CHACHA

The Cha Cha is one of the most popular of the social Latin-American
dances. Lively and flirtatious, the Cha Cha is full of passion and energy.
Cha Cha Characteristics
The Cha Cha is a vibrant, flamboyant and playful dance. The light and
bubbly feel of the Cha Cha gives it a unique sense of fun for dancers
throughout the world. The Cha Cha requires small steps and lots of hip
motion (Cuban motion), as it is danced in 4/4 time. The fourth beat is
split into two, giving it the characteristic 2,3,4 & 1 rhythm. Therefore,
five steps are danced to four beats as in the "One, two, cha cha cha"
rhythm.
History of the Cha Cha
Also called the Cha Cha Cha, this unmistakable dance originated in
Cuba in the 1940s. Composer and violinist Enrique Jorrin developed the
dance as a variant of the Mambo and Rumba. The name is
onomatopoeic, derived from the sound of dancers' shoes as they
shuffled around the floor.
Cha Cha Action
To dance Cha Cha like professionals, dancers must master "Cuban
motion," the characteristic Latin body action.
Cuban motion is simply a distinctive way in which the hips move up
and down. The hip movements come mainly from alternately bending
and straightening the knees...as one knee bends (or straightens), the
same hip drops (raises).
The basic components of the Cha Cha are triple steps and rock steps.
Quick, small steps must be maintained throughout the dance. The
distinctive movements of the hips result from the constant bending
and straightening of the knees. Dancers must synchronize each
movement as they dance parallel to one another.
Distinctive Cha Cha Steps
Because the Cha Cha is very similar to the Rumba and Mambo, several
steps coincide with the steps of these dances. The main difference
between the dances is that the "slow" steps of the Rumba and the

Mambo are replaced with a triple step in the Cha Cha.

Cha Cha Rhythm and Music
Because of the carefree nature of the Cha Cha, its music should
produce a happy, party-like atmosphere, with a tempo of 110 to 130
beats per minute. Cha Cha is often danced to authentic Cuban music,
but is popular in all music genres, including country, funk, and hip hop.

FOXTROT
The Slow Foxtrot is a favorite among many ballroom dancers...think
about the smooth dancing of Fred and Ginger. Because of its
smoothness, it is often referred to as the Rolls Royce of the standard
dances. Once you learn the Foxtrot, you really feel like a dancer. (The
quicker version of the Foxtrot developed into the Quickstep.)
Foxtrot Characteristics
A beautiful, romantic dance, the Foxtrot is composed of fairly simple
walking steps and side steps. The dance combines slow steps, which
use two beats of music, and quick steps, which use one beat of music.
The footwork timing is usually "slow, quick, quick" or "slow, slow, quick,
quick." The Foxtrot must be danced very smoothly, with no jerking of
the body. Timing is also a very important component of the Foxtrot. As
the Foxtrot is more challenging than other styles of dance, it is usually
recommended to master the Waltz and Quickstep prior to attempting
it.
Foxtrot History
The Foxtrot was developed in the United States in the 1920s. Named
after its inventor, entertainer Harry Fox, the Foxtrot is often associated
with the smooth dancing style of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. It has
become one of the most popular ballroom dances in history.
Foxtrot Action
The Foxtrot is very similar to the Waltz. Both are extremely smooth
dances that travel along a line of dance counterclockwise around the
floor. The rise and fall action of the Foxtrot comes from the long
walking movements made by the dancers. The dance combines quick
steps with slow steps, giving dancers more flexibility in movement and
greater dancing pleasure.

Distinctive Foxtrot Steps

Distinctive to the Foxtrot, dancers take long steps during the slower
counts, and short steps during the faster counts. In order to maintain
the "trot" of this dance, dancers should shorten their steps as the
tempo of the music increases. Some of the sstep create attractive zigzag patterns on the dance floor. A couple of steps distinctive to the
Foxtrot are the Weave and the Feather Step:
Weave: Consists of 6 quick steps in a row, all on the toes. (Quick steps
are usually performed on the toes, with slow steps taken on the heels.)
Feather Step: The man steps outside of the woman. This step earned
its name because of the action of the step: it resembles the "feathering
the oar" action in rowing.
Foxtrot Rhythm and Music
The Foxtrot is typically danced to big band swing-style music, but may
be danced to most music types. In the Foxtrot, the first and third beats
are accented more strongly than the second and fourth beats. The
foxtrot is typically danced to big band swing-style music written in 4/4
time, with tempo around 120 to 136 beats per minute.

