What we teach
Ballroom, Latin & Club Partner Dances We Teach
At Forever Dancing Ballroom in Falls Church, Virginia, we offer a wide variety of partner Ballroom and Latin dance styles for students of all levels. Whether you’re preparing for a wedding, looking for a new hobby, or wanting to improve your technique, our experienced instructors are here to guide you. From elegant ballroom dances to energetic Latin rhythms, you’ll find a style that inspires you and keeps you moving.
American Smooth Style Dance Classes In Northern VA
American Smooth is a style that blends the elegance and technique of traditional ballroom, with dances such as Slow Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot and Viennese Waltz, with the freedom of open movement. Unlike International Standard style, dancers are not required to stay in a closed hold at all times, allowing for expressive choreography, underarm turns, and side-by-side movements. Below you will find a short description of the Smooth dances we teach.
Slow Waltz
In the early 1800s, Waltz was introduced into English ballrooms. For the first time, society saw a dance where the man held the lady closely—something considered outrageous at the time. Both the church and the state denounced it for its perceived vulgarity and immorality. Ironically, this controversy helped make Waltz even more appealing, and it quickly became a lasting favorite.
Waltz is a smooth, progressive dance characterized by long, flowing movements, continuous turns, and rise and fall. Graceful and elegant, dancers glide around the floor almost effortlessly. In contemporary ballroom dance, faster versions are known as Viennese Waltz, while International Standard Waltz remains in closed position throughout.
A typical Waltz figure begins with a lowered step and a strong heel lead, rising through the second count and lowering again on the third. This rise-and-fall action is one of the defining characteristics of the dance.
American Tango
Unlike Argentine Tango, which is danced with spontaneous musical interpretation, American Tango follows a structured timing that aligns with musical phrasing. It is danced both in closed position and in more open, expressive movements.
This style allows for greater creativity and dramatic expression. In class, students learn essential tango techniques such as connection, posture, footwork, alignment, and strong, controlled movement—helping them become more powerful and confident dancers.
Foxtrot
Foxtrot was introduced in 1913 by Harry Fox and quickly became one of the most popular dances of the twentieth century. Over time, it evolved through many stylistic changes.
It is a smooth, progressive dance with long, continuous movements traveling across the floor. The Bronze level Foxtrot stays closest to the original style, featuring simple walks and chasse patterns ideal for social dancing.
Dancers develop elegance and ease while learning techniques such as partnership, posture, footwork, rise and fall, sway, and alignment—creating the effortless look of a skilled performer.
Viennese Waltz
The Viennese Waltz originated in southern Germany in the late 1700s as a folk dance called the Ländler. It later became highly popular in Vienna and spread throughout Europe and America.
This dance is much faster than the standard Waltz, often twice the speed. As a result, movements are more compact, and rise and fall is quicker and more subtle. Despite its speed, it maintains elegance and flow.
In class, students learn how to move comfortably at this pace while maintaining proper posture, connection, and technique.
American Rhythm Style Dance Classes in Northern VA
American Rhythm is a dynamic style of Latin Dances danced in America. It emphasizes rhythm, connection, and energetic movement. It features dances like Cha Cha, Rumba, Swing, Bolero, and Mambo, each celebrating rhythm and expressive flair. Dancers enjoy rhythmic motion, improvisation, and a fun, social atmosphere. Below you will find a short description of each rhythm dance we teach.
Rumba
Rumba is a slow, romantic, and expressive dance known for its flirtation and storytelling. Many movements follow a “tease and run” theme, where the lady engages and then playfully rejects her partner.
This dance emphasizes Cuban motion, body rhythm, and emotional expression. Compared to the lighthearted Cha-Cha, Rumba is more serious and intense.
Students learn rhythm walks, hip action, connection, posture, and expressive movement to bring this dance to life.
Bolero
Bolero is often described as the most romantic of the Latin dances. Its slow tempo and smooth, flowing movements create a strong sense of love and connection.
Unlike Rumba, Bolero includes rise and fall, along with stretching and lifting actions. The result is a soft, continuous motion that feels almost like dancing on air.
In class, dancers focus on timing, Cuban motion, connection, posture, and fluid transitions between movements.
