In competitive ballroom dance, there are two broad categories (American Style and International Style) that each encompass two sub-categories.

American Style has “Smooth” (Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Viennese Waltz) and “Rhythm” (Cha Cha, Rumba, Swing, Bolero, and Mambo).

Internation Style has “Standard” (Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Viennese Waltz, and Quickstep) and “Latin” (Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, and Jive).

Each has unique aspects regarding its proper execution, but all still use the elements of leading and following that we are already developing in our class.

My dance partner and I are competitors in what is called “American Style Rhythm”.

Read more about this on Wikipedia.

This is a copy of the email I sent to everyone on Thursday, 18 September 2008…

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WELCOME PACKET & SURVEY
- Please bring the completed Survey with you to class on Tuesday
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As a way for you to get the most from dance class, my professional dance partner (Sarah Calhoun) and I have developed some “thinking material” for you. It includes a Welcome letter and a Survey (both in the file
WelcomePacket.pdf.

The first page of the PDF (“Introduction”) discusses some of our philosophy about dance and what you can expect in a dance class with us.

Beginning on the second page of the PDF, you will find the Survey. Please print a copy and complete the Survey on your own time between now and our next class together.

The answers you provide will NEVER be published, shared, or tallied. There are no right or wrong answers.

The questions are designed to exercise your thoughts about why you are dancing and to help reveal effective ways for you to learn. The Survey requires self-reflection, but a little extra effort now will have great payoff in the future.

I will read over the Surveys privately and hold on to them. Periodically throughout the semester, I will return them to you for you
to consider how your answers, attitudes, thought processes, or opinions may have changed.

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CLASS NOTES
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Each week, I will post “Class Notes” outlining the main themes of what we covered in class. Give me about 24 hours to post each class note. They will appear here.

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NEWS FLASH
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An announcement about new class notes also appears in the News Flash area of the Home Page and the Calendar.

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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
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Our website includes a recently-updated FAQ. You may find the following sections particularly useful for our class…
– Shoes
– Changing Partners

The Etiquette section will be useful when you (very soon) begin attending social dances.

You can find the “Welcome Packet” (containing the survey that I mentioned) here…
Policies & Documents.