JIVE
Jive is one of the five International Latin dances. A lively, and
uninhibited variation of Jitterbug, many of its basic patterns are similar
to those of East Coast Swing.
Characteristics of Jive
Jive and East Coast Swing share many figures, as well as the same
music style and tempo. The basic look and feel of Jive is lots and lots of
energy, with the legs portraying a pumping action. Both the East Coast
Swing and basic Jive consist of two triple steps and a rock step. The
Jive differs in that the count begins with the rock step, which is counted
"1,2." The two triple steps are counted "3 and 4" and "5 and 6."
History of Jive
Originating in the United States in the 1940s, Jive was influenced by
the Boogie, Rock & Roll, African/American Swing and Lindyhop.

Jive Action
Jive is a very happy, boppy, energetic dance, with plenty of kneelifting, bending, and rocking of the hips. The fastest of the Latin
dances, Jive incorporates lots of kicks and flicks, even twirling of the
woman, and doesn't move around the dance floor like other dances.
Although Jive dancers may appear to be moving their feet haphazardly
in every direction, the feet are actually well-controlled under the body
with the knees close together.
Distinctive Jive Steps
The basic Jive step (Jive Basic) is a 6-beat pattern:
rock step (counts 1&2)
chasse to the left (counts 3&4)
chasse to the right (counts 5&6)
Jive Music and Rhythm
Jive can be danced to swing music and jump blues in the tempo range
of about 200 beats per minute. Depending on the style preferred, Jive
can be danced to a variety of upbeat music including Boogie-woogie,
Swing and Rock and Roll. The most important thing for beginners is to
get familiar with the rhythm of the music. Listen to the drum line
rather than the melody...the drum provides the beat.

LINDY HOP
Referred to as the grandfather of all swing dances, the Lindy Hop (or
Lindy) is a couple's dance that originated in the early 1900s. Lindy Hop
evolved from the Charleston dance and several other dance forms.
Often described as the original Swing dance, the Lindy Hop relies
mostly on improvisation by its dancers, making it both fun and playful
on the dance floor.
Lindy Hop Characteristics
The Lindy Hop is a sporty, athletic form of partner dancing. Instead of
dancing in an upright, elegant posture, Lindy Hop dancers maintain an
active, athletic stance that keeps their legs in constant movement.
There are two main styles of Lindy Hop, Savoy style and G.I. style.

Savoy style is characterized by long, horizontal lines, while G.I. style is

danced in a more upright position. Although achieving the look of one
of these styles is usually the goal, Lindy Hop dancers also bring their
own personal style into the dance. This unique and energetic dance
style can be wild and spontaneous, full of frenzied kicks and body
movements, or very smooth, calm and sophisticated.
Lindy Hop History
Lindy Hop developed as an African American dance, based in part on
the popular Charleston dance. Named for Charles Lindberg's flight to
Paris in 1927, the Lindy Hop evolved in the streets of Harlem. Despite
its name, the dance has no "hop" to it. Instead, it is smooth and solid
without hopping, bopping, or prancing by the dancers. The Lindy Hop
has inspired several other dances such as East Coast Swing, Balboa,
Shag, and Boogie Woogie.
Lindy Hop Action
The defining movement of the Lindy Hop is the swingout. In the
swingout, one partner pulls the other from an open position into a
closed position while pivoting 180 degrees, and then swings the
partner back out to the original starting position. Although the Lindy
Hop can contain acrobatic moves, most steps are extremely smooth,
precise and perfectly in sync with the music.
Lindy Hop Distinctive Steps
Lindy Hop dancers make use of lots of fancy footwork borrowed from
the Charleston and Tap dancing. Lindy Hop followers match the
footwork of the leaders, and every step taken is a weight change. The
Lindy Hop consists of both 6 and 8-count steps. Dancers often perform
"shine steps" that allow the dancers to "shine" on the dance floor,
including fun steps such as Suzi Q's, Truckin's, and Twists, as well as
"air steps" in which dancers perform aerial moves include daring
backflips.
Lindy Hop Rhythm and Music
The Lindy Hop is a fast-paced, joyful dance with a flowing style that
reflects its music. The Lindy Hop grew up with great Swing bands of
the era: the bands inspired the dancers and the dancers inspired the
bands, resulting in advances in both dance and musical expression that

would eventually evolve into Rock 'n Roll. Whether referred to as Lindy
Hop, Jitterbug, or Jive, the inspiring music was Swing, with a tempo of
120-180 beats per minute. Swing rhythms exist throughout rock,
country, jazz and blues, making all of these music styles perfectly
acceptable for dancing the Lindy Hop.

