International Style | American Style | Other Styles

Ballroom dancing encompasses a wide variety of partner dances that are danced socially and competitively around the world. Competitive ballroom dancing has two main styles: International style and American style. Most ballroom instructors prefer to teach one style or the other, although both styles are often danced at the same social dance. Although we focus on international style, we also teach some American style dances as well as other styles of social dance. We encourage students to take lessons in a variety of styles.

Commonly danced socially and competitively around the world, International style dances are divided into two categories: International Standard and International Latin. International Standard dances include Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, and Quickstep. These dances travel counter-clockwise around a rectangular floor and are danced to Western music. Competitive couples wear elaborate costumes: men are required to wear bowties and tailcoats, while ladies must wear full gowns, complete with elegant hair-dos and dramatic makeup.

In contrast, International Latin dances are often danced to contemporary Latin music. These dances include Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba, Paso Doble, and Jive. With the exception of Samba and Paso Doble, competitive Latin couples do not travel around the floor. Instead, these couples perform their routines in one spot on the dance floor. Women often wear short-skirted outfits in bright colors, while their partners wear tight-fitting shirts and pants to emphasize their leg actions and body movements.

Many social dancers in the United States prefer the American style dances. They are considered to be easier to execute on a social dance floor and are also easier for beginning dancers to learn. Competitively, American style is competed only in the United States. American style is divided into two categories: American Smooth and American Rhythm. American Smooth consists of Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, and Viennese Waltz. American style Cha Cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Bolero, and Mambo are all American Rhythm dances.

A third category of ballroom dances are often referred to as “club” or “social” dances. Often mixed in with ballroom, many of these dances have their own dance parties devoted to a single style of dance. While these dances can also be danced competitively, their competitions are separate from traditional ballroom dance competitions. These other dances include: West Coast Swing, Merengue, Salsa, Hustle, and Nightclub Two Step. Click here to learn more about these other dances.