Ballroom - Class Syllabus Page

Ballroom Dancing Page

Dance Syllabus

In this table you will find the name of the step followed
by the timing (inside the brackets).
For timing terminology see the table at the bottom of the page.

Background music is available if you like to hear a foxtrot number "Crazy".

If you see an image of a player bar on your screen you should be able to start and stop this piece of music.

Basic Steps of the Foxtrot

For the Basic Dancer

two basic timing variations (slow quick quick and slow slow quick quick)
basics of footwork style with brushing of the feet in passing and walking putting the heel down first going forward and toe going backward, the smooth flow of this dance
correct partner position and posture
basic or Arthur Murray Step (slow, slow, quick quick)
curving the basic or Arthur Murray step
Ladies travelling Loop Turn in basic step
quarter turn (slow, slow, quick quick)
conversation (slow, slow, quick quick)
conversation with partners under arm turn (slow slow quick quick)
Park Avenue (slow, slow, quick quick)
box step (slow, quick quick)
box step with partners under arm turn (slow quick quick)

For the Beyond Basic Dancer

introduction to slow quick quick timing and transitions from slow slow quick quick timing
turning the box step CW and CCW
progressing while turning the box step CW and CCW
corner step
spirals
shadow spirals
gold step
butterfly step

Basic Steps of the Rumba

For the Basic Dancer

basic style elements dealing with hip movements and using Bolero style basic step pattern
style emphasis on the holding the slow and brushing the toe across the floor rather than rather than lifting it between steps
elements required of the lead dancer to lead the dance
correct posture and position of partners
quarter turn (slow, quick quick)
partners under arm turn from the box step (slow, quick quick)
the importance of an open stance for the slow in combinations and returning to face your partner on the slow
cross over or New York step (slow, quick quick)
back break (slow, quick quick)
parallel break (slow, quick quick)
open break (slow, quick quick)
combination exit from lead partner's right side
"S", Solo or spot turn (slow, quick quick)
combination exit from lead partner's left side
butterfly (slow, quick quick)

For the Beyond Basic Dancer

using the Bolero Basic for Beyond Basics
box step and transitions to/from box step to Bolero basic
Side chasse
Cuban walk (slow, quick quick, slow, quick quick,)
turning combinations entrance and exit
doing "S" turns CCW
Aida
Hockey Stick
Baby Top
Hip Twist

Basic Steps of the Cha-Cha

For the Basic Dancer

importance of dancing on the ball of the foot with bent knee
elements required of lead dancer
correct posture and position of partners
introduction to ChaCha basic with side-together-side and not closing the feet on the side then adding the rock steps forward and backward
basic step (2, 3, 4 & 1)
cross over or New York step (2, 3, 4 & 1)
back break (2, 3, 4 & 1)
parallel break (2, 3, 4 & 1)
open break (2, 3, 4 & 1)
"S", solo or spot turn (2, 3, 4 & 1)
butterfly (2, 3, 4 & 1)

For the Beyond Basic Dancer

chase (2, 3, 4 & 1)
how to use your basic steps in different combinations
how to add variations to basics
how to lead with smooth arms movements to get your partner to follow with confidence
Importance of partners facing each other during the cha-cha-cha (4 & 1) part of the step to allow lead dancer to lead next step.
box step
hip twist
doing "S" turns CCW
Aida
Whips and Half Moons

Basic Steps of the Slow Waltz

For the Basic Dancer

progressive step or progressive box step(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
partners under arm turn from the box step(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
turning the box step CW (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
progressive box while turning CW (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,)

For the Beyond Basic dancers

turning the box step CCW (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
progressive box while turning CW and CCW (waltz turns)
Spirals
Shadow Spirals
Gold Step
Butterfly step

Basic Steps of the Swing or Jive also known as East Coast Swing

For the Basic Dancer

basic triple step (1 a 2, 3 a 4, 5, 6) or (1, 2, 3 a 4, 5 a 6)
open break (1 a 2, 3 a 4, 5, 6)
partners under arm turn CW (1 a 2, 3 a 4, 5, 6) the follower turns on the second triple
partners under arm turn CCW (1 a 2, 3 a 4, 5, 6) the follower turns on the first triple
change hands (1 a 2, 3 a 4, 5, 6) and change hands variations with wraps and slides
cuddle wrap (1 a 2, 3 a 4, 5, 6)
back pass with ladies under arm turn (1 a 2, 3 a 4, 5, 6)
sweetheart slide (1 a 2, 3 a 4, 5, 6)
partners push turn (1 a 2, 3 a 4, 5, 6)
all the above with single step basic (slow slow quick quick or quick quick, slow, slow timing for faster music)
demonstrate the double step basic (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) (side touch, side touch, rock step)
special attention is given to basic lead for lead dancer in controlling the turns so that the following partner turns CW on the 3 a 4 and CCW on the 1 a 2. Emphasis is placed on proper centering of the hand of the lead partner above the follow partner in the turns so they are not thrown off balance or injured by incorrect movements, dangers involved with crank turns imposed on follower by leader.
importance of dancing on the ball of the foot with bent knee

