How to Ballroom Dance

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Understand ballroom dancing as a new dancer

Co-authored by Lorena Bravo, MA and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: December 20, 2024 References

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Getting Ready to Dance

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The Waltz

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The Foxtrot

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The American Tango

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Video

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

Ballroom dance is an umbrella term for a variety of dancing styles, including Rumba, Cha Cha, Tango, Waltz, and Fox Trot, to name a few. These dances come from different eras and parts of the world, but they're all formal partner dances with an emphasis on flow and elegance. You can start by practicing the Waltz, Foxtrot, or American Tango, which are some of the more popular versions of this dance style. Learning how to ballroom dance may seem a bit tricky at first, but it’s easy to get the hang of once you practice with a partner!

Learning to Ballroom Dance

Before you get started, decide which dance style you want to focus on. Be sure to stretch fully to warm up your body before dancing. Popular dances include the Waltz, the Foxtrot, and the American Tango.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Getting Ready to Dance

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1
Choose a dance style to focus on. Keep in mind that ballroom dancing is an incredibly broad genre of dance, and it doesn’t refer to a single style. Some popular types of ballroom dance include the Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Cha Cha, East Coast Swing, Mambo, Samba, and Bolero. Opt for a dance like the Waltz or Foxtrot if you’d prefer a smoother dance style, or learn something like the Cha Cha or Rumba if you’d like to focus on something more rhythmic.
- There are a lot of different variations in ballroom dancing, with the most obvious being the American versus International style of dance.
- There are also multiple versions of certain dances, like the Waltz and Viennese Waltz, along with the East Coast Swing and West Coast Swing.
2
Stretch and warm-up your body before you start dancing. Get ready to dance by moving in place for 1-5 minutes, which helps get your pulse up slightly. Focus on stretching your ankles, hips, and arms before you start dancing with your partner. This will help you feel stretched and ready to start your dance practice!
- For instance, you can spin both of your ankles in circles for 10 reps so your feet are stretched and ready to go.
- You can also lay on your back and perform 5-8 reps of arms circles.
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3
Sign up for a ballroom dancing class or club if you want focused instruction. Search online for classes or clubs in your area that focus on some form of ballroom dances. Attend these classes on a regular basis so you can get pointers and tips on how to practice and improve your dance form, which can really help you flourish as a ballroom dancer!^{[1]
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- Some colleges and universities have ballroom dance teams that are open to students.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

The Waltz

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1
Stand 1 ft (0.30 m) apart with your right and left hands clasped. Face your partner on the dance floor and stand pretty close together. Start by holding your partner’s right hand in your left. Place your right arm beneath your partner’s left shoulder blade, and make sure that your partner’s left hand is resting on your right arm and shoulder.^{[2]
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- This dance position helps the dance flow more smoothly.
- These instructions apply to the leader of the dance. If you’re following, do the opposite dance moves of your partner.
- It may feel a little uncomfortable to dance so closely with someone, which is completely normal! Just try to focus your energy on the dance itself.
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Expert Source

Lorena Bravo, MA
Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor

Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.} Support your partner as they step backward with their right foot. Try to step slowly, which will help you maintain a good rhythm.^{[4]
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Take a step to the right with your right foot. Move your right foot to the right, guiding your partner along as you go.^{[5]
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Lorena Bravo, MA
Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor

Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.} Continue moving slowly so you can stay in time with your partner.^{[6]
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- The Waltz is a calm and controlled dance, so there’s no need to rush any of the movements! Try to take your time and relax so you can enjoy the dance.
4
Move your left foot to meet your right foot.^{[7]
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Lorena Bravo, MA
Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor

Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.} Move your left foot to the right so that both of your feet are together. To make the dance look smoother, try stepping with your left foot instead of sliding.^{[8]
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- At this point, both of your feet will be together.
5
Step backward with your right foot. As you lead the dance, take another step back with your right foot, guiding your partner forward as you go. Keep your gaze and posture centered as you change directions so the waltz continues to flow smoothly.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Lorena Bravo, MA
Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor

Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.}
- If you’re following the dance, do your best to trust your partner and do a mirror image of their movements. It’s okay if you don’t get the steps right at first!
6
Move your left foot in a backward diagonal line to restart the dance. Step in a backward left diagonal direction with your left foot. At this point, reset the dance by bringing both of your feet together.^{[10]
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- Once you’ve done this, you’ve completed one cycle of the dance.
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Lorena Bravo, MA
Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor

Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.} Count to 1 as you step forward with your left foot, then count to 2 as you step to the right. Continue counting to 3 as you bring your feet together. Count to 1 as you step backward, 2 as you step diagonally, and 3 as you bring your feet together again.^{[12]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

