RHYTHM DANCING

LINDY / SWING - The Lindy picked up where the Charleston left off. It had "swing-outs," "break-aways" and "shine steps." With the birth of Swing music in the mid 1930's the Lindy climbed the social ladder. In August of 1935,at the Polomar Ballroom, bandleader Benny Goodman played a Fletcher Henderson arrangement of "Stompin'' at the Savoy." The rest, as they say, is history. The dance craze swept the nation, depending on where you lived, it was the Jitterbug, the Lindy or the Swing. Enjoy the lively rhythm of Swing at your local Arthur Murray Dance Studio.

MAMBO- In the 1940's Americans became fascinated by Latin American rhythms. The Mambo combined American Jazz with Afro-Cuban beat. For dancers, the Mambo was an exciting challenge. Arthur Murray Studios became famous for turning out the best Mambo dancers of the Era. Today, the Mambo is exciting to watch and even more exciting to dance. Be one of Arthur Murray's Mambo Dancers!

CHA CHA - Probably the most popular Latin dance in the US, the Cha Cha began as part of the Mambo. It was so easy and so much fun, it became the rage of the early 1950's. It's infectious one-two, one-two-three rhythm demands that sitters become dancers. Everybody can learn the Cha Cha and should. Let the pros at Arthur Murray's teach you Cha Cha 90's Style.

RUMBA - The Rumba began the Cuban and Latin American dance crazes. Danced to music inspired by African rhythms and Spanish melodies, the Americanized Rumba was the basis for the Mambo and Cha Cha in the U.S. The flirtatious rhythms of the Rumba make it a favorite of social and Ballroom dancers alike.

SAMBA - The national dance of Brazil, often called, "The South American Waltz" became the rage of Brazilian society in the 1930's but began as an exhibition dance in Paris in 1905. Movie star and singer Carmen Miranda is credited with making the dance popular in the United States in the early 1940's. It is extremely popular today because it is easily adaptable to today's rhythms (like the Macarena). Everybody who lands in Rio (or wants to feel like they are in Rio) must know how to dance the Samba. MERENGUE - Yes, it's Hot, Hot, Hot!!! The exciting rhythms of the Merengue inspire dancers all over the world to move to the intoxicating beat. There are two schools of thought as to how this captivating dance began. One says it started as a peasant dance in the Dominican Republic by African slaves. The dragging of one leg relieved chafing of leg irons. Another says a returning war hero, a General Maringie, danced, dragging an injured leg. Wherever it began, the Merengue is an exciting Latin dance that is Fun.

SMOOTH DANCING

TANGO - The Argentine Tango began in the West Indies and found it's way to Argentina where it was stylized by the Gauchos to it's present form. It became the romantic rage in 1921, after the silent screen star Rudolph Valentino brought the dance to millions in "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse." Today it is considered the "Dancer's Dance" and is a favorite of all who learn it. The drama and passion of Tango have been demonstrated recently by Arnold Schwarzenneger in "True Lies" and by Al Pacino in "Scent of a Woman".

WALTZ - The Waltz began in 17th century southern Germany. The popularity of the Waltz grew with the music of Johann Strauss and eventually blossomed in the 20th century as the Hesitation Waltz. It is the basis for many dances and is popular today all over the world. The grace and elegance of the Waltz can and should be enjoyed by all.

FOX TROT - In 1913 Harry Fox, a Vaudeville comedian, introduced a Trot to a ragtime song in the1913 Zigfeld Follies that pushed other Trots into the background. It became America's most popular dance and remains today as the standard of social dances. Often called the "get-aquainted" dance or the "first impression" dance, the Fox trot is enjoyed by young and old.