Intro to Ballroom

This is a 4-week series exploring the most common ballroom dances. To attend, simply drop-in on the classes you wish to take.

• Beginner American Waltz (3/9/2026): Origins of the Waltz goes back to the 13th century German peasants characterized by rolls, glides & turns; later embraced in Vienna where it was morphed into our modern day ballroom Waltz. Brought to the US mid-19th century, sadly overshadowed by Foxtrot and other dances by the 1920s.
  
  
• Beginner Rumba (3/16): Root back to the 19th century Cuba where African slaves denied of freedoms used dance as a form of free-expression combining African drumming with Spanish melodies. With the adaption to the ballroom scene, the dance was slowed down and more structure added, but still retains hip movements and rhythmic patterns from its origins.
  
  
• Beginner Night Club 2-Step (3/23): A dance style developed by Buddy Schwimmer in the 1960 and became a popular social dance as a Disco Couple's Dance late 70s. Consisting of a rock steps and glides/slides, it can be described as floaty and danced to mid-tempo music and can be danced across a variety of genres. 
  
  
• Beginner Foxtrot (3/30): Started during ragtime music's heyday and created by Harry Fox, Foxtrot made its debut in the Broadway show "Watch your step" in 1914. Popularized by many well known names including Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers and Gene Kelly. Foxtrot harmonizes with the rhythms and energy of jazz and big band musical styles; characterized by smooth continuous movement, glides and "trotting" steps.