A List of Social Dances

with Demo Videos, Descriptions, and Music

Contemporary Social Dances

» The Waltz Family
» The Latin Family
» The Swing Family
» The Contemporary Family
» The Country Family
» The African Family

Vintage Social Dances

19th Century
» Early 19th Century Couple Dances
» Mid to Late 19th Century Couple Dances
» Opening and Closing Dances
» Mixers

20th Century
» Turn of the Century
» The 1910s
» The 1920s
» The 1930s
» The 1950s
» The 1960s
» The 1970s

Contemporary Social Dances

Figures for freestyle social dancing in the 21st century.

The Waltz Family

» Rotary Waltz & Reverse Waltz
(Waltz, Viennese Waltz)
» Cross-Step Waltz
» Box Step Waltz
(Box Waltz, American Slow Waltz, Waltz)
» Bluesy Waltz
(Waltz Fusion)
» Polka*
» Schottische*
» Balfolk Mazurka
(Mazurka Clandestina, Mazurka Klandestina,
Tango Mazurka, Mazurka Tango,
Tangurka, Bluesurka)
» Valses Asymétriques*
(Valse à 5 Temps, Valse à 8 Temps, Valse à 11 Temps)
» Zwiefacher*

* Here, we're using the broader,
19th century definition of "waltz,"
which includes any turning and traveling dance,
not just dances in 3/4 time.

The Latin Family

» Tango
(Argentine Tango, Social Tango, Vintage Tango)
» Salsa
(Mambo)
» Bachata
» Merengue
» Kizomba*
» Zouk
(Brazilian Zouk)
» Samba
(Social Samba, Samba de Gafieira, Gafieira)
» Cha Cha
(Cha Cha Cha)
» Rumba
(Rhumba)

* Though often grouped with the Latin dances,
Kizomba is technically an African dance.

The Swing Family

» Lindy Hop
(Lindy, Triple Step Swing)
» East Coast Swing
(Jitterbug, Six Count Swing)
» Charleston
(30s Charleston, Lindy Charleston)
» Balboa
» Collegiate Shag
(Shag)
» Foxtrot*
(Fox Trot, Magic Step Foxtrot,
Box Step Foxtrot, Vintage Foxtrot,
Living Tradition Foxtrot)
» One Step*

* While not really Swing dances, per se,
we include Fox Trot and One Step in the Swing family
because they're often danced to Swing music.

The Contemporary Family

» West Coast Swing
(WCS)
» Nightclub Two Step
(Club Two Step, Nightclub, NC2S)
» Street Swing
(Four Count Swing)
» Hustle
(Three-Count Hustle)
» Blues/Fusion
» The Sway
(Slow Dancing, Prom Dancing)

The Country Family

» Country Two Step
(Texas Two Step, Two Step)
» Country Swing
» Country One Step
» Country Waltz
» Rhythm Two Step
(Arizona Two Step)

The African Family

» Kizomba
» Sokkie

Contemporary Community Dances

Mixers and other commmunity dances.

Mixers

Choreographed sequences in which couples change partners.

Easy Choreographed Mixers
(No Experience Necessary,
Teachable on the Fly)

» 't Smidje
(All American Promenade, La Chapelloise,
Aapje, Aleman's Marsj, Humppa Mixer)
» Chaos Mixer
(Swiss Break Mixer,
Phrase Craze Mixer)
» Ocean Wave
» One-Step Tango Mixer
(Social Tango Mixer)
» Oklahoma Trio Mixer
(Texas Schottische)
» Fun with Swing
» Roulette Trio Mixer
(Loosely adapted from Troika,
and the Western Trio Mixer)
» Czech Waltz Mixer
(Czech Wedding Dance, Minet)
» Czech Welcome Dance
» Sybil's Roundabout
» Irish Clap
» The Girl I Left Behind Me
» Agitator
» Golden Slippers
» Circle and Swing
» Slide 'n Catch
» Bridges Down
» Progressive Three Mixer
» La Bastringue
» Freestyle Grand March
» Swish Mixer
(C. J. Mixer)
» Hi! Mixer
(Firefly, Glowworm)
» Everywhere Mixer
» GKW Mixer
(God Knows What Mixer)
» Brown Eyed Mary

