The Fred Astaire Trophy system: BRONZE TROPHY PROGRAM: The Bronze Trophy is designed for the person who wishes to become a Good Social Dancer. It is the most popular standard for our students, and the first Trophy Program available to new students. A Bronze dancer is considered fun to dance with in all the popular Social Dances and they have complete confidence in the figure taught. Bronze dancers have the necessary styling to create a pleasant appearance on the dance floor and can cope with almost any dance occasion. SILVER TROPHY PROGRAM: The Silver Program is for the person who wishes to become an Advanced Social Dancer. Silver dancers are distinguished by versatility and style in all the popular social dances. This is a beautiful and practical standard of dancing for those who wish to be sought after on the dance floor. GOLD TROPHY PROGRAM: The Gold Program is for the person who wishes to become an Excellent Ballroom Dancer. Gold dancers have the confidence which comes with a complete and thorough knowledge of all the major ballroom dances. Advanced style and poise in all the ballroom dances sets the Gold dancer apart from all others. Dance Styles: Fred Astaire studios offer a wide range of dances – from the slow and traditional to the faster and more current. The average student learns four to six of these dances in order to become versatile, well-rounded social dancer. Each dance has its own unique character and style, and once mastered, will give you a lifetime of fun and enjoyment. The Smooth Dances Smooth dances are characterized by their fluid movement across the floor. Similar to ice skating, dancers keep a straight body line as they travel around the room. Foxtrot The foxtrot is ultra-smooth and sophisticated, and is one of the most popular slow dances of all time. Classic musicians such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Nat King Cole provide the jazzy standards ideal for this dance. Waltz Done to a three count, the waltz is an elegant and graceful dance that will never go out of style. This traditional dance has continued to rise in popularity at weddings, anniversaries and graduations. Tango This dramatic and passionate dance has been popularized in many Hollywood movies. The tango conjures up images of dancers with roses clenched between their teeth. Quickstep Get ready to hop, skip and kick your way around the floor! Part Charleston, part foxtrot, the very quick and lively quickstep will leave you breathless after even one dance. Viennese waltz Couples whirl around the floor; first one way, then another. Grand and majestic, this fast version of the waltz originated in Austria. The Rhythm Dances Unlike smooth dances, rhythm dances generally stay in a smaller, confined area of the dance floor. As the name suggests, the rhythmical nature of these dances allow you to really get loose on the dance floor. Here are a few examples: Rumba The rumba is Cuban in origin and is often referred to as the "dance of love". Sultry and romantic, the music is a mix of African and Latin rhythms. Cha Cha Named after the sound made by the feet when doing this dance, the cha cha is an exciting syncopated Latin dance. The cha cha rhythm is found in much of today’s popular music. Swing Swing is a broad category that includes jive, jitterbug, lindy hop and shag among others. Swing is fun, fast and energetic and has recently enjoyed a huge revival. Mambo This spicy Latin dance from Cuba is also known as salsa. Sometimes referred to as "the dancer’s dance", mambo requires excellent timing and coordination. Samba From Brazil, this pulsating, gyrating, festive dance brings to mind pictures of the carnivals of Rio de Janeiro. Unlike the other Latin dances that are stationary, many samba steps travel around the floor. Argentine Tango Argentine Tango is a less aggressive tango genre. It is said that this particular style uses music meant to evoke strong emotion, and your emotion will guide your dancing. This particular dance uses close body contact. Western Swing Western Swing is a sophisticated, relaxed version of East Coast Swing, and is danced to western music. It is a fun and relaxed dance, perfect for the easy going dancing soul. We also offer instruction in Salsa, Merengue, Bolero, and the Paso Doble. Visit our Blog regularly for dance tips, information about upcoming events, and dance related media buzz!