DANCE
We cover the gamut of social dancing–from dance classes to dance parties; from wedding dance lessons to teen dance activities; from country to Latin to Swing to smooth ballroom dances.
No matter your choice, you can't go wrong!
Susan's Ballroom dance teaches multiple levels to suit every dancer or dancer-to-be!
CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT CLASSES ARE
AVAILABLE AND REGISTER TODAY!
LEVELS
Beginner - These classes are designed for those new to dance, new to a dance style, and more advanced dancers looking to improve their basics. Learn a solid foundation of partner dance basics that will carry you through any ballroom style.
Intermediate - These classes are designed for those who have mastered the basics and are ready to take on more complicated patterns and technique building.
Advanced - These classes are designed for those who have mastered the basics, technique, and pattern combinations of a style and are ready to challenge themselves to a deeper understanding of the dance.
Teen/Preteen - We offer all of our dance styles in classes catered specifically to Teens and Preteens. Susan's Ballroom Dance makes the perfect after-school or Summer activity for children. We keep their bodies active and minds entertained all while learning a fun, new skill. Dance builds your child's confidence - not only his or her ability to dance, but also in his or her skills to interact with peers and adults. Other activities include Formal ball, Cotillion, etiquette and dance summer camps, teen dance parties and much more!
DANCE STYLES
Dr. Susan Quiring teaches both group and private lessons in Ballroom, Latin, Swing and Country. Try the free dance lesson with monthly dance parties. You can even have your own special group parties. Private lessons available by appointment.
BALLROOM DANCING (INTERNATIONAL & SMOOTH)
Foxtrot originated in New York in the summer of 1914. Harry Fox, Vaudeville actor, was doing trotting steps to ragtime music as part of his act downstairs, and people referred to his dance as “Fox’s Trot.” The Foxtrot is a combination of quick and slow steps. There is more variety in the fox-trot than in any other dance, and in some ways it is the hardest dance to learn! Variations include the Peabody, the Quickstep. Even dances such as the lindy and the hustle are derived to some extent from the foxtrot.
Tango is one of the most fascinating of all dances. The story goes that it started with the sailors locked up on the ship. After months at sea, the smelly sailors would go to the crowded nightclubs and ask the local girls to dance. Since the sailors hasn’t showered, the lady would dance in the crook of the man’s right arm, holding her head back.Rudolph Valentino made the Tango a hit in 1921. Styles vary in Tango. There is the Argentine, International, and American style. c. Tango music is like a story, phrasing in 16 or 32 beats of music. Just as there are paragraphs and sentences in a story, there are major (paragraphs) and minor (sentences) phrases; and the period at the end of the sentence is the Tango close.
Waltz is the “Queen of all Dances”, the first closed couple dance. Polka was 2nd closed position couple dance. Waltz is written in 3/4 time (3 quarter notes per measure)–one downbeat, two upbeats. Basic Step is 1Down, 2Up, 3Up.
Viennese Waltz is a very fast waltz with its own unique step variation. It is danced in continuous circles and is smooth as glass.
INTERNATIONAL LATIN & AMERICAN RHYTHM
Swing – From Elvis’ “Hound Dog” to Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire” to “At the Hop”, the 50’s and 60’s swing has been reborn. There are varieties of Swing: East Coast Swing (also known as Jitterbug) which can be danced in single time swing or triple swing; West Coast Swing ; Lindy Hop. West Coast Swing is danced to slower swing music. “Kansas City” is an example. Basic step is the Whip, with a count of 8. Lindy Hop was created at the Savoy in the 40’s. A high energy dance with its own unique styling, using a similar 8-count basic step as West Coast Swing.
Merengue is a combination of two dances, the African and the French Minuet, from the late 1700’s – early 1800’s. The black slaves saw the ballroom dances in the Big Houses and when they had their own festivities started mimicking the “masters’ dances”. adding a special upbeat (provided by the drums), this was a slight skip or a hop.
Salsa - Who invented salsa? The Cubans, Puerto Ricans? Salsa is a distillation of many Latin and Afro-Caribbean dances. Each played a large part in its evolution. Salsa is similar to Mambo in that both have a pattern of six steps danced over eight counts of music. The dances share many of the same moves. Salsa is the hottest craze. Lots of Salsa dance places.
Rumba is the spirit and soul of Latin American music and dance. The fascinating rhythms and bodily expressions make the Rumba one of the most popular Latin dances.
Cha Cha became popular about 1954. Cha Cha is an offshoot of the Mambo. In the slow Mambo tempo, there was a distinct sound in the music that people began dancing to, calling the step the “Triple” Mambo. Eventually it evolved into a separate dance, known today as the Cha Cha. The dance consists of three quick steps (triple step or cha cha cha) and two slower steps on the one beat and two beat. Cha Cha is a great dance for Latin music, rock, or country-very versatile.
Samba originated in Brazil. It was and is danced as a festival dance during the street festivals and celebrations. First introduced in the U.S. in a Broadway play called “Street Carnival” in the late twenties. The festive style and mood of the dance has kept it alive and popular. Samba is a fun dance. It fits most of today’s popular music.
Mambo is the fusion of Swing and Cuban music produced this fascinating rhythm and in turn created a new sensational dance. The Mambo was originally played as any Rumba with a riff ending. It may be described as a riff or a Rumba with a break or emphasis on 2 and 4 in 4/4 time. It first appeared in the United States in New York’s Park Plaza Ballroom – a favorite hangout of dancers from Harlem. 1947 was the year that Mambo created a stir at the Palladium and other dance halls. Popular Mambo songs include “Mambo Italiano”, “Papa Loves Mambo”, “Mambo #5”. Most people treat Mambo as a very fast dance. In essence, it is a slow and precise dance that doesn’t move very much.
COUNTRY WESTERN DANCE
Two Step – Did you know the Two Step came from Foxtrot? Once you know either dance you can go Two Steppin’. This is the most popular Texas dance. Go to any Dance Hall in Texas and they’ll be dancing Two Step. There are many variations but the basic rhythm is Quick Quick Slow Slow.
Polka – Polka rhythm is a step together step, step together step. Everyone loves to polka whether at a German Polka Fest or a country western polka.
Country Waltz is a favorite of most everyone. Country Waltz varies from Ballroom Waltz in that the basic step is: a Forward step for the man: Forward left 1, forward right 2, forward left 3.