Latin Dance Descriptions
Bolero: Bolero is a very beautiful, graceful and romantic dance, it is characterized by a smooth gliding movement danced to very slow music and counted Slow Quick Quick. The idea of Bolero is a little like a game of yes/no, come here/go away, I love you/ I love you not. The music is frequently arranged with Spanish vocals and subtle percussion effect, usually implemented with Conga or Bongos.
Cha Cha: In the beginning it was simply "mambo-rumba" or "triple mambo." Light and bubbly, the Cha Cha's distinctive syncopation (5 steps in 4 beats) make it a party favorite. The step, step, cha cha cha and "Cuban motion" hip movement characterize the lively, flirtatious nature of this dance.
Merengue: Merengue is a very fun and easy dance for beginners. The basic is danced as a walking step with a step taken on every beat of music. Sometimes called the sister dance to Salsa, Merengue originated in the Caribbean around the 1850's and its popularity has grown worldwide.
Rumba: American style Rumba is versatile enough to be danced to traditional Latin songs as well as contemporary pop hits. The Latin Style hip movement is combined with smooth steps to create a sensual dance that's great for proms, weddings and other social settings.
Samba: In Brazil Samba is danced as a solo art form performed at street festivals and other celebrations with nationalistic pride. In the USA it evolved into a couples’ dance that was standardized as a ballroom dance in 1956. Samba is an upbeat, lively dance characterized by it’s bounce and rolling hip action.
Note: Ylang Ylang Latin Dance teaches ballroom style Samba.
Mambo: Mambo developed from the Cuban dance Danzon, and was greatly influenced by Cuban Haitians and American Jazz.
It is a fast and spicy dance characterized by strong Cuban motion, staccato movement and expression of rhythm through the body. The dancer holds on count 1 and breaks on count 2. Mambo features many swivels and spins.
Salsa: The name "Salsa" is the Spanish word for sauce, connoting (in American Spanish) a spicy flavor. It is a distillation of many Latin and Afro-Caribbean dances. Each played a large part in its evolution. This is one of the most popular Costa Rican social dances.
Salsa is similar to Mambo in that both have a pattern of six steps danced over eight counts of music. Salsa generally breaks on count 1 and holds on count 4, but it can also break on count 2 or even on count 3 or 4.
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