MAMBO
Originally from Cuba, the Mambo is enjoyed throughout the world at
both the social and competitive dance levels. The mambo is a favorite
of ballroom audiences because of its high energy level and infectious
rhythms. Popularized in recent years by singers such as Ricky Martin,
the Mambo is fascinating and diverse.
Mambo Characteristics
The feel of the Mambo is based mostly on forward and backward
movements. The basic components of the dance include rock steps
and side steps, with occasional points, kicks, and flicks of the feet.
Important to Mambo is the distinctive hip movement, hence the
meaning of the word mambo: "shake it."
Mambo Action
Some say the Mambo is a flirtatious, sensual dance, sometimes almost
raunchy. Mambo dancers appear quite passionate and seem to express
that passion with the movements of their hips. Exaggerated hip
movements combined with long, flowing movements and sharp, quick
steps contribute to the sensuous feel of the Mambo.
Distinctive Mambo Steps
The Mambo uses a 4/4 beat and is similar in rhythm to the slower
Bolero. The basic Mambo combination is counted as "quick-quick-slow,"
with the foot moving on the second beat. On the third beat, the weight
shifts to the other foot, returning to the original foot on the fourth beat.
Dancers swing their hips through each step, creating a fluid motion and
a sensuous atmosphere.
Mambo Music and Rhythm
In Mambo music, the rhythm is set by a variety of percussive
instruments, including maracas and cowbells. Beginners may be
confused by the variety of Mambo rhythms, but variety is what gives

Mambo its spice. The tempo of Mambo also varies between musicians,
with a wide range of 32 beats per minute to a challenging 56 beats per
minute. In the past, Mambo bands would hold friendly competitions to
see who could create the best mambo rhythm. Today the dance is
making a comeback and is performed in ballroom competitions.
History of Mambo
The Mambo dance originated in Cuba as a mixture of Afro-Caribbean
and Latin American cultures. The Mambo is believed to have been
named after the voodoo priests who thought they could send dancers
into hypnotic states. Initially condemned by the churches and
restricted by authorities in some countries, with time the Mambo
gained popularity and became the favorite dance style that it is today.

PASO DOBLE
Paso Doble, or Pasodoble, is a lively dance modeled after the drama of
the Spanish bullfight. Paso doble actually means "two-step."
Paso Doble Characteristics
The Paso Doble is a theatrical Spanish dance. Traditionally, the man is
characterized as the matador (bullfighter) and the lady as his cape in
the drama of a Spanish bullfight. The dancers may choose to enact the
role of the torero, picador, banderillero, bull, or Spanish dancer, and
may change roles throughout the dance. Based on Flamenco dancing,
the Paso Doble is both arrogant and passionate. The Paso Doble is
performed more as a competition dance than as a social dance.
Paso Doble History
The Paso Doble originated in southern France and began gaining
popularity in the United States in the 1930s. Because the dance
developed in France, the steps of the Spanish Paso Doble actually have
French names.
Paso Doble Action
One of the most dramatic of all the Latin dances, the Paso Doble is a
progressive dance.In the Paso Doble, dancers take strong steps forward
with the heels, and incorporate artistic hand movements. The forward
steps, or walks, should be strong and proud. The man should also
incorporate apel, a move in which he strongly stamps his foot, much

like a matador strikes the ground in order to capture the attention of

the bull. All moves of the Paso Doble should be sharp and quick, with
the chest and head held high to represent arogance and dignity.
Distinctive Paso Doble Steps
In Spanish, "Paso Doble" means "two step" and refers to the marching
nature of the steps. The dance consists of several dramatic poses that
are coordianted with highlights in the music. The body is held upright
with the feet always directly underneath the body.
Paso Doble Rhythm and Music
Paso Doble music has strong Flamenco influences. The bold, inspiring
music has a simple 1-2-1-2 march rhythm, with very few rhythm
changes. The tempo of Paso Doble music is usually a brisk 60 beats per
minute. The Spanish Gypsy Dance has become the universal anthem of
the Paso Doble.

