Contemporary Dance Steps
Lake Ontario Dancing Sociables
Basic social dancing tips for fun and exercise
Dance Steps
By Victor Jean Ouellette, November 10, 2005
Modified April 29, 2007
It appears that a lot of people at social dances places, do not know dance steps. This is mostly because no one has ever shown them dance steps. We will show you the following ten dance steps and when to use them with the various types of music. If you learn them all, you will never again say "I could not dance to that band." Or at least almost never.
You will eventually learn the names to these steps and how to do them all. Feet always alternate with one foot stepping on each count and each &. None of these dances are the typical step where one foot taps beside the other one then steps to the side while the other foot taps beside it and back and forth. That one is old fashion now, but very common, and nice to fall back on from time to time.
You will have to learn what foot to start on and how to move with your partner. Leaders will have to learn how to lead and followers will have to learn how to follow. You will also have to learn how to match your dance pattern to your partner if your partner does not know how to dance specific steps. This patterning can be a lot of fun and is part of getting in sync with your partner. Building rapport is always good to know when you are single.
With these following steps you can dance to most bands out there, whether they be Jazz, Rhythm & Blues, Rock & Roll, or Contemporary. The following are the basics. Each step has many variations with intermediate and advanced moves and then competition moves as well.
(Note: These notes are given here as a jog to the memory. Beginners may see them as confusing, but committing to a series of lessons will make things clear.)
The Basic Steps
1.) 123 pause 567 pause
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This is an 8 beat count.
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The variations
2.) 123 kick 567 kick
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The kick is s slide of the sole along the floor between your partners legs done in unison with your partner.
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3.) 123 up 567 up
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The up is a rise on the ball of one foot only done in unison with your partner.
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Next Step
4.) 12 3&4 56 7&8
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This is an 8 beat count.
The 3&4 and the 7&8 steps with the &, are quick steps in succession.
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Next Step
5.) 12 3&4 5&6
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This is a 6 beat count.
The 3&4 and the 5&6 steps with the &, are quick steps in succession.
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The Variation
6.) 12 3&4 56 7&8
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This is an 8 beat count variation. But, it is not danced the same as the one above that looks the same.
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Next Step
7.) 1&2 3&4 56
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A 6 beat count but, this dance also has some 8 beat moves.
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Variation
8.) 1&2 34 5&6 78
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The count almost looks like some others but, it is not danced the same.
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Next Step
9.) 121212121212
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A simple one two count. The, &123 &123 step can also be danced to this music but it is hard to learn. You won't be learning it here.
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Next Step
10.) Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick
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Yes, you recognise this don't you. It is a ballroom step but can be done to many slow songs in a pinch when you don't know what else to do.
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Now that you are thoroughly confused, let's name the dances.
The Five Best Dances for Us
By Victor Jean Ouellette, April 29, 2007
These are five dances that we feel would be good for our crowd to know, so you can dance to most any contemporary band. These following steps are the beginner level. When you get to the Intermediate and advanced steps they break these rules, and when you get into the competitive dance routines sometimes, (well, most times), you can't even see the basic steps at all. For us though, in our crowd, learning the basic steps, with a few intermediate moves, and maybe one advanced move, is all that we will need. Jackie and I are intermediate dance level social dancers.
'Dance Attitude' plays a big part in these dances. Both partners focus on each other. The Attitude comes into play by how you look at your partner. Partners stay square (but jogged a bit) unless the lady is lead differently. The man will learn that he can lead the lady even when his back is to her, if she knows how to take hold of the lead and follow it.
The man and the lady generally keep their upper body quiet. That means no shoulder motion and no arm motion. The reason for this is so a proper lead can be given, one that can be followed by the lady.
In the chart below you will see counts. You have to do these counts in your head, or out loud, when you are a beginner, until you memorize them and they become unconscious.
Anyone who wants to learn these dances just has to ask.
We would like to put a crowd together of men and women who want to learn these steps. Possibly those interested in keeping their brain active by learning dance steps can meet at some dance location. Send us an email please.
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Dance Name
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Count
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1.
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Balboa
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123 slide 576 slide
(It can also be called a kick instead of a slide.)
This is a closed dance with no space between you and your partner. You are tight, tight, tight. One of the best dances for getting close, real close, as close as you dare to your partner. Jackie and I tend to get well, how should we say, pretty darn close. LOL
The slide is a foot slide from the hip, with a straight knee, and going straight forward, without lifting the foot from the floor keeping the entire sole of the shoe on the floor. You can use this step to get close to your partner even if the beat is fast. You just need to be able to do the count to the music That's all.
You see Jackie and I doing this dance quite a lot because we like to get close quite a lot.
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2.
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Lindy Hop
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1&2 34 5&6 78
You are loosely together.
Danced to jazzy type of music when the beat is slow and hard to dance to with other steps.
'Dance Attitude' plays a big part of this dance.
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3.
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East Coast Swing
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1&2 3&4 56
The 1&2 are done a bit to the man's left side, the 3&4 a bit to the right, and the 56 is a rock step, either straight back or with the one foot a little behind the other. You will need to be shown how to do this. There is a single step swing dance that is often called the jive. It is a 1, 2 Rock Step, 1, 2 Rock Step that is done to the singe step because the music is so fast that there is no time to get three steps in. Remember that one person can do the single step while at the same time the other person can do the triple step. They are both done to the same beat. You will understand when you are shown.
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4.
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Disco
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12 12 12 12
This is an easy step but, the mans needs to know how to give the lead. There are no little hops like in Cha Cha. It is just a walking step with the man leading the lady.
The man needs to know how to lead, and the lady needs to know how to follow her lead hand keeping her belly to her hand and then squaring her shoulders to her man after she is turned.
Lady's should most always try to stay square to her man in all dances especially when she is thrown out away from the man. She should not let that left shoulder fall away from the man. That is bad form that will not allow her to get back into position for the next lead.
A man can lead two ladies at the same time in this dance quite easily. You have seen me do this on occasion.
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5.
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West Coast Swing
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12 3&4 5&6
This count almost looks on paper like the East Coast Swing steps when they are all strung together, but they are done entirely differently. It is generally considered to be a hard dance to learn. But, when you learn it you find that a whole new type of dance opens up to you when the music becomes that slower offsetting type of beat. It is a sexy focussed dance where 'Dance Attitude' comes into play.
You can West Coast Swing to a lot of jazz type, blues type music. West Cost afficionados will West Coast it to almost any type of music. You will see Jackie and I doing this dance quite a lot too.
You will need to be shown how to do this dance. It is too difficult to explain on paper how the first 1, 2 lead is performed and how the anchor step 5&6 is done, and how the lady stays in a slot that she goes up and down on, on the dance floor.
It is the anchor step where the flair comes into play. Women like this dance because it is not as regimented as the East Coast Swing and women get to let it loose if they should so choose to. A lot of people start by learning East Coast then switch to West Coast.
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Remember, when the man raises the lady's hand it does not mean turn. It means get ready for a turn. The man will send the raised hand a little to the left or right to indicate which way he wants the lady to turn. So if the hand goes up on the 2 count then the turn starts on the 3 count. If the man does not send the little turn direction signal then he probably wants to turn himself. The lady should not turn if she does not receive the direction signal.
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Dancing is a great exercise.
It helps prevent heart disease and keeps the brain sharp. Scientific research shows that exercising the brain helps keep it fit. Learning dance steps, exercises the brain and the body at the same time.
Come and join us. Get comfy on the dance floor.
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Copyright July 2003, Dr. Victor Jean Ouellette All Rights Reserved
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