Description of Dances
& Video Links
Michael Thomas Videos
 | Michael Thomas Dancing
Note: If your a new dancer, don't be intimidated by these videos.
My dance style is different and creative in some cases depending on who I'm
dancing with.
 |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi5EqGx5lCM (3:06 min)
Title: Michael Thomas WCS dance with Karen Rammage 2007 Swing Classic
Description: A social West Coast Swing dance at the 2007 Swing Classic
in Atlanta, GA. The video was taken by my son. The dancer's
name is Karen Rammage from Paducah KY. This was a social dance and
around the 3rd time we had danced together over 3 nights.
Tags: Michael Thomas Karen Rammage WCS West Coast Swing 2007 Swing
Classic Dance |
|
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcOweUGPodQ (2:00 min)
Title: Michael Thomas WCS dance with Karen Rammage 2008 SM Boogie
Description: A social West Coast Swing dance at the 2008 Smoky Mountain
Boogie dance in Pigeon Forge TN. I wanted to get a last minute
video of us dancing before the event was over.
Tags: Michael Thomas Karen Rammage WCS West Coast Swing 2008 Smoky
Mountain Boogie |
|
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBnvYT3E9z4 (1:00 min)
Title: Michael Thomas WCS dance with 2 ladies at 2007 Swing Classic
Description: A social West
Coast Swing dance at the 2007 Swing Classic in Atlanta, GA. My son
took this video while I was having fun trying to dance with 2 ladies at
one time.
Tags: Michael Thomas WCS West Coast Swing 2007 Swing Classic Atlanta GA |
|
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah22-KKEcuY (1:50 min)
Title: Bachata by Michael Thomas & Faye McCarthy 2008 Cruise
Description: A video of a social Batchata dance taken while on the Salsa Crazy 2008 Dance Cruise to the
Western Caribbean in Feb with Carnival (Triumph) cruise line. I didn't know the
dance was being video taped. The dancers are Michael Thomas & Faye McCarthy.
Tags: |
|
http://www.youtube.com/thomas2dance - my www.youtube.com homepage -
see all my videos. |
|
| My Son - Stephen Thomas
|
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmqH157vVnY (3:20 min)
Title: Stephen Thomas WCS dance with Karen Rammage
Description: This is my son Stephen at the 2007 Swing Classic in
Atlanta, GA when he was 20yrs old. A great dancer had asked him to
dance so I quickly got my camcorder out while they were dancing. I
was sitting to close to get a good video of the dance and I was talking
with another dancer. Stephen had done WCS about 3 times about a
year ago and this was his 3rd night dancing this year so he is a
beginner for sure but I was amazed at the creativity he has in his WCS
dance. Shortly after this dance my son took a video of me dancing
with this same dancer.
Tags: Stephen Thomas Karen Rammage WCS West Coast Swing 2007 Swing
Classic |
|
Common Dances at a Club
I've made a list of the common dances done at dance clubs. The dances
are listed in order of the most frequent dance you could do based on the songs
played.
| Country Club |
Latin Club |
Ballroom |
Swing |
Club with DJ |
2 Step
ECS
Cha Cha
WCS
NC2
Waltz
Polka
Triple Two Step |
Salsa
Merengue
Bachata
Cha Cha
Rumba (maybe) |
Fox Trot
Waltz
ECS
WCS
Cha Cha
Tango
Rumba
Bolero
Samba
VWaltz
Quick Step
Merenque
Salsa
2 Step |
WCS
Hustle
Shag
Cha Cha
NC2Step
Rumba
Waltz
2 Step |
WCS
ECS
Cha Cha
Rumba
N2S |
Abbreviations:
ECS - East Coast Swing
WCS - West Coast Swing
NC2 - Night Club 2 Step
CHA - Cha Cha
VWaltz - Viennese Waltz
Terms
| Rhythm Step Method - this is a method that I created where you speak a
word that represents the steps to the rhythm of the dance. |
Other Clubs:
| Shagger's Club - Shag, WCS, Hustle, Cha Cha, ECS |
| Blue's Club - Blues, WCS, Tango, Lindy Hop |
| Milonga - Argentine Tango |
Dance Descriptions
Swing Dances
| West Coast Swing (WCS) - is a slotted dance based on walks and triple
steps (slow-slow-triple step-triple step) using extension-compression technique of partner connect to create an
elastic look yet allowing both partners to improvise steps while dancing
together to mid-tempo songs. WCS has a relaxed hold
(very natural earthy look) and the dance framework allows for creative
chemistry in couples dancing. This is one of the hardest to learn
dances because many moves are not direct opposites.
