Fred Astaire

West Coast Swing (or Western Swing) quickly gained popularity across the U.S. because of its sophisticated style and easy adaptation to contemporary rock music. A regional style popular on the West Coast of the U.S., the dance made a bid for national recognition in the late 50s and continues to grow in popularity in the 21st century. West Coast Swing incorporates many forms of swing including the Lindy, Shag, Whip and Push. Versatile dancers, eager to display their talent, are continually innovating new and interesting movement in swing. After nearly five decades, Western Swing has endured the test of time, and as with the Eastern Swing, it is possible to dance in a relatively small area. The West Coast Swing is danced in place in a slot. Its slower tempo allows for freer rhythmic interpretations using single, double, triple and various other syncopated rhythms. A relaxed, sometimes shuffling movement and upright position are characteristic. Occasional use of hip movements and or push style is also used to enhance the style of the dance. Step in to Fred Astaire Dance Studios, and get started today! And be sure to ask about our special Introductory Offer for new students.

The Waltz dates back to the country folk dances of Bavaria, some 400 years ago, but was not introduced into “society” until 1812, when it made its appearance in English ballrooms. During the 16th century, it was simply danced as a round dance called the Volte.

The Viennese Waltz, as its known today, was first danced by European royalty during the era of the Austrian composers, Johann Strauss I and Johann Strauss II (1800s). Its hallmark charisma and social grace is typical of that period of history. The Viennese Waltz became the only dance of that era which is still performed by the American public. Waltz music expresses eloquently, the carefree gaiety of those bygone days that are so closely linked to Vienna, The Blue Danube and Strauss. The most startling innovation of the dance was the close proximity of the partners; so daring, it only became socially acceptable in Great Britain after it was danced publicly by Queen Victoria. It is a dance that requires a great deal of control and stamina, due mainly to the tempo of the music. The Viennese Waltz is a progressive and turning dance and features some figures that are danced in place. Rise and fall is used in the dance but differently than in other smooth dances. In Waltz and Foxtrot, a dancer will often rise above their normal standing height but in the Viennese Waltz that’s not done. Rise is created through the knees and body.

During the greatest period of the dance evolution in American history (1910-1914), the Tango made its first appearance. It was instantly a hit with the dance-conscious public for its intriguing, asymmetrical, and sophisticated patterns which added a touch of romance to the country’s dance consciousness.

When the Brazilian Samba was first introduced to the U.S. Dance Masters in 1929, it became an overnight sensation. Like many other Brazilian dances, the music is an amalgamation of African and Latin American rhythm that is adorned with expressive, melodic lines. In form, the Samba is a serenade; the repetition of its melody is continually interrupted by the strumming of a guitar or other stringed instruments. Originating in Bahia, Brazil, the dance first became popular in Rio de Janeiro, and later, its intoxicating rhythm was taken up by serious Latin American composers. The Samba is festive and lighthearted, and performed today in all parts of the world. It brings to mind pictures of Rio’s festive and exotic Carnival! In its native land, the Samba is usually danced to a moderately slow tempo which contrasts vividly with the spirited version favored in U.S. The Samba has withstood the test of time and still ranks high among social as well as competitive dancers.

Oozing with a sensuous style, Salsa has it all – passion, energy, and joy. As a dance form, Salsa has its origins in the Cuban Son and the Afro-Cuban dance, Rumba. As it relates to the popular music style, Salsa is continuously evolving, and new modern dance styles are associated and named according to the geographical areas that they are developed in. Some of the popular Salsa styles are Cuban, Columbian, Los Angeles, New York (or Eddie Torres Style), Palladium, Puerto Rican, Rueda, and On Clave. In the early 1970s in New York City, several franchised and independent dance studios, sensing the popularity of the burgeoning dance form capitalized on the Salsa craze by developing a standardized curriculum in which to teach the dance to an eager public. Salsa taught in Fred Astaire Dance Studios is based on Mambo patterns, but danced on the “one.”

Rumba (or “ballroom-rumba”), is one of the ballroom dances which occurs in social dance and in international competitions. It is the slowest of the five competitive International Latin dances: the Paso Doble, the Samba, the Cha Cha, and the Jive being the others. This ballroom Rumba was derived from a Cuban rhythm and dance called the Bolero-Son; the international style was derived from studies of dance in Cuba in the pre-revolutionary period which was then popularized by the descendants of African slaves of Cuba.

