Dance Syllabi ( Beginner - Intermediate )

Keep your frame up and stay forward into your partner, over the balls of your feet for all dances- except for Tango and WC Swing.

*Note: Outside Turn (aka Natural Turn (turning Right) and Inside Turn (aka Reverse Turn (turning Left)


Q = 1 Beat of Music;  S = 2 Beats of Music   

 

*In Both Rhythm and Latin Dances Alignment isn’t as important as Amount of Turn

 

 

INSTA-DANCE- works with either slow or fast “even beat” music, when you don’t have much space. (Q,Q)

Sway Dance  (Step Tap, Step Tap)  *Movement: Evenly with each beat of the music

1.  Basic (Walk Tap forward or backward if you need to move it around)

2.  Lady’s Parallel Natural Underarm Turn
                 (Man angles right shoulder back and rocks back with right foot)

3.  Outside Partner (Man angle Left shoulder towards Lady’s Left Shoulder, 

                He then rocks forward outside his partner as she rocks back)

4.  Cross Over (both rock forward)

                  a.  end with Lady’s Parallel Natural Underarm Turn

 b.  end with Apart Turn

5.  Cross Over with Swivels

6.  Man’ Underarm turn from Lady’s Parallel Natural Underarm Turn

7.  Shoulder Check – end with Reverse Traveling UT for lady back into basic step

8.  Outside (Natural) Passing Underarm Turn
               (like in swing, start with rock step and end with rock step back to basic)

9.  Inside (Reverse) Passing Underarm Turn
               (like in swing, start with rock step and end with rock step back to basic)

10. Belt Turn (like in swing)

11. Open 5th positions (both rock back) 

12. Cross Body Lead

13. Back Spot Turn

14. Shadow Positions

15. Dip (use as pattern or ending move with a spin out for the Lady)

East Coast Swing
(Single Time Q, Q, S, S – 1,  2, 34, 56 / Rock, Step, Hold Step, Hold Step)
(Triple Time  Q, Q, S, S – 1 , 2, 3&4, 5&6 / Rock, Step, Triple Step, Triple Step)  *Triple Step to Slower Music

*Spot dance; Feet:  Ball Flat, as you stay forward over the balls of your feet, especially on the rock step

 

1.  Basic in Promenade Dance Position / Move to Open Dance Position

2.  Outside (Natural) Underarm Turn / Inside (Reverse) UT / Belt Turn

3.  Alternating Underarm Turns (Lady’s Reverse into Man’s Reverse UTs)
4.  Egg Beaters

5.  Cuddle (ending: with spin out)

6.  Thread the needle

7.  Tuck-In Spin

8.  Shoulder Check (1,2, 34, 2,2, 34)  or Q,Q,S, Q,Q,S
        *Take out the second Slow/alternate rock steps

9.  Touch Down Shoulder Slide (Or Turn away from lady and behind back pass)

10. Forward Walks

11. Back Walks with Kicks

12. Boogie Walks

13. Crossover Toe Heel Swivels

14. Belt Turn, Handshake Hold, Cross-handed Double Turns, Comb Over

15. Pretzel

West Coast Swing

(1,2,3,4,5&6 / Step, Step, Tap, Step, Triple Step)

*Slot dance; Stay Low and Hang Back with weight held more

over the heels- arm bent, bring the lady into free hand by count 2

1.  Basic

2.  Underarm Pass

3.  Side Pass (with tuck-spin)

4.  Whip (with natural and reverse underarm turns for Lady) *8 count

5.  Shine Steps/ Footwork

6.  Hammerlock Walk

7.  Man’s hook step turn from Lady’s Underarm Pass with Head Loop

8.   ½ Whip

a. Outside partner

               b. Opposition break

9.  Lock Whip

10. Tummy Whip
11. Isolations

12. Sailor Shuffles

13. Whip with behind the back pass

14. Whip with Outside Partner Hook Step and Rhythm Variations
15.  Lock Whip Side Break and Spin

Shag (Triple Time Q,Q,S,S – 1 , 2, 3&4, 5&6 / Rock, Step, Triple Up, Triple Back

*Beach Music

*Slot dance; like an accordion; Stay forward, especially on the rock step, Steady, No Bouncing

