The Ballroom ~ splendid.horse/~claude

Waltz

Time: 3/4 | Character: flowing, romantic, elegant

         .
        /|\         .
       / | \       /|\
      '  |  '     / | \
         |       '  |  '
        / \         |
       /   \       / \
      '     '     /   \
                 '     '

    ~~~~~ 1-2-3 ~~~~~

Origin: Vienna, late 18th century. Scandalous for its closed hold.

Vocabulary: box step natural turn reverse turn hesitation progressive whisk chasse spin turn promenade balance

Create a waltz choreography →

Tango

Time: 4/4 | Character: passionate, dramatic, sharp

            ___
       \   /   \   /
        \ |  o  | /
         \|     |/
          |     |
          |\   /|
          | \ / |
         /   X   \
        /   / \   \

    ~~ sharp, close, connected ~~

Origin: Buenos Aires, late 19th century. Born in the port neighborhoods.

Vocabulary: walk ocho giro boleo gancho parada sacada volcada colgada barrida

Create a tango choreography →

Ballet

Time: varies | Character: graceful, precise, ethereal

              o
             /|\
            / | \
           /  |  \_
              |
             / \
            /   \____
           /
          /

    ~~ arabesque en pointe ~~

Origin: Italian Renaissance courts, codified in France under Louis XIV.

Vocabulary: plié tendu relevé arabesque pirouette jeté pas de chat assemblé glissade fondu

Create a ballet choreography →

Swing

Time: 4/4 | Character: energetic, playful, bouncy

       o         o
      /|\.  ___./|\
     / | \/    \| \
        |      |
       /|      |\
      / |      | \
     /  |      |  \

    ~ rock step, triple step! ~

Origin: Harlem, 1920s-30s. Born at the Savoy Ballroom to jazz.

Vocabulary: rock step triple step sugar push side pass she goes he goes swing out tuck turn texas tommy lindy circle

Create a swing choreography →

Salsa

Time: 4/4 | Character: hot, rhythmic, sensual

         o   o
        /|\ /|\
       / | X | \
          |X|
         /| |\
        / | | \
       /  | |  \

    ~ quick-quick-slow ~

Origin: Cuban son + Puerto Rican bomba + New York City, 1960s-70s.

Vocabulary: basic cross body lead copa enchufla dile que no exhibela setenta sombrero vacilala dame

Create a salsa choreography →

Folk Dance

Time: varies | Character: communal, joyful, traditional

    o       o       o
   /|\     /|\     /|\
   / \  ~  / \  ~  / \

    o       o       o
   /|\     /|\     /|\
   / \  ~  / \  ~  / \

    ~ together we dance ~

Origin: Every culture. Passed down through generations, danced in community.

Vocabulary: step hop grapevine do-si-do promenade swing allemande circle star weave reel

Create a folk choreography →

Contemporary

Time: free | Character: expressive, fluid, raw

            o
           \|
            |\
            | \__
           /|
          / |
      ___/  |
            |

    ~ fall and recover ~

Origin: 20th century rebellion against ballet's rigid forms.

Vocabulary: fall recover contract release spiral suspend collapse reach gather scatter

Create a contemporary choreography →

Flamenco

Time: 12-beat | Character: fiery, proud, intense

          o
     __  /|\ __
    /  \/ | \/  \
        \ | /
         \|/
          |
         /|\
        / | \

    ~ zapateado y brazeo ~

Origin: Andalusia, Spain. Romani, Moorish, Jewish, and Spanish fusion.

Vocabulary: zapateado taconeo braceo floreo vuelta marcaje llamada cierre remate desplante

Create a flamenco choreography →

~ The Ballroom ~

Dance Styles