QUICKSTEP
Much like a fast version of the Foxtrot, the Quickstep is a ballroom
dance style composed of extremely quick stepping and syncopated
feet rhythms in time to fast-paced music. Although difficult to master
and perform, the Quickstep is lots of fun to watch.
Characteristics of Quickstep
Elegant, smooth and glamorous, Quickstep dancers are energetic while
appearing extremely light on their feet. It should appear that the feet
of the dancers barely touch the ground. Much like the Foxtrot, dancers
should strive for elegance. Upper body posture must be straight and
strong throughout each movement.
Quickstep Action
The Quickstep usually follows a 4/4 time pattern. The basic feel of the
Quickstep is slow-quick-quick, slow-quick-quick, with "slow" taking
beats one and two, and "quick-quick" taking beats three and four. Most
of the "slow" steps are taken on the heel, while most "quick" steps are
taken on the balls of the feet.
History of the Quickstep

The Quickstep was developed in the 1920s in England. During this

time, many bands began playing the Foxtrot at a faster pace, earning
the name Quick Foxtrot. The Charleston appeared after this, but lacked
long-term potential. However, in 1927 the Charleston was combined
with the Qucik Foxtrot resulting in a name that was much too long: the
Quick Time Fox Trot and Charleston, so it became known simply as the
Quickstep.
Distinctive Quickstep Steps
Distinctive to the Quickstep is an up-and-down, rise-and-fall swinging
motion performed at a fast pace.
Once dancers have mastered the basic Quickstep steps, turns, and
runs are added to add variety to the dance.
Music and Rhythm
Music used for the Quickstep is usually jazz or swing with a brisk tempo
of about 50 beats per minute. The tempo is a little faster than a brisk
walking pace, although it seems much faster to beginners.

RUMBA
The Rumba is a dance that tells a story of love and passion between a
strong, male lover and a coy, teasing woman. Full of sensual
movements, the Rumba is considered by many to be the sexiest of the
ballroom dances. "Rumba" is a term that refers to a variety of dances
or a "dance party." This dance of love is one of the most popular
ballroom dances and is seen around the world at nightclubs, parties,
weddings and dance competitions.
Rumba Characteristics
The Rumba is a very slow, serious, romantic dance with flirtation
between the partners. The dance is fun to watch, as many of its basic
dance figures of the dance have a teasing theme in which the lady
flirts with and then rejects her male partner, often with apparent
sexual aggression. The Rumba spotlights the lady's rhythmic body
movements and hip actions resulting in intense, almost steamy, scenes
of passion.
History of Rumba

The rumba is often referred to as the "grandfather of the Latin dances."

Originating in Cuba, it first came to the United States in the early
1920s. The Rumba is the slowest of the five competition Latin and
American dances.
Rumba Action
The distinctive hip movement, called Cuban Motion, is a very important
element of the Rumba. These hip movements and characteristic sways
of the Rumba are generated by the bending and straightening of the
knees. The intensity of the Rumba is increased by sharp eye contact
that is maintained between the man and the woman. The stillness of
the upper body, while adding dramatic intensity, also emphasizes the
strong, sensuous leg and foot movements.
Distinctive Rumba Steps
The basic rhythm of the Rumba is quick-quick-slow with distinctive
side-to-side hip movements. Hip movements are exaggerated, but are
not generated by the hips - they are simply a result of good foot, ankle,
knee and leg action. When these weight transfers are well-controlled,
the hips take care of themselves.
Rumba Music and Rhythm
Rumba music is written with four beats to each measure, in 4/4 time.
One full step is completed in two measures of music. The music tempo
is usually about 104 to 108 beats per minute. Rumba rhythms, while
once influenced by African-style music, have found their way into
Country Western, Blues, Rock, and other popular music types. The
music is sometimes enhanced by homemade instruments from the
kitchen such as pots, pans and spoons.

SAMBA
Developed in Brazil during the 19th century, the Samba is considered
the dance of celebration and joy at Carnival celebrations in Rio. Lively
and rhythmical, there are many types of Samba dances, just like there
are many types of Samba music. Ballroom partner Samba, one of the
popular Latin dances in ballroom competitions, is made up of many
different South American dances mixed into one. In Brazil, a Samba
dancer is known as a Sambista.

