| Single Swing | Nightclub Two-Step |
| West Coast Swing | Merengue |
| Hustle | Salsa |
| Argentine Tango |
Single Swing is easy to learn and very popular in Portland.
Instead of dancing triple-steps as you would in American Rhythm Swing,
you take a single step to each side, making the basic timing step, step, rock step.
This simpler basic allows you to dance to very fast music,
like you hear at parties or in clubs.
"Swing" encompasses more than 10 different dances that vary in tempo, character, and music.
An example of Single Swing music is Jump Jive n Wail(Louis Prima)
West Coast Swing is popular on the West Coast of the United States, as it's name implies.
During our last 20 trips to New York City, where we receive our coaching,
we have seen West Coast Swing growing in popularity there.
West Coast Swing is a "slot dance" in which the partnership and figures revolve almost
magnetically over a one-dimensional line on the floor.
This "dancing in a slot" approach derives from San Diego dancehalls as far back as 1938.
50's rhythm and blues music is readily-identifiable West Coast Swing music.
West Coast Swing is extremely different from Single Swing, Lindy, and other
'big-band'-type swing styles.
West Coast Swing is popular at Portland's "Rose City Swing Club."
Examples of West Coast Swing music include Stray Cat Strut(Stray Cats),
California Girls(David Lee Roth), Morning Train(Sheena Easton).
Hustle is today's version of Disco Dancing.
It's fast and rotary, with lots of spins, and is danced to popular music with a pulsing beat.
Hustle styles vary widely in the Portland area.
Most popular count is "and 1,2, 3" which can be difficult for beginners.
Some dancers count and dance to "1,2, and 3" which is easier for beginners.
Still others count and dance Hustle with six counts: "and 1,2,3 and 4,5,6."
Any of these counts work well.
This dance isn't very popular at public ballroom dances in Portland, but is fun to do.
You can dance Hustle to most of the quintessential 70's anthems: I Will Survive(Gloria Gaynor),
Le Freak(Chic), Stayin' Alive(BeeGee's).
Nightclub Two-Step is popular on the West Coast,
but is almost unheard of on the East Coast.
When we requested a Nightclub Two-Step at a dance in New York City,
the DJ didn't know what music to play.
It's a beautiful dance with an eight beat basic step.
Examples of songs you can dance this to include Sailing(Christopher Cross),
When A Man Loves A Woman(Percy Sledge), Drive(The Cars), Coming Around Again(Carly Simon).
Typically it's danced in American-style dance position
with a more relaxed hold than typical ballroom dances.
The leader rocks back on his left foot, the follower on her right, for one beat.
Then both partners replace weight on the second part of the first.
On the next beat, the leader takes a step to the left and the follower to the right.
Then both partners repeat, but on opposite feet
(the man rocks back on his right foot and moves to the right).
The "official" rhythm for the basic step is quick-quick slow,
although some prefer to start on the slow, usually on beat two of the music.
Other rhythms for Nightclub Two-Step are also possible.
Merengue is a Ballroom as well as a club dance that is done to really fast Latin music.
It consists of very simple steps organized into sets of 8 to 2/4 music,
and features a characteristic hip swing with graceful arm flourishes.
Merengue choreography is as follows:
Men and woman hold each other in a closed position and step to their
side in what is know as "Paso de la Empalizada" or "Stick-Fence Step".
They can then turn clockwise or counterclockwise.
In Ballroom Merengue (Merengue de Salón) the couples never separates.
There is also what is called Figure Merengue (Merengue de Figura)
in which dancers make turns individually, but never let go of their partner's hands.
The latter is most popular in the Portland area.
Buster Poindexters "Hot Hot Hot" is an example of Merengue music.
Salsa is similar to Mambo
in that both have a pattern of six steps danced over eight counts of music.
The dances share many of the same moves.
In Salsa, turns have become an important feature,
so the overall look and feel are quite different form those of Mambo.
Mambo moves generally forward and backward, whereas,
Salsa has more of a side to side feel.
While Mambo breaks on the "2" beat, Salsa breaks on the "1."
Portland's "Satin and Latin" studio specializes in
Casino Rueda: essentially salsa dancing in a group circle.
Argentine Tango is exceptionally popular at the moment, especially in Portland!
You've seen Argentine Tango in many hit films, including Al Pacino's "Scent of a Woman,"
Madonna's "Evita," and Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis's "True Lies."
Argentine Tango is the original Tango, not to be confused with its ballroom derivatives
American Tango (with it's dramatic arm postures) and
International Tango (with it's staccato body movement).
It has an intimate, compact hold and features intricate footwork and a sensuous,
passionate character.
Tango was the first couple dance ever seen in Europe that involved improvisation.
It was the arrival and popularity of Tango that really defines
the beginning of couple dancing as we understand it.
Want to look fabulous on the dance floor?
Call us today at (503) 473 - 8947