Although Argentine Tango can be done in open or close embrace, the older generation still prefers the traditional style of close embrace while the younger generation prefers the open embrace as it allows more freedom of expression such as more fancy footwork & figures associated with Nuevo Tango (aka Modern Tango).

Most people recognize Argentine Tango as being one dance that is normally taught and seen worldwide, but many are unaware that there are two other dances which also plays an important role in the Tango community: Tango Milonga (playful dance done to rhythm that is similar to Merengue music) and Tango Vals (aka Tango Waltz).  There is also a folk dance called Chacarera which is done in some milongas of Buenos Aires as well as other places around the world.

Performances of Argentine Tango:

Performances of Argentine Tango Milonga

Performances of Argentine Tango Vals:

Performances:

The main style in Asia is International where both partners dance in closed position with their bodies parallel but slightly offset from each other by half a body width.  They are also judged by various criteria (ie. connection, frame, posture, speed, timing, proper body alignment, proper usage of weight/ankles/feet, and grooming) in ballroom competition.

There is also a separate category commonly referred to as “Social Dances” where couples dance in a more relax and less structured manner.  They include Social Cha Cha, Off-Beat Cha Cha, Square Rumba, Rock & Roll, Disco Rock, Social Waltz & Rhythm.

Ballroom Performances:

Latin Performances:

Bellydance classes are being offered by Inessa Parker from the former Soviet Union who is also the winner of the International Bellydance Competition in Seoul 2008.  To find more about Inessa, click here.

Performances:

Performances:

Most people remember the 1977 movie “Saturday Night Fever” starring John Travolta which catapulted Hustle into the spotlight and became a national phenomenon in the USA.  It also launched the music careers of Van McCoy, the Bee Gees, Donna Summers and K.C. & the Sunshine Band who were able to capitalize on the success of the movie.  Television stations also got in on the action as they wanted to promote and fuel the popularity of Hustle.  For example, “American Bandstand” would feature Hustle exhibitions and “Dance Fever” would provide an outlet devoted to disco dance competitions.  People such as Billy Farjado, Eddie Vega and Lisa Nunziella became household names with the advent of Hustle.

Today, Hustle has evolved into a more modern and sophisticated style and generally divided into two categories: Los Angeles Style and New York Hustle.  The Los Angeles Style (aka Street Hustle) is usually a slotted dance done to faster music and very little styling for the follower whereas the New York Hustle (aka Latin Hustle) is a very rotational dance that travels all over the floor and is done to slower/medium tempo music with emphasis on footwork and arm styling.

Hustle is considered an Attitude dance with the follower being portrayed as the Diva.  It is characterized by fast turns & spins and synocpated on the first count (&1).  It is also smooth, continuous and constantly moving.  There is no bounce on the syncopated step (the &1 count).  The emphasis is on fancy arm & leg styling with big presentation lines and tends to spotlight the follower more than the leader.  Although drops, lifts & aerial tricks were originally part of the dance, it is now used more for performances & competitions but not so much at the social level.

Hustle is done to 4/4 timing and ranging from 100 bpm to as high as 150 bpm.  The ideal range is usually between 100 to 125 beats per minute (bpm) for beginners.  The basic counts are either &1-2-3 or 1-2-&3 with the majority of people doing it to &1-2-3.  Using 3-1/2 beats of the music, four steps are taken by both partners using the ball-change with a walk-walk.  Because it is considered a 3-Count Hustle dance, the patterns can start on either the downbeat (odd counts) or upbeat (even counts) of the music.

Hustle is still a popular dance around different parts of the USA such as San Francisco and New York as well as in other parts of the world such as Russia.  Still popular within the West Coast Swing community, it is especially popular among the Gay community in the USA where you would see men dancing with other men.

Other Links:
http://www.i-h-d-a.com/
http://www.rahul.net/dhesi/hustle/

Video Links:
http://hustledance.net/

Improvisational Performances:

Choreographed Performances:

NC2S is done to 4/4 time music and to the rhythm of either Slow-Quick-Quick (SQQ) or Quick-Quick-Slow (QQS) with the QQ done to the drum rolls and the S done to the strong thump sound.  In other words, there is a side step (for the Slow) with a back rock step (for the Quick-Quick).

For information about NC2S, check the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightclub_two_step
http://www.lovemusiclovedance.com/niteclub.htm
http://www.argentine-tango.com/nightclub_two_step.htm
http://www.8secondssaloon.com/stepsheets/partner_dances/nightclub2step.html
http://www.dancelovers.com/nightclub_two_step_history.html
http://dancemuskegon.com/nightclub-2step/

Performances:

It is done to 4/4 timing ranging from 140 to 230 bpm, and can be danced either solo or as a partner dance.  The primary style of most Salsa dancers in Singapore is L.A. Style On1.

Performances: