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Throughout the years as the popularity of country music grew, so did the popularity of the country line dance. The basic...

Polyester suits, platform shoes and John Travolta come to mind when someone mentions disco. A style of dancing that became extremely popular in the 70s and spawned the hit movie "Saturday Night...

Dancing at parties can be an ideal way to let off steam and have fun with family and friends. For those who do not feel comfortable dancing in front of others, it can be scary and intimidating. ...

Dee Dee Sharp was a female American R&B singer born in 1945. At age 13, she got a job as a background singer while living with her family in Philadelphia. Her vocals were added to a Chubby...

The Cotton Eye Joe is a fast energetic dance with several variations. Traditionally, the Cotton Eyed Joe is danced by a man and woman, side by side, holding crossed hands and moving in a...

Rumba originated in sixteenth century Cuba, where it was formed from the dance and musical influences of African slaves as well as Spanish colonizers. The character of the dance was originally...

Mambo is a fairly new invention. It was created when a man named Oresta Lopez composed a new dance or danzón which he named "Mambo". This new dance form has its roots in African music that...

Dancing is a wonderful way to stay in shape. Dance is exciting and motivating whether it's done with a group or by yourself. When you don't have time to visit your local fitness center, these...

Boogie Woogie began as a musical style in the 1900s. It was characterized by quick piano rolls and repeated notes. Songs that epitomize Boogie Woogie are "Shake, Rattle and Roll" played by Big Joe...

The Jackson 5's dance routines are as simple, yet intricate, as their meteoric rise to stardom, especially in the case of the group's youngest member, Michael.

Have you ever wanted to learn Shag dancing but was worried about how you would ever get all the steps? Well, it is not as hard as you think. If you can step forward and back then you are almost...

The Caballo Dorado is a type of Mexican Hustle danced to the Spanish version of "My Achy Breaky Heart." It's a real easy dance to learn, especially once you see people doing it. It mixes a little...

A cute guy walks up to you and asks you to dance. You really want to, but you are scared because you don’t know how. Don’t worry; it’s not as hard as you think. The key things to remember are to...

You see a beautiful girl you would like to ask to slow dance with you—but you don’t know how to slow dance! Don’t worry; it’s not as hard as you think. The key things to remember are to be a...

The Scooter Dance is taken from a popular European dance style called Jumpstyle. The dance originated in Belgium in 1997 and involves steps, kicks, jumps and arm swinging. It is usually performed...

From weddings to birthdays to proms, the cha cha slide dance has become a favorite for getting even the most timid person on his feet. An updated version of the electric slide, the cha cha slide...

The Cha-Cha Slide is a line dance created by Mr. C, also known as Casper, a Chicago DJ. The dance was originally designed as a workout for Bally's Total Fitness. The steps are called out during...

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...

The chassé step is one the the most basic moves in dance. Upon mastering this step, one can use it to perform more difficult dance steps.

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...

You have been invited to a Ceili and you don't know how to dance. Well, it's not that hard. If you can count to 3, 4, 7 and 8, you can participate in an Irish or Scottish Ceili.

The cross body lead in Cha Cha is a fantastic step to add to your repertoire early on. It will be an "evergreen" pattern that you can utilize for the rest of your dancing career,...

Ever wished you and your friends could jump up and dance to those Irish tunes you hear, and actually know what you were doing? Here's your chance! Ceili dancing is a fun, laid-back, social form...

This pattern is one of those "evergreen" basics that will always be part of any routine. That's true whether it's social or competitive. It can be done to the left or to the right, and it can also...

The twist lock to the right, like it's sister the twist lock to the left, is a great technique you can utilize in your Cha Cha back locks to enhance the overall look and feel of the pattern. It is...

The 3 step turn to the right is slightly rarer than its sister to the left. However, it is still a necessary basic to practice so that you are a well rounded dancer. It can be an exciting pattern...

The three-step turn to the left is the more popular out of the two three-step turns that are possible to perform, and can be accomplished at many different levels. Once you have mastered the...

The twist lock is a relatively new and very exciting technique that can be applied to your Cha Cha dancing to really give it some attitude. The traditional back lock, once mastered, is not as...

The alemana is one of the most popular techniques ever utilized in Latin dancing, and can be seen with its full power in the slow dance of Rumba. Although it can also be done in Salsa and Cha Cha,...

The right underarm turn is a great turn you can use to spice up your portfolio of patterns anytime you go social dancing or if you are writing a routine with a partner. It is a fun turn that is...

The right underarm turn, or reverse turn, is a rarer pattern than its sister the underarm turn, or alemana. Although it is not seen as much in traditional choreography or social dancing routines,...

The American Cha Cha is a great social dance you can expect to be doing quite often, and a Basic Bronze level routine will take you far in any venue. Below is a description of the specific...

The cross body lead is one of the most popular patterns in all Latin dances. It is a favorite in any social club or venue, as it is relatively simple in figure and accomplishes a direction change....

The alemana is a very popular basic technique utilized in International Latin dancing and can be seen in the Rhumba and Cha Cha, with most frequency being exhibited in the former. Overall it is a...

The spiral turn is a popular technique and a necessary basic action in Latin dancing. There are two ways to perform the spiral - from a forward walk position and from a delayed walk, or CBMP...

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...

Argentine Tango is a challenging dance, though it's also fun, since partners feel each other’s movement to determine what step to take. While this sensual dance only has 5 basic steps, it...

The delayed walk, or "CBMP" walk (counter-body movement position), is a challenging technique that is often used in competitive dancing. It is a staple movement of many advanced dancers. It has...

The forward walk turn is a popular dance technique that is utilized in many scenarios. These scenarios range from social to competitive. It is a useful basic dance step to understand. It's known...

The lock step is a crucial component of dancing the Cha Cha regardless of whether your interest is social or competitive. Because it allows forward and back movement on the chasse rhythm of the...

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...

A grapevine is a combination of steps performed in both ballroom and jazz dance. In ballroom, the grapevine is often seen in the quickstep and the lindy hop, both fast dances. It is also slowed...

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...

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...

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.

Dance the rumba for fun and a great workout!

Here's a pretty easy dance for all who love dance music. It's fun, it's easy, and it looks pretty cool. This is Scooter's music video for "Jumping All Over the World."

Learning a new dance can be intimidating--especially something that sounds as exotic as the Rumba. There's no need to be afraid. If you can walk forward and back--if you can take slow steps and...

Learn how to dance the 7 steps with left foot in Irish step dancing in these free online video dance lessons.