The tango is a style of Latin dance in which partners walk to the music. The dancers' feet remain close to the floor as their ankles and knees brush while one leg passes the other. The tango is a compact, close-hold dance, in which the man holds the woman slightly offset with his hand across her spine. Partners clasp their right and left hands holding the arms at the woman’s eye level.The tango is a highly emotional and passionate dance.
The mambo originated in Cuba from a musical style called Son. This sensual, upbeat dance features partners moving back and forth with graceful sways and gyrations. The mambo is considered a seductive dance due to rhythmic hip movements. It is typically one of the first dances that people are taught when learning various styles of Latin dance.
The salsa is very similar to the mambo, it is a distillation of African and Caribbean dance styles. Six steps are danced over eight counts of music with turns being a very important feature. While the mambo is characteristically forward and backward movements, the salsa is characterized by side to side movements.
The rumba also is referred to as the grandfather of Latin dance. Originating in Cuba, the rumba is classified by three steps taken over four beats of music. With romantic and sensual interplay between partners, the rumba features straight knees, figure-eight movements, hip rolls and walking on the ball of the foot.
Merengue is the national dance of the Dominican Republic. With fast-paced steps, this dance typically is enjoyed in the club. Partners will step side to side, turning both clockwise and counterclockwise while swinging their hips in a close-hold position. This dance is both easy and enjoyable. It is popular throughout the Caribbean and South America.
The bolero originated in Spain in the late 18th century with smooth and sophisticated movements, danced to both African and Cuban rhythms. It is considered a slow salsa with influences of the tango. Partners will dance together in close-hold position, but also separately during the bolero. The bolero is meant to tell the story of a couple falling in love.
The cha cha originated in Cuba in the 1950s with influences from the mambo and rumba. This flirtatious dance has a “catch-me-if-you-can attitude between partners,” according to JustDanceBallroom.com. Partners move with synchronization and parallel alignment with hip movements and bending and straightening of the knees. As you dance the cha cha you can count; one, two, cha-cha-cha.