| Rhythm Step Method
6 Count - walk, walk, triple step, triple step
(Counted as: 1, 2, 3and4, 5and6)
8 Count (whips) - walk, walk, triple step, walk, walk, triple step
(Counted as: 1,2,3and4, 5, 6, 7and8)
(Triple Step = quick, quick, slow) |
| Music:
You can dance WCS to about 75 percent of the songs played
by a DJ at a dance club. Dance to Pop, R&B, Blues, Jazz, Classic and
Country songs that have a mid tempo (90 to 130bpm). (Ex: "Don't Cha" by
the Pussy Cat Dolls; With You by Jessica Simpson; Streetwalker by
Michael Jackson, Dancin' Shaggin' on the Boulevard by Alabama, Strokin'
by Clarence Carter, Fever by Michael Buble, Honky Tonk Badonkadonk by
Trace Adkins, Gotta Server Somebody by Bob Dylan, etc…) |
| YouTube - dance lessons |
| YouTube - dance showcases
|
|
| East Coast Swing (ECS) -
| Rhythm Step Method
6 Count - triple step, triple step, rock step
(Counted as: 1and 2, 3and 4, 5, 6)
(Triple Step = quick, quick, slow)
(Rock step = slow, slow - rocking back and forward) |
| YouTube - dance lessons |
| YouTube - showcases
|
| YouTube - examples |
|
| Hustle -
| Rhythm Step Method
3 Count - and, slow, slow, quick
(Counted as: and 1, 2, 3)
(and = quick) |
| Music: (coming soon...) |
| YouTube
|
|
| Carolina Shag -
| Music: (coming soon...) |
| YouTube
|
|
| Jitterbug -
| Music: (coming soon...) |
| YouTube
|
|
| Lindy Hop -
| Music: (coming soon...) |
| YouTube - lessons
|
| YouTube - showcases
|
|
| Balboa (a Swing Dance) -
| Music: (coming soon...) |
| YouTube
|
|
| Pony Swing -
| Music: (coming soon...) |
| YouTube - dance lesson |
| YouTube - showcases |
| YouTube - examples |
|
Latin Club Dances
| Salsa -
| Music: (coming soon...) |
| YouTube - dance lessons
|
| YouTube - dance showcases
|
| YouTube - dance examples
|
| Casino Salsa (Cuban Style) |
| Casino Salsa (Miami Style) |
| LA Style Salsa - on 1. |
| NY Style Salsa - on 2. |
| Cuban Salsa |
| Rueda - Dance partners in a round circle that dance Salsa
patterns called by a caller.
 | Music: (coming soon...) |
| YouTube
| Dance Lesson |
| Dance Examples |
|
|
|
| Merenque -
| Music: (coming soon...) |
| YouTube
|
|
| Bachata -
very sensual latin dance. Bachata originated in rural Dominican
Republic. The subject of the songs are usually romantic tales of
heartbreak and sadness. Popular Bachata group/artists: Aventura,
Antony Santos & Luis Vargas, Raulin Rodriguez, Zacarias Ferreira, Frank
Reyes, Monchy y Alexandra, Domenic Marte, Xtreme, Andy Andy, Elvis Martinez,
Leonardo Paniagua, Los Toros Band,Joe Veras and Aventura.
|
| Cumbia -
| Music: (coming soon...) |
| YouTube
|
|
| Cuban Danzon (slow dance) - similar to rumba |
| Cuban Danzonete (moderate speed) - similar to salsa. |
| Afro-Cuban |
| Need to resesarch
| Rock Reggaeton |
| Punta |
| Latin Techno HipHop |
| Trance Y Mass |
| Cuban guaracha |
| Cuban bolero |
| Spanish bolero |
|
Ballroom Latin Dances
| Cha Cha Cha -
| Music: (coming soon...) |
| YouTube - dance lesson
|
| YouTube - showcases
|
| YouTube - dance examples
|
|
| Rumba (Ballroom) - is based on quick-quick-slow steps and is the most erotic and sensual Latin dance for its
relatively slow rhythm and the hip movement. Rumba is actually the second
slowest Latin dance (Slow to fast order: bolero, rumba, cha-cha-cha, mambo
(salsa)). Jennifer Lopez in the movie "Shall We Dance"
said "the dance of rumba is vertical expressions of a horizontal wish".
Rumba is one of the Latin dances danced in the show "Dancing With The
Stars".
Origin: Afro-Cuban origin with Cuban hip motion.
| Music: (coming soon...) |
| Jennifer Lopez's quote from the move "Shall We Dance"
"The rumba is a vertical expression of a horizontal wish. You have to
hold her like the skin on her thigh is your reason for living. Let her
go like your heart is being ripped from your chest. Puller her back like
your going to have your way with her right here on the dance floor. Then
finish, like she has ruined you for life. |
| YouTube - lessons
|
| YouTube - examples
|
| YouTube - showcases
|
| YouTube - Dancing with the Stars |
| http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zpxinlz6J4
-
Cameron & Edyta.
