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)
*In Both Rhythm and Latin Dances Alignment isn’t as important as Amount of Turn
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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 music1. Basic (Walk Tap forward or backward if you need to move it around) 2. Lady’s Parallel Natural Underarm Turn 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 9. Inside (Reverse) Passing Underarm Turn 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 *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) 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 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 12. Sailor Shuffles 13. Whip with behind the back pass 14. Whip with Outside Partner Hook Step and Rhythm Variations |
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) 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 *Start further apart, bring lady in on Side steps,
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) 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)
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Latin Dance (Toes stay on the ground, heels press into floor to complete hip action)
Merengue (Slide Toes, Q,Q )
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 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
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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) 4. Set-up into a Outside Partner 5. Set-up into Cross Over a. Parallel natural underarm turn for Lady b. Apart Turn 7. Man’s Underarm Turn from Lady’s Parallel Natural Underarm Turn 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 |
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) 4. Cross Over, parallel natural underarm turn for lady 5. Man’s underarm turn from Lady’s UT 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 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
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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
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) 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) 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 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”
*Use as a turning move at end of LOD or as a Hesitation along LOD 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 11. Hairpin Turns from Reverse and Promenade 12. Oversway from Promenade 13. Continuous Open Right Turns 14. Shadow Position Continuous Open Right Turns |
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) 4. Right Turn – Start DW or LOD (No Cross Steps ) *Can do Lady UT from Left and Right Turns 7. Flairs Forward and Backward 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) 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
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TANGO is also a SMOOTH DANCE - But Different Hold and Movement
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Tango (S,S,Q,Q,S – 12,34,5,6,78) Knees Flexed; Forward Steps- Heel / Side Steps- Inside Edge/Whole Foot 1. Basic 2. Forward Rock-Steps (S,S,Q,Q,S,Q,Q,S,Q,Q,S) *Traveling Moves (DC-moving LOD) 4. Promenade *Turning (Facing Wall) 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 |