The Quickstep, with its roots in Ragtime, was developed in the 1920’s in New York from a combination of Foxtrot, Charleston, Peabody and the One-Step. Originally it was danced solo – away from the partner, but later became a partner dance. It was originally given the name “Quick Time Fox Trot” but eventually that name was changed to Quickstep. The dance traveled to England and was developed into the dance that we know today, and was standardized in 1927. In a basic form Quickstep is a combination of walks and chasses but in an advanced stage hops jumps & many syncopations are utilized. It is an elegant and glamorous dance and body contact is maintained throughout the dance.

The Paso Doble (or pasodoble), in its classical form dates back many centuries and was originally intended for use at bullfights when the matador was victorious in the arena. The music adapted itself so beautifully to the dance that the villagers danced to the exciting, lively music for hours on end. Americans first viewed the Paso Doble when flamenco dancers used this music to dance the role of a bullfighter. It has been a favorite (in its ballroom version) since the 1930s. In the ballroom version of the Paso Doble, the gentleman usually portrays the bullfighter and the lady is his cape, although there are times when a very strong aggressive action in certain movements seems to suggest the actions of the bull. The Paso Doble moves around the floor and is characterized by sharp movements. A most helpful aid in acquiring the proper feeling is to visualize the pageantry of the matadors, as they make their grand entry into the bull ring and feel the attitude that is displayed during the fight.

Both Haiti and the Dominican Republic claim Merengue as their own. According to Haitian lore, an earlier ruler of their country had a lame son who liked to dance. In order that this beloved prince would not feel self-conscious about his affliction, the entire populace took to dancing as though they all were lame. The Dominican’s version is that the dance originated at a fiesta that was given to honor a returning war hero.

No other dance from south of the (U.S.) border has ever attained the instantaneous popularity than the zestful Mambo did when it was first introduced from Latin America. The extent of the Mambo’s reach can be observed by the widespread use of its rhythm by Tin Pan Alley. Love ballads were written to a slow Mambo beat, novelty songs to a fast Mambo beat, and rock ‘n’ roll numbers were being tailored to the tempo. Across the nation, dancers who had never progressed beyond the Foxtrot and Waltz were clamoring for Mambo instruction.

Jive evolved from the popular American dances of the 1930’s such as Jitterbug, Boogie-Woogie, Lindy Hop, East Coast Swing, Shag, Rock “n” Roll etc. Eventually all of these styles of dance would be coupled under the Hat of “Jive”, but in the 1940’s a combination of these styles was given the name “Jive” and the dance was born. During World War II American G.I’s took the dance to Europe where it soon became very popular, especially among the young. It was new, fresh, and exciting. It was adapted by the French and became very popular in Britain and eventually in 1968 it was adopted as the fifth Latin dance in International competitions. The modern form of ballroom jive is a very happy and boppy dance, with many flicks & kicks. The Jive music is written in 4/4 time and should be played at a tempo of about 38 – 44 bars per minute. A spot dance not moving along the Line of Dance. Relaxed, springy action is the basic characteristic of the International Style Jive with lots of flicks and kicks in the advanced style.

In the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, discotheques (or discos), with high quality sound systems and flashing lights became a popular form of entertainment in Europe and the U.S. Early ‘70s dancing in discos was mostly freestyle dancing (similar to the “rock” style exhibited by pop stars of the day like The Jackson 5) along with the prerequisite dress code of bellbottom pants and elevator shoes.

The Foxtrot dance step was named after Harry Fox, a vaudeville dancer and comedian. It originated around 1912 during the ragtime music era, marking a new phase in ballroom dancing where partners danced closer together and improvised to the music. By 1915, the style evolved to incorporate smoother, more rhythmic music and individual expression. The International style, introduced in 1960, is danced entirely in contact, while the American style allows for greater freedom of movement and various holds. Most figures are designed for larger ballroom floors but can be adapted for smaller spaces.

Eastern Swing or East Coast Swing (or just Swing), evolved from the Lindy Hop and is perhaps the most famous American folk dance. The best known forms of Swing include the Charleston, Black Bottom, and Shag. In the early 1940s, these forms consolidated into what was called the Lindy.

