Latin American dancing

What is Latin American?

Latin American dancing became popular in Europe in the 20th century.

There are five main dances - Paso Doble, Jive, Rumba, Cha Cha Cha and Samba, and two people are needed to perform these dances.

Where did it come from?

Lots of the dances come from Latin America - Cuba, and various South and Central American countries.

They are a blend of the dancing styles of the native Americans, Europeans and African slaves.

What are the dances about?

Paso Doble: During this dance the dancefloor becomes like a bullfighting arena - the man is the matador and the woman the flowing cape that entices the bull. It's a bit like the Spanish Flamenco.

Jive: There are lots of different types of Jive, including the Jitterbug, Boogie Woogie, Swing and Rock 'n' Roll, all invented during the 20th Century.

Rumba: This is a very rhythmic dance, and is often called the 'Queen' of Latin dances.

Cha Cha Cha: This is fun and flexible. It gets its name from the rhythm of feet stamping on the dancefloor.

Samba: This dance came off the streets of Rio, in Brazil, but the version danced in competitions has changed a lot from the original Brazilian party dance.

Where can I learn how to do Latin American dancing?

You can find out about your nearest ballroom dancing class by contacting the British Dance Council. You can find the web link on the right hand side of this page.

Or you can contact the International Dance Teachers Association on 01273 685652.