So Many Dances, So Little Time
When people first look into dance classes, it can feel a little overwhelming. Waltz, Salsa, Jive, Argentine Tango, Foxtrot, Lindy Hop… what does it all mean, and where on earth do you start?
At Aspirations Dance, we teach across four main families of dance — Ballroom, Latin, Swing dancing, and Club Styles. Each has its own character, its own music, and its own feel.
Here's a friendly guide to help you understand the differences and maybe discover which one excites you most.
Ballroom Dancing
When most people picture "ballroom dancing", they imagine elegant couples gliding across a polished floor - and they're not wrong! Ballroom dances are characterised by their smooth, flowing movement, close partnership hold, and a sense of grace and poise.
The ballroom dances we teach include:
- Waltz - The classic. A beautiful, sweeping dance with a distinctive rise and fall. Romantic, elegant, and deeply satisfying when it flows.
- Foxtrot - Smooth and sophisticated, danced to the kind of big band jazz that never goes out of style.
- Quickstep - Foxtrot but turned up a notch - lively, energetic, and enormous fun once you find your feet.
- Viennese Waltz - Faster than the slow waltz this dance is beautiful, timeless and elegant. An experience that is second to none on the when it connects.
- American Smooth - Elegant, graceful and wonderfully expressive. American Smooth blends the timeless beauty of the classic Ballroom dances with the freedom of open movements, allowing partners to separate, turn individually and create flowing, dramatic shapes before reconnecting.
Ballroom dances are danced in a closed hold, meaning partners maintain a connected frame throughout. This is where our lead and follow approach really shines - the connection between partners is everything.
Latin Dancing
Latin dances bring the heat! Where ballroom is smooth and flowing, Latin is rhythmic, expressive, and full of personality. The movement comes through the hips and the body, and the music is infectious!
The Latin dances we teach include:
- Rumba - The dance of romance. Slow, sensual, and all about connection between partners. A beautiful dance to learn.
- Cha Cha Cha - Playful, flirtatious, and instantly recognisable. The cha-cha-cha rhythm is one of the most fun to dance once it clicks.
- Samba - Lively, energetic, and full of infectious rhythm. With its distinctive bounce and carnival spirit, Samba is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
- Paso Doble - Dramatic, powerful, and theatrical. Inspired by the Spanish bullfight, Paso Doble is all about commanding the dance floor.
Latin dances can be danced in both closed and open hold, giving them wonderful versatility and allowing for more expressive movement, playful interaction, and opportunities to develop musicality and performance.
Swing Dancing
Swing dancing has its roots in the jazz clubs and dance halls of 1920s and 30s America, and it has a joyful, free-spirited energy that's completely its own. It's social, improvisational, and absolutely infectious - and it's a family of dances with more depth to it than many people realise.
The swing dances we teach include:
- Lindy Hop - The original swing dance, born in Harlem in the late 1920s. Energetic, creative, and danced to big band and jazz music. Lindy Hop has a wonderful sense of playfulness and freedom that dancers absolutely love.
- Jive - Our Jive is taught as the original 1950s rock and roll style - upbeat, bouncy, and full of the spirit of the era. If you've ever wanted to dance to classic rock and roll, this is it.
- Charleston - Fun, energetic, and full of vintage character. Originating in the Roaring Twenties, Charleston is instantly recognisable for its lively kicks, swivels, and infectious rhythms. Whether danced as a style in its own right or woven into Lindy Hop, it's guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.
One of the things that makes swing dancing so fascinating is the relationship between its different styles. Lindy Hop, Jive and Charleston all share common principles while each has its own unique personality and feel. As you progress, you'll begin to see how they connect and how skills learned in one dance naturally transfer to another.
In our classes, you'll learn both triple step and single step variations, which change the feel and energy of the dance considerably. Triple steps create a bouncier, more rhythmic quality, while single steps produce a smoother, more relaxed flow.
You'll also work with both 6-count and 8-count move structures. Six-count patterns form the foundation of many swing styles and have a punchy, compact feel, while eight-count patterns open things up, allowing for greater creativity, musical expression and longer flowing sequences. Understanding both gives you real versatility and helps you become a more confident social dancer.
Like all the dances we teach, swing is built on lead and follow rather than set routines. That means every dance is a genuine conversation between partners, creating the spontaneous, in-the-moment feeling that makes swing dancing so joyful and addictive.
Club Styles
Club styles are the dances you're most likely to encounter at a social event, a Latin night, or - as the name suggests - a club. They're social, accessible, and incredibly versatile.
The club styles we teach include:
- Salsa - Vibrant, rhythmic, and danced to irresistible Latin music. Salsa is one of the most popular social dances in the world, and for good reason - it's joyful, energetic, and endlessly fun.
- Bachata - Romantic and deeply connected, Bachata originated in the Dominican Republic. Danced close it can be one of the most intimate and expressive club styles there is.
- Merengue - Often the first dance beginners learn, because the rhythm is wonderfully straightforward. Don't let that fool you though - Merengue has real style and personality.
- Mambo - Sharp and full of attitude. Mambo has a distinct energy that sets it apart from other Latin-influenced styles. Immortalised in the hit movie Dirty Dancing!
- Argentine Tango - In a category of its own, really. Argentine Tango is deeply connected, improvisational, and unlike anything else you'll dance. It takes a little longer to feel natural, but students who fall for it tend to fall hard.
Club styles are particularly well suited to our lead and follow teaching method - because these are dances you'll want to take out into the real world, to parties, holidays, and social events. Knowing how to lead or follow means you can dance with anyone, anywhere, without needing a rehearsed routine.
So Which One Should You Start With?
The honest answer is: you don't have to choose! Our beginner level 1 introduces you to a range of styles from across all four families, so you get a feel for each one before deciding what you love most. Many of our students are surprised to discover that their favourite dance isn't the one they expected.
By the time you've worked through our beginner levels, you'll have a solid foundation in Waltz, Merengue, Salsa, Mambo, Rumba, Cha Cha Cha, Jive, Argentine Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep, and Lindy Hop - quite the repertoire!
Come and Try Them All
We offer classes for complete beginners in Chester and Buckley - and our friendly, relaxed atmosphere makes it easy to explore different styles without any pressure. Whether you're drawn to the elegance of Ballroom, the rhythm of Latin, the joy of Swing, or the social energy of Club Styles, there's something here for you.
Take a look at our How It Works page to find out more about our course structure and come join us on the dance floor!
Aspirations Dance — Putting the fun into dance since 1997. 🌟