Modern Ballroom

Elegant | Beautiful | Graceful

Uplifting and Empowering

Modern Ballroom dancing is an amazingly uplifting experience. Feel the joy of floating around the dancefloor dancing a Waltz, or the passion of strutting your stuff in a Tango. Walk on water doing the Quickstep, or transport yourself to Vienna as you learn Viennese Waltz.

Modern Ballroom, is the term used to describe a collective of dances: Modern Waltz, Quickstep, Slow Foxtrot, Tango, and Viennese Waltz. These five dances are internationally recognised as the Modern Ballroom, or Standard dances for the purpose of competition and teaching diplomas. But, Long-Steps also teaches Slow Rhythm, and Rhythm Foxtrot. These dances that are great social or stepping-stone options for dancers to use, and can also be used for some Pre-Stream and Stream 1 awards.

The Modern Waltz, Quickstep, Slow Foxtrot, and Viennese Waltz are all referred to as “Swing” dances, in reference to the action of the foot as it passes under the body from one step to another. The swing dances have many common traits, the most notable being that the feet remain in constant contact with the floor - with the exception of adding some styling and flair of course. In contrast, the Tango is referred to as a “Placement” dance, a style in which the foot is picked up and placed on the floor with each step - but not in a Ministry of Silly Walks kinda way.

All Modern Ballroom dances are danced in what is called a “closed” hold. The leader’s right hand sits on the follower’s left shoulder blade while their left hand holds the follower’s right; the follower’s left hand rests lightly on the leaders upper right arm. In this position, leader and follower are connected at the hip. Such a close connection allows, with practice, a comfortable and responsive lead and follow action giving rise to the amazing shapes and figures synonymous with the style. The Modern Ballroom dances as we know them today all stem from Europe and North America with intriguing, and sometimes sordid, histories. While these dances now often conjure up images of men in suits and women in long gowns gliding around the floor with ease and grace, it was not always so.

Modern Ballroom is a very rewarding dance style to learn. It is great for the dancer who likes to move around the floor and work together with their partner to embody the spirit of each dance. Learn from scratch, no prior experience needed. Learn with confidence in a fun and safe environment. Learn how you learn best, either in the classroom, or by private tuition. Everyone has to start somewhere, you don’t have to know how to dance, to learn how to dance ballroom.