Cha-Cha
Originally derived from the Cuban Mambo, Cha-Cha gets its name from the distinctive triple step: “cha-cha-cha.” It became popular in the United States during the 1950s.
This dance is fun, playful, and full of personality. It is typically danced as a spot dance with strong body movement and rhythm.
Cha-Cha can be danced to a wide variety of music styles, making it extremely versatile. Students learn basic patterns along with technique, rhythm, and styling to stand out on the dance floor.
Mambo
Mambo originated in Cuba and became widely popular in the United States in the 1940s and 1950s. Over time, different timing variations developed, influencing dances like Swing and Jive.
It is an energetic and rhythmic dance that builds strong coordination and musicality. Mambo is both exciting and challenging, making it a favorite for developing rhythm skills.
Students focus on Cuban motion, timing, connection, posture, and dynamic movement.
East Coast Swing
Also known as the Jitterbug, East Coast Swing is a lively and fun partner dance rooted in swing music traditions.
It is a circular dance featuring spins, turns, and playful patterns like wraps and tunnels. The basic rhythm—triple step, triple step, rock step—is easy to learn and highly adaptable.
This dance can be performed to many types of music, including oldies, blues, country, and modern hits. In class, students learn footwork, partnering skills, and techniques that make dancing both enjoyable and visually exciting.
Club and Other Social Partner Dances We Teach In Northern VA
In addition to ballroom and Latin styles, we also teach popular social dances that are perfect for parties, weddings, and nightclubs. These dances are easy to learn, fun, and practical for real-life situations. Whether you want to feel confident on the dance floor or simply enjoy a night out, these styles are a great place to start.
Argentine Tango.
Tango is a diverse dance with many expressive styles, from the traditional Canyengue and playful Orillero to the elegant Tango de Salón and intimate Milonguero. Other styles include the formal Villa Urquiza, the theatrical Fantasía and Escenario used in performances, and the modern Tango Nuevo. The roots of tango can also be found in Candombé, an Afro-Uruguayan rhythm that helped shape its development.
Yet most dancers do not like to place their way of dancing in a specific category, all dancers search in ” Tango Argentino” its profound connection, improvisational nature, and the subtle “conversation” between partners. Unlike its American Style counterpart, which is known for sharp, dramatic movements and rigid posture, Argentine Tango is danced mostly in close embrace, that emphasizes a chest-to-chest connection. The dance is built on the walk—a rhythmic, cat-like movement—and is punctuated by intricate footwork. It is less about a set sequence of steps and more about an intuitive response to the soulful, melancholic melodies of the bandoneon, making every dance a unique, spontaneous expression of emotion and intimacy.
Salsa.
Salsa dance is a high-energy, sensual Latin partner dance known for its infectious rhythms, dynamic body movement, and playful interaction between partners. Originating from Afro-Cuban roots and popularized in New York City during the 1960s, it blends elements of mambo, rumba, cha-cha, and jazz to create a bold, flavorful style.
The dance typically follows an eight-count rhythm (counted 1-2-3, 5-6-7 with pauses on 4 and 8) and is performed to music with a tempo ranging from 160 to 220 bpm. Key characteristics include:
- Partner Connection: Leaders guide followers through intricate turn patterns, cross-body leads, and spins, often within a linear “slot” (LA/NY styles) or circular formations (Cuban style).
- Movement Style: Dancers emphasize rhythmic hip movement, sharp breaks, and Afro-Cuban body isolations, though styles vary from the elegant, precise footwork of New York-style to the flashy, acrobatic spins of LA-style.
- Social & Performance: It is danced socially in clubs and festivals with improvisation, as well as competitively with choreographed routines featuring shines (solo footwork) and dramatic dips.
The name “salsa” (Spanish for “sauce”) reflects its nature as a mixture of diverse influences, making it a globally popular, accessible, and energetic dance form enjoyed by all ages.
Bachata.
Bachata is a social couple dance originating from the Dominican Republic characterized by soft hip movements, a side-to-side basic step, and a distinctive tap or “pop” on counts 4 and 8. It is typically performed in closed, semi-closed, or open positions, allowing for both intimate, romantic connection and playful, free-styled movements depending on the music and style.
