This chapter puts together the basic patterns of each of the more common ballroom dances, so that the dancer can easily compare them with each other, and analyze the major differences in rhythmic patterns. 
      Some dances, you will note, will have the same basic rhythm pattern. So what then would  differentiate them? Basically, the differences would lie in the essence of the dance, the type and tempo of the music, the step pattern, the characteristic movement of the shoulder, the use of contrary body movement, resistance, delayed steps, and several other factors. 
       These of course will be detailed further in the individual chapters for each dance. 
       Italized instructions are for advanced dancers.

WALTZ Progressive Walk

FOXTROT Basic Forward Walk

Count	1      2	3      4	5        6	7      8
Rhythm Units
Rhythm	Single	Single	Double	Single
Beat Value	1       1	1       1	1       1	1       1
	Slow	Slow	Quick Quick	Slow
Verbal Call	WALK Touch	WALK Touch	WALK WALK	WALK Hold
Man
Foot	L     ( R )	R    ( L )	L       R	L    ( R )
Direction	F   (tch)	F   (tch)	F       F	F   ( h )
Lady
Foot	R     ( L )	L    ( R )	R       L	R    ( L )
Direction	B   (tch)	B   (tch)	B       B	B    ( h )
Both
Dance Position	Closed	Closed	Closed	Closed
Foot Position	4th    1st	4th   1st	4th   4th	4th   4th

   QUICKSTEP Quarter Turn

Count	1      2	3      4	5        6	7      8
Rhythm Units
Rhythm	Single	Double	Single	Single
Beat Value	1       1 Slow	1       1 Quick Quick	1       1 Slow	1       1 Slow
Man
Foo	L    ( R )	R       L	R    ( L )	L    ( R )
Direction	F   (tch)	F       T	S        F	B   (tch)
ContraryBody	R-L		L-F	R-F
Body Sway	L	L	L	L
Lady
Foot	R    ( L )	L      R	L    ( R )	R    ( L)
Direction	B   (tch)	S      T	S    (tch)	B    (tch)
Contrary Body	L-B		R-B	L-B
Body Sway	R	R	R	R
Both
Turn	1/4 L		1/4 R
Dance Position	Closed	Closed	Closed	Closed
Foot Position	4th	2nd   1st	2nd	4th

The Quickstep is very similar to Foxtrot, but is danced to much faster music.  The Quarter Turn is the most  important figure in Quickstep.

PHILIPINE SWING Single Basic Pattern

Count	1       2	3        4
Rhythm Units
Rhythm	Double	Double
Beat Value	1       1	1       1
	Quick Quick	Quick Quick
Man
Foot	L       R	L       R
Direction	B       F	T       Cl
Lady
Foot	R       L	R        L
Direction	B       F	T       Cl
Both
Dance Position	Two-Hand	Two-Hand
Foot Position	3rd   3rd	2nd   1s

REGGAE Basic Pattern

Count	1         2	3      4	5        6	7      8
Rhythm Units
Rhythm	Double	Single	Double	Single
Beat Value	1       1	1       1	1       1	1       1
	Quick Quick	Slow	Quick Quick	Slow
Verbal Call	SIDE TOGETHER	SIDE TOUCH	SIDE TOGETHER	SIDE TOUCH
Man
Foot	L       R	L    ( R )	R       L	L     ( R )
Direction	S      T	S   (tch)	S       T	S   (tch)
Lady
Foot	R       L	R    ( L )	L       R	L    ( R )
Direction	S      T	S   (tch)	S       T	S    (tch)
Both
Dance Pose	Two-Hand	Two-Hand	Two-Hand	Two-Hand
Foot Position	2nd    1st	2nd    1st	2nd    1st	2nd    1st
Body Move	Up   Down	Up   Down	Up   Down	Up   Down

