OUR MAIN DANCE STYLES
Dance 4 Life teaches 4 main groups of partnered dance styles, which are Street Latin, Brazilian Latin, Ballroom Latin and Social Ballroom. These groups include multiple dances with similar steps, techniques and concepts.
The 8 introductory dances are Bachata, Salsa, Forro, Bolero, Rumba, Cha Cha Cha, Waltz & Foxtrot. These are the main dances covered regularly in our group classes and played at our social dance events. These dances will allow you to move your body in different ways as you groove and dance to a variety of genres and dance music!
Additional dances are taught in each style as students progress through their dancing.
The 8 introductory dances are Bachata, Salsa, Forro, Bolero, Rumba, Cha Cha Cha, Waltz & Foxtrot. These are the main dances covered regularly in our group classes and played at our social dance events. These dances will allow you to move your body in different ways as you groove and dance to a variety of genres and dance music!
Additional dances are taught in each style as students progress through their dancing.
STREET LATINStreet Latin is a group of social and club Latin dances that have been popular throughout the world in the last 30-400 years. The Street Latin style is beginner friendly with simple basic steps and timing, however with plenty of variations to keep things interesting.
Street Latin includes the sizzling Salsa from Cuba and the rhythmical Bachata from the Dominican Republic. In the later stages, students also get to learn the basic movements of Merengue, then explore more complex musicality with Kizomba and Argentine Tango. |
BRAZILIAN LATINBrazilian Latin is a group of social dances that are native to Brazil and popular at Brazil dance events around the world. Brazilian partner dancing is known for its musical variation and alternate timings, which allow for a very playful social dance.
Brazilian Latin includes the intimate Bolero and the upbeat Forró. In the later stages, students get to learn the more complex Brazilian dances of Samba de Gafieira and Zouk, as well as the swing-inspired Soltinho |
BALLROOM LATINThe Ballroom Latin style is a group of dances that have been popular in Australia and the world for the last 50-60 years. This group of dances have been made popular from movies such as "Strictly Ballroom" and "Shall We Dance" as well as TV shows such as "Dancing with the Stars".
Ballroom Latin includes the romantic Rumba and the cheeky Cha Cha Cha. In the later stages, students also get to learn the upbeat Ballroom Samba and the fast-paced Jive. Medal students also get to learn the Paso Doble. |
SOCIAL & MODERN BALLROOMThe Social/Modern style is another group of Ballroom dances that is commonly seen as more formal and traditional compared to Ballroom Latin. These dances glide around the floor with elegance and grace and have been around for at least the early 20th century.
Social & Modern Ballroom includes the smooth Foxtrot and the elegant Waltz. In later stages, students get to learn the upbeat Quickstep, the fiery English Tango and the whirling Viennese Waltz. |
MORE ABOUT THE DANCES
SALSASalsa is danced to the sizzling musical style of the same name. With origins in Cuba, Salsa's simplicity in it's beginner stages has made it one of the most popular partner dances around the world. Get your hips moving, while exploring the endless combinations and visually tricky arm variations!
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BACHATAA musical genre and partner dance from the Dominican Republic, Bachata is danced in close hold and features rhythmical, hip and body movements! Featuring basic step patterns, you can focus more on developing hip action and connecting with your partner.
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FORROForró is a popular and upbeat Brazilian style of music, characterized by it's main instruments of the accordian, zabumba and triangle. Forró can be danced fast or slow, and thus differs from region to region, but also creates different variety.
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BOLEROBrazilian Bolero is an intimate partnered style that can be danced to slow, melodic and sentimental ballads. Dance 4 Life teaches the Brazilian-style syllabus, which is intimate and heavily influenced by Argentine Tango.
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RUMBAThis dance style is a slow, yet beautiful and romantic partner style with origins in Cuba. Rumba's slow tempo allows students the time to develop and focus on other social dance concepts like footwork, timing, technique and posture.
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CHA CHA CHA Cha Cha Cha is a dance and musical style of Cuban origin. The name derives from the sound of the dancer's feet as they shuffle their feet in quick succession. Cha Cha Cha is danced as extension of Salsa or Rumba and features a syncopated playful rhythm.
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FOXTROTFoxtrot is a musical style based on slow tempo'd, big band music. The Social Foxtrot dance is a great social party dance that slowly progresses around the room, forming a good foundation of more complex traditional Ballroom styles.
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WALTZThe Waltz is a graceful and elegant traditional ballroom dance style. It is danced to triple time music. The Social Box Waltz is a party dance style that mixes fun rotational and open patterns. The Modern Waltz is a flowing and travelling partner dance.
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SAMBA DE GAFIEIRASamba is a Brazilian musical genre and fun dance style with roots in Africa. In it's many forms can be lively, joyous, funky or laid back. Samba de Gafieira is a laid back partnered Samba, which can be danced to numerous musical styles such as Samba de Gafieira, Bossa Nova, Samba Rock and Jazz.
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ZOUKZouk is a complex, sensual Brazilian dance style known for it's fluidity and lilting movements. It evolved from Lambada and Zouk music, which is Caribbean in origin. Modern Zouk music today is of Brazilian origin and features a stronger bass, remixed with both Brazilian and English popular music.
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