Are You Familiar With the Top 12 Ballroom Dances? (2024)

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Treva Bedinghaus

Treva Bedinghaus

Treva L. Bedinghaus is a former competitive dancer who has studied ballet, tap, and jazz. She writes about dance styles and practices and the history of dance.

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Updated on 12/06/18

People all over the world enjoy the social and competitive nature of ballroom dancing. These dances are partner dances enjoyed socially and competitively worldwide. The following 12 ballroom dances are seen on dance floors, on stages, in films, and on television. How many of these ballroom dances are you familiar with?

01

of 12

Cha-Cha

The cha-cha is a lively, flirtatious ballroom dance full of passion and energy. The classic "Cuban motion" gives the cha-cha its style. Partners work together to synchronize each movement in perfect alignment.

02

of 12

Foxtrot

Are You Familiar With the Top 12 Ballroom Dances? (3)

The foxtrot is a ballroom dance that is lots of fun and simple to learn, making it an excellent dance for beginners. In the foxtrot, dancers make long, smooth, flowing movements across the floor to swing or big-band music.

03

of 12

Jive

Are You Familiar With the Top 12 Ballroom Dances? (4)

Jive is a ballroom dance style that originated in the United States with African-Americans. It is a lively form of swing danceand a variation of the jitterbug.

04

of 12

Lindy Hop

Are You Familiar With the Top 12 Ballroom Dances? (5)

The Lindy Hop is the ballroom dance considered to be the father of all swing dances. It is known for its athletic style and often contains aerial jumps, twists, and flips. It was named for Charles Lindbergh's (Lucky Lindy) transatlantic flight and popular in the 1930s.

05

of 12

Mambo

Are You Familiar With the Top 12 Ballroom Dances? (6)

The mambo is one of the most emotional Latin American ballroom dances. Swaying hip movements, facial expressions, arm movements, and holds all contribute to the sensuality on display in the dance. It's different than what modern Americans call the mambo and was hot in the 1940s and '50s in Cuba and New York, after being invented by Perez Prado.

Pasodoble

Are You Familiar With the Top 12 Ballroom Dances? (7)

The pasodoble is one of the liveliest ballroom dances, originating in southern France. It is modeled after the sound, drama, and movement of the Spanish bullfightand is danced to music used during a bullfight.

07

of 12

Quickstep

Are You Familiar With the Top 12 Ballroom Dances? (8)

The quickstep is a quick version (naturally) of the foxtrot. It is a ballroom dance composed of extremely quick stepping, syncopated feet rhythms, and runs. The quickstep is exciting to watchbut among the most difficult of all the ballroom dances to master.

08

of 12

Rumba

Are You Familiar With the Top 12 Ballroom Dances? (9)

The rumba is considered by many to be the most romantic and sensual of all Latin ballroom dances. It is often referred to as the "Grandfather of the Latin dances" and its music has an insistent 4/4 beat. The ballroom version derives from Cuban son.

09

of 12

Samba

Are You Familiar With the Top 12 Ballroom Dances? (10)

Possibly the most popular of all Brazilian ballroom dances, both young and old enjoy dancing the samba. It can be performed solo, such as during the Carnival in Rio de Janiero, or with a partner socially.

10

of 12

Tango

Are You Familiar With the Top 12 Ballroom Dances? (11)

The tango is one of the most fascinating of all ballroom dances. This sensual dance originated in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the late 19th century. The style used in competitions today is different than Argentinian styles of tango.

11

of 12

Viennese Waltz

Are You Familiar With the Top 12 Ballroom Dances? (12)

The Viennese waltz is a quick rotating ballroom dance with a subtle rise and fall. It is considered by most to be one of the most difficult dances to learn. The simple and elegant rotational movement characterizes the Viennese waltz. It's up to four times faster than the regular, or slow, waltz, and the steps are slightly different.

12

of 12

Waltz

Are You Familiar With the Top 12 Ballroom Dances? (13)

The waltz is one of the smoothest of ballroom dances. It is a progressive dance marked by long, flowing movements, continuous turns, and rise and fall. The dance is so graceful and elegant that waltz dancers appear to glide around the floor with almost no effort.

Are You Familiar With the Top 12 Ballroom Dances? (2024)

FAQs

What is 10 dance in ballroom? ›

The dances covered in the Ten Dance are the five International Ballroom (Standard) dances: waltz, foxtrot, quickstep, tango and Viennese waltz, along with the five International Latin Dances: rumba, samba, paso doble, cha-cha-cha and jive, as defined in ballroom dancing terms.

How many ballroom dances are there? ›

There are ten international style ballroom dances, five standard (or modern) and five Latin: Standard: Waltz, Quickstep, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese waltz. Latin: Cha-cha-cha, Rumba, Samba, Jive, Paso doble.

What is the hardest ballroom dance to learn? ›

All ballroom dancers are aware that the Slow Foxtrot is the most difficult dance to master in the Ballroom genre. It requires great control of body flight and leg action. Although there is rise and fall, the emphasis is on using the energy horizontally rather than sending it vertically as you do in the Waltz.

What are the 5 standard ballroom dances? ›

International Standard is comprised of five dances: Slow Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, and Quickstep. The most distinguishing characteristic of International Standard, often abbreviated as “Standard”, is the hold.

What's the easiest ballroom dance to learn? ›

Waltz is a smooth, elegant dance that is perfect for beginners. The whirling waltz develops graceful movement and poise. Waltz is good for strengthening the ankles and knees along with rapidly improving one's balance.

What is the most seductive ballroom dance? ›

Sultry. Sexy. Rumba is considered by many as the “dance of love” and requires serious chemistry among partners.

What is the smoothest ballroom dance? ›

The four smooth ballroom dances are Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Tango and Foxtrot.

What is the most difficult dance? ›

The ballet dance style and moves are some of the most difficult ones that exist today. Here's what you need to know about why ballet is one of the toughest dances in the world.

Why is foxtrot so difficult? ›

This use of heel turns, and the effort required to produce the desired gliding motion, give International Style Foxtrot a reputation as being perhaps the most difficult of all ballroom dances to execute well.

What is the slowest ballroom dance? ›

Rhumba is one of the ballroom dances which occurs in social dance and in international competitions. Of the five competitive international Latin dances (pasodoble, samba, cha-cha-cha, jive, and rumba), it is the slowest.

What are the two main types of ballroom dance? ›

Ballroom dancing consists of two styles: the Smooth, or Standard, and the Rhythm, or Latin. The Smooth, Standard style focuses on the elegance, grace and fluidity of movement. Dancers rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, moving around the entire floor.

What is the oldest ballroom dance? ›

Waltz is the oldest of the current ballroom dances. First waltzes were danced in the location of today's Germany and Austria, back in 13th century. The style was immediately picked up by other nations, who each created it's own form and style of the dance.

What is the easiest ballroom dance? ›

Waltz is a smooth, elegant dance that is perfect for beginners. The whirling waltz develops graceful movement and poise. Waltz is good for strengthening the ankles and knees along with rapidly improving one's balance.

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