There are two main styles of dance that are both competitively and socially performed. These two styles are American and International. Havana Social Club offers many of these dances in our instruction and performances. Below are descriptions of both styles of dance and definitions to many of the dances offered at the Havana.
American Style dance has two separate sub categories. Smooth Style consists of Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango and Viennese Waltz.. Rhythm Style includes Cha Cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Bolero, and Mambo.
International Style dance also has two separate sub categories. International Standard consists of Slow Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, and Quickstep. International Latin includes Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, and Jive.
Argentine Tango - A style of Tango which originated in the streets and salons of Buenos Aires, characterized by its passionate hold and complex leg and foot movements.
Bolero - A slow Latin dance which originated as a form of Rumba, and still shares many of the same figures. Bolero differs from Rumba in its tempo and style of music and movement.
Cha Cha - An exciting, syncopated Latin dance which originated in the 1950's as a slowed-down Mambo. The Cha Cha gets its name and character from its distinct repetitive foot rhythm.
East Coast Swing - A subset of Swing derived from Lindy Hop and Jitterbug, making use of refined (American Style) ballroom technique.
Flamenco - A unique and passionate dance indigenous to Spain.
Foxtrot - A smooth dance introduced to the public in 1913 by Harry Fox, noted for being the first dance to incorporate into the rhythm a combination of Slows and Quicks. Foxtrot is characterized by smooth, walking-style movements, but can be adapted to fit a variety of musical tempi and style, or to fit onto small, crowded nightclub dance floors.
Hustle - A fast but smooth-moving dance which originated in the nightclubs of the 1970's disco era, as a modified version of swing. Hustle is noted for its fast and elaborate spins and turns, especially for the lady. It is also very easily adapted to crowded, nightclub dance floors.
Jive - The International version of Swing. In spite of its fast tempo, Jive is still danced in triple-rhythm.
Jitterbug - An older style of Swing danced in single-rhythm, to very fast big band jazz music of the thirties and forties.
Lindy / Lindy Hop - The grandfather of all forms of Swing, named after Charles Lindberg, and originating at the Savoy ballroom in the 1930's as a modified form of Charleston done in dance position. Lindy Hop is currently enjoying a revival with a new generation of swing clubs, musicians, and dancers.
Mambo - A fast Latin dance, similar to Salsa, which comes from Cuba. Mambo was brought to America in the 1940's and 50's and eventually adapted as an American style ballroom dance. Most of the movements emphasize the second beat in the measure, suggestive of the Clave rhythm which is fundamental to Mambo music.
Merengue - An energetic Latin-style march which originated in the Dominican Republic, which emphasizes a straight-ahead 8-count rhythm taken with Cuban Motion. Merengue is now also a subset of the modern club-style Salsa dances.
Paso Doble - A dramatic French-Spanish Flamenco-style march danced in 2/4 time, with man portraying the matador in a bullfight, the lady as his cape. Paso Doble is usually danced to España Cani, the Spanish Gypsy Dance.
Quickstep - An English style ballroom dance which is characterized by fast movement, often including a variety of hops, kicks, skips, lock steps and chassés.
Rumba - A slow- to medium-tempo Latin American dance in 4/4 time, which is characterized by sensual, provocative movements and gestures, Latin-style hip motion, and playful and flirtatious interplay between man and lady.
Tango - In the American and International ballroom styles, a dance in 2/4 time, which originated in Argentina and is characterized by catlike walking action and staccato head movements.
Salsa - A popular Latin nightclub dance which evolved as a modified form of Mambo.
Samba - A rhythmical Brazilian dance in 2/4 time which has been adapted for modern Ballroom dancing and incorporated into the repertoire of the International Standard syllabus. Samba is noted for it's distinct style of movement, which incorporates both Latin hip motion and the signature "Samba Bounce".
Swing Dances - Group of dances including East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Jive, Balboa, Shag, and Charleston.
Viennese Waltz - The Waltz is most commonly danced in the Viennese, country or ballroom style. Viennese Waltz is danced very fast and is characterized by an almost nonstop turning and is one of the most difficult forms of Waltz to learn.
Waltz - A ballroom style dance in 3/4 time which first developed in Vienna as a fast paced dance to the Strauss music of the time, and later developed into the Slow Waltz. Both types of Waltz are still danced today.
West Coast Swing - A slotted swing dance in 4/4 time, characterized by its smooth and linear style.