This uniquely American dance style is actually a melting pot of influences from many cultures. As westward expansion in the U.S. increased, it brought people together from different regions of the world who had little or no exposure to one another. Dance became a unifying language that helped bring these new Americans together. Settlers from Europe brought dance styles from their country’s traditional festivals with them. African-American influences were also present, which added a syncopation to the rhythms, as well as steps that were closer to the ground and more rooted in the earth than those from Europe. But foreign influences were not the only ones that created country western dance. The steps and movements are also a product of the habits and dress of the American cowboy. The open-legged and “wide-stanced” steps, and the heel-toe turns likely developed due to the realities of dancing in spurs. Likewise, many of the holds tend to be more hand-to-hand rather than the full-body contact of traditional European dances, which may have been due to ladies trying to protect their clothing from being sullied or torn. Country western dance can be broken into two categories: (1) partner dances (including lead-follow and pattern dances), and (2) group dances (including line dances and square dances). Many different partner dances are done to country western music. These include Two Step, Polka, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, and more.

Cha Cha is a dance of Cuban origin, and derives its name from the rhythm developed by a syncopation of the fourth beat. Cha Cha gathers its flavor, rhythm and charm from a derivation of three primary sources: the Mambo, Rumba, and indirectly, the Lindy (with each being danced to the same one-two-three triple step). The Cha Cha, while sprung up from Latin American roots in Cuba, really flowered under North American influence. While closely identified with the aforementioned Mambo, Cha Cha has enough intrinsic individuality to be classified as a distinct dance. Much has been written about the history of the Rumba and the Mambo, while little has been explored about the origins of Cha Cha, despite it being a dance to be reckoned with. Cha Cha’s tempo is anywhere from slow and staccato to fast and lively. It is very much an on-the-beat dance and hard not to inject one’s own feelings into it. This facet, more than any other, makes the dance fun for people of all ages. It is a real let-it-all-out type of dance. Cha Cha is danced in place as the steps are quite compact, with the feet usually no more than 12 inches apart. Popularized in the 1950’s with music by such artists as Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez, today it is danced to popular night club kind of music. Get started today! Contact us at Fred Astaire Dance Studios, and ask about our money-saving Introductory Offer for new students!

The Bolero was introduced to a U.S. audience in the mid-1930s; and at that time, it was danced in its classical form, which was performed to a constant beat of drums. It emerged from this classical form to what was called Son, with a faster and livelier tempo (later renamed as the Rumba). Spanish dancer Sebastian Cereza is credited with creating the dance in the year 1780; since then, the Bolero has remained a true source of expressing sensuous feelings. It is truly the “dance of love.” The Bolero is one of the most expressive dances: the use of arms and hands, legs and feet, as well as facial expression, all contribute to its beauty. Get started with your dancing adventure today, at Fred Astaire Dance Studios. We look forward to seeing you on the dance floor!

Bachata originated in the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean during the early 20th century, and includes Indigenous, African and European musical elements. It became popular in the rural neighborhoods of the island, but was censored almost to extinction during the Trujillo dictatorship (1930-1961) for being a “backward, lower art form for country-people”.

Argentine Tango is a dance and music that originated in Buenos Aires at the turn of the century, developed in the melting pot of cultures that was Buenos Aires. The word Tango was used at the time to describe various music and dance.

Experience dance magic with our $39 Private Introductory Dance Lesson – Unleash your inner dancer today! Limited availability, book now!

Ask about Para Dance Ballroom Dance Lessons at a Fred Astaire Dance Studios location near you – we look forward to helping you discover your dance journey, and to understanding that truly – “Life’s Better When You Dance!”.

Fred Astaire Dance Studios Para Dance Lessons. We believe that everyone deserves to – and CAN – discover the joy and transforming power of ballroom dance. It’s that philosophy that led us to introduce a Para Dance Ballroom Dance Lesson program for our studio network, and that empowered us to be the first dance instruction company in the United States to conduct Para Dance Sport Instructor Training.

Adaptive Dance, for Everyone! At Fred Astaire Dance Studios, we believe that everyone deserves to – and CAN – discover the joy and transforming power of ballroom dance.

Programs help young people get active, stay healthy, develop grace and poise, establish goal-setting behaviors, and build confidence. They will have so much fun, they’ll want to keep coming back! Our kids’ dance lessons program requires no prior experience.

Programs help young people get active, stay healthy, develop grace and poise, establish goal-setting behaviors, and build confidence. They will have so much fun, they’ll want to keep coming back! Our kids’ dance lessons program requires no prior experience.

Programs help young people get active, stay healthy, develop grace and poise, establish goal-setting behaviors, and build confidence. They will have so much fun, they’ll want to keep coming back! Our kids’ dance lessons program requires no prior experience.

