What is Social Dancing?

Social dancing is a non-competitive version of ballroom and latin dancing. It is comprised of all
the same dances, like Foxtrot, Tango, Swing, or Cha-Cha, but designed to be used in practical
settings like wedding receptions, nightclubs, business functions, or informal gatherings. Social
dancing is less formal that exhibition dancing and is meant to be enjoyed while socializing.

Important Skills for Good Social Dancing

Leading and Following

The most important skill for good social dancing is Leading and Following. This is the non-
verbal communication from the leader to the follower indicating the direction, timing, and style,
among other things.

Posture and Dance Frame

If Leading and Following is a message, then good posture and dance frame are the antenna
broadcasting the signal.

Multi-Tasking

Ultimately, social dancing is having the ability to converse while dancing. Being able to multi-
task, like chatting about work or the weather while Waltzing, takes some practice but allows
dancing to develop into natural use much quicker.

How to Get Started with Social Dance

While there are types of dances that people can fake their way through, Social dancing isn't one
of them. It's a style of dancing that, when done well, immediately sets the dancer apart, and that
all begins with private lessons.

A single private lesson by a reputable school can replace countless hours of group instruction or
instructional videos.

Arthur Murray, the founder, understood that as a struggling dancer himself. He designed a
curriculum perfectly suited for those, like him, that had zero dance experience but wanted to
experience the benefits that social dancing had to offer.
So, in 1912, Arthur Murray developed a company that did just that and today, Arthur Murray
Dance Studios have nearly 300 worldwide locations teaching Social Dance to people across 6
continents. It's safe to say that Arthur Murray Dance Studios are the longest running and most
successful Social Dance Studios in the world.

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Proper Grooming

1. Wear comfortable clothing.

2. Wear appropriate footwear to prevent injuries.

3. If the hair falls below the shoulder, be careful that it does not fly into contact with

your partner. Long hair should be put up or tied in a pony tail.

4. Accessories like watches, rings and bracelets can be dangerous they can scratch

your partner’s hand and arm.

General Rules for Following

1. Whatever you do, don’t lead.

2. Be alert to your partner’s lead.

3. Support one’s own weight. Learn to keep good balance when moving backwards.

4. Step straight backward with reaching motion so as to give him room to reach straight ahead.

5. Pass the feet close together.

6. Hold your own frame (arm positions) against gravity (versus resting weight on your partner’s
arms).

7. Maintaining your frame so as to provide gentle feedback to define your space. (avoid very
rigid or very limp arms, sometimes called “spaghetti” arms.)

8. Keep your weight over the ball of your feet to keep a good balance.

9. Execute the turn (after the leader

signals when to start and stop the turn).

1. Hold partner firmly but not tensely.

2. Listen to the music before starting to step out on the accented beat.

3. Start with the new step with a left foot leading.

4. Start with the easy steps before going into variations, be sure partner can follow.

5. Signal a turn by lifting your hand above your partner’s head.

6. End a turn by lowering your hand below your partner’s head.

Ballroom Dance Styles

Ballroom dance is enjoyable both socially and competitively worldwide. It also refers to a set of
partner dancers, which originated in the Western world. The International style contains two
categories: International Latin and International Standard, each of these sub-categories contain
five different dances. The specific categories are as follows; Standard, Latin and Club dances or
Freestyle dance.

Standard (ballroom) dance are elegant and have strong emphasis on posture, more formal than
Latin Dances. They are generally dance in a closed position. It consists of the following dances
such as: Waltz, Quickstep, Foxtrot, Tango, and Viennese waltz.

On the other hand, Latin style prepared for hot, flashy movements, sexy poses and fire-
consuming passion. Latin dances are generally faster-paced, more sensual and have more
rhythmic expression. Latin dances such as: Cha-cha-cha, Mambo, Rumba, Samba, Jive, Paso
Doble.

Club dances include: Swing, Line dance, Salsa and Merengue.

To give an overview in the styles of ballroom dance, the following table shows the
characteristics of each ballroom dance.

STANDARD DANCES

Waltz is one of the smoothest ballroom dance. It is a progressive dance marked by long, flowing
movements, continuous turns, and "rise and fall." The dance is so graceful and elegant; Waltz
dancers appear to glide around the floor with almost no effort.
Tango is one of the most fascinating of all ballroom dance. This sensual ballroom dance
originated in South America in the early twentieth century.

Quickstep is a quick version of the Foxtrot. It is a ballroom dance comprised of extremely quick
stepping, syncopated feet rhythms, and runs of quick steps. The Quickstep is exciting to watch,
but among the most difficult of all the ballroom dance.

Foxtrot is a smooth dance in which dancers make long, flowing movements across the floor.
Foxtrot has lots of fun and simple to learn an excellent dance for beginners.

LATIN DANCES

Cha cha cha is a lively, flirtatious ballroom dance full of passion and energy. The classic
"Cuban motion" gives the Cha cha cha its unique style. Partners work together to synchronize
each movement in perfect alignment.

Mambo is one of the most sensual and emotional Latin American ballroom dances. Swaying hip
movements, facial expressions, arm movements and holds add to the sensuality of the dance.

Jive is an American dance that evolved from a dance called the Jitterbug by removing the lifts
and acrobatic elements. Dancers use a more bouncy type movement using the balls of the feet. A
lot of kicks are used in jive. Jive is a very fast, energy-consuming dance.

Rumba is considered by many to be the most romantic and sensual of all Latin ballroom dance.
It is often referred to as the "Grandfather of the Latin dances." A moderately slow Latin dance
with plenty of wraps, under arm turns and a truck load of flirtation. It is often called as the
“Dance of Love”.

Samba is popular with young people as well as older generations. Samba can be performed solo
or with a partner. Possibly the most popular of all Brazilian ballroom dance.

Paso Doble is one of the liveliest ballroom dance, originating in southern France. It is modeled
after the sound, drama, and movement of the Spanish bullfight.

CLUB DANCES

Swing dance is a lively style of social dancing in which a dancer often lifts, spins and flips his or
her partner. Considered both hip and cool, swing dancing is a favorite among social dancers of
all ages.

The beauty in the simplicity of line dancing steps is that they are so adaptable that they can be
reworked and reused in a variety of different dances and dance styles. The steps are very basic
and are often repeated numerous times in the line dance. Adding small twists or variations on the
core steps or utilizing them as transitions in other dances will be an ideal use of the steps.

Salsa is a very energetic Latin dance, with spins, sharp movement, and crisp turns, very popular
in Latin clubs along with merengue. A style varies depending on where you are from. This
dance is also similar to Mambo.

Merengue is a fast Latin dance that never slows down. It’s very easy to learn and often refer to
this dance as the “marching with style”.

Ballroom Dance Holds/Positions