Hello everyone, this is my first time posting on here.

I am a musician over the years I have played all kinds of events; wedding, conferences, parties you name it.

I have recently been asked to put a band together to participate in the opening of a new ballroom dance hall.

I would like to ask real dancers what is your opinion of an ideal mixture of dance styles over an evening. I am assuming the audience will be of mixed levels, beginers as well as advanced dancers.

I want to desing my band (17piece)to meet the needs of dancers. Please let me know what you enjoy when out dancing for the evening.

Here are some suggestiongs to get you going.
-What styles need to be played?
-What styles can (should) be played?
-Anything to leave out.
-Once we have established what styles are suitable what would a good mix be.
(25% swing, 25% chacha, 10% Meringue, 10% waltz, Tango, samba etc...)
- How about tempi, do you find bands know what the proper tempos should be.

I need to know what makes an evening of dancing good as opposed to bad.

Thanks for all of your help

You should tell us what country you are from. The selection will be different based on the nationality of the dancers.

From his dance selection, my guess he is in the States...( or Canada)

Playing for "dancers " and playing at " dances " are 2 different animals.

If specifically for " dancers " a sequence of 2 dances, as in 2 waltzes. 2 Rumbas etc, is a good format.Playing at functions is, as you may know, musically decided by the " booker " .


States side, there may be more of a demand for a mixed program of Amer. and some International style music and dances. And yes, there are set tempi for each dance ( usually with a small variance of speed, in some cases ).

It would take a book to go thru ALL the differences in the rhythms that are available to dancers.

I might suggest that you set your target audience first, and then the dance selection could be refined and would be more readily explained in some detail.

Exactly what I was getting at. Playing for a wedding or other function, like you say is playing at a dance and not for dancers. I want to set up a band that is FOR dancers.

I know what kind of music is well received by a mixed crowd during a reception. I am trying to get very specifics likes and dislikes from dancers.

When you mentionned a sequence of 2 did you mean back to back?

I am liking this, keep it coming.

Berlioz. Tempo In bars per minute. Dancesport IDSF. There needs to be
a four bar introduction.

Waltz 28 to 30
Foxtrot 28 to 30
Tango 31 to 33
Viennese Waltz 58 to 60
Quickstep 50 to 52

Cha Cha 30 to 32
Samba 50 to 52
Rumba 25 to 27
Paso Doble 60 to 62
Jive 42 to 44.
All of the above can be checked by going to Dancesport Australia under rules page 37.The music must be of a constant tempo. Exactly as if playing with a Metronome. I hope this helps.

I am okay with what the tempos should theoretically be I am trying to gain some insight into the practical aspect of it all.

For exemple, In my research i found there are usually 2 recommended tempo range (competition vs recriational). In your evenings dancing is your music usually in the recreational range vs competition or a mixture of both.

Also let me know if I am splitting hair as long as I am in the range and steady.

How about lenght of a song? I would aim for 5-6 minutes.

Really appreciate it.

Some of those tempos would not apply or be suitable for an American style clientele.. waltzes, for e.g. are a little on the slow side as is FT

I am in Ontario, Canada.

In the studio, we all learn and practice at strict tempo, and it is always difficult for a live band to be quite the same. But dancers adjust to most anything on any given night. They'll let someone know if the band couldn't stay on a steady tempo, but they'll be able to dance to it nonetheless.
A good place to get a gauge on tempo is the technical specifications portion of the different dances on this site's Learn the Dances entries.
As for live music, I always appreciate a Viennese Waltz or two thrown into the mix, because it is somewhat rare to be able to do the VW at a dance party, reception or event. And dancers seem to appreciate a cha-cha as well.