Starting to Dance

What Dance Should I Learn First?

Dance is a language. Learning any language takes time and practice. When getting started with any new dance, we recommend you learn the dance to songs you like. It doesn’t matter if you pick West Coast Swing, salsa, bachata, East Coast Swing, country, or everything in between, learn to dance to music you enjoy listening to.

If you listen to top 40 from 60’s to today, rock & roll, blues, R&B, or hip hop – Start with West Coast Swing

If you listen to Latin music – Start with salsa or bachata.

If you listen to big band or the rat pack (Frank Sinatra) – Start by learning East Coast Swing

If you listen to country – Start by learning West Coast Swing or 2-step

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What is West Coast Swing?

Choosing a Dance

Different Types of Dance to Choose

Ballroom (American)

Ballroom includes beautiful, flowing “Smooth” dances like the Waltz and Tango, to the hot and sizzling “Rhythm” dances such as Cha Cha and Rumba.

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Country Dances

Often referred to as “Ballroom with Boots”, Country 2-Step is rounded off with other dances like the Waltz, Cha Cha, Night Club Two, and Swing.

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Salsa & Bachata

The most universal dance in the world, Salsa crosses languages and cultures. Dances in this genre include Salsa, Bachata, Cumbia and Merengue.

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West Coast Swing

The “Hip Hop Swing”, WC Swing is one of the most fun and versatile dances you could learn. It blends well with almost every music genre.

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Ballroom Dancing

Should I Learn Ballroom Dancing?

Ballroom dancing has become one of the most popular forms of dance, and as such, is inclusive of most couple’s dance. If you would like to learn any of the ballroom competitive dances, such as Rumba, Tango, Waltz, Foxttrot, or cha cha, we offer the full syllabus of dances from beginning social, all the way to competitive dancing.

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Country Dancing

What dances are used in Country?

Competitive Country Dance has sometimes been called “Ballroom with Boots” as it uses many of the same dances as the ballroom dance world such as Waltz, Cha Cha, Swing and West Coast Swing.  Dances that are specific to country include Two Step, Night Club Two Step, Polka, and Triple Two.  Students who learn to dance the country dances will find multiple places to dance socially from country bars to dance associations.  An advantage of learning country is that a competent country dancer can dance with most any dance style easily after becoming proficient socially.

Competitively, Chicago Dance Factory travels with students for country dance events in cities such as Atlanta, New Orleans, Nashville, Orlando, Indianapolis, San Diego, New York, Washington DC, Dallas, Houston, Chicago and more.

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Salsa Bachata

What dances are used in Latin?

The most universal dance in the world, Salsa crosses languages and cultures. Dances in this genre include Salsa, Bachata, Cumbia and Merengue.

Salsa originated in New York with strong influences from Latin America, particularly Cuba and Puerto Rico. The movements of salsa have its origins in Cuban Son, Cha cha cha, Mambo and other dance forms, and the dance, along with the salsa music, originated in the mid-1970s in New York.

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West Coast Swing

The Most Universal Dance of All

West Coast Swing is the most versatile dance in the world that can be danced to Blues, Hip Hop, Top 40, Rock, Country and More as long as it’s 4/4 time.

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