LATIN-AMERICAN (Latin-American Program)

    The program of Latin-American dances or Latina is composed by 5 basic dances, such as: Samba, Cha-Cha-Cha, Rumba, Paso Doble and Jive. The order of execution during the contest is as following:

Amateur program:
1. Samba
2. Cha-Cha-Cha
3. Rumba
4. Paso Doble
5. Jive
 Professional program:
1. Cha-Cha-Cha
2. Samba
3. Rumba
4. Paso Doble
5. Jive

    At the famous Blackpool festival in Great Britain, the dancing couples compete in all 5 dances of Latin-American program.


Cha-Cha-Cha


    The musical size: 4/4, Tempo: 30-32 bpm.

    The fascinating, syncopated Latin-American dance, which appeared in 1950 as slowed down Mambo. From the very beginning this dance was noticed in dancing halls in America. Playing of music Cha-Cha-Cha should produce a happy, carefree slightly liberate atmosphere. Cha-Cha-Cha received its name and character because of its repeated basic rhythm and specific instrument of Maracas. Recently a decision was taken to reduce the name of the dance to Cha-Cha.


Samba


    The musical size: 2/4, Tempo: 50-52 bpm.

    Before 1914 this dance was known as Brazilian name “Mexixe”. The first attempts to present Samba in European dancing halls are dated to 1923-24, but only after the Second World War Samba became a popular dance in Europe. It has a specific rhythm that is placed onto the forefront for its best corresponding to national Brazilian musical instruments. First it was called ramborim, chocalho, reco-reco and cabaca. The rhythmic national Brazilian dance Samba entered nowadays into the Program of modern Ball Dances. Samba includes itself the characteristic latin hip movements, which emphasise “Samba Bounce” by elastic movements.


Rumba


    Musical Size: 4/4, Tempo: 25-27 bpm.

    The dance of Rumba was born in Cuba. As typical dance of “hot climate” it became the classical of all the Latin-American dances. Rumba is a slow dance, which is characterized by sensitive, filled in with love movements and gestures, has a specific Latino-American style of hip movements emphasises the relationship of man and woman.


Paso Doble


    Musical size: 2/4, Tempo: 60-62bpm.

    The dance of Spanish gypsies. The march of the dramatic Franco-Hispanic style of Flamenco, where the man is enrolled as matador (the brave man) in a fight with the bull, the lady represents his coat or bull, depending on circumstances. Paso-Doble-in this dance the attention is accentuated on creation shape of body, characteristic only to a matador with the additional Flamenco movements in hands, elbows, wrists and fingers. Feet or precisely, heels are used for creation of correct rhythmic interpretation.


Jive


    Musical size: 4/4, Tempo: 42-44 bpm.

    Jive is the international version of Swing; today, the dance of Jive is performed in two styles-International and Swing and very often are combined in various figures. Dances such as Rock’n’Roll and Dzhaterbag have the most powerful influence on Jive. The dance is very fast and it consumes much energy.

    This is the last dance, executed on contests and dancers should show that they are not tired and are ready to perform it with more efficiency.