Samba Characteristics
Before Samba became a ballroom dance style, there were many styles
of partner dances as well as solo Samba dances. As with the solo
Samba, partner ballroom Samba has a quick beat that requires fast
footwork. Over the years, the Samba has incorporated elaborate tricks,
turns, and acrobatic feats into its basic set of figures. The main
characteristics of the Samba are rapid steps taken on quarter beats
and a rocking, swaying motion of the dancers.
Samba History
Introduced in 1917, the Samba wasn't adopted by Brazil as a ballroom
dance until 1930. In Brazil, Samba is mostly danced solo, and remains
especially popular during celebrations of Carnival. The festive mood of
the dance is responsible for its continued popularity. In International
style Latin dancing, the Samba is one of the five Latin competition
dances.
Samba Action
The major action of Samba, the "Samba Bounce Action," gives the
dance its unique look and feel. The Samba Bounce Action is a gentle,
rhythmic action felt through the knees and ankles. Samba dancers
must strive to make this action appear effortless and carefree...it
should never be exaggerated. This bounce action is quite difficult to
master, but really adds to the overall character of the Samba.
Distinctive Samba Steps
The basic footwork of the Samba includes fast, three-step weight
changes with a slight knee lift, led with alternating feet. The basic
rhythm is "quick, quick, slow, and." Distinctive Samba steps include the
following:
Voltas
Bota Fogos
Kick Change
Samba Side Steps
Samba Strut

The Samba also has a distinctive, dramatic climax...it concludes with

dancers throwing back their heads and extending their arms out to the
sides.
Samba Rhythm and Music
Samba music, with its distinctive rhythm, is highlighted by original
Brazilian musical instruments, including the tamborim, chocalho, recoreco and cabaca. Samba is danced to music with a tempo of about 100
beats per minute. The fast and energetic rhythm of Samba music
encourages spontaneous dancing, such as in the streets during a
Carnival celebration.

TANGO
One of the most fascinating of all dances, the tango is a sensual
ballroom dance that originated in Buenos Aires, Argentina in the early
twentieth century. Tango is usually performed by a man and a woman,
expressing an element of romance in their synchronized movements.
Originally, the tango was performed only by women, but once it spread
beyond Buenos Aires, it developed into a dance for couples. The
popularity of the tango has greatly increased over the years. Argentine
Tango is much more intimate than Modern Tango, and is well-suited to
dancing in small settings. Argentine Tango retains the intimacy of the
original dance.
Tango Styles
Several different styles of tango exist, each with its own individual flair.
Most of the styles are danced in either open embrace, with the couple
having space between their bodies, or in close embrace, where the
couple is closely connected at either the chest or the hip area. Many
people are familiar with "ballroom tango," characterized by strong,
dramatic head snaps.
Tango Techniques
Tango is danced to a repetitive style of music. The count of the music is
either 16 or 32 beats. While dancing the tango, the lady is held in the
crook of the mans arm. She holds her head back and rests her right
hand on the man's lower hip. The man must allow the lady to rest in
this position while leading her around the floor in a curving pattern.
Tango dancers must strive to make a strong connection with the music

as well as their audience.

Tango Music
Argentine tango shares with American jazz decidedly working class
origins that quickly attracted the interest of classical composers and
folk composers who elevated their art. For most Americans, Astor
Piazzolla best exemplifies this duality. Piazzolla's tango innovations
were at first derided by tango purists who hated the way Piazzolla
incorporated non-tango musical elements in his compositions (a battle
the jazz police and jazz fusion listeners are still waging in the U.S), but
eventually Piazzolla won out. His tangos have been recorded by the
Kronos Quartet, who were early advocates, and afterward by most of
the world's great orchestras.
Tango History
Early tango styles greatly influenced the ways in which we dance
today. Tango music has become one of the greatest of all music genres
throughout the world. Spanish settlers were the first to introduce the
tango to the New World. Ballroom tango originated in working-class
Buenos Aires. The dance spread quickly through Europe during the
1900's, then moved on into the United States. Tango began gaining
popularity in New York around 1910.
Tango Popularity
Tango has become very popular in recent years, as evidenced by the
various movies developed around the dance. Several films showcase
the tango, such as Scent of a Woman, Take the Lead, Mr. & Mrs. Smith,
True Lies, Shall We Dance, and Frida.

