dancers Ballroom Dances

Dances and Tempos

Rumba

"Torero": Colegas -- Noche de Rumba (Polydor 1993) -- "Tu y Yo", "Promesa": Cheito -- Cheito (Crescent Moon/Epic/Sony 1994) -- "Asi Ando Yo": Las Chicas del Can -- Serie Platino [and others] (Rodven 1994) -- "Mi Buen Amor": Gloria Estefan -- Mi Tierra (Epic 1993) -- "Burbujas de Amor", "Bachata Rosa": Juan Luis Guerra y 4.40 -- Bachata Rosa (Karen/BMG 1990) "Vivire", "Lacrimosa": Juan Luis Guerra y 4.40 -- Fogarte! (Karen 1994) "Beautiful Maria of My Soul": Los Lobos -- The Mambo Kings [sdtrk] (Elektra 1992) "Cuando Me Querias Tu": Linda Ronstadt -- Frenesi (Elektra 1992)
Mambo/Salsa
Mambo #5, Tequilla, "Como Te Quiero a Ti": Los Del Mar featuring Will Veloz -- Macarena (Lime/Radikal/Avex/Critique/BMG 1995) "Mango Mango Mangue": Mambomania -- Big Noise: A Mambo Inn Compilatio (Hannibal/Rykodisc 1994) (also lots of salsa will serve)
Merengue
Pedro Don Juan, Universal Merengue
Cha Cha
Never On Sunday, Patricia, "Laura": Brave Combo -- A Night on Earth (Rounder 1990) -- "Oye Como Va": Los Del Mar featuring Will Veloz -- Macarena (Lime/Radikal/Avex/Critique/BMG 1995) "Love Potion #9", "Americana Americana": Hansel Martinez y la Orquesta Calle Ocho -- Latinoamericano (Sony Discos 1992) "Todo Todo Todo": Daniela Romo -- Amada Mas Que Nunca (Capitol/EMI 1991) [and several other albums] "Piensa En Mi": Linda Ronstadt -- Frenesi (Elektra 1992) "Bang Bang": David Sanborn -- Upfront (Elektra 1992)
Samba
Cumana, Brazil , "Mystical Eden": Armik -- Gypsy Flame (Baja/TSR 1995) --"Ven Devorame Otra Vez": Azucar Moreno -- Bandido (CBS Discos 1990)) -- "From Now On (band version)": Basia -- Brave New Hope (Epic 1990)) -- "Cuento": Los Del Mar featuring Will Veloz -- Macarena (Lime/Radikal/Avex/Critique/BMG 1995)) -- "Agua Dulce, Agua Sala": Julio Iglesias -- La Carretera (Sony Latin 1995)) -- "Ay Caray!": Miguel Ortiz and his Salsa Band -- Hot Salsa Nights (Madacy 1992)) -- "Cuando Quieras Dejame": Pandora -- ... Con Amor Eterno, vol II (EMI Latin/Capitol 1993)) -- "Senora": Rumba Tres -- Baila Me Rumba (Quality 1991)) "Torero": Colegas -- Noche de Rumba (Polydor 1993)
3/4 Paso Doble
Lady of Spain, Granada
Tango
Tango of Roses, La Cumprasita, Jalousie, "Jealousy": Brave Combo -- A Night on Earth (Rounder 1990)) -- "Hernando's Hideaway": Brave Combo -- No, No, No, Cha Cha Cha (Rounder1993)
American Waltz
Anniversary Waltz, You LightUp My Life, "You've Got a Way"--Kathy Troccoli (Pure Attraction), "If It's Over": Mariah Carey -- (Emotions )(Columbia 1991)
Viennese Waltz
Blue Danube, Waltz of the Flowers, Waltz at Maxim's, "Breslau": Brave Combo -- Polkas for a Gloomy World (Rounder 1995), "Caribbean Blue"-Enya (Shepherd Moon)(Reprise/Warner 1991)
Fox Trot
Cheek to Cheek, Put On a Happy Face, "Orange Colored Sky", "Don't Get Around Much Any More": Natalie Cole-- Unforgettable (Elektra/Warner 1991)) -- "I'm Beginning to See the Light": Natalie Cole -- Take a Look (Elektra 1993)) -- "Why Don't You Do Right", "I Want to Be Loved By You": Sinead O'Connor- Am I Not Your Girl? (Chrysalis/Ensign 1992)) -- "Lady Luck": The Brian Setzer Orchestra -- The Brian Setzer Orchestra (Hollywood 1994) ) -- "A Wink and a Smile": Harry Connick, Jr. -- Sleepless in Seattle [sdtrk] (Epic/Sony 1993)
Slow Fox Trot --- Unforgettable, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

Slow Swing --- Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me

Lindy or Jive --- Night Train, In the Mood

Two-Step --- The Night They Invented Champagne - "Friend Like Me": Robin Williams -- Alladin [sdtrk] (Walt Disney 1992)

Peabody --- Whispering

Polka --- Beer Barrel Polka

Viennese Polka --- Tritsch Tratsch


Correct Dance Tempos

Tempos are given here as in Beats per-Minute. Ballroom dance instructors usually use measures-per-minute when talking about tempo(s).
I, personally use these metronome indications:

American Rumba 112-136
Bolero 106-120
Bossanova 112-116
Cha cha 112-136
Cuban Rumba 152-160
Disco 116 ±
English Waltz 90 ±
English Rumba 108-112
Foxtrot 120-160
Hustle 108-124
Lindy 184 ±
Mambo 152-200
Merengue 128-156
Paso Doble 150-180
Peabody 216-256
Polka 192-232
Quickstep 188-208
Rumba (english) 108-112
Salsa 160-200
Samba 192-232
Swing/Lindy 120-180
Tango 112-136
Waltz (American ) 90-120
Viennese Waltz 144-180
West Coast Swing 112-13




More About Waltz Tempos For Ballroom Dancers

Here are approximate speeds for various types of waltz in various applications.

International standard slow waltz, social or competitive - 87-93

American style waltz, social - 108-132. The lower limit is frequently extended down to 90, since it widens the choice of music considerably. I believe this is also the approximate range used by C/W dancers.

American style waltz, competitive - 90-108. 90 is much more common at competitions because the music collections of competition DJs are generally geared primarily toward international style, since slower music allows more time for artistry and expression.

Viennese waltz - 132-192 mpm. is a typical range for American style social Viennese waltz. Some say 168 is okay, 174 is perfect, 180 is fast, and anything faster is impossible.

American style Viennese waltz, competitive ballroom - approximately 156 mpm. But be prepared to dance at speeds up to 180 mpm - many competition DJs have nothing else.

International style Viennese waltz, social - 168-180

International style Viennese waltz, competitive ballroom - 180 mpm.

If you are like most non-partner-dance people, you may think of 'waltz' as meaning Strauss, and may be hearing music at 180 mpm and up. This is, by the way, a valid interpretation - the fast ('Viennese') waltz predates the current slow ballroom waltz by at least a century.


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