Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, Zouk, Tango Argentino and much more!
Explore the multitude of Dance Styles we offer you at our Dance Academy and choose the ones that you like best!
We give you all the tools to create your own personal dance style and shine on every dance floor!
Find an overview of all the different dance styles here!
SALSA STYLES
The best known Latin Dance might be Salsa!
Salsa developed over the centuries from Latin American, African and North American influences.
Today it is danced all over the world.
International Dancers and Performers keep adding new influences and we always strive to keep you updaded for the latest hot moves!
Salsa Music always consists of 8 counts, structuring the music.
Different Salsa-Styles put the focus on different parts of these 8 counts.
The steps of Salsa L.A.-Style and Salsa Classica start on the First Count (called therefore dancing “On 1”,
whereas Salsa N.Y.-Style starts on the second count (then called “On 2”).
Salsa NY-Style
Explained
The Salsa “New York Style” or Mambo was developed by dancers in New York City. This style is danced “On 2”, which means the first step of the basic step starts on the second beat of the Salsa Music, as well as direction changes or breaking steps. Follower and Leader walk an imaginary line on the dancefloor and often change positions, which gives this dance style the name “cross body style”.
The focus on the second beat of the music creates a fluent and steady impression. It stands out as particularly elegant Dance Style.
Salsa Classica
Explained
Salsa Clásica is the “original” Salsa, which is danced throughout the Caribbean countries, with the exception of Cuba and Puerto Rico.
It features a slightly simpler technique than Salsa LA-Style, has less piourettes and is danced in a line and in a more closed position with your dance partner.
Salsa Clásica is danced “On one”, which means starting on the first count of the music and the dancers strive to interpret the mood of the music through movements, steps and patterns, as in all other dance styles mentioned.
Salsa LA-Style
Explained
The Salsa LA-Style (or Los Angeles Style) was developed in the USA between 1990 and 2000. It is danced “on One” and characterised by its patterns, which move back and forth along a straight line.
Follower and Leader walk an imaginary line and often change positions, thus it’s called “cross body style” (as Salsa LA-Style as well). The dance patterns are very spacious and visually clean, are performed swiftly and may even contain acrobatic elements. LA-Style tends to be associated more closely to ballroom dance than the other dances listed here.
Salsa Cubana
Explained
This dance style comes from Cuba and is usually danced to the Rhytm of the “Son” (example: the music of “Buena Vista Social Club”) by Salsa Cubana or Timba.
The main characteristic of this Salsa Style is the rotation of the couple around a shared axis.
The followers do not detach themselves from the the leader during the dance
(like in Salsa NY- or LA-Style, for a Solo), which results in comparatively less possibilities for self-interpretation in this dance style.
Rueda de Casino
Explained
This Salsa Style is great fun and very popular in Vienna!
Dancers of the Cuban or Classic Salsa Style meet up to dance all their favorite dance patterns together, synchronously, in a circle. An experienced dancer in the centre calles out the next dance pattern and all couples follow at the same time.
In class you practice the most popular moves and learn the names of the patterns.
Find new friends at the weekly Rueda-Parties!
Salsa Cali
Explained
Very fast, intensive Salsa Style with a lot of Spice! Cali-Style Salsa, also known as Colombian Salsa and Salsa Caleña, is based on the geographical location of the Colombian City of Cali. Cali is also known as the “Capital de la Salsa” (Capital of Salsa), due to salsa music being the main genre in parties, nightclubs and festivals in the 21st century. The central feature is the footwork which features quick, rapid steps and skipping motions. Perfect for those of you who need new challenges or think that all the other Salsa Styles are much too slow!
BACHATA STYLES
A sensual, romantic dance, featuring simple steps, that are easy to learn.
How much sensuality or romance you want to add to your dance is up to you and your partner and also depends on the Bachata Style.
We teach you all the possibilities!
Bachata Sensual
Explained
Sensual partner dance. The leader decides whether to perform it in open or closed position. Dance moves or step varieties during the performance strongly depend on the music, setting, mood, and interpretation of the rhythms of different instruments. Unlike Salsa, Bachata does not usually include complex turn patterns, although they have come to use more often as the dance evolved. The leading is archieved, like in many other social dances, by a “pushing and pulling” hand and arm communication.
Bachata Dominicana
Explained
Fast steps and brisk footwork are the characteristics of the Bachata Dominicana. Its steps and footwork come from the Cuban “Danzon” and the “Son”, the upper body movements were inspired by the “Son”. The upper body is important in leading, especially when dancing in closed position. In contrast to Bachata Sensual and Bachata Moderna, Bachata Dominicana is danced in a more classical style. Romance, mock flirting and a nice polarity between partners play an important role in all Bachata styles.
