Dance Styles

Our focus is to train students in the following styles. We've described these dances in easy terms so that everyone will understand their descriptions. If you are looking for more technical detail then you can contact us at: info@ycdstudios.com

American Rhythm / Smooth, International Standard, and Latin

Waltz:

Is a slow, graceful dance which has a very distinctive rise and fall motion in the movement of the partners. It is the one style that is most commonly equated with what most would consider ballroom dancing. It is typically used as the last dance of a social evening.

Jive:

Is international Swing dance using triple rhythms, elements of the Lindy Hop, and Jitterbug in it's performance. It is usually danced to rock and roll or big band music.

Quickstep:

Is the faster form of the Fox Trot. It has quick hopping steps set in with a smooth gliding motion.

Rumba:

Is a slow romantic latin dance. It is very sensual and sometimes considered flirtatious.

Samba:

Is a very sensual slow to medium latin dance focusing on a snake like movement from the hip action. (also known as a Brazilian Nanago motion)

Tango:

There are three types of Tango - Argentinian, American, and International.

Partners are held in a closed frame and move as one around the dance floor. The dance itself is characterized with quick to slow motions concentrating on footwork with flicks, fans, and kicks.

Cha Cha:

Is a medium to fast Latin style of dance that is also very flirtatious and sexy.

Fox Trot:

Is a slower version of the Quickstep concentrating on graceful glides as the pair move around the dance floor as one. This is the first dance of a social evening.

Nightclub

East Coast Swing:

This form of swing can be performed to many different styles of music from the very fast jitterbug jive to the more contemporary music of today. The dance is performed in single, double, and triple rhythms. East Coast Swing is rotational in nature and not performed in a slot like West Coast Swing.

West Coast Swing:

Is the most sophisticated of all night club dances. This style is very versatile in that it can be performed to many different variations of music from the very slow to the very fast. The style is danced in a slot using leverages, compressions, body lead and follow techniques, with taps, shuffles, and triple rhythms mixed in to give it that high energy look. This is why it's usually referred to as the Dancers Dance.

Hustle:

Famous from its debut in Saturday Night Fever. This style Was most popular in the Disco Dancing era. The hustle is danced from medium to fast tempo music incorporating spins, pivots, and underarm turns as it?s main forms of motion.

Merenge:

Is another medium to fast Latin style of dance incorporating spins, underarm turns, and fast hip motion with very small steps as it?s main forms of motion.

Mambo:

Is another Latin dance form. The movement concentrates on hip action incorporated from a Cuban motion that is also used in the Rumba. The dance itself is considered very sensual and fast moving.

Salsa:

Is our last Latin style of dance taught at our school. It is associated with the Mambo style of motion. The movement concentrates on quick foot action and spins. It is currently one of the more popular night club dances performed in Toronto today.