Learn "Ballroom Dance Steps"

It is Saturday night, your friends and their significant others are off for another fun night of music and ballroom dance steps. You would really like to go except you can't dance or, at least, you think you can't and that is enough to stop you from going.

Instead, you stay home in your bathrobe and watch Dancing With the Stars on TV. The gorgeous costumes, the infectious beat of the music and, of course, the romance...

As you drift off to sleep, you envision yourself being whirled across the dance floor with the hypnotic beat of the Samba surrounding you in its warmth. You are in the arms of a handsome man. You smile up at him in confidence; his large hands encircle your waist as he glides you across the floor, making your feel like you are flying. Ballroom Dance Steps

The love of being able to or just wanting to dance is a joy unto itself such is the nature of dance. It is a real social activity that, in recent years, has suddenly exploded in popularity for male and female alike, no matter what age. Nowadays, going out with a partner to dance the night away is in, acceptable and fabulous fun, with new salsa clubs popping up in towns all over the UK.

It seems that dance fever has taken over in the UK and US as more and more TV channels run reality dance competition shows. The beauty of these is the ability to highlight genuinely talented dancers, opening up opportunities that never existed a few years ago.

Ballroom Dancing, Latin American, Salsa, it seems that EVERYONE wants to learn ballroom dance steps. With the recession preventing many from being able to afford the regular weekly dance class fees, hundreds of thousands of you are now turning to Louis Van Amstel's Ballroom Dance Steps course and honing your new skills from the comfort of your own homes. Ballroom Dance Steps

If you're going to practise at home, then it's best to do it properly from the off. It's all about having fun as well, lots of it! So....

Move all the furniture out of the way so you have plenty of room to practise your dance moves. Oh and put a jug of water in the fridge to be cooling 'cos this is very thirsty work!

The Waltz is a great starter dance if you are an absolute novice, consisting of only a few basic moves. It's an ideal dance to begin learning posture and graceful moves. Once you have mastered the easy steps, you'll be able to put in those little extras that make this one of the most romantic of dances and the main first dance for a newly married couple. Keep going over and over those ballroom dance steps until they become second nature and you don't have to think about them.

The correct hold in Ballroom is very important with both male and female often holding incorrectly. Learn this from the start so you don't carry bad habits with you. Having a large mirror is an advantage so you can see if you are doing things right.

The Basic Hold - The lady should have her head facing slightly to the left as though she is looking over the man's right shoulder, NOT looking forward, except when promenade figures are being danced. This is possibly the female's most common mistake so make a mental note to concentrate on this particular section. Both partners should stand with their feet not quite together. The man's right arm should be raised from the elbow with his right hand placed on the lady's left shoulder blade. Her left arm will be above the gent's arm with the hand resting on top of his right arm. The man's left arm will be raised from the elbow with his palm facing the lady, thus allowing her to then place her right hand over that palm. All hand holds should be gentle and devoid of any tension. Choose your music wisely, making sure it suits the dance you're going to practise, then practice, practice and more practice. Ballroom Dance Steps

WALTZ - A dance that became popular in the UK in 1912, it was one of the first where the male dancer held his partner close with his arm around her. Now one of ballroom's most popular and romantic dances, usually the first dance for a newly married couple. An ideal dance to learn for beginners because of its slow tempo and basic steps. Once they have mastered it, a couple will be able to add those little extra moves that turn this dance into something special.

TANGO - Originating from the back streets of Argentina, the tango is a dramatic, sensuous and atmospheric dance. Beginners might feel more comfortable attempting this dance after learning basic ballroom steps as the complex foot kicks and flicks, and leg twists may prove a little difficult. That said, once this one is mastered, you may feel able to attempt anything. A fabulously exciting dance to learn.

Of all the ballroom dances, the Rumba emphasizes ones body movements more than their footwork. The rhythm of the dance, which is emphasized by any type of percussion, drums, pots, maracas, etc, is more essential to the dance than the tune itself. The fascinating rhythms and mesmerizing body movements of this dance make it a popular ballroom dance. In the 2009 UK's Strictly Come Dancing Actress Cherie Lunghi & James Jordan danced what I thought was a stunning version of the Rhumba. Unfortunately Cherie couldn't get to grips with the faster style of dance.

The Rumba was influenced by the Spanish and Africans with most of the development of the dance taking place in Cuba. The Rumba evolved in 19th century Havana, originating with the African Negro slaves who had been imported. The rural Rumba was originally for exhibition rather than participation. In some reference works the Rumba is said to be a pantomime of the movements of barnyard animals with the steady level shoulders depicting the movements of slaves as they carried heavy burdens. However, most look at the Rumba as a dance of love and sensuality with the woman tempting the man with her charms, teasing then withdrawing. Some go a step farther saying the dance is a pantomime of sex with the man dancing very fast in a very sensual yet aggressive manner with greatly exaggerated hip movements, and the woman responding with a defensive attitude. Whichever is correct, the Rumba is the most sensual of all the Latin ballroom dances.

Son, Danzon, Guagira, Guaracha and Naningo are all names for the Rumba. The Son, which is a slower more refined Rumba was a favorite among the middle class Cubans. The wealthy section of Cuban society preferred the Danzon, which is an even slower Rumba using very small steps and more subtle hip movements.

The modified version of the Rumba known as the Son was introduced to Americans in 1913. In the late 1920's Xavier Cugat formed an orchestra specializing in Latin American Music which really didn't develop a following until around 1929. By the end of the decade Xavier had the best Latin American orchestra of his day.

Monsieur Pierre Lavelle, a London dance teacher, and his partner Doris Lavelle were responsible for bringing and popularizing the Rumba and other Latin American dances to Europe. In 1955 with the help of Pierre and Lavelle the Cuban Rumba was finally named as the officially recognized version of the Rumba.

During ballroom dance competitions the judges will be watching for the following:
* Interplay between the partners - this is a dance of love, a portrayal of romance. This is not the time for solemn, passive expressions
* A strong direct walk
* Lots of slow body shapes - the body NEVER stops changing its shape
* Figure eight hip rolls - hips alternating in a forward motion
* NEVER leading with the heel, stay on the balls of the feet
* The Cucaracha step - you should rock to the right or left then replace and close
* The fan position - the woman positioned to the man's left side, at arms length and at a 90° angle to the man

Please visit my site for more information on this excellent ballroom dancing DVD course and more dance tips, CLICK HERE Ballroom Dance Steps

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