Use these pages to find out how many dance events we have listed in your chosen dance style.
You can see our coverage by dance style or region. The third tab contains a short description of
each Dance Style and Event Type currently listed. Others will be added as the website expands.
A swing dance with a smooth style, and very useful on a crowded dance floor. It is danced in a close hold (Pure Balboa), or the dancers may separate (Bal Swing). As the basic step is small it can be danced to fast music, however Balboa can be danced to all tempos down to Blues.
We have 99 Balboa dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
Can best be described as up-close-and-personal! There are many different interpretations and styles, but it is typically smooth and slow with personal improvisation.
We have 69 Blues dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
The basic step is 6-count made up of two “triple steps” and two steps. It is typically danced to “twelve bar blues” music.
We have 47 Boogie Woogie dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
This energetic dance takes its name from Charleston in South Carolina. A solo or a partnered dance, popular in the 1920s, it is associated with “flappers” and was considered immoral at that time.
We have 108 Charleston dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
A variety of steps and patterns emanating from Lindy Hop and similar dance styles. Some choreographed routines have become well known such as Shim Sham, Big Apple and Tranky Doo.
We have 73 Jazz Steps dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
Danced in a close position to very slow music, it can be confused with a slow Balboa, but in reality it has a unique style of its own
We have 9 Laminu dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
Originating in New York (The Savoy ballroom in Harlem) in the 1920s/30s, it evolved from many dances (including Charleston, Tap and Jazz). It was revived in the 1980s, and is now the most widely taught of the swing dances.
We have 151 Lindy Hop dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
Derived from an infusion of Lindy Hop and ballroom styles, it has a distinctive line pattern with couples dancing in narrow slots on the dance floor.
We have 68 West Coast Swing dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
The original Jive dance, more closely aligned to swing from which Rock n Roll and modern versions of jive evolved
We have 83 1940s Jive dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
Originating in France it is derived from Lindy Hop, Swing and Jive styles, with simplified footwork. LeRoc is not franchised but many teachers belong to "The LeRoc French Jive Federation".
We have 69 Leroc dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
Also known as French Jive, it was developed in the 1980s from a range of styles including Rock and Roll, Lindy Hop and Swing, again with far simpler footwork. It is danced to a wide range in music such as chart, popular, jazz or big band music. Tempos range from fast to slow in Common 4/4 time.
We have 207 Modern Jive dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
Originating in the 1950s from the USA, Rock n Roll quickly became popular in the UK and elsewhere.
We have 123 Rock n Roll dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
A less restrictive competition dance that allows couples more freedom to express themselves and the music.
We have 60 American Smooth dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
Invented by Harry Fox, this graceful dance can be recognised by its basic rhythm of slow-slow-quick-quick-slow in 4/4 time. Slow Foxtrot is danced in competitions.
We have 203 Foxtrot dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
A more technical and polished version of the Argentine Tango, with a lot of staccato movements. It is danced in 4/4 time, and is a popular ballroom competition dance.
We have 196 Modern Tango dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
Another familiar competition dance, it follows a 2/4 or 4/4 time beat. It can be likened to a fast Foxtrot with more intricate steps including runs and hops. The dance involves a lot of movement and rotation across the dance floor to a brisk tempo.
We have 206 Quickstep dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
Modern Sequence Dancing is an English activity based on the standard ballroom and latin dances, including waltz, quickstep, foxtrot, rumba etc. However everyone dances the same 16 bar routine together. The dance steps are all standardised and often at quite high standards, but because the same routine is being done by everyone they become quite easy and enjoyable.
We have 117 Sequence dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
A faster, flightier version of the Waltz, the Veinnese Waltz in danced in two sets of threes, instead of the common 1-2-3 of the Waltz. This dance involves a lot of spinning and turning around each other, which causes great dizziness.
We have 147 Viennese Waltz dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
Danced in closed position, Waltz can be recognised by its basic 3/4 time. It is a graceful dance with long gliding steps, rise and fall, and punctuated with hesitations.
We have 213 Waltz dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
This medium tempo Latin dance has a very distinct rhythm pattern of one, two, cha-cha-cha, five, six, cha-cha-cha, or two steps followed by an even triple step.
We have 192 Cha Cha (Ballroom) dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
This dance is the fastest in the Latin section of the competition dances, and requires the most energy. It was developed with influences from Lindy Hop, Jitterbug and Rock n Roll.
We have 181 Jive (Ballroom) dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
This dance is traditionally highly choreographed to model Spanish Bullfighting. The leader plays the part of the Matador and the lady often represents his cape. It is rarely danced socially.
We have 150 Paso Doble dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
Often considered the most sensual of the Latin dances, it is believed that the Rumba originated from a Cuban marriage dance.
We have 207 Rumba dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
A fun dance with a festive mood and style, danced in 2/4 time or 4/4 time.
We have 201 Samba dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
A social dance which has its roots in Argentina, Uruguay and Chile. Tango is a partner dance characterised by a “walking” movement and footwork “decorations”. Musicality is an extremely important element of this emotional dance.
