Latin Dance

Bella Ballroom Dance Studio offers award-winning Latin Dance classes in Orange County, CA. Latin dancing is very popular right now! It’s a great way to get in shape, learn an exciting new skill, and re-vamp your social life. Beginners are always welcome and dance lessons may be taken with or without a partner. Please click on the various underlined links below to learn more about the exhilarating Latin Dance styles.

Salsa Dancing

This fun and energetic dance is the most popular of all the Latin dances because it is easy to learn and is fantastic for all ages and dancing abilities. Salsa dancing has many fast turns, exciting footwork, rhythmic hip movements, and lively music.

Cha Cha

The Cha Cha is a playful and flirtatious dance known for it’s vibrant energy. Although it is traditionally danced to up-beat music with a Latin or Cuban beat, today it is common to dance the Cha Cha to many current styles of music including Top 40, Pop and R&B.

Samba

The Samba is an energetic and lively dance that is currently popular in many parts of the world. Syncopated rhythms, bouncing actions, and rolling hip movements characterize the dance. The Samba may be danced with or without a partner.

Rumba

The Rumba is considered to be one of the most beautiful Latin style dances, earning it’s nickname as “The Dance of Love.” It is characterized by swaying hips, a still upper body, and close partner connections. Although it is traditionally danced to slow Latin music, it is now common to dance the Rumba to current, popular ballads. Because of this, the Rumba is a popular style choice for a wedding dance and slow partner dancing.

Bolero

The Bolero is a slow Latin dance with roots in Spain and Cuba. It is a unique dance with Latin as well as Ballroom dancing characteristics. The sliding steps, soft hip motion and close dance hold make this a romantic and powerful dance style.

Mambo

The Mambo is one of the most vivacious of all the Latin dancing styles. It is characterized by strong hip movements, rhythmical body actions, quick footwork and unique arm wraps and turns.

Merengue

The Merengue is an vibrant Latin dance that is extremely popular in the United States and throughout the world. The Merengue is a fantastic dance for new dancers because it is very easy to learn! The Merengue is danced with “walking steps” with a step taken on each beat of music. While dancers typically use hip motions with this dance, the amount of hip movement varies with personal preference. This dance is considered to be in the same “family” as Salsa and is popular in the night club and social dance scenes.

Paso Doble

The Paso Doble is a theatrical Latin dance with Spanish and French origins. It is a dramatic dance that tells a story through sharp, staccato movements, striking body poses, and flamenco style footwork.

Bachata

The Bachata is a playful Latin dance that is typically danced at Salsa and Merengue dance clubs. This style is danced with soft hip motions, turns and side-to-side footwork. The music of Bachata is very recognizable for its predominant use of the electric guitar combined with Caribbean and Latin musical influences.

Jive

The Jive is lively and fast-paced dance that is typically danced to up-beat swing or contemporary music.