Categories of Ballroom Dance (Dancesport)

Gainey Dance is a studio for everyone (no prior dance experience required.) - Beware of low-quality, over-priced dance instruction! We offer professional, competitive level dance lessons in a comfortable, easy-to-learn, environment. We want to build a solid foundation in Ballroom Dancing (and social styles) in all of our dancers - how far you want to go with it is your choice!

Most people, new to dance, would have seen a type of dance that they like (e.g. tango, waltz, cha cha), however few are aware that these individual dances belong to certain categories of ballroom dance. Competitive ballroom dancers will typically train and compete in a single category (although some may learn dances outside of their competitive category.) Each of the categories contains specific dances, which will take the dancer through a variety of paces and rhythms. Competitive dancers will typically have favorite dances but they will have to perform each of the dances within their category to compete.

These 4 major categories are: International Latin, American Rhythm, International Standard and American Smooth.

International Latin

Rumba, Cha Cha, Jive, Paso Doble, Samba

This category is very popular in many European countries where ballroom dancing ranks as one of the most popular national sports. This category is home to super hot Samba, the sexy rumba, the bullfighter's Paso Doble and the quick stepping cha cha. Competitors in this category are typically versatile dancers that don't mind working up a sweat!

International Standard

Tango, Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep

This category is contains some of the classic ballroom dances. The two waltz, full of history and glamour and of course the firey Tango. Few dances excite and audience like a good Quickstep, wherein a couple will hop, skip and launch into the air at a blistering, repetitive pace, in perfect unison! International standard dancers are often identified by the long-tail suits for the gentlemen and stunning, long flowing dresses for the ladies.

American Rhythm

Rumba, Cha Cha, East Coast Swing, Bolero and Mambo

A great category for versatility. This category shares two dances with Internation Latin, these being the cha cha and the rumba, however in the American Rhythm category these two dances will be performed with the "Cuban Hip Motion" created from timed, bending of the knees. The bolero is a smooth, gliding dance where the couple will slowly drift across the floor. Mambo is a cousin of Salsa and can actually be performed to same music, however the mambo is slightly more technical with timed breaks and a lot more "ballroom flare". East Coast swing is just an all out blast - it is American Rhythm's answer to the Latin category Jive.

American Smooth

Tango, Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot

One can just feel spirit of Fred and Ginger in this category. This is America's category! Smooth offers its own versions of four of international standards dances. One of the main distinguishing features of Smooth is the fact that the couple will dance "out of frame" (apart from one another as in ice skating) a lot more than in Standard.

Read more about Ballroom Dance (Dancesport) on this site.

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In this easy-to-read guide you will learn more about...

Wedding dance selections and planning.
What dance styles are best for you.
The types and styles of dance (rated by usability index.)
The "inside scoop" on dancing as a sport.
The Gainey Dance System © - a unique, effective approach to learning dance.
What to expect from dance lessons and how to make the best of them.
The dance essentials.