Hi there,

I am new to ballroom and latin. I've taken a few lessons and been looking at some DVDs also.

I was wondering if someone could help me. I'm not sure what moves can connect onto other moves. In the DVDs I've seen they usually show the move and then they show a demo. Which gives me some options but they don't ever explain what moves can connect before or after that move.

In classes it's the same, we usually learn a sequence but I'd like to know all or at least the idea of what kinds of moves can connect.

Can someone please help.

I'm used to Salsa where all moves have a count of 8 and so pretty much anything can combine onto anything. But for a lot of the dances in ballroom and latin I've come across it seems that lots of moves have different sets of time or rhythm making the idea of combining moves harder.

First.. not ALL moves as you call them, are in sequences of 8, ( 2 bars ), many, yes... all, no.

I think you are expecting the more disciplined style you are now engaged in, is going to fall into the same mould... it does , to a much smaller degree.

Once you have "laid " your foundation material, you will be able to give alternate ends and beginnings to certain figures.

as with most beginners, you are impatient,... unlike salsa, this is a journey and not a sprint .

If International Standard, buy The Ballroom Technique. It has precedes and follows for each Standard dance

mystic-dancer. I think wants to know how to join one group learnt this week to one learned last week. Some skill is needed to join something that finishes with the right foot free and the new group starts on the left foot. This happens all the time in a studio whose teacher in a Social Class just doesn't plan ahead . They should give the class something that joins on to the other.