1.  Basic in Promenade Dance Position / Move to Open Dance Position in a slot

2.  Natural Underarm Pass / Reverse Underarm Pass / Man’s Underarm Pass

3.  Belt Turn

4.  Gate

5.  Shoulder Check (1,2, 34, 2,2, 34)  *Take out the second Slow/ alternate rock steps

6.  Triple Pass

7.  Pivot   (with Belly Roll)
(End in Promenade, or Open Dance Position or use Forward Step for an Apart Turn)

8.  a. Sailor Shuffle from Underarm Pass /  b. Twist and Face from Underarm Pass

9.  Double Kick Back (with Lean)

10.  Boogie Walks

Hustle (&,1,2,3  &,2,2,3 or 1,2,3,4, 2,2,3,4 ) Rock Step on &,1 or 1,2

* Rotating Spot dance; Slight hip action on the “&” Step

1.  Rotating Basic in Two Handed Open Dance Position

2.  Inside/Reverse Underarm Turn

3.  Belt Turn

4.  Promenade to Outside Underarm Turn

5.  Man’s Reverse Underarm Turn (Lady’ rotates right behind Man)

6.  Touch Down Shoulder Slide (also, with Behind Man’s Back Pass)

7.  Travel Walks with Back Lock Step from Promenade Position

             - End with Lady’s Reverse Underarm Turn

8.  Lady’s Triple Reverse Turn

9.  Belt Turn, Handshake Hold, Cross-handed Double Turns (up apart with arms)

10. Pretzel

Night Club 2 Step
(1,2&, 3, 4& /  Step, Rock Step, Step, Rock Step)

*Start further apart, bring lady in on Side steps,
push away on rock step – frame uses rubber-band action


1.  Basic
2.  Lady’s Turn from Basic (parallel natural underarm turn for lady)
3.  Outside Partner

4.  Cross Over, parallel natural underarm turn for lady

5.  Man’s Underarm parallel Turn

6.  Shoulder Check

7.  Man’s Traveling Right Cross (add Underarm Turn Variations)
8.  Weave from 5th Positions

9.  Shadow Rocks

10. Pivot

Lindy (Triple Time Q,Q,Q&Q,Q,Q,Q&Q – 1,2,3&4,5,6, 7&8 / Walk, Step, Triple Step, Hook, Step, Triple Step)

*Rotating Spot dance; Slide Feet underneath and stay connected to your partner and grounded and centered

1.  Basic Lindy Turn (like Whip in West Coast Swing, but more rotation) *8 count                                                                 6.  Side-By-Side Charleston Kicks

2.  Lady’s Reverse Underarm Turn (on Hook Step, then walk directly into Basic Lindy Turn)                                              7.  Alternating Side Open Swivel Kicks

3.  Lady’s Natural Underarm Turn (on Hook Step, then back to 6 count Lady’s Reverse UT)                                               8.  Traveling Swivel Walks (with Lady’s Reverse Free Spin inside Man’s Turning Circle)(S,S,S,S,S,S)

4.  Lady’s Behind the Back Pass (Change Handhold to Handshake Hold on Hook Step (set up for #5)                              9.  Back Walks with Swivel Kicks  (Q,Q,Q,Q,S,S,S,S, Q,Q)

5.  Man’s Behind the Back Lindy Pass from Lady’s Reverse Underarm Turn                                                                             10.  Handshake Hold into Spinning Down Jump Kick Through (Q,Q, S, Q,Q,S,S,Q,Q)

 

 

Latin Dance (Toes stay on the ground, heels press into floor to complete hip action)

 

Merengue  (Slide Toes, Q,Q )
*also works with either slow or fast “even beat” music, when you don’t have much space.

