1. Basic Position and Frame:
- Partners face each other with a comfortable distance between their bodies.
- The leader (usually the man) places his right hand on the follower's (usually the woman's) left shoulder blade, and the follower places her left hand on the leader's right shoulder.
- The leader's left hand holds the follower's right hand at about waist level, creating a "frame."
2. Natural Turn:
- Starting in the basic position, the leader steps forward with their left foot, drawing the follower forward and slightly to the leader's right.
- The leader then steps backward with their right foot, leading the follower back to the basic position.
3. Reverse Turn:
- Reverse turns are the mirror image of natural turns.
- The leader steps backward with their right foot, drawing the follower backward and slightly to their left.
- The leader steps forward with their left foot, guiding the follower back to the basic position.
4. Side Steps:
- These steps involve moving sideways, either to the right or the left.
- The leader steps to the side, the follower steps in place, and then steps to the side alongside the leader.
5. Progressive Side Steps:
- Similar to side steps, but involves advancing forward or backward while stepping to the side.
6. Backward Basic:
- Like the natural and reverse turns, the backward basic involves steps in alternate directions.
- The leader steps back with their left foot, drawing the follower back with them, and then steps forward with the right foot.
7. Cha-Cha-Chassé:
- This is a three-step pattern found in the Cha-Cha dance.
- The footwork is "step together, step sideways, step together," with a Cuban motion involving hip movement.
8. Cuban Motion:
- This is a swaying movement that incorporates hip rotation, particularly for Latin dances like Salsa.
9. Box Step:
- A box-shaped movement consisting of four consecutive steps: forward-right, forward-left, backward-right, backward-left.
10. Waltz Basic:
- A slow, gentle dance with three steps to a beat.
- The leader steps forward, together, back, creating an arc to the right. The follower steps backward, together, forward, creating an arc to the left.
These basic steps form the foundation of ballroom dancing. Different dance styles, such as Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Salsa, and Swing, incorporate these steps with variations in rhythm, timing, and movement patterns. As dancers progress in their skills, they learn more complex combinations and sequences of these steps.