The passion, the fire, the energy! Latin dances are known for their sultry steps and the strong connections between partners. And when you learn to Latin dance (yes, you can learn!), you will notice just how spicy this style of dance makes you feel. Plus, starting a new hobby like dancing will certainly help you meet new people. You may even lose a few pounds, but that’s one of the many other benefits of starting dance lessons.
If you’re considering learning a fun and invigorating style of ballroom dance, we’ve compiled five of the most popular types of Latin dances. Ranging in difficulty, learning any one these Latin dances will not serve you wrong—and chances are, you’ll want to cross all five off your list once you get started.
5 Most Popular Latin Dances & Why We Love Them
From the Argentine Tango to the Foxtrot, our Arthur Murray New Jersey studios teach a variety of social dances. Among those dances, we teach many Latin styles as well—though, we’ll only be going over some of the most popular Latin dances in this post. This way, you’ll have a starting point and a basic understanding of how to start learning Latin dances.
Salsa
A Latin dance list would not be complete without the salsa, one of the most popular dances in the world.
Why we love it: Though it’s impressive to outsiders, the salsa is actually quite basic, making it great for beginners. It’s danced three steps to four beats—that’s it. Learn more about the history of the salsa here.
Cha Cha
Using the Chasse (triple steps) and rock steps, the cha cha is derived from the rumba and the mambo.
Why we love it: Cuban flair is important in this dance, so if you’re looking to try new things, the cha cha could be a fun start. We also love that anybody can learn the cha cha.
Mambo
Remember “Mambo Number 5?” That same energetic style of music is what you’ll be dancing to with the mamba, a Cuban dance that means “shake it” or “say it.”
Why we love it: Cuban hip movements are a must with the mambo, and the foot points, flicks, and kicks make for a fascinating show.
Merengue
Again, Cuban movement makes this dance spicy. The merengue, however, is supplemented with simple walking and Chasse (side) steps.
Why we love it: The festive, fun attitude of this dance makes it great for party atmospheres. Try breaking it out at the next dance party you host.
Rumba
Even though it dates back more than 400 years ago, the rumba is just now hitting its peak in popularity. This little step is often used as an in-between dance and can be added in any of your freestyle club dancing.
Why we love it: With its subtle Latin hip movements, the rumba is romantic. You can’t go wrong with the rumba.
How you can learn Latin dance
Although you could try to learn Latin dances on your own, nothing compares to being taught, in-person, by a true professional. All of the instructors at our AMNJ studios are ballroom dance extraordinaires with all the right skills to help you succeed, no matter your dance history or lack thereof. We even host exciting in-studio events to help students get acquainted with dancing in group settings.
Find your local Arthur Murray New Jersey studio, and call us or stop in or your first lesson on the house. We want to help you uncover a whole new you through dance because we have a feeling you’re going to love the results.
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