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JysqIjKso0 |
| http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=188I0X35cak
- dance starts at 2:10 -
Sabrina Bryan & Mark Ballas
(includes a description of Rumba) |
|
| Afro-Cuban Rumba - nothing like Ballroom Rumba! It has
African and Spanish roots brought to Cuba. It is danced to fast music
which could sound identical to Salsa dance music. The knees are bent,
the body slightly bent over with arms hanging down. It is danced
individually like hip hop and jazz.
| YouTube
| Lesson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elDbIG38lDA |
|
|
| Mambo - (on the 2 count)
| Music: (coming soon...) |
| YouTube
|
|
| Tango (Social/Ballroom) -
| Rhythm Step Method
| T-A-NG-O
Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick, Touch (a Slow,Pause/Touch with no wait change.)
(Note: Pause/Touch - you do not shift your wait. You pause and
slightly touch your foot to the side of your other foot). |
| Progressive Walk - Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick
(Walking forward the old time with the quick, quick, ending up side
by side (or side together). ) |
| Closed Promenade - Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow
(Note: On the last Quick you are facing each other - not in
Promenaude. You may open back up in Promenaude on the last slow.) |
|
| Music: (coming soon...) |
| YouTube
|
| Misc Tango Info
| Types of Music you can Tango to:
| Tango - standard tango instrument at a slow to moderate
speed. |
| Vals - a tango version of waltz. |
| Milonga - a fast paced tango (like polka). |
| Tango Electronico |
| Alternative Tango - non-tango music appropriate for use in
the Tango dance. |
|
| Originated in: Buenos Aires, Argentina and Montevideo, Uruguay
Has African slave influences. |
|
|
| Argentine Tango -
Traditional Style - The dancing began in the late 1800's (earliest
recordings 1920s) and was profoundly influenced by the blending of African
and European elements in Argentina.
| Music: (coming soon...) |
| Terms - (primarily from wikipedia)
| Walks - a couple, in embrace, walks in unison |
| Salida Simple, or "eight-count basic" - salida as "the way out"
onto the dance floor |
| Cruzada - (from cruzar - to cross) Action of the follower
crossing her left foot over her right at certain points in the dance
|
| Ocho - a figure-8 traced by the follower's feet when moving
forward or backward. |
| Media Luna - a half giro. |
| Lapiz - "the pencil" - curved figures traced by the toe as an
adornment |
| Molinete - "windmill" a turning figure of the follower around
the leader (synonym for Giro) |
| Giro - a turn (in either direction) |
| Chave - synonym for giro |
| Sacada - one partner displaces the other's unweighted leg |
| Gancho - one dancer hooks their leg around their partner's leg.
Both male and female partners may perform ganchos, however when
followers perform them, they often happen as a consequence of their
trailing leg running into one of the leader's (purposefully
positioned) legs. This hooking may be done both from either side of
the partner's leg. |
| Barrida - one partner sweeps the others foot, displacing it
along the floor |
| Arrastre - (= drag) synonym for "barrida" |
| Volcada - rotating the woman around her axis, while her axis is
tilted toward the man, causes her to "capsize" making the free leg
"spill" tracing a figure on the floor |
| Colgada - both dancers pivot with their axes tilted away from
vertical, counter-balancing each others weight. |
| Parada - one dancer, usually the leader, halts the motion of the
other dancer usually by blocking with the foot |
| Sandwich - one dancer, usually the leader, places both feet on
either side of the others dancers foot. Generally occurs after a
Parada, with the second foot brought in forming a gentle squeeze on
the other side of the foot which was halted with the parada. |
|
| Styles of Argentine Tango: tango, milonga, canyengue, orillero,
fantasia, nuevo |
| YouTube - movies
|
| YouTube - didactic dance lessons (www.open-tango.com)
|
| YouTube - dance lessons
|
| YouTube - showcases
|
| YouTube - examples
|
| YouTube - search notes:
tangostudent - user with alot of great lessons
Tango Lesson
Argentine Tango + "How To" |
|
| Argentine Tango - Alternative Style & Music
| Music: Any music that is moderate in speed and lends it self to
interpretation (like Blues, Jazz, etc...) |
| YouTube - dance lessons |
| YouTube - showcases
|
|
| Argentine Tango Vals -
Argentine Tango done to a 3/4 or 6/8 (quick waltz) tango song.
| YouTube
| | |