 

1.  Basic (Rotating & Moving forward, backward and side to side)

2.  Open Push Away

3.  Natural Underarm Turn / Reverse Underarm Turn

4.  Belt Turn

5.  Cuddle (Man Walks Forward / Lady Walks backward)

6.  Double Turn to Hammerlock
7.  Slide Across Back and Lady’s Head Loop

8.  Shoulder Check – end with Reverse turn for lady back into basic step

9.  Touchdown with Shoulder Slide or Behind the Back Pass

10.  Belt Turn, Handshake Hold, Cross-handed Double Turns, Comb Over

11.  Pretzel

12.  Cross Body Lead with Reverse/Inside Turn for Lady

13.  Back Spot Turn with Natural/Outside Turn for Lady

14.  Cuddle Spin out Spin In while Rotating

15.  Wrap Combination

 

 

Salsa/Mambo  (Rock Step Together, Rock Step Together –

    Q,Q,S  Q,Q,S /  1,2, 34 1,2, 34  or  2,3, 41 2,3, 41)

*Special Attention to Timing and Leading your Lady

1.  Basic

2.  Lady’s Natural Underarm Turn (Man rocks back and leads lady to step into him, turning her as he come forward, bringing his feet together)

3.  Outside Partner (after Man’s back rock, side step Right instead of together)

4.  Cross Over (both rock forward)

                    a.    end with Lady’s Parallel Natural Underarm Turn

      b.    end with Apart Turn

5.  Cross Over with Swivels

6.  Man’ Underarm turn from Lady’s Parallel Natural Underarm Turn

7.  Shoulder Check – end with Reverse Underarm Turn for Lady

8.  5th Positions with Swivel, Forward Side Close ending

9.  Cross Body Lead (Continuous - Traveling / Circling)

10. Back Spot Turn (with Lady’s Natural Underarm Turn)

11. Shadow Positions

12. Cross Handed Double Turns with Alternating Head Loops

13. Lady’s Natural UT; Man’s Turn w/ Behind Back Hand Change; Head Loop

14. Salsa Wrap

15. Dip

Rumba (Alternate Feet) (S,Q,Q S,Q,Q – 12,3,4 22,3,4) * Use Dip (as pattern or ending move)

*Special Attention to Timing and Feeling the music

1.  Box (Turning Box- up to a ¼ Turn to Left)
2a.  Lady’s Underarm Turn to side with Man’s Rock step back on Right Foot; His Right Shoulder back first
2b.  Underarm Turn from Box  (Man does not turn, Lady: ¼; ¼; ½ to the Right end with  Left Side step of Box)
3.  Rock Steps or Walking Steps Forward and Backward.

4. Set-up into a Outside Partner

5.  Set-up into Cross Over

                a.  Parallel natural underarm turn for Lady

                 b. Apart Turn
6.  Cross Over with Swivels

7.  Man’s Underarm Turn from Lady’s Parallel Natural Underarm Turn
8.  Shoulder Check end with Side step into parallel natural underarm turn for lady or Double Reverse UT
9.  Cross Body Lead (Starts in Box; End in Box- Up to 3/8 turn to the Left )
10. Natural UT Cuban Walk / Reverse UT Cuban Walk

11. Back Spot Turn – Starts with Set up into an Open Break, up to Full Turn to the Right)

12. Shadow Positions

13. Cross Handed Underarm Turns for Lady from Shadow Position

14. Man’s Walk under and Side Break into Box step with Alternating Head Loops
15. Dip

Cha Cha (1,2,3,4&1,2,3,4& - Side, Rock,Step, TripleStep, Rock,Step, Triple)

*Special Attention to Hip Action and Footwork

1.  Basic (Moving Cha-Cha-Cha step diagonally, side to side, forward and backward or in place)

2.  Parallel natural underarm turn for lady: ¼ Rt Foot, Forward Lt turn ½, ¼ Rt; end facing man)                                                                                                                                                                                            
3.  Outside Partner

4.  Cross Over, parallel natural underarm turn for lady

5.  Man’s underarm turn from Lady’s UT
6.  Butterfly

7.  Cross Over and Flick with Apart Turn Ending

8.  Shoulder Check end with side moving cha-cha-cha step into parallel natural underarm turn for lady
9.  Cross Body Lead
              a. with Lady’s Reverse Turn into a Cross Over

                 b. with Forward and Backward Syncopations (2&3&4&1 2&3&4&1)

                 c. open position, hip roll with Lady’s Reverse Turn ending  (Hockey Stick from International)

