Latin, Ballroom & Jive
Learning to dance is a great way to have fun, exercise, meet new people, improve your confidence and relieve stress and tension after a hard days work! You don't need any experience because Ithika Dance Theatre caters to a range of skill levels including beginners. With lots of different styles of dance to choose from, your dance lessons will be structured to suit you!
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance that takes many different forms. The slow waltz taught by Ithika Dance Theatre has a slow and graceful rise and fall action dance to a 3/4 rhythm.
Foxtrot
The two variations of the foxtrot offered at Ithika Dance Theatre are the basic social, or slow rhythm foxtrot and the more advanced slow foxtrot. The social foxtrot can be danced to the same music as the slow foxtrot and adopts a basic forward and backwards motion. The slow foxtrot has a more smooth, rise and fall action somewhat similar to the waltz.
Tango
The tango is a strong, theatrical dance that involves many staccato (abrupt and short) movements danced to music with a strong beat.
Quickstep
Although it appears similar to a fast foxtrot, the patterns and technique of the quickstep are quite unique. Its step patterns are in some ways similar to the waltz although they are dance to 4/4, as opposed to 3/4 timing. It is a very dynamic dance involving a lot of movement around the dance floor with many advanced patterns including hops, runs, quick steps with a lot of momentum, and rotation.
Rumba
The rumba is considered by many to be the most sensual Latin dance due to its slow rhythym and hip movement. Favoured by most modern bridal couples, at it's most basic level it is easy to learn but highly effective.
Cha Cha
This Latin American dance of Cuban origin can be danced to authentic or more contemporary Latin music or many of the popular songs of today. The cha cha is an energetic dance with a steady beat.
Samba
A lively, rhythmical dance of Brazilian origin, the samba is fun to learn and fun to dance!
Jive
With similar moves to that of swing or rock and roll, the jive is a fun, energetic, versatile dance that you can dance anywhere to many different types of music!
Mambo
The mambo's basic action is very similar to the salsa, although it is executed with more sudden and accentuated movements. What is unusual about the mambo is that you start dancing on the second beat of the bar, not the first. The most famous mambo would have to be Baby and Johnny's in the film Dirty Dancing.
Salsa
The salsa is an exciting, energetic dance influenced by many other Cuban dances such as the Mambo, Cha cha, Guaracha, Changuí, Palo Monte, Rumba, Abakuá, Comparsa and Mozambique.
Merengue
The merengue originated from the Dominican Republic and essentially consists of a stepping actions (not that disimilar to marching) with an exaggerated cuban motion!
Tango Argentino
Developed in Argentina and Uruguay, the tango argentino is a passionate and theatrical dance that is one of the more challenging but fantastic dances to learn due to its unique step patterns and lack of traditional timing!