Programs help young people get active, stay healthy, develop grace and poise, establish goal-setting behaviors, and build confidence. They will have so much fun, they’ll want to keep coming back! Our kids’ dance lessons program requires no prior experience.

Celebrate lasting love with a special moment for all couples. This dance is a beautiful way to honor enduring relationships.

Start the night with energy and personality. Make a grand entrance at your reception with a choreographed dance routine.

Get the whole crew involved — fun, upbeat group choreography. This class is designed for the entire wedding party to participate in.

Honor the bond with confidence and grace. This dance celebrates the special relationship between a mother and son.

A heartfelt tradition, guided step by step. This dance is a special moment to honor the bond between a father and daughter.

Your big moment together, make it unforgettable. Your first dance is more than a tradition — it’s a moment you’ll remember forever.

Your first dance is more than a tradition — it’s a moment you’ll remember forever. Your big moment together, make it unforgettable.

Our most popular! This program enables students to dance on any size dance floor, to any music, with any partner, and feel comfortable and confident.

Our Beginner and Social Foundation Programs teach newer students the step patterns and techniques to move comfortably around the dance floor. From there, students can progress to the Bronze Trophy Program (our most popular!), which enables students to dance on any size dance floor, to any music, with any partner, and feel comfortable and confident.

Regularly scheduled practice parties complete the information taught in your private lessons and group classes. At Fred Astaire Dance Studios’ practice parties, we turn down the lights, turn up the music, and enjoy time dancing with different people in a relaxed social setting. Practice parties help you “put it all together”, aid with music identification, and help you learn how not to run into other people on the dance floor. Practice parties are a great (& FUN!) way to apply what you’re learning.

Group classes complement your private lessons, because this is where patterns, technique, and style are learned. Group classes also enable you to meet other students with similar dancing goals, develop balance, and learn the mechanics of dancing.

Private lessons, with one or more dance instructors, give you the specialized and personalized attention to look and feel confident on the dance floor, while developing the ability to lead or follow any partner. We move at your pace, perfecting and polishing your dancing all the while.

And all have completed the rigorous work required to become, and remain, certified in the Fred Astaire Dance Curriculum – a proven teaching method that was developed by Fred Astaire himself, and is unique to our organization. Collectively, Fred Astaire Dance Instructors are dedicated to helping you discover the joy of ballroom dancing, and to making your learning experience enjoyable, educational, rewarding – and FUN!

At Fred Astaire Dance Studios, we will tailor programs to meet your individual goals and budget.

At Fred Astaire Dance Studios, we will tailor programs to meet your individual goals and budget.

At Fred Astaire Dance Studios, all new dance Students can take advantage of our special money-saving Introductory Offer! Simply complete and submit the Intro Offer form on this website to get yours, and we’ll contact you right away to learn about your dance goals and help you set up your first Lesson.

From a simple First Dance to a “YouTube-Worthy” routine for the entire wedding party, Fred Astaire Dance Studios can help make your Wedding Day even more special!

Our proven teaching method includes Private Lessons, Group Lessons and Practice Parties, to ensure you learn as much as possible, in the shortest amount of time, with the most retention… and have the most FUN doing it!

Our proven teaching method includes Private Lessons, Group Lessons and Practice Parties, to ensure you learn as much as possible, in the shortest amount of time, with the most retention… and have the most FUN doing it!

Our proven teaching method includes Private Lessons, Group Lessons and Practice Parties, to ensure you learn as much as possible, in the shortest amount of time, with the most retention… and have the most FUN doing it!

Whether you’re interested in wedding dance lessons, a new hobby or way to connect with your partner, improving your social life, physical or emotional well-being, or taking your skills to the next level, you’ve come to the right place — and we’re happy you’re here!

Our unique teaching method helps you learn & retain more, faster – regardless of your age, dancing ability or physical abilities. And at Fred Astaire Dance Studios, learning how to ballroom dance is always fun! Step inside, and discover a warm, welcoming & 100% non-judgmental community that will inspire you to reach new heights, feel and look confident, and have fun doing it.

Whether you’re interested in wedding dance lessons, a new hobby or way to connect with your partner, improving your social life, physical or emotional well-being, or taking your skills to the next level, you’ve come to the right place — and we’re happy you’re here! Come for a romantic wedding dance, a new hobby, a fun & engaging way to exercise, a great way to connect (or re-connect) with your partner, improving your social life, or taking your dancing skills to the next level… because we can help.