Dance Recommendations

Here are some recommendations as you step into dance mode.

Below you’ll get an idea of what dances go with what music and the difficulty level of each dance style when you’re a new dancer.  And here’s a couple of links for new students to check out.  

**DESCRIPTIONS and VIDEOS of the DANCES WE TEACH**      **WHAT ARE THE GROUP DANCE CLASSES LIKE?**          

Request a Class to be Taught

Click a link to choose a location and then list the dances you would like us to teach in the next yearly quarter.

NE PORTLAND / PARKROSE studio.  –4848 NE 105th Ave.  Portland 97220

ALOHA BEAVERTON studio.  –3425 SW 185th Blvd.  Aloha 97006 

Which dance for what music?

Since people have different “tastes” in music, maybe start learning to dance to music that you like. And if you like it all you’ll be a “Ballroom Eclectic” and learn some of everything!

Big Band or Retro Swing Jazz music:
Plan to learn East Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, Foxtrot, Quickstep…

World music:
Learn Waltz, Cha Cha Cha, Nightclub Two Step, Swing, Samba, Tango, Salsa, Bachata

Country music:
Learn Country 2 Step, West Coast Swing, Cha Cha, Nightclub Two Step, Hustle, Waltz, Line Dance

R&B, Alternative and Contemporary Pop music:
Learn West Coast Swing, Hustle and Nightclub Two Step, Cha Cha, East Coast Swing, Foxtrot

Salsa/Latin music:
Learn Salsa, Bachata, Merengue and Rumba

Smooth classic and Jazz vocals:
Learn Waltz, Quickstep, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz, Jive, East Coast Swing

Some dances are harder to learn than others

The easiest and most used “Ballroom social dances” to start with are: Foxtrot, Waltz, Rumba, Cha Cha, East Coast Swing, and Nightclub Two Step… For more information about each style of dance, check out Dance Descriptions page.

Easiest To LearnNext LevelMore Difficult
WaltzCha ChaArgentine Tango
MerengueSalsa or MamboBolero
FoxtrotTangoViennese Waltz
RumbaLindy SwingQuickstep
4-count Hustle (Disco)East Coast Swing (triple rhythm)8 Ct. Lindy Hop
East Coast Swing (simple rhythm)Nightclub Two-StepPaso Doble
 Fusion WaltzWest Coast Swing
 Polka3-count Hustle (Disco)
  International (Slow) Foxtrot
  American (Silver) Foxtrot
  International Waltz
  International Cha Cha
  International Tango
  International Rumba

Contact Details

Need help? EMAIL or call Linda 503.241.0460.

DANCEWELL PDX SCHOOLS

BEAVERTON (near Aloha) 3425 SW 185th Ave., 97006
NE PORTLAND (Parkrose) 4848 NE 105th Ave.,97220

Click HERE for maps and directions.

Covid-19 Protocols

No covid requirements currently; masks whenever you wish. We ask that you be feeling 100% or take a sick day.

Classes and Lessons: We encourage partner changes but they are up to the individual.
Events are all-ages.

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