The Foxtrot

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1
Face your partner with your hands and arms clasped. Stand about 1 ft (0.30 m) away from your partner before you start dancing. Hold your partner’s right hand with your left hand. Rest your right hand beneath your partner’s left shoulder blade, and check that your partner’s left hand is resting on your own right arm.^{[13]
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- Like most ballroom dances, you’ll be in pretty close proximity with your partner.
- These instructions only apply to the dance leader. If you’re following the dance, do your best to mirror your partner’s steps.
2
Move your left foot 1 step forward. Start with both of your feet together on the dance floor. If you’re leading the dance, take a slow step forward with your left foot.^{[14]
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- The leader and follower will be doing steps that are mirror images of one another.
3
Take another step forward with your right foot. If you’re leading the dance, perform another step with your right foot. Try to keep your movements slow and fluid so the dance looks as graceful as possible.^{[15]
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- It’s okay if your dance steps and technique are a little unsteady at first! Everyone learns ballroom dancing at their own pace.
4
Step quickly to the left with your left and right feet. As the dance leader, move your left foot in an upward left diagonal line. Keep in mind that this transitional step will be quicker than your original steps. Afterward, rapidly shift your right foot in a left diagonal direction so both of your feet are together.^{[16]
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- Both of your feet will be together at this point.
- This movement needs to be as quick as possible to help the dance continue on.
5
Step backward slowly with your left and right feet. Move your left foot backward in a slow step. At this point, take another step back with your right foot.^{[17]
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- This is essentially a repeat of the beginning of the dance, but in reverse.
6
Step diagonally to the left with your left and right feet. Move your left foot backward and to the left if you’re leading the dance. Afterward, slide your right foot backward and to the right so both of your feet are together.^{[18]
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- Try to do these steps more quickly than the forward and backward steps.^{[19]
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Rotate with your partner and continue the dance. Guide your partner slowly, continuing the traditional dance steps as you go. Turn your partner so you can repeat the Foxtrot in the opposite direction on the dance floor.^{[20]
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- You can repeat the dance as much as you’d like until you feel more confident in your dance moves!

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

The American Tango

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1
Hold your partner securely before starting the dance. Clasp your partner’s right hand in your left, and place your right hand beneath their left shoulder. Try keeping your knees bent as you start the dance, which will make your tango look smoother and more fluid.^{[21]
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- These instructions apply to the person leading the dance. If you’re following the dance, do the opposite of your partner.
2
Take a slow step forward with your left and right foot. Start by taking a large step forward with your left foot, then following with a slow right step. Guide your partner backward as you make your way forward, keeping your knees bent as you go.^{[22]
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- Note that a slow beat counts for 2 beats of music.^{[23]
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Speed up the dance slightly, moving more quickly as you step forward with your left foot again. Take your step within 1 beat of the music, continuing to guide your partner as you go.^{[24]
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Take a quick step to the right with your right foot. Move your right foot in a forward diagonal direction. Note that this step is quick, and only takes up 1 beat of the music.^{[25]
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- Continue to push forward while keeping your knees bent.
Slide your left foot slowly along the ground, taking up 2 total beats of music. Bring both of your feet together so you’re ready to turn and repeat the dance again.^{[26]
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Did You Know? The tango follows a stepping pattern of slow, slow, quick, quick, slow. Try repeating this pattern out loud as you go through the tango so you can stay on the beat.
Rotate your partner as you start the dance over again, guiding them in a new direction on the dance floor. You can repeat the Tango dance as many times as you’d like, or until you feel more comfortable and confident with the steps.^{[27]
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Expert Q&A

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How can I learn ballroom dancing at home?

Lorena Bravo, MA
Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor
Lorena Bravo is a Dance Instructor and the Founder of Bravo Dancing Ballroom Academy based in Los Angeles, California. Specializing in ballroom dancing for both American Smooth and International Standard Divisions, Lorena has over 20 years of professional dance experience. Along with running Bravo Dancing, Lorena has served on the faculty of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and is currently on the faculty at Chapman University’s dance department. She is also the head ballroom coach for the University of Southern California (USC) Ballroom and Latin Dance Team. Lorena holds a BA in Psychology and an MA in Bilingual Education from USC and is certified in Associate American Smooth by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.

Lorena Bravo, MA

Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor

Expert Answer

Look at different online videos of people ballroom dancing. BallroomDancers.com has a lot of really good resources. Make sure to find videos with music so that you can learn the counts and rhythms involved in ballroom dance.

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What are the steps of the waltz?

Community Answer

Assuming you are asking about Viennese Waltz, it's a box step. Right forward (1), left to the side (2), close with the right (3) then left backwards (1), right to the side (2), close with the left (3). Your feet are tracing the outline of a square. The leader starts with the forward part, the follower backwards. The step is then rotated, to to the right in quarter and finally half turns. When you start making your way over the room like this, remember the dance direction is always counter-clockwise.

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Do I have to dance with a boy when ballroom dancing?

Community Answer

No. You can dance with whoever you want.

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Tips

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get the hang of a dance right away. Ballroom dancing takes practice and patience to get right!

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Write down your personal ballroom dancing goals so you have an idea of how you want to improve.

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Sign up for ballroom dancing classes if you’re really interested in learning.

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