Urban Bachata
Explained
This type of bachata is brand new!
It combines the rhythms of bachata with street and hip-hop styles.
Their focus of the movements lies not so much on the sensuality, but on the interpretation of the beats and rhytm of the music, which is accentuated much more than in all other Bachata styles.
It makes this dance more visible in certain songs with musicality and rhythm changes.
One of the most recognized dance couples in urban bachata are Miguel and Rocío.
KIZOMBA
Kizomba is a dance that combines a traditional African dance from Angola with other international romantic dance styles.
In Europe it is a relatively new dance that is very popular and keeps evolving still.
A great number of recent pop songs took up this rhytm.
Semba
Explained
Semba is a dance style and music, originating from Angola, from which Kizomba developed later on. It is very popular in social live in Angola until today, it’s music being played on parties as well as funerals.
It’s name derives from the word “Massemba”, meaning “belly touching”, and refers to the closeness of this dance stile, which is a recognizable featue until today.
By 1950 it was discoverd by western pop music and new artists keep emerging all the time.
Kizomba
Explained
“Kizomba” was the Kimbundu name for a dance in Angola from as early as 1894 and is a derivative of semba, incorporating Kilapanda and Angolan Merengue as well as Argentine Tango and sung originally generally in Portuguese.
Today Kizomba is one of the most popular social dance genres.
Its dance style is known to be very sensual with soft and fluent, continous movements and only few breaks. Nowadays Pop music often feature this rhythm, because of it’s romantic flow.
Urban Kiz
Explained
Urban Kiz developed from traditional Kizomba since about 1980, being shaped by Angolan and european dancers and gaining a lot of popularity trough social media. This dance style evolved, incorporating influences from Ghetto-Zouk, R’n’B, Rap, Dance and Hip Hop. It is danced less close that Kizomba and often lack chest connection. The body tension is stronger and the legs are more straight, ladies have more pivots and piourouettes and the music features more dynamic changes
OTHER DANCES
Brazilian Zouk
Explained
Brazilian Zouk was developed in Brazil from ca. 1990 and evolved from the well known partner dance “Lambada”.
It is a dance style that combines fluid movevents in a trance-like, swaying style but also consists of well defined basic steps and patterns.
It allows you a maximum of creativity and trains your balance and flexibility, while clever techniques let you move fluently on the dancefloor.
By now already an amount of Sub-Genres exist, being influenced by contempory dance and Hip Hop.
Tango Argentino
Explained
Tango Argentino was developed in South America in the 19th century, evolving from African and Latin American influences and was later combined with the orchestral music from European descent. It has little to do with the Ballroom Dance that is thought in traditional European Dance Schools. Today it is danced all over the world in three main variants: Tango de Salon, Tango Nuevo and Tango Milonguero. It makes you gain a profound understanding of your body balance and how to control it. Therefore it’s training can help you excel in various other dances.
Boogaloo / Pachanga
Explained
Boogaloo and Pachanga are two types of dance music from the 1960s, featuring fancy, funny dance steps, that also go well with Salsa Music.
Various single elements can be combined freely and creatively and can be performed without a partner.
It became fashionable in recent years to incorporate some of these cool moves into your Salsa LA- or NY-Style social dance.
Our workshops often feature both dance styles in one class.
Absolutely essential workshop for every advanced Salsa dancer!
Cha-Cha-Cha
Explained
Latin Cha-Cha has only little to do with the classic Ballroom Dance. The rhytm is the same but the steps are based on Salsa LA- or NY-Style steps, which are then adapted to Latin Cha-Cha-Music. It’s basic footwork pattern is also found in various Afro Cuban dance styles. It was first composed in Cuba in 1953 and soon started a dance craze in Havanas dance halls. From there it soon spread around the world.
Body Movements
Explained
An enjoyable workout with Salsa Music.
It consists of stretching and easy dance moves, featuring a mixture of various dance styles from our studio, to make you a more flexible dancer, train your brain and enhance your stamina.
You will work out without ever noticing it!
No previous knowledge required!
Lady Styling
Explained
Especially in LA- and NY-Style Salsa every Dancer gets their time to shine!
When there is a little break in the music, that’s the time to show all the cool Solo Moves you learned in Lady Styling-class and impress your dance partner! Short choreographed step combinations are exercised to gain a deeper understanding of the Music and train your brain.
Men are also invited to join!
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