Duranguense dance is fast-paced and danced with a partner. The man is usually the lead and the steps mix traditional Mexican dance with a fast swaying and shaking of the hips. Duranguense music is very fast and the resulting pasito is a high-energy dance step. Duranguense music is driven by a very low bass drum and the dance follows this rhythm. Your objectives are to keep in time with that rhythm and to stay with your partner. It takes practice and lessons can help. While Duranguense is popular, there is not a lot of formality to learning the dance, but there are a few options.
Some colleges and universities will offer cultural courses, music courses, lectures and dance courses related to Latin American arts. In such courses, you will learn about the history of various dances and some of those courses may cover Duranguense. For example, Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles offers lectures from time to time on regional Mexican music. This lecture offers students the opportunity to learn Duranguense at the end of the lecture, along with other dance styles.
Another option (while hard to find) is to take Duranguense lessons at formal dance studios. Most of the studios that offer Duranguense dance lessons are Mexican dance studios. In these courses you will learn about the music, the dance steps and gain a lot of practice in a classroom setting. If you want to learn before dancing at functions in front of others, this is your best option if you can find a studio in your area that offers classes or lessons.
Most people learn Duranguense in informal settings. Such settings include Duranguense concerts, family gatherings, community gatherings and friends teaching one another. Remember, Duranguense is about celebration of Mexican heritage and is more of a social dance than a formal dance like ballet. Therefore, informal settings are the best opportunity to learn quickly and to discover new innovations in the dance as they evolve. In addition, a popular informal way to learn the dance is through online videos. YouTube.com is a popular venue for such videos.