Absolute Dance Studio

You may confuse the Quickstep with the Foxtrot because of their similar sounding music, but the Quickstep is actually closer to the Waltz or the Charleston. The couple combines brisk hops, footwork, skill, and grace and look as thought they are hovering around the floor. This fast-paced style can be danced to music with a timing of 2/4 or 4/4. Advanced dancers make it more lively and complicated by adding syncopated steps between beats.

The Foxtrot is one of the most deceiving dances. It looks very easy, but is one of the most difficult dances to do. The dance originated in 1913 when a vaudeville performer by the name of Harry Fox performed a little trot which appealed to the social dance teachers in New York and thus the Foxtrot was born. It has gone through many changes since that time, and is now comprised of more soft and fluid linear movements.

Known as an intimate dance for partners, the Tango is a sensual combination of elaborate footwork, tight embraces, and playful embellishments. You can track back to the nineteenth century to find the origins of the Tango, but many fathers had a hand in creating the three popular styles we find today (Argentine, Arabic, Brazilian, Moorish, and Spanish influences). Milonga, is danced on every beat of fast-paced music. The Valtz, is reminiscent of the Waltz, with flowing steps on the first beat of the measure. The slower, controlled, and more sensuous Tango permits the intricate footwork and embellishments. Best known for fantastic dips, lunges, and cheek-to-cheek contact, the Tango is easily spotted among other dance styles.

Considered to be the American Wedding Dance, the Waltz boasts it’s popularity in the USA and all over the world. Originally called the Walzen (because of it’s German roots), the Waltz was met with much opposition because of it’s scandalously closed position. In the 18th Century, the aged generation were horrified at such suggestive touching, with a man’s hand around the waist of his partner. Despite it’s unwelcomed beginnings, the Waltz quickly became the predominant dance of the day. Royalty and common folk both enjoyed it’s unique 1-2-3 tempo (3 beats to one measure of music). Though there are many variations, the Waltz has held it’s popularity to this day.

The Introductory Package as the best way to start your dance lessons on the right foot! We recommend that all new students start with the Introductory Package because it is the easiest way for you to discover which styles of ballroom dancing interest you, and for your instructor(s) to understand how you learn dance steps. Together, you and your instructor(s) will determine the exact path that will lead you to accomplishing your dancing goals.

Group dance classes for your guests are available upon request for all types of parties, including birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, holidays, or just for fun.

The two-step is a partner dance, consisting of a “leader” (traditionally a man) and a “follower” (traditionally a woman). The leader determines the movements and patterns of the pair as they move around the dance floor. It is a progressive dance that proceeds counterclockwise around the floor. The partners begin in closed position with the leader facing the line of dance. The follower stands facing the leader. In a traditional “frame” the leader places his/her right hand over his/her partner’s left shoulder. In the more contemporary styling, the frame is formed by placing the right hand under the follower’s arm, and on his/her back. In either case the leader holds the follower’s right hand in his/her left hand at about shoulder height. Traditionally, Two Step includes three steps: a quick step, a quick step, and then a slow step. In modern times, this is also known as Texas Polka. It can be danced to music with either a 2/4 or 4/4 time signature.

The Hustle (Disco) is a member of the Swing family, and is like the West Coast Swing in pattern. It has a distinct flavor, utilizing Disco style music & revived partnerstyle among nightclub dancers in the 70s. Hustle is danced to the contemporary pop dance music of the last 20 years. It is a fast, smooth dance, with the lady spinning almost constantly, while her partner draws her close and sends her away.

West Coast Swing (WCS) is a partner dance with roots in Lindy Hop. It is characterized by a distinctive elastic look that results from its basic extension-compression technique of partner connection, and is danced primarily in a slotted area on the dance floor. The dance allows for both partners to improvise steps while dancing together, putting West Coast Swing in a short list of dances that put a premium on improvisation. Typically the follower walks into new patterns traveling forward on counts “1” and “2” of each basic pattern, rather than rocking back.[4] The Anchor Step is a common ending pattern of many West Coast Swing figures.

The Salsa is the ‘street name’ for a sexier and more kicked back interpretation of the Mambo. Consisting of the same basic step patterns, the Salsa is the Mambo with a few tricks taken from the Hustle. The steps begin on the 1st beat and there are small kick-like enhancements. The couple also spends more time in an open position, with the man breaking on the 1st beat. Improvisation is more then welcomed and adding spins, arm, and leg work continue to expand it’s style.

The dance evolved from the Lindy Hop with the work of the Arthur Murray dance studios in the 1940s. East Coast Swing can be referred to by many different names in different regions of the United States and the World. It has alternatively been called Eastern Swing, Jitterbug, American Swing, East Coast Lindy, Lindy (not to be confused with Lindy Hop), and Triple Swing. Other variants of East Coast Swing that use altered footwork forms are known as Single Swing or “Single-step Swing” (where the triple step is replaced by a single step forming a slow, slow, quick, quick rhythm common to Foxtrot), and Double Swing (using a tap-step footwork pattern).

The spicy Mambo as we now know it grew out of the Danzon (national music of Cuba), and grasped the imagination of the American dance scene at the close of World War II. Later, fast Swing-Jazz and upbeat Latin music joined in to form the updated and uninhibited Mambo. The Mambo is a spot dance and the steps are quite compact.

The Merengue is a popular dance of Haiti and the Dominican Republic and is a truly lively Latin dance. There is an old tale about a very brave and famous military officer who was wounded in battle and developed a limp. A celebration dance was given for the great hero returning from the war. Rather than embarrass their hero, who limped on his wounded leg while dancing, all the men present favored their leg as well, & thus the Merengue was born.

