The Beauty of Bolero
Many have people have heard rumba be described as “the dance of love”. Often, the bolero, another Latin dance, is left out of the limelight even though it is just as much a dance for the romantics. It combines some of the best parts of other popular Latin dance styles, while adding in its own unique flair and mystery.Within American style ballroom dance competitions, there are five Latin dances; cha cha, east coast swing, mambo, rumba and bolero. The bolero dance style is actually the slowest rhythm dance out of the five, and is known for its slow, graceful and amorous movements.
If you are familiar with the basic of nightclub two-step; the bolero basic is very similar and combines elements of its romantic partner—rumba. The dance has a basic timing that mirrors rumba (slow, quick, quick) but is characterized by long side steps and then quick rock steps, such as in nightclub two-step. Also in line with rumba, bolero uses similar foot patterns, such as cross body leads and underarm turns. The beauty of bolero dancing is accompanied often with bongos, castanets or a guitar and can actually be performed solo or as a couples dance.
How bolero is different is really in the stretching of the body. During the slow step there is an extension and lift of the body which creates the graceful, sweeping motions that bolero is known for. This tempo is accompanied with rising and falling motions of the body that give it a completely different feeling than faster styles, such as salsa or other Latin dances. Watching bolero dancers is a beautiful experience, and one that will leave a you with a desire to learn it yourself.
For information on private bolero dance classes or other Latin dancing styles offered in Mesa, Arizona, Dance FX Studios is the place to go! In addition to the romantic bolero, you will learn more popular styles of dance including Merengue, Cha Cha and Salsa.