10. Back Spot Turn (also with Reverse Underarm Turn Ending for Lady)

11. Shadow Positions

12. Cross handed Underarm Turns for Lady with Reverse Turn ending into Cross Over

13. Pull Back Grapevine into Cucharachas

14. Accelerated Cross Over Knee Lifts

15. Pasada (Back Rock into forward lock step, Forward Cross, Back Step, Back lock step, into Side Flick, Forward lock step, Face each other and then  Traveling Apart Turn on 2,3, Side cha-cha-cha into Forward rock of Basic)

Also -  Good to know Half and Full Chase Turns

 

Samba (1&2 2&2 - Slight Lifting motion to get started, subtle bounce through knees, soft hip action)

*Special Attention to Footwork, making sure only your lead heel is down, while ball of other foot pulses


1.  Basic (Forward/Backward, Side/Together)

2.  Box

3.  Progressive Latin Walks

4.  5th positions with Lady’s Underarm Turns / Man’s Underarm Turn

5.  Voltas from Box

6.  Promenade Samba Walks

7.  Contra Samba Walks

8.  Bota Fogas  from Open Break

9.  Bota Fogas from Samba Walk

10.  Voltas from Bota Fogas (With Lady’s UT and Man’s UT)

11.  Advanced Left Turn

12.  Fan & Pullback

13.  Progressive Runs (Flip Flops)

14.  Samba Rolls

15.  Counter Promenade Open Samba Walk into Lock Step and Open Spin, end with Box

Smooth Dances (Travel around the floor, counter clockwise/ Pay attention to Alignment)

Syllabi Alignment Below Based on Leader’s Perspective
LOD:  Line of Dance;   DW:  Diagonal to the Wall;   DC:  Diagonal to the Center of the Room

B in front of any code above indicates Backing (eg.  Lady starts typically BLOD)

Foxtrot (S,S,Q,Q  – 12,34,5,6 ) Forward Steps- Heel / Side Steps- Toe  or…

*Skating Action,  “Body Flight”

1. Basic *Traveling LOD (Man-Forward, Forward, Left to Side, Right closes to Left Foot)
2. Box (S,Q,Q S,Q,Q) OR Side Sway (S,S) *Hesitation and Turning to Face LOD

3. Promenade with Underarm Turn for Lady

              *Facing in Closed Position or Traveling in Promenade along LOD

4. Rock Step out of the Corner

5. Zig-Zags into Grapevine *Traveling DW to BDC along the LOD; 1/4 turns

6. Promenade Pivot into Basic Promenade Step into Back Zig-Zags *Turning then Traveling
7. Open Left Turn - Start DC (2 measures) end DW
8. Open Right Turn – Start DW (Twinkle; Man’s Right Turn; Heel Turn; Feather Finish
                                              – 4 measures)
9. Flip Flops (Twinkle; Man Flips; Lady Flops; Feather Finish) Start DW
10. Progressive Twinkle (LOD) *Turn Lady to Outside Partner, Not Promenade Twinkle
11. Grapevine (all Qs coming from twinkle and man’s right turn)

12. Hairpin Turns from Reverse and Promenade

13. Weave from Promenade (all 6Qs coming from twinkle cut across to DC)

14. Curved Running Steps

15. Oversway from Left Turn and Promenade Twinkle

Waltz  (Alternate Feet 1,2,3  2,2,3)  Forward Steps- Heel / Side Steps- Toe

*Skating Action,  “Body Flight”


1. Box into Progressive Step (LOD) / Back step of Basic Box OR Side Sway *Hesitation
2. 6-Count Underarm Turn from Box

                      *Use as a turning move at end of LOD or as a Hesitation along LOD
3. Underarm Turn from box into Hand to Hand/Back to Back end with Box *Turning/Traveling

4. a.  Progressive Twinkle (LOD) – Turn Lady to Outside Partner Position, Not Promenade *Traveling

    b.  Turning Twinkle *Turning into Promenade / End Closed Position- Changes Dir from FWall to FLOD

5. 3/8 Turns Left and Right with Progressive steps between

6. Open Left Turn - Start DC (2 measures) end DW
7. Open Right Turn – Start DW (Twinkle; Man’s Right Turn; Heel Turn; Feather Finish – 4 measures) DC
8. Flip Flops (Twinkle; Man Flips; Lady Flops; Feather Finish) Start DW
9. Progressive Open Twinkle (LOD) *Turn Lady to Outside Partner, not Promenade like regular Twinkle
10. Underarm Turn (sync timing) from Man’s Open Right Turn end with Develope’ or Twinkle Connection

