Social Dance Study Guide

  1. Be able to comprehend proper body mechanics and shifts of weight in the STEPS used in class.
  • Step
  • Placing your full weight on one foot.
  • 1 transfer of weight
  • Tap
  • Weight is on supporting leg, no weight on the ball of the foot does not transfer weight.
  • Zero weight transfers
  • Grapevine
  • Step with one foot to the side, cross behind with other foot, step again with the 1st foot, tap with the foot that crossed behind.
  • 3 transfers of weight
  • Shuffle
  • Step forward with one foot, step opposite foot forward but still behind the 1st foot, step forward again with the 1st foot
  • 3 transfers of weight
  • Pivot Turn
  • Step forward with one foot, pivot around one the balls of both feet
  • 1 transfer of weight
  • Hitch
  • Bring up one knee and lean back slightly
  • Zero weight transfers
  • Fan
  • While keeping your heel down move the ball of your foot to the side and then back
  • Zero weight transfers
  • Rock Step
  • Rock forward onto one foot placing your full weight on that foot and then step back onto the other foot
  • 2 weight transfers
  1. Know the body positioning and male & female roles of thepartner dances
  • Body should be erect but not rigid.
  • Men start with LEFT foot. Women start with RIGHT foot.
  • Eyes should be focused on partner
  • Open Position -
  • Partners are apart but close enough that elbows should be naturally by your sides.
  • Males have fingers facing each other, like driving a car.
  • Girls drape fingers over boys hand with palms down.
  1. Be able to identify the Rhythm, Style and Brief History of the Partner Dances we learned in class.
  • Cha Cha
  • Latin dance that has 5 weight transfers, a rock step and 3 quick steps
  • Got its name from the sound that the Cuban woman made with their slippers.
  • Merengue
  • Simple Latin dance, consists of marching with hip popped out
  • Style is associated with a wounded war hero from the Dominican Republic.
  • Salsa
  • Latin dance, rhythm is 1-2-3 hold 4, 5-6-7-hold 8.
  • Rock step and Pause.
  • Bachata
  • a slowerLatin dance
  • 3 sideward steps with hip lift on count 4 & 8
  • Swing
  • Rhythm is Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick or 2 side steps and a rock step. ( break away from partner)
  • Uses 6 counts of music and was hugely popular in this country in 1930’s-40’s, during the big band era.