This dance is the European version of East Coast swing. Six and eight count patterns make up this dance, as in East Coast swing but it is quite bouncy with very sharp kicks and flicks. Unlike East Coast swing, Jive is danced to a faster tempo swing music and is meant for competitive style dancing.

The Paso Doble is a theatrical Spanish dance that characterizes the man as the matador and the lady as his cape. Based on Flamenco dancing, the character of the dance is arrogant and passionate. Paso Doble translates to “Double Step”.

The Samba is a lively Brazilian dance which was first introduced in 1917 and was finally adopted as a ballroom dance by Brazilian society in 1930. It is sometimes referred to as a Samba, Carioca, a Baion or a Batucado. The difference is mainly in the tempo, since the steps in all four dances are very similar. The style is to bounce steadily and smoothly in 2/4 meter. They say that the Samba was introduced in the United States in 1939 by the late Carmen Miranda.

The Rumba was originally a courtship, marriage, and street dance that was African in origin. The Rumba met some opposition from societys upper crust because of the suggestive body and hip movements. The characteristic feature is to take each step without initially placing the weight on that step. Steps are made with a slightly bent knee which, when straightened causes the hips to sway from side to side, in what has come to be known as Cuban Motion.

An exciting, syncopated, Latin dance, which originated in the 1950s as a slowed down Mambo, the Cha Cha gathers its personality, character, rhythm, basis, and charm from two major dance sources. It is a derivation of the Mambo through its Latin music, and it is also a stepchild of the Swing, as it is danced to a 1-2-3 step rhythm. The Cha Cha gets its name and character from its distinct repetitive foot rhythm.

A tailored program at Absolute Dance Studio is all you need to turn your dancing and romantic life around. Discover recreation or entertainment in a new way and feel refreshed and relaxed.

Practice Parties are held to give the student a chance to practice the dances they have learned in a real social dance sett ing (not to mention that they’re truckloads of fun). After all, learning the dance steps is great, but they aren’t of much use if you can’t actually dance them. The practice dance parties help the student to learn how to “navigate” around a crowded dance floor and help them achieve what is commonly referred to as “floorcraft”.

Group dance classes generally range anywhere from 5 to 15 students and are an important aid to your private instruction. They are also a great way to meet other students. In the group lessons we put a great deal of emphasis on variety of patterns and dance steps although some group dance classes cover the technique and styling aspects of dancing. Group dance classes are a great way to cover new material and dance steps that you can take to your private dance lessons for your dance instructor to touch up on.

During Private Lessons, our professional instructors will choreograph a unique first dance to your special song and teach you the steps! If you don’t have a song for your first dance, we can help you find one in our music library, and our DJ can edit the song’s length to fit your choreography.

Our wedding dance program at Absolute Dance Studio can help you and your partner to perform an elegant and graceful dance on your special day. Our qualified instructors can create a unique choreographed first dance for you, or we can teach you some basic dance skills to give you more confidence on the dance floor.

Private Lessons provide you with one-on-one instruction of several steps from multiple dances. From this wide sampling, your professional instructor(s) will help you narrow down your favorite dances and help you determine your dancing goals.

Our wedding dance program at Absolute Dance Studio can help you and your partner to perform an elegant and graceful dance on your special day. View Wedding Special (Only $29)

The Introductory Package is the best way to start your dance lessons on the right foot! View Introductory Speacial (only $39)

If you like the show Dancing With the Stars and want to dance at that level, we have a competitive program designed just for you. Dancing competitively is a part of our studio system, and anyone can participate. There are competitive levels for all phases of development, from beginner to open-gold we have the right fit for you.

Group classes, private lessons, and practice parties are the methods we use to make you the best possible dancer in the quickest amount of time.

Group classes, private lessons, and practice parties are the methods we use to make you the best possible dancer in the quickest amount of time.

Group classes, private lessons, and practice parties are the methods we use to make you the best possible dancer in the quickest amount of time.

Absolute Dance Studio is Jacksonville’s top place to take Latin and Ballroom dance classes. Come and experience our warm and friendly atmosphere, where our highly trained professionals will give you the most fun and exciting dance lessons in the city.

Premier Ballroom, Latin, Swing and Wedding Dance Instruction in Jacksonville, FL. Absolute Dance Studio is Jacksonville’s top place to take Latin and Ballroom dance classes. Come and experience our warm and friendly atmosphere, where our highly trained professionals will give you the most fun and exciting dance lessons in the city.

Group Classes will provide you the opportunity to learn additional steps, but more importantly, the best looking dancers are those that can follow any lead. Group Classes allow you to learn how to lead and follow a wide range of dancers, increasing your comfort level on the dance floor.

Friday Night Practice Parties are exactly what they sound like – the best way to show off everything you learn during your Private Lessons and Group Classes! Everyone is a student or a teacher at the Friday Night Practice Parties, so you will gain the confidence you need on the dance floor in a fun and relaxing social environment.

At Friday Night Practice Parties, everyone is a student or a teacher, so you will gain the confidence you need for your reception in a fun and relaxing social environment. Once you have completed the choreography in your Private Lessons, you can showcase your first dance at a Friday Night Practice Party to feel what it is like to dance in front of a crowd.

Private dance lessons are, quite possibly, the most important step in becoming a proficient dancer. Your dance instructor will provide you with the personalized attention you need and will direct 100% of their attention to you (and your partner if applicable). No two people learn the same way or at the same rate. Private dance classes offer much more gain in a comparable period of time than any other type of lesson. The general rule of thumb is that you will receive as much from one hour of private dance classes as three to four hours of any other type.