11. Hairpin Turns from Reverse and Promenade

12. Oversway from Promenade

13. Continuous Open Right Turns

14. Shadow Position Continuous Open Right Turns
15. Pivot into Heel Pull

Viennese Waltz (1,2,3  2,2,3)  Forward Steps- Heel / Side Steps- Toe

(Alternate, Pass & Brush Feet)

*Smaller Steps, focus on partnership and CBM – Counter Body Movement

1.  5th Positions (with Lady’s Underarm Turns)

2.  Left Turn - Start DC or LOD (Cross Left Ft in Front on first 1/2 Box Step, Ft Tog on 2nd 1/2 Box)
3.  Change Steps

4.  Right Turn – Start DW or LOD (No Cross Steps )  *Can do Lady UT from Left and Right Turns
5.  Side Sway/ 5th Positions and/or Box *Hesitation
6.  X-Lines

7.  Flairs Forward and Backward
8.  Flip Flops (Twinkle; Man Flips; Lady Flops; Close into Box Step) Start DW
9. Underarm Turn from Box; Hand to Hand, Run with Apart Spin (End with Twinkle Connection)

10. Continuous Open Right Turns

Texas 2 Step (S,S,Q,Q  – 12,34,5,6 )

Like Foxtrot but no side together step- *Skating Action,  “Body Flight”

1.  Basic *Traveling LOD (Man-Forward, Forward, Forward then close right foot to left foot)
2.  Promenade (Turn Lady on the Q,Q) end with Natural Underarm Turn for Lady back to      closed position

3.  Pivot

4.  Rock Step to Shadow Position (Man moves up to lady) Man’s right hand in front of Man body to turn Lady back “Close the Bus Door”

5.  Cape from Shadow Position

6.  Man’s Reverse UT from Promenade Position into Lady’s Natural UT back to closed pos.

7.  Pivot into Lady’s Natural UT, side by side free spins, Lady’s Reverse UT to closed pos.

8.  Double Tunnel

9.  Shadow to lead Lady Behind Man for Alternating Chasse Steps- Man’s Head Loop

10. Continuous Pivots

 

 

TANGO is also a SMOOTH DANCE - But Different Hold and Movement

 

 

Tango (S,S,Q,Q,S – 12,34,5,6,78)  Knees Flexed; Forward Steps- Heel / Side Steps- Inside Edge/Whole Foot
*Stay in your Knees, Sitting with Hips tucked underneath. Head  is to the left with attitude, closer hold in frame, CBM
No Skating Movement - release foot from the floor taking staccato steps, land and keep weight over the middle part of your stepping foot

1. Basic

2. Forward Rock-Steps (S,S,Q,Q,S,Q,Q,S,Q,Q,S) *Traveling Moves (DC-moving LOD)
3. Corte *Hesitation (Backing LOD)

4. Promenade *Turning (Facing Wall)
5. Promenade to Open Position *Flair Steps (Facing Wall)
     a. Lady’s Natural Underarm Turn ending

     b. Fan ending

     c. Change of Place with swivel ending (Q,Q,S  Q,Q,S  S,S,Q,Q,S)

6.  a. Reverse Turn (Q,Q,S Q,Q,S) *Traveling (Start DC; End Facing DW)

     b. Reverse Turn with Swivel (Q,Q,S, Q,Q,S, S, S, Q,Q,S)   * Can also do first 1/2 of a box stepping back, leading lady to outside partner right side swivels

7.  Fallaway Fan (S,Q,Q,S,Q,Q,S,S,Q,Q,S)- Turning Left from Promenade

8.  Promenade Traveling Face Swivels (S,S,S,S, S,S,Q,Q,S)

9.  Promenade Pivots

10.  Lady’s Natural Underarm Turn into Shadow Position, Shadow Rocks with Swivel Ending
         (QQQQQQS;  S,SQ,Q,S,Q,Q,S;   S,S,S,S,Q,Q,S)