We have 169 Argentine Tango dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
Bachata is a style of dance that originated in the countryside and the rural neighborhoods of the Dominican Republic. The dance is a four-step beat achieved with a walking Cuban hip motion, and a unique “pop”. The dance is performed both in open position and in closed position depending on the setting and mood of the partners.
We have 46 Bachata dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
Danced to a two-step beat, Merengue has a hip swaying movement. Both partners bend their knees to the left and right making their hips move from side to side.
We have 147 Merengue dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
An informal dance style that is very popular today. Partners usually occupy a fixed area of the dance floor with little travelling. Salsa is derived from a range of dance styles from Latin America, North America and Cuba.
We have 243 Salsa dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
A travelling dance the feel of which could emulate riding a horse or driving a wagon. The “Two-step” is often danced to fast music, and traditionally a dancer will stomp on the floor in appreciation of good music.
We have 2 Cajun/Zydeco dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
Also called American Square Dance the dance originated in the USA using parts of folk dance from various European countries plus some of their own dance routines. It was created by the late Henry Ford (of the motor car fame) who wanted his workers to have some enjoyment in their leisure time. A "Squeeze box" and Fiddle were played, but as workers in different areas of the USA danced all kinds of patterns of folk dancing from Europe he wrote moves so that everyone danced the same and could join in when visiting different areas.
We have 16 Square Dance dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
Little is known about dance styles and choreography before the fifteenth century. In the early part of the C20 dance teachers took known earlier dance music and devised choreographies to fit. Whilst the music may be from an earlier period, and the dance steps based on information from later sources, the dance sequences cannot be claimed as authentic to the period.
We have 4 Pre 15C dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
Balli, Balleti and Basse dances using sources from Italy, Burgundy and England may include up to four different rhythms. Minimal information is given for step descriptions and later sources are often relied on for a more precise definition.
We have 5 15C dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
Sources from Italy, France and England. Well-known English Renaissance examples include the galliard, the pavane and the Volta. Floor patterns of dances in the late Renaissance period are frequently symmetrical in pattern, with a strong emphasis on footwork.
We have 5 16C dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
Early C17 sources are scant. However the Inns of Court give examples of relatively simple dances such as Almaines and measures. The publication in 1651 of the first Playford Collection of Country Dances provided a source which still enjoys world-wide popularity to this day. By the end of the century the Baroque style of dance had arrived from the French Courts.
We have 10 17C dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
In the first half of this century Baroque dance continued to be popular but the increased complexity of the steps led to a split between amateur and professional dancers with the latter training for what is now called ballet. The Minuet however remained an important social dance until almost the end of the century. Steps became more energetic in Regency times with Quadrilles and lively country dances, mostly in longways sets, being popular. Early forms of the Waltz and other face to face couple dances came into the Ballrooms.
We have 12 18C dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
The longways country dances popular at the beginning of the century became less popular as the square formation of the Quadrilles took over. The Waltz was the signature dance of the latter part of the century and there were the beginnings of recognisable Ballroom style couple dances.
We have 8 19C dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
With the development of recorded music there was an explosion of different styles of dance. Rag-time followed by social dances which now carry the title of Old Time Dancing / Classic Dancing grew in popularity and dance halls were built to cater for these. The 20s is renowned for the Charleston evolving into the more energetic Black Bottom and Big Apple. During the 30s and 40s social Ballroom dances continued to enjoy popularity. Swing dancing came in from America with the arrival of the American Forces though the older dances still retained their popularity with most of the people. In the mid to late 50s this gave rise to the jive and rock and roll styles of dance. With the arrival of the Twist in the 60s partner dance went out of fashion and solo freestyle dancing became popular. Many new styles evolved. Nevertheless traditional country dance styles remained popular, and older styles were rediscovered.
We have 11 20C dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
Loved for its beauty, elegance and flow, ballet is a classical dance with an emphasis on execution of turnout and graceful movements. It encompasses total body awareness and alignment, with precise positioning of arms, legs, upper body and head carriage.
We have 66 Ballet dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
A style of athletic solo dancing which evolved into its current form during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in the context of competitions at public events (namely, Highland games), where it is typically performed to the accompaniment of bagpipe music.
We have 6 Highland Dancing dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
A line dance is a formation dance in which a group of people dance in one or more lines, executing the same movements
We have 48 Line Dance dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
A high energy non partnered dance, Hip-Hop movements include popping and locking. “Breaking” is also a key element of this style. Street dancing, using similar movements, is believed to originate from the streets of New York.
We have 112 Street/Hip-Hop dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
This style was developed in Arabic and Middle Eastern areas. It is also known as "Oriental" dancing. Most of the movements and basic steps are circular, using one part of the body such as shoulders or hips. A belly dancer can also perform shimmies and roll his/her belly muscles. It is not generally a partner dance.
We have 69 Belly dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory
Derived from the traditional rhythms of African slaves brought into America, tap dancing is characterised by the rhythmic sounds made by the dancer’s feet. Footwork patterns are complex and intricate, with frequent use of syncopation. Unlike most other forms of dance, tap dance can be performed without musical accompaniment.
We have 47 Tap dance teachers listed in the Dance Directory