Feel confident on the dance floor—step by step! This third edition of Social Dance: Steps to Success will teach you all the moves for 10 of today’s most popular dance styles:
Merengue
Four-count swing
Waltz
Six-count swing and hustle
Foxtrot
Polka
Cha-cha
Rumba
Tango
Salsa and mambo
Part I What Every Dancer Needs to Know: Building a Solid Foundation
Step 1 Posture, Frame, and Centering: Looking Like a Dancer
Step 2 Music Structure: Hearing Reliable Cues in the Music
Step 3 Dance Rhythm Strategies: Connecting With the Music
Step 4 Partner Dynamics and Etiquette: Communicating Effectively
Part II 10 Social Dances: Rhythmic Step Patterns, Transitions, and Variations
Step 5 Merengue: Joining the Party
Step 6 Four-Count Swing/Hustle: Keeping the Rhythm
Step 7 Waltz: Moving Stately
Step 8 Six-Count Swing: Looking Jazzy
Step 9 Foxtrot: Dancing Regally
Step 10 Polka: Having Fun
Step 11 Cha-Cha: Being Flirtatious
Step 12 Rumba: Reflecting Romance
Step 13 Tango: Expressing Attitude and Flair
Step 14 Salsa/Mambo: Adding Spice and Flavor
Part III Etiquette On the Dance Floor: Adding the Finishing Touches
Step 15 Dance Floor Etiquette: Moving From Practice to Social Dance Settings
Step 16 Turn Technique, Styling, and Timing Options: Looking Good
Judy Patterson Wright earned her PhD in 1981 in motor learning and motor development from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she focused on the learning process for sequential dance skills and how teachers may facilitate that process. She is an accomplished dancer and educator who has taught social dance at the junior high, high school, college, and community levels since 1971.