Styles

One dance at a time: its basic step, its count, where it came from, and how it differs from the dance people confuse it with. Start with a family page, then go to your dance.

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type
style

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Ballroom Dance Types: All 19 Competitive Styles Compared

The 19 ballroom dance types across International Standard, Latin, American Smooth, and Rhythm — tempo, character, difficulty, and which to learn first.

in this family

  • Ballroom Tango vs Argentine Tango
  • Cha Cha for Beginners
  • How to Foxtrot
  • How to Waltz
  • Hustle Dance
  • Rumba vs Bolero
Ballroom Tango vs Argentine Tango: Which to Learn

Ballroom tango vs Argentine tango compared: the embrace, improvisation, music, and milonga-versus-competition culture — and which one to learn first.

comparisonBallroom tango

Cha Cha for Beginners: Timing, Steps & First Moves

Cha cha for beginners: why you break on 2, the 2-3-cha-cha-cha basic step for both roles, Cuban hip action, tempo with real songs, and a practice plan.

guideCha-cha

How to Foxtrot: Rhythm, Basic Steps, and Turns

Learn how to foxtrot: the slow-slow-quick-quick rhythm, closed position and frame, the forward basic, left rock turn, promenade, and music that fits.

guideFoxtrot

How to Waltz: Box Step, Timing, and Rise and Fall

Learn how to waltz step by step: box step counts for lead and follow, 3/4 timing, rise and fall, practice drills, and songs from slow to Viennese tempo.

guideWaltz

Hustle Dance: History, Basic Steps, and Where It Lives Now

What hustle dance is, where it began, and how to dance it: the &1-2-3 basic step, partner vs. line hustle, song BPMs, and where to find the scene today.

guideHustle

Rumba vs Bolero: Tempo, Technique, 3 Rumbas

Rumba vs bolero: the three rumbas untangled, plus tempo, hip action vs rise-and-fall, timing, and competition — and which to learn first.

comparisonRumba

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Country Two Step Dance: Steps, Timing, Turns & Music

How the country two step dance works: the quick-quick-slow-slow count, the frame, a first turn, tempo, etiquette, and which two-step a song calls for.

in this family

  • Two Step Swing Dance
  • Two Step Dance Lessons
Two Step Swing Dance: How Two-Step and Country Swing Differ

Two-step travels the floor in a quick-quick-slow-slow; country swing spins on the spot. Compare rhythm, floorcraft, music, and which to learn first.

comparisonTwo-step

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Different Types of Ballet: 6 Methods and 4 Styles Compared

Different types of ballet, both ways: 6 training methods (Vaganova, Cecchetti, RAD, Balanchine...) and 4 stage styles, plus the pick for adult beginners.

in this family

Its family pages publish on their scheduled dates.

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Different Types of Latin American Dances: A Full Map

Different types of Latin American dances mapped by country, meter and rulebook tempo, from salsa to samba, plus a guide to choosing your first one.

in this family

  • Bachata Sensual vs Dominican
  • How to Dance Merengue
  • Lambada Dance
  • Merengue vs Salsa
  • Salsa vs Bachata
  • Zouk Dance
  • Different Types of Salsa Dance
Bachata Sensual vs Dominican: Which to Learn First

Bachata sensual vs Dominican: footwork vs body waves, music eras, origins in the DR and Spain, the shared basic step, and which style to learn first.

comparisonBachata

How to Dance Merengue: Steps, Hip Motion & Turns

Learn how to dance merengue: the marching basic, where the hip motion comes from, the partner hold, your first turns, and the music that drives it.

guideMerengue

Lambada Dance: The Forbidden Craze That Never Died

The real story of the lambada dance — Amazonian roots, the 1989 Kaoma hit, the lawsuit behind it, and how it lives on in Brazilian Zouk.

guideLambada

Merengue vs Salsa: Rhythm, Difficulty, Which First

Merengue vs salsa: the every-beat march vs salsa's counted pauses — tempo, hold, difficulty, and why merengue is the easier dance to learn first.

comparisonMerengue

Salsa vs Bachata: Music, Difficulty, and Which First

Salsa vs bachata compared: tempo, instruments, hold, difficulty, and social scene, plus a framework for which Latin dance to learn first.

comparisonSalsa

Zouk Dance: A Practical Guide to Brazilian Zouk

What zouk dance is today: the Brazilian Zouk basic step and timing, connection, head movement technique, and the music DJs actually play at socials.

guideBrazilian zouk

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Different Types of Salsa Dance: 6 Styles Compared

The different types of salsa dance compared: LA On1, New York On2, Cuban casino, rueda, Cali and Puerto Rican style, by timing, floor shape and US city.

in this family

  • Colombian Salsa Dancing
  • Cuban Salsa vs LA Salsa
  • How to Dance Salsa Solo
  • How to Spin in Salsa
Colombian Salsa Dancing: Cali Style, History and Scene

