Ballroom Dance is a wonderful social and creative activity that is gaining steady traction as a world sport. Here's our introduction to it.

The dances are divided into categories, the largest of which is general style, composed of American and International. Both styles include most of the same dances, but the moves and timings differ slightly, and have a remarkably different flavor when watched. UMass Lowell dances almost exclusively American style, so we will only be concerned with that.

Within American Style there are two divisions: Rhythm and Smooth. The Rhythm dances are high-energy dances of Latin descent that typically stay in about the same place on the dance floor. The music upbeat and the skirts are short. The Smooth dances are graceful and elegant, having descended from the formal balls of Europe.

Smooth and Rhythm each provide unique challenges and experiences. In the Ballroom Club we learn both categories, focusing mainly on what are known as the 'Big Six.' The Big Six is three rhythm dances: Cha Cha, Rumba, Swing; and three smooth dances: Waltz, Tango, and Foxtrot. The easiest way to develop a sense of what those names mean is to see the dances in action. The best way to learn their nuances, styles, and the stories they tell is to learn to dance them.

As an introduction to Ballroom, we have provided a series of online video clips of the Big Six, plus a few extras that are often performed at higher levels.

To view the Rhythm Dances, visit our YouTube Rhythm Playlist. This playlist has five dances in it. The first three are commonly danced Cha Cha, Rumba, and Swing. The following two are less common dances that are used at higher levels of competition. They are the Mambo (which is a close cousin of Salsa) and the Bolero, a slower, more dramatic relative of the International Rumba.

To view the Smooth dances, visit our YouTube Smooth Playlist. This playlist has four dances in it. The first three are the staple Waltz, Tango, and Foxtrot. The fourth dance is Viennese Waltz, a very fast evolution of the common slow Waltz. Because of the speed, rapid turning, and quick maneuvers in this dance it is not suggested for beginners.