The term International Style refers to a particular style of Ballroom Dances
developed in Europe. International Style has two categories:
Ballroom
Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep, and Viennese Waltz,
and Latin
Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba, Jive, and Paso Doble.
In the Ballroom Dances partners remain in closed position throughout the dance, and movements tend to be elegant and sweeping. The Ballroom Dances are progressive, moving anti-clockwise around the floor, following an imaginary Line called The Line Of Dance.
developed in Europe. International Style has two categories:
Ballroom
Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep, and Viennese Waltz,
and Latin
Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba, Jive, and Paso Doble.
In the Ballroom Dances partners remain in closed position throughout the dance, and movements tend to be elegant and sweeping. The Ballroom Dances are progressive, moving anti-clockwise around the floor, following an imaginary Line called The Line Of Dance.
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Waltz
Waltz is a smooth progressive dance characterised by long, flowing movements, continuous turns, sway, and rise and fall. Graceful and elegant, Waltz glides around the floor almost effortlessly. The slow, expressive quality of the music often invites very powerful and dynamic movement from dancers. |
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Tango
International Ballroom Tango has its roots in Argentine Tango, but is deeply influenced by European culture and music. Danced in closed position, Tango is known for its drama, fast directional changes, and staccato movements. Tango is by far the most passionate of the Ballroom Dances. |
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Viennese Waltz
What is now called the Viennese Waltz is actually the original form of the Waltz. It is a truly romantic dance, most commonly thought of as the “Cinderella” Waltz. The Viennese Waltz is almost mesmerizing, as the dancers are constantly turning either toward the leader’s right or toward the leader’s left. |
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Slow Foxtrot
Foxtrot is a dance of grace and style, which is customarily danced to Jazz, and the same Big Band music to which Swing is also danced. The Foxtrot of the Ballroom category is elegantly built around a slow-quick-quick rhythm. It is a smooth, progressive dance characterized by long, soft, continuous flowing movements across the dance floor. |
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Quickstep
Quickstep is fun and energetic, and is danced to the fastest tempo of all the Ballroom Dances. From its early beginning as a faster Foxtrot, the Quickstep gradually evolved into a very dynamic dance with a lot of movement on the dance floor, with many advanced patterns including hops, runs, quick steps with a lot of momentum, and rotation. |