VIENNESE WALTZ
The Viennese Waltz is the classic, original Waltz often featured in old
films. The elegance and charm of the Viennese Waltz reminds us of
glamorous balls in the palaces of Europe. A waltzing couple rotates
around the floor, revolving gracefully around each other. The Viennese
Waltz is a quick, rotating dance, much faster-paced than the classic,
slow Waltz. This simplied social version is a beautiful, non-strenuous
dance that dancers of all abilities can enjoy.
Viennese Waltz Characteristics

The Viennese Waltz is characterized by sweeping turns that move

gracfully around the floor. This dance is known for its simple and
elegant rotational movement.
Viennese Waltz History
The Waltz developed in Central Europe, originating from the Austrian
folkdance known as the "Landler." The dance arrived in Vienna during
the 1800s, then became popular throughout Europe and America. The
music of Johann Strauss helped to popularize the faster, elegant
Viennese Waltz.
Viennese Waltz Action
The principal action of the Viennese Waltz is the sweeping turns that
move gracefully around the floor. The rise and fall action is abrupt and
shallow, and the steps are small and compact. Dancers exhibit graceful
fluency, stamina and timing as they rotate charmingly around the
dance floor.
Viennese Waltz Distinctive Steps
The simple moves of the Viennese Waltz are comprised of one gentle
swing action to each bar of music. The dance has a delightful, lilting
feel. The following steps are distinctive to the Viennese Waltz:
Basic Natural Lilt Step
Basic Reverse Lilt Step
Stationary Lilt Step
Viennese Waltz Rhythm and Music
Viennese Waltz music belongs to the music genre that accompanied
the fast Waltzes of the the Romantic era in Vienna. The music is usually
written in 6/8 time with a fast tempo of about 180 beats per minute.
Almost always instrumental, Viennese Waltz music is written for
orchestras of various sizes. Dancers today enjoy many different styles
of Waltz music, many of which are not Viennese. The Vienesse Waltz
can be danced to music that is instrumental, vocal, classical, celtic,
country, or popular Top 40 hits.

WALTZ

The romantic Waltz is one of the most popular ballroom dances of all
time. Considered by some as the "mother of present day dances" and
the "backbone dance" of the ballroom, the Waltz is the basis for many
dances. Developed in Germany, the Waltz is popular all over the world.
A truly romantic dance, the Waltz is comprised of soft, round, flowing
movements.
Waltz Characteristics
The Waltz is a smooth dance that travels around the line of dance.
Characterized by its "rise and fall" action, the Waltz includes a step,
slide, and step in 3/4 time. Dancers should move their shoulders
smoothly, parallel with the floor instead of up and down. Dancers must
strive to lengthen each step. On the first beat of the music, a step is
taken forward on the heel, then onto the ball of the foot with a gradual
rise to the toes, continuing on to the second and third beats of the
music. At the end of the third beat, the heel is lowered to the floor to
the starting position.
Waltz History
Based on basic techniques originating during the 1920s, the Waltz has
continued to develop throughout the 20th century. The Waltz was born
as an Austro-German folk dance known as the Landler, which was
characterized by the rotating movements of partners dancing together.
The music of Johann Strauss helped to popularize the Waltz.
Waltz Action
Unique to the Waltz are the techniques of "rise and fall" and "body
sway." Rise and fall is the elevating and lowering that a dancer feels as
he or she moves onto the toes, then relaxes through the knee and
ankle, ending on a flat foot. This stylish action gives couples an upand-down appearance as they glide effortlessly around the floor. Body
sway gives couples a pendulum-like look, swinging and swaying their
upper bodies in the direction they are moving. These actions should be
smooth and confident, making the Waltz a simple, yet elegant and
beautiful dance.
Waltz Distinctive Steps
The basic movement of the Waltz is a three-step sequence consisting
of a step forward or backward, a step to the side, and a step closing

the feet together. The timing of the steps are called as "Quick, Quick,
Quick" or "1,2,3."
Waltz Rhythm and Music
Waltz music is written in 3/4 time, counted as "1,2,3 - 1,2,3." The first
beat of each measure is accented, corresponding to the extended,
highly-stretched step that is taken on the first count. With its
distinctive rhythm pattern, the Waltz is easy to recognize and simple to
learn.