Waltz Mixers
(For Dancers Who Know
Rotary Waltz, Cross-Step Waltz,
Polka, and Schottische)

» Cross-Step Waltz Mixer
(Cross-Step Waltz Rueda)
» Oslo Waltz Mixer
(Circle Waltz Mixer, Family Waltz Mixer)
» Movie Waltz Mixer
(An Easy Mixer to Practice Waltz)
» Riff Waltz Mixer
(An Abbreviated Oslo Waltz)
» Veleta Waltz Mixer
(Adapted from The Veleta)
» Dream Waltz Mixer
(Adapted from the Dream Waltz)
» Spanish Waltz Mixer
(Spanish Waltz, Spanish Dance)
» Royal Boston Waltz Mixer
(Adapted from the Royal Boston Waltz)
» Mazurka Waltz Mixer
(Adapted from St. George's Waltz)
» Texas Waltz Mixer
(Adapted from Waltz Across Texas)
» Sextet Polka Mixer
(Sextet Mixer, Borrowdale Exchange)
» Promenade Polka Mixer
(An Easy Mixer to Practice Polka)
» Swift Schottische Mixer
(Loosely adapted from Stockholm Schottische Mixer)
» Seven Steps Schottische Mixer
(Seven Steps)
» Helter Skelter Schottische
» Waltzing Tucker
» By the Sea
» Danish Family Waltz
» Cinderella Waltz Mixer
» Jolly Waltz Mixer

Swing Mixers
(For Dancers Who Know
Lindy Hop or Four Count Swing)

» Swing Rueda
(Lindy Hop Mixer)
» Bugg Rueda
(Four Count Swing Mixer)

Freestyle Mixers and Jams
(No Defined Choreography,
Just Change Partners and Dance)

» Waterfall Mixer
(Line of Dance Mixer, Whirlpool Mixer)
» Snowball Mixer
(Amoeba Mixer, Lilypad Mixer)
» Birthday Jam
(Anniversary Jam, Birthday Pivots)

Group Dances

Other choreographed sequence dances.

Quadrilles
(Choreographed Sequences
for Four Couples)

» Kerry Polka Sets
» Philadelphia Schottische Quadrilles

Tango Sequences

» Frio Tango
(Stanford Social Tango Sequence)
» The 2014 Tango

Vintage Social Dances

Reconstructions of social dances throughout history.

16th Century

Branles

» Branle Double
» Branle Simple
» Branle Gay
» Branle de Bourgoigne
» Branle du Hault Barrois
» Branle Cassandre
» Branle Pinagay
» Branle Charlotte
» Branle de la Guerre
» Branle Aridan
» Branle d'Escosse
» Branle des Lavandieres
» Branle du Chandelier
» Branle des Sabots
» Branle des Chevaulx
» Branle de la Montarde

17th Century

English Country Dances

» Upon a Summers Day {Longways for Six}
» Millisons Jegge {Longways for Six}
» Halfe Hannikin {Longways Mixer for Many}
» New Boe Peep {Longways for Many}
» The Maid Peept Out at the Window {Longways for Some}
» Gathering Peascods {Circle for Many}
» The Fine Companion {Circle for Eight}
» Mage on a Cree {Circle for Eight}

19th Century

Reconstructions of 19th century social dances.

Early 19th Century Couple Dances

» Ecossaise Walz
(Eccosoise Walzer, Ecossaisen Walzer)
» Rutscher
» Wiener Walz
(The Viennese Step)
» Hops-Walzer
(Ecossaise Walzer)

