| Many times we find ourselves in a place where the | | | | - Does it have a sharp staccato beat? - try Cha-Cha, |
| music playing is contemporary songs - not the strict | | | | West Coast Swing, or Hustle |
| Ballroom or Latin rhythms that we are accustomed to. | | | | - Is the tempo medium and undefined? - try East |
| How do you go about selecting the dance that best | | | | Coast swing, Hustle, Rumba, or Foxtrot |
| "fits" the music playing? | | | | - Is the tempo very fast? - Try Salsa, Retro Swing, |
| First, it's helpful to understand that (with the exception | | | | Merengue As you can see, you can have fun trying |
| of the Waltz), most songs have four beats per bar or | | | | different dances to the different tempos. You can |
| measure of music, and you can choose patterns from | | | | even try different dances to the same songs. The |
| most any dance and apply them to any song that is | | | | more dances you know, the more options you have. |
| playing. | | | | There is no right or wrong - only what works best for |
| Deciding what to dance is based mostly on the tempo | | | | you. |
| of the song and your mood: | | | | While driving and listening to music on the radio, try to |
| - Is it slow and melodious? - a Rumba will feel great | | | | feel which dance you would do to the song playing. |
| - Too slow for a Rumba? - the Blues/Slow Nightclub | | | | With time and practice, you will become experienced in |
| will do the trick | | | | deciding the best dance for a particular tempo as soon |
| - Does it have a bouncy sound? - try the Samba, or | | | | as you hear it. |
| the Salsa | | | | |
