In the International Latin Dancing section we focus on four main dances :

• the Cha Cha Cha
• the Rumba
• the Samba, and
• the Jive

We teach the classes on Wednesday evenings from 7-8 pm. We welcome children and adults to join these classes.

We focus on getting the basic steps right, executing proper technique.

Because a lot of our students want to take these skills further to the competition stage, we make sure we build solid dance choreography, and teach them correct etiquette in sharing a dance floor.

Similarly, we offer them a great environment to develop social skills and team work skills.

There are many benefits that you can get from our International Latin Dancing classes:

• develop coordination,
• develop muscle strength,
• develop musicality,
• improve balance,
• learn proper technique, but, above all,
• build up social skills and confidence.

For prices, please visit the Prices for Adults page.

For Timetable, please visit the Summer Hill Timetable page.

Please see below a brief description for each dance:

RUMBA

The Rumba tells a story of love and passion between a male lover and a teasing woman; it is one of the most popular International Latin Dance and is seen around the world at nightclubs, parties, weddings and dance competitions.

The Rumba is a very slow, serious, and romantic with flirtation between the partners. This dance is fun to watch, as many of its basic figures sort to tease the other - the lady flirts with and then rejects her male partner.

Click on the image below to see our senior and adult students dance the Rumba.

CHA CHA CHA

The Cha Cha Cha is one of the newest International Latin dances in the dancesport competitions.

But it is still seen as a "party dance", being played in most of the Latin Music Clubs. It has got a cheeky nature and playful rhythm that can be easily picked up by anyone. The Cha Cha rhythms can be easily identified in some popular songs such as: "Seniorita" and "Havana" by Camilla Cabello, "Get this party started" –Pink, "Unchain my heart" Joe Cocker, "Represent Cuba" – Orisha

What differentiates the cha cha from other music written with four beats to the bar is that there is a little rhythmic triplet joining each bar to the next.

The cha cha does not move around the room, so small steps should be taken.

The"Cha Cha" is danced at about 44 beats per minute. The steps are taken on the beats, with a strong hip movement as the knee straightens on the half beats in between. The weight is kept well forward, with forward steps taken toe-flat, and with minimal torso movement. The chasse on 4&1 is used to emphasize the step on beat 1, which may be held a moment longer than the other steps to match the emphasis of the beat in the music.

Click on the photo below to watch a short basic cha cha cha.

SAMBA

The ballroom Samba is a travelling dance so it progresses quickly around the floor with plenty of rhythm and movement at the waist and the legs.

Click on the image below to see the ladies and girls dancing Samba as solo- there are solo competitions in Ballroom Dancing in case you don't have a partner.

JIVE

Jive is a formalised version of rock and roll dancing. It is essentially a variant of the swing whereby the hip swings from side to side and the weight changes resemble a type of skipping and hopping. Swing come from the 1930's to the 1940's.

Click on the image below to watch one of our senior dancers dance with an adult dancer.