The samba is an energetic dance done mostly in 2/4 time. Samba music should have 50 measures per minute. Any song which follows these guidelines is suitable for the samba. Some of the most popular and easy-to-find songs which can be used for the samba is Madonna’s “La Isla Bonita,” Nency Ames’ “Eso Besso” and Sergio Mendes’ “Magalenha.”
The cha cha cha is the offspring of the mambo. It was originally part of the mambo, called the Triple Mambo, before splitting off onto its own. The cha cha cha uses 4/4 time, without much rise and fall. Popular songs which can be used to dance it are “Walking On the Sun” by Smashmouth, “Smooth” and “Oye Como Va” by Santana and Julio Iglesias’s “Gozar La Vida.”
Unlike most of the other Latin ballroom dances, the jive did not originate in a Latin American country, but instead began in the United States in the 1940s. The jive is a form of swing dancing and is quite energetic, even more so than the jitterbug, using about 200 beats per minute. You can jive to The Champs’ “Tequila,” “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham and Cherry Poppin’ Daddies’ “Zoot Suit Riot.”
The paso doble is a bold, dramatic dance performed in 2/4 time. The dance mimics the actions of a bullfight and is one of the most theatrical of the ballroom dances. Well-known songs which can be used to dance the paso doble include Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor and the Gipsy Kings’ “Volare.”
The rumba is also done in 4/4, although more slowly, with fewer bars per minute than the cha cha cha. Good songs to use for the rumba are “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green, Michael Jackson’s “Whatever Happens” and Celine Dion’s “Falling Into You.”