Dances Taught
East Coast a.k.a. (Modified Lindy 6 Count)
This form of swing dance is strictly based in six-count patterns that are simplified forms of the original patterns copied from Lindy Hop. The name East Coast Swing was coined to initially to distinguish the dance from the street form and the new variant used in the competitive ballroom arena (as well as separating the dance from West Coast Swing, which was developed in California).
Lindy Hop
The Lindy Hop (or Lindy) is a partner dance that originated in 1920's and 30's Harlem, New York. The Dance itself consists of both 8 and 6 count steps. The Lindy was a fusion of many dances that preceded it or were popular during its development but is mainly based on jazz, tap, breakaway and Charleston. It is frequently described as a jazz or street dance and is a member of the swing dance family.
Charleston
The Charleston is a dance named for the city of Charleston, South Carolina. While it developed in African-American communities in the USA, the Charleston became a popular dance craze in the wider international community in the 1920s. Despite its origins, Charleston is most frequently associated with white flappers and the speakeasy. It can be danced solo or with a partner in a side by side, front to front, or tandem position.
Balboa
Balboa is an eight count dance that is thought to be developed as early as 1915 from the Balboa Peninsula, in Southern California. "Pure Balboa" is characterized by closed position (chest to chest). The art of Balboa is the subtle communication between the lead and follow, like weight shifts, that most viewers cannot see. As a result, Balboa is considered more of a "dancer's dance" than a "spectator's dance".
Blues
Blues dancing is a modern term used to describe a family of historical dances that developed alongside and danced to blues music, or the contemporary dances that are danced in that aesthetic.Some observers and dancers who have not studied Blues dance other than by simple observation often overlook the nuances of the dance. To their eyes, the sensual appearance of the dance may overshadow its basis and structure. Blues dance at its best is rooted in subtle physical communication and connection between your partner, yourself, and the music and therefore is almost impossible to learn to execute well simply by watching.
References
East Coast Swing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Coast_Swinghttp://www.streetswing.com/histmain/z3ecs1.htm
Lindy Hop
http://www.lindycircle.com/history/lindy_hop/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindy_Hop
Charleston
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleston_(dance)http://www.streetswing.com/histmain/z3chrlst.htm
Balboa
http://www.onlybalboa.com/V2/balboa-history.phphttp://www.lindycircle.com/history/balboa/
http://www.balboadancer.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balboa_(dance)
Blues
http://www.blues-dance.com/aboutbluesdance/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues_dance