Mid to Late 19th Century Couple Dances

Waltz

» The Waltz
(La Valse à Trois Temps, The Pivot Version)
» Leap Waltz
(Hop Waltz, Jeté Waltz, La Sauteuse)
» Redowa
» Polka Redowa
» Polka Mazurka
(Polka Mazourka, Spanish Mazurka)
» La Koska (1857)
(La Coska, La Roska)
» La Gitana (1859)
(La Carlowitzka, The Gitana Waltz,
The Gintana Waltz)
» The Varsovienne
» The Newport
(The Ripple, La Mode)
» La Zingerilla
(The Original Zingarilla)
» Three-Slide Galop (1875)
(Three Step Galop, Le Galop a Trois Temps,
Le Galop a Trois Pas)
» La Hongroise
(Hungroise, La Valse Hungroise,
Hungarian Valse)
» La Madrilainne
» The Society
» The New Waltz
(The Modern Waltz)

Polka

» The Polka
» The Esmeralda (1857)
(The Esmerelda)
» Bohemian Polka
(Heel and Toe Polka)
» Combination Polka
» Zulma L'Orientale (1858)
» La Hongroise
(Hungroise, La Valse Hungroise,
Hungarian Valse)
» Cross Step Polka

Schottische

» The Schottische
» Military Schottische
(Dancing in the Barn, Barn Dance,
Kentucky Jubilee, Star Schottische,
Pas de Quatre)
» Star Schottische
» Bronco Schottische
(Le Bronco, The Bronco)
» Columbia Schottische
(Columbia, The Columbia, La Columbia)

Galop

» Waltz Galop
» Ripple Galop
» The Jersey
(Ripple Combination, The Knickerbocker)
» The Puritan Waltz
(The Puritan Galop, The Jubilee)
» Hecla Galop

Valse à Deux Temps

» Valse à Deux Temps

Valse à Cinq Temps

» Five Step Waltz
(La Valse à Cinq Temps, Waltz in 5/4 Time)

Opening and Closing Dances

» The Grand March
(The March, Grand Promenade,
Polonaise, Opening March)
» Sir Roger De Coverley
(The Virginia Reel)
(Sir Roger De Coverly, Roger of Coverly,
The Finishing Dance, The Haymakers)

Mixers

Double Circle

» Sicilian Circle
» Spanish Dance
» Soldier's Joy
» Circassian Circle

Triple Circle

» Rustic Reel
(Favorite Rustic Reel)

Chaotic

» Paul Jones
(Circle Two-Step, Round Two-Step
Grand Right and Left Figure, Nantucket)
» Snowball
(All Up, Amoeba Mixer, Lilypad Mixer)
» Exchange of Partners
(Exchange of Ladies, Change of Ladies,
Le Changement De Dames)
» Nine-Pin
(Nine-Pin Quadrille, Nine-Pin Figure,
The Ninepins, Prisoner, Wild Irishman,
Miss Tucker, Old Dan Tucker
Kogel Quadrille, Skittle Quadrille)

20th Century

Reconstructions of 20th century social dances.

The 1970s

Couple Dances

» The Bump (1970s)

Group Dances

» Hi! Mixer (1970s)
(Firefly, Glowworm)
» Swish Mixer (1970s)
(C. J. Mixer)
» GKW Mixer (1970s)
(God Knows What Mixer)
» Freestyle Grand March (1973)

If you or your community is interested in learning any of these dances, .

For more dance descriptions, see our three books on dancing:
The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted (2022) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge,
Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer's Guide (2019) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge, and
Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living (2013) by Richard Powers and Nick Enge.

For full-length teaching videos, visit: University of Dance.

For help crafting a life you love, visit: Project Quartz.

Home About Dances Manuals Search

A List of Social Dances

with Demo Videos, Descriptions, and Music

Table of Contents

Contemporary Social Dances

Contemporary Community Dances

Vintage Social Dances

Contemporary Social Dances

The Waltz Family

The Latin Family

The Swing Family

The Contemporary Family

The Country Family

The African Family

Contemporary Community Dances

Mixers

Group Dances

Vintage Social Dances

16th Century

17th Century

19th Century

Early 19th Century Couple Dances

Mid to Late 19th Century Couple Dances

Opening and Closing Dances

Mixers

20th Century

Turn of the Century

The 1910s

The 1920s

The 1930s

The 1940s

The 1950s

The 1960s

The 1970s