For the Beyond Basic Dancer

Introduction to Lindy timing and combinations
Slide Kelly Slide
Peek a Boo
Baby Top
Toe & Heel
Chicken Walks
Shadow Stalking Walk

Basic Steps of the American Tango

For the Basic Dancer

basic 1 (slow slow quick quick, slow)
basic 2 (slow slow quick quick, slow)
basic 3 (slow slow quick quick, slow)
rocks progressive (slow slow quick quick slow, quick quick slow, quick quick slow)
entrance to follow partner fans and importance of lead dancers support for follow dancer (slow slow quick quick slow, slow slow quick quick slow)
throw out to fan, finishing with a basic two ending (slow slow quick quick slow, slow slow quick quick slow)
basic 4 (slow slow quick quick, slow)
elements required of lead dancer
correct posture and position of partners

Basic Steps of the Mambo
same timing as Salsa, a popular club dance with several different styles

For the Basic Dancer

basic (2, 3, 4-1)(quick, quick, hold or slow)
cross over or New York step (2, 3, 4-1)
back break (2, 3, 4-1)
parallel break (2, 3, 4-1)
open break (2, 3, 4-1)
"S", solo or spot turn (2, 3, 4-1)
butterfly (2, 3, 4-1)
importance of dancing on the ball of the foot with bent knee
elements required of lead dancer
correct posture and position of partners
similarity of Mambo to Salsa and its variations of Cumbia and Bachata

Basic Steps of the Meringue

For the Basic Dancer

4 basic step patterns and timing (1, 2, 3, 4)(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
demonstrate the free form of this dance
How to keep steps in groups of 4 or 8
the mixing of jive or swing, samba and mambo and other Latin dance steps into this dance
importance of dancing on the ball of the foot with bent knee
elements required of lead dancer
correct hand position when leading follower in turns
correct posture and position of partners

Timing Terminology
timing term used	meaning of the term
slow	one step taking two beats of the music (1, 2)
quick	one step taking one beat of the music (1)
1, 2, 3, 4, or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,	counting the beat of the music where 1 is the first beat of a bar of music; (a.k.a. down beat or hard beat) 1, 2, 1, 2, or 1, 2, 3, 4, indicate 4/4 timing or four beats to a bar of music; 1, 2, 3, or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, indicating 3/4 timing of the waltz
4 & 1	three steps or a syncopated step covering two beats of music as used in cha-cha-cha.
1 a 2, 3 a 4, or 3 a 4, 5 a 6	three steps or a syncopated step covering two beats of music as used in the the triple swing or jive (we also refer to this as "side together side, side together side, rock rock")
quick-a-quick	the same thing as 4 & 1 or 3 a 4, or 5 a 6, these are the syncopated steps used in Cha Cha and Triple Swing or Jive where three steps are taken during two beats of the music
2, 3, 4-1	indicates a quick quick slow timing where the break step is on 2, 3 as is common in Latin dances, such as Cha-Cha, Mambo, Salsa, Bolero, etc.; in the Mambo the 4-1 is the slow or hold step covering two beats of music, not to be confused with the 4 & 1 of the Cha Cha which is three steps to two beats of the music
step	a step is the movement of one foot from one position to another without moving the other foot and in most cases placing your weight on the advancing foot when it is placed on the floor and releasing the weight (lifting the heal) from the other foot without moving it - so in the process of taking the step you shift your weight from the foot you started on to the foot you moved during the step - frequently beginning dancers bring their feet together at the end of each step thus introducing extra foot movements to the dance and confusing themselves - remember in dancing your weight is almost always on one foot or the other, and seldom on both, and if you always move your weight onto the moving foot as you place it on the floor this will dictate the correct foot for the next step;
rock step	the process of stepping and moving your weight from one to foot to another and then back again without lifting your feet from the floor; rock steps are used in Mambo, Cha Cha Cha, Bolero, Rumba, Salsa, Meringue, Jive or Swing to name a few; the common mistake for beginners is to tap their foot instead of rocking and this introduces a timing error as the tap covers one beat of music and the rock step covers 2 beats of music;

We can be reached by e-mail at the following addresses.

Dora & Garth Hamilton
To e-mail us click here

Footware Suitable for Class

Shoes for dance class; We are utilizing the gym for our classes with a wooden floor or a tile floor, so no street shoes can be worn on the floor. You must bring another pair of shoes with you. You have two choices, running shoes which we do not recommend, but many people use, or any shoe with a leather sole and heel that has not been worn on the street or has been cleaned prior to coming to class. There are also dancing shoes which have a suede leather sole and make turning on the floor very easy. For men a shoe called a jazz shoe is the best for practice purposes it is very light weight and has a suede sole and heal and no welt. A bowling shoe is a reasonable alternative or any shoe with a leather sole and heel that has not been worn on the street. For ladies a pump with a medium heel, and an ankle strap, and a closed heel is recommended. A medium heel is 1.0 to 1.5 inches maximum in height. The ankle strap prevents the lady from walking out of the heel and the closed heel prevents the heel from slipping off the side of the shoe. There is also nothing wrong with the ladies using a jazz shoe in place of a pump.

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