RUMBA

'The story of love and eroticism between a man and a woman'.

The dance relies on the age-old premise of the lady trying to dominate the gentlemen by means of her womanly charms. Incorporating all the elements of teasing and withdrawal, it is considered the most sensual of the Latin dances.

CHA CHA CHA

'A dance developed from a Cuban Rumba step'.

When the English dance teacher Pierre Lavelle visited Cuba in 1952, he realised that sometimes the Rumba was danced with extra beats. When he returned to Britain, he started teaching these steps as a separate dance.

SAMBA

'The most popular dance at the Rio Carnival'.

It is believed that the word "Samba" is derived from a West African Bantu word, meaning to pray or invoke the spirits of their ancestors. It is rumoured to be a dance that can excite people to such an extent, it sends them into a trance. It is danced annually at the Rio Carnival in Brazil.

JIVE / ROCK 'N' ROLL

'The precursor to Rock n Roll'.

From its beginnings in 1927, the dance soon became equated with youth. Older adults disapproved of it and tried to ban it from dance halls, claiming Jive was non-progressive and disturbed other dancers who were progressing anti-clockwise around the floor. It was bought to Europe by American G.I.'s during WW2 but was danced underground due to its "Corrupting Influence".'A

PASO DOBLE

Bullfighter's Ballroom dance'.

The Paso Doble is based on the Bullfight. The man represents the bullfighter, "Torero" and the lady the red cape or "cappa". It is danced to the characteristic march music used for procession at the beginning of a corrida.