The dance features a fundamental eight-count rhythm where dancers move to the lead’s left (counts 1-3) and right (counts 5-7), with the characteristic hip accent on counts 4 and 8. While the original Dominican style involves a square pattern and close embrace similar to bolero, modern variations like Western Traditional, Moderna, and Sensual styles have introduced side-to-side patterns, complex turn patterns, body waves, and isolations influenced by salsa, tango, and Brazilian Zouk.
Hustle.
Hustle is often associated with retro disco music, the hustle is the perfect dance for dance-beat, nightclub music including everything from pop to rap and hip ho
Jive.
Jive is the European version of the East Coast Swing, this dance uses six and eight count patterns. However, it is danced quite bouncy with very sharp foot kicks and “flicks,” to faster tempo swing music and is meant for competitive style dancing.
Merengue.
Merengue is an energetic Latin-style march which originated in the Dominican Republic, which emphasizes a straight-ahead 8-count rhythm taken with Cuban Motion. Merengue is now also a subset of the modern club-style Salsa dances.
Two-Step.
The two-step is a lively, progressive Country Western partner dance characterized by a “quick, quick, slow, slow” rhythm pattern danced to music with a 4/4 time signature.
It is a traveling dance that moves counterclockwise around the room, typically performed in a closed position where partners face each other with the leader’s right hand on the follower’s shoulder and their left hands clasped at eye level.
Night-Club Two Step.
Night-Club Two Step, belongs to Coutry-Western Style, and, it is an easy-going social dance, similar in movement to the Bossa Nova, first introduced in the 80’s by Buddy Schwimmer and popular amongst the West Coast Swing crowd. Nightclub 2-Step is normally danced to medium-tempo pop songs and ballads, using combinations of Slow-Quick-Quick and Quick-Quick-Slow rhythms.
Paso Doble.
Paso Doble is a dramatic French-Spanish Flamenco-style march danced in 2/4 time, with man portraying the matador in a bullfight, the lady as his cape. The character of the dance is arrogant and passionate.
Peabody.
Peabody is a dance developed in the United States around 1920, which was created as a fast version of the Foxtrot characterized by rapid progression and frequent use of Right Outside Position and locking actions.
Quickstep.
Quickstep dance began as a quick version of Foxtrot mixed with the Charleston, and musical “Jazz” influences. It is characterized by fast movement, often including a variety of hops, kicks, skips, lock steps and chassés.
Samba.
Samba is the official dance of Brazil. In America and Europe is characterized by “bounce” action, it is an energised dance form, that travels around the floor with lot’s of rhythm and hip actions danced to fast music in 2/4 time signature.
In Brazil the Samba is dances in many different styles, the most popular…the “Samba de Gafiera” (originally from Rio de Janeiro) has the sultriness of salsa, the sharpness of tango and the elegance and sophistication of ballroom.
West Coast Swing.
West Coast Swing is a smooth, slotted partner dance that evolved from the Lindy Hop in 1940s California, characterized by linear movement where the follower travels back and forth along an imaginary “slot” while the leader guides from a central position.
Unlike the bouncy, circular motion of East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing is linear, grounded, and highly improvisational, allowing dancers to interpret music creatively rather than following rigid choreography
Zouk
Zouk is a sensual and flowing partner dance characterized by wave-like body movements, elongated steps, and fluid transitions between partners.
Originating in Brazil in the early 1990s from the Lambada dance, it is distinct from the original Caribbean Zouk music by focusing on body isolations, hip movements, and intricate upper-body techniques for the follower.
Now that you know a lot more about different partner dances. Start Dancing Today!
Ready to get started? Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced dancer, our team at Forever Dancing is here to help you every step of the way. Contact us today to schedule your first lesson and discover the joy of dancing.
Here is a short list of Dances we teach in our dance school in Falls Church:
Argentine Tango . Brazilian Dances . Bolero. Cha – Cha . Foxtrot . Forro . Hustle . Jive . Lindy Hop . Mambo . Night Club Two Step. Paso Doble . Quickstep . Rumba . Salsa . Samba . Swing . Tango. Two-Step. Slow Waltz .Viennese Waltz. Zouk.