Ballroom Dance

J M (Mike) Nelson
Email:jmnelson@cloudnet.com
Phone: 612-810-0157

American Ballroom Dance Patterns
Man starts on left foot, woman on right foot
One slow step, S, equals two quick steps, QQ

S Q Q S Q Q - Foxtrot, Rumba, etc. (danced to 2/4 and 4/4 music, takes 8 counts for a complete cycle)
1 3 4 5 7 8, no step on counts 2 and 6, moving foot passes supporting foot on counts 2 and 6.

Q Q S Q Q S or Q Q S Q Q S - Polka, Samba, Salsa
1 & 2 3 & 4 or 1 2 3 5 6 7 with no step on counts 4 and 8.

The patterns above represent different starting points for the same cadence, and these patterns appear in almost every popular dance style.

S S Q Q - Foxtrot, Swing*, Country (Texas) Two-step, Hustle (Yes, Hustle, though most begin "&,1,2,3, it is, indeed, equivalent to SSQQ)**
1 3 5 6 with no step on counts 2 and 4.

S S Q Q S Q Q S -Swing*
1 2 3 & 4 5 & 6

*Variations on the 6-count cadence. In West Coast Swing, counts 1 and 2 are forward walking steps, as in "walk, walk, triple step, triple step." In East Coast Swing, counts 1 and 2 form a rock step, as in "rock step, triple step, triple step." East Coast is often called "Triple Swing," and is also taught as QQSQQSSS (triple step, triple step, rock step). Jitterbug (a.k.a. Single Swing) uses the same cadence as 6-count Foxtrot, SSQQ (step, step, rock step). Many variations in ECSwing and Jitterbug are interchangeable; however, often the Jitterbug dancer must use a triple step to complete a variation.

**Hustle cadence is "3 against 4," in that the cadence occupies three beats, but the style is danced to 4-beat music. Thus, like 6-count swing, foxtrot, and and country two-step, the cadence is constantly juxtaposing itself along the musical line, of little note to most dancers, but sometimes disconcerting to musicians or others who know how to count. It can be counted as "&, 1, 2, 3," as 1, 2, 3, &," as QQSS or SSQQ with equivalent consequences.

S S Q Q S S S Q Q S - 8-Count Swing, Lindy Hop
1 2 3 & 4 5 6 7 & 8
The 8-count "Lindy Hop," popularized by Frankie Manning, was likely the first, popular, version of this cadence, which is also used in WC Swing.

S S S S - One-step in 4/4 - Peabody, Merengue, Pasa Doble.
1 2 3 4
Simply stepping on each beat. This is the easiest of dances, yet can be quite elegant, and is often mistaken for a more sophisticated and complex dance.

S S S S S S - Waltz
1 2 3 4 5 6 For the dancer, the waltz is 6/4; it takes two measures to complete a cycle and return to the starting foot on count one.

S S Q Q H or S S Q Q H- Tango
1 2 3 & 4 or 1 3 5 6 7 ("H" is a tap step, hold without weight change, thus freeing the foot to continue.)

S S S Q Q S S S Q Q - Cha Cha
1 2 3 4 & 1 2 3 4 &
The traditional Cha Cha, as codified by most studios, breaks on 2. Though frowned on by purists, Cha Cha, especially in country music settings, is also danced with a break on 1 and 5 (SSQQS SSQQS, 1,2 3,&,4 5,6,7,&,8), making its cadence comparable to Tango. Fortunately, if your cadence fits the music, most partners will tolerate either version.

Dance Tempos

The following are international standards, though social dancers freely deviate.
Numbers indicate the range in beats per minute (BMP).