Ballroom Latin Dance Fundamentals for Beginners

Join us Sunday mornings for a fun and friendly introduction to the vibrant world of Latin & Rhythm dancing. This rotating series teaches new dancers some of the classic Latin and Rhythm dances in a supportive environment. This is a great class for beginners looking to explore these dances for social or performance purposes.

Schedule

Sundays – Community Classes

• 11:00am – Ballroom Latin Fundamentals (American Rhythm)
• 12:00pm – Introduction to International Latin

Class Description

Level 1: Ballroom Latin Fundamentals: American Rhythm – Sundays 11:00am

Learn the foundational technique behind the classic American Rhythm dances: Rumba, Cha Cha and East Coast Swing. Each month focuses on one dance, covering its basic steps, its characteristic timing, and the mechanics that give it its feel, from the Cuban motion of Rumba to the playful triple step of Cha Cha and the bouncy swing of East Coast Swing.

No partner or experience needed.

> Move up to Level 2 [Introduction to International Latin]

Once you’re comfortable with the fundamentals, Introduction to International Latin is the next step, taking you into the faster, flashier International Latin style. Our recommendation is to complete the full 3-dance rotation x2 (about six months) before moving up.

Pricing

• Community Class Rate: $15

Our Community Classes aim to provide more affordable options to our students and the general community at large.

Upcoming Schedule

• Aug: Rumba
• Sep: Cha Cha
• Oct: East Coast Swing
• Nov: Rumba
• Dec: Cha Cha

Dance Styles – American Rhythm

Rumba

The Rumba is the classic starting point on the rhythmic side. It’s the slowest of the Latin dances, danced to a steady 4/4, which makes it the place you learn Cuban motion, the hip action that powers every Latin dance. Because the tempo is gentle, beginners can feel that motion develop without rushing, which makes it the cleanest introduction to rhythmic technique.

Cha Cha

The Cha Cha is Rumba’s Cuban motion with a triple step added on top, the quick cha-cha-cha that gives the dance its name and its playful bounce. It’s faster than Rumba but built on the same foundation, so it takes the hip action you’ve started to feel and asks you to keep it going at a livelier tempo. It’s the dance where rhythmic timing really starts to click.

East Coast Swing

East Coast Swing is the contrast to the Latin dances. It trades Cuban motion for a bouncy, springy triple step built on a rock step, with an upbeat energy that comes straight from the swing music it’s danced to. That difference is the point, since feeling how Swing moves against Rumba and Cha Cha is what teaches you what each style actually is.

What Is Latin Dance?

Latin is one of the two great families of partner dance, the rhythmic, spot dances that stay in one area and drive into the floor, alongside the smooth, traveling dances like Waltz and Foxtrot. Within the rhythmic world you’ll hear names like Rhythm and Latin, each a group of dances with its own character, timing and music.

This class lives in the American Rhythm family. Rumba, Cha Cha and East Coast Swing are three of its signature dances, and learning them teaches you the vocabulary that runs through all of Latin dancing: Cuban motion, the hip action that drives the rhythmic styles, the timing counts (the quicks and slows) that tell you when to move, and the lead and follow connection that partners share. Once you know those, you can walk into any Latin dance and understand what you’re looking at.