Colombian salsa dancing explained: the Cali basic counted step by step, repique footwork, sped-up records, and the schools and festivals of Cali.

guideSalsa

Cuban Salsa vs LA Salsa: Circle, Line, and Rueda

Cuban salsa vs LA salsa compared: casino's circular rueda vs LA's linear On1 slot — geometry, timba vs salsa dura, timing, and which to learn first.

comparisonSalsa

How to Dance Salsa Solo: Shines and Home Practice

Learn how to dance salsa solo: a named shines library with counts, footwork drills, a mirror and video method, and a week-by-week home plan.

guideSalsa

How to Spin in Salsa: Spotting, Pivot & Turn Drills

How to spin in salsa without wobbling or getting dizzy: spotting, the ball-of-foot pivot, arm control, and a half-to-triple turn ladder with drills.

guideSalsa

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East Coast Swing: History, Basic Steps, and Moves

Learn East Coast Swing from its swing-era roots: the 6-count basic (rock step plus two triples) for lead and follow, core moves, tempo, and drills.

in this family

  • Beginner West Coast Swing
  • East Coast Swing vs Lindy Hop
  • Jive and Swing Dance
  • Jive Dance for Beginners
  • West Coast Swing vs East Coast Swing
Beginner West Coast Swing: Slot, Sugar Push & Whip

Beginner west coast swing from zero: the slot, the anchor step, elastic connection, and your first four patterns — sugar push, side passes, and the whip.

guideWest Coast Swing

East Coast Swing vs Lindy Hop: 6-Count vs 8-Count

East coast swing vs lindy hop: 6-count studio dance vs 8-count Harlem original — the swing-out, shared roots, and which swing to learn first.

comparisonEast Coast Swing

Jive and Swing Dance: What's the Difference?

Jive vs swing: jive is the fast International Latin competition dance; swing is the social swing family. Compare tempo, kicks, and which to learn.

comparisonJive

Jive Dance for Beginners: Steps, Timing & Bounce

Jive dance for beginners: the 6-count rock-and-chasse basic, the bounce, practice tempos from social to competition, and a week-by-week plan.

guideJive

West Coast Swing vs East Coast Swing: Which to Learn

West coast swing vs east coast swing: slot vs circle, slower pop vs bouncy big-band, and a clear framework for which swing to learn first.

comparisonWest Coast Swing

Kizomba vs Bachata: Embrace, Music, Which First

Kizomba vs bachata compared: Angolan close embrace vs Dominican hip, tempo, music, and which partner dance to learn first.

comparisonKizomba

Tango Close Embrace vs Open Embrace: Which First

Tango close embrace vs open embrace compared: axis, connection, the figures each unlocks, which to learn first, and the Buenos Aires and nuevo scenes.

comparisonArgentine tango

Tango for Beginners: Walk, Embrace & First Milonga

Argentine tango for beginners: the walk that is the whole dance, the embrace, tango vs vals vs milonga, and a survival plan for your first milonga.

guideArgentine tango

What Is Kizomba? Angola's Close-Embrace Dance

What is kizomba? The close-embrace partner dance born from Angolan semba — its origins, the ginga and saídas, the music, and kizomba vs urban kiz.

guideKizomba

Bachata Musicality: Hear the Song, Not the Count

Bachata musicality from the instruments up: what the güira, bongó, bass, and requinto tell you, and how to hear and dance derecho, majao, and mambo.

guideBachatafrom Music

Easiest Partner Dance to Learn: 5 Ranked Picks

The easiest partner dance to learn, ranked: merengue, hustle, bachata, East Coast Swing, waltz, with the step counts and tempos that make each one easy.

guideMerenguefrom Learn

Salsa Musicality: Hear the Band, Dance the Music

What salsa musicality is and how to train it: every band instrument decoded, son vs rumba clave, annotated song maps, and ear-training drills.

pillarSalsafrom Music

Salsa On1 vs On2: Timing, Feel, and Which to Learn

Salsa On1 vs On2 compared: where the break falls on the 8 counts, how each hits the music, which scenes dance which, plus drills to switch timings.

comparisonSalsafrom Music

Social Dancing vs Competitive Dancing: Pick Your Path

Social dancing vs competitive dancing: goals, training, real cost, time, and the competition pathway explained — plus how to pick your path.

comparisonBallroomfrom Learn

Two Step Dance Lessons: 5 Lessons From Basic to Sweetheart

Two step dance lessons in writing: hold and basic, line of dance, underarm turns, promenade, wrap and sweetheart, each with drills and a pass check.

guideTwo-stepfrom Learn

Dance Tempo Chart

Tempo, meter and count pattern for every style, each with its rulebook or reference. Tap along to any song and see which dances fit.

datasetfrom Music

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