TANGO Basic Step

Count	1   2  &	3   4  &	5        6	7      8
Rhythm Units
Rhythm	Single	Single	Double	Blank
Beat Value	1  ½  ½	1   ½  ½	1       1	1       1
	Slow	Slow	Quick Quick	Slow
Verbal Call	WALK Brush	WALK Brush	WALK WALK	Touch Hold
Man
Foot	L     ( R )	R    ( L )	L        R	( L )   ( L )
Direction	F     (br)	F    (br)	F        S	(tch)  ( h )
Shoulder Pull	B-L	B-R	B-L    B-R	Neutral
Lady
Foot	R     ( L )	L    ( R )	R        L	( R )   ( R )
Direction	B     (br)	B    (br)	B       S	(tch)   ( h )
Shoulder Pull	F-R	F-L	F-R    F-L	Neutral
Both
Dance Position	Closed	Closed	Closed	Closed
Foot Position	4th    1st	4th    1st	4th    2nd	1st    1st

RUMBA Basic Box Pattern

Count	2         3	4      5	6        7	8      1
Rhythm Units
Rhythm	Double	Single	Double	Single
Beat Value	1       1	1       1	1       1	1       1
	Quick Quick	Slow	Quick Quick	Slow
Man
Foot	L       R	L     ( R )	R       L	R     ( L)
Direction	S       T	F     ( h )	S       T	B     ( h )
CubanHipMotion	R       L	R	L       R	L
Lady
Foot	R       L	R     ( L )	L       R	L    ( R )
Direction	S       T	B     ( h )	S       T	F    ( h )
CubanHipMotion	L       R	L	R       L	R
Both
Dance Position	Closed	Closed	Closed	Closed
Foot Position	2nd    1st	4th	2nd    1st	4th
Turn	The entire pattern turns gradually Left on Counts 3 and 7.

MAMBO Basic Pattern

The Mambo’s rhythm and step patterns are the same as the Rumba. They differ only in the music and tempo. Mambo music is faster, with more percussion and characterized by staccato beats.

CHA-CHA-CHA Basic Pattern

Count	2         3	4    &    5	6        7	8    &    1
Rhythm Units
Rhythm	Double	Triple	Double	Triple
Beat Value	1       1	½   ½   1	1       1	½   ½   1
Man
Foot	L       R	L     R    L	R       L	R    L    R
Direction	F       B	S    T    S	B       F	S    T    S
CubanHipMotion	R       L	R     L    R	L       R	L     R    L
Lady
Foot	R       L	R      L    R	L       R	L     R    L
Direction	S      T	S    T    S	F       B	S      T    S
CubanHipMotion	L       R	L     R    L	R       L	R     L    R
Both
Dance Position	Closed	Closed	Closed	Closed
Foot Position	3rd   3rd	2nd 1st 2nd	3rd   3rd	2nd 1st 2nd
Body Movement	Body Flight	Body Flight	Body Flight	Body Flight

PHILIPPINE SWING (Double) Basic Pattern

Count	&    1     2	3    &    4	5         6
Rhythm Units
Rhythm	Triple	Triple	Double
Beat Value	½   1     1	½   ½   1	1       ½
Man
Foot	L    R    L	R     L    R	L       R
Direction	B    F    S	Pl    B    F	S      Pl
Lady
Foot	R    L    R	L     R     L	R       L
Direction	B    F    S	Pl    B    F	S       Pl
Both
Dance Position	Two-Hand	Two-Hand	Two-Hand
Foot Position	3rd 3rd 2nd	2nd 3rd 3rd	2nd   2nd
Body Movement	Dn  Up  Up	Up  Dn Up	Up   Up
Turn	The entire pattern gradually turns Right on Counts 2 & 5.
Resistance	Slightly pull on your partner on the "&" counts.

While this is "triple-triple-double" more common rhythm for the Philippine Double Swing, the Dance Addict prefers to use another rhythm very popular with American dancers, using "double-triple-triple", i.e., "1  2  -  &  3   4  -  5  &  6", so the start of the dance is not rushed, and rendered smoothly. The leader's lead is smoother, while the follower does not look as if she was skipping.  It is also easier for partners to adjust to the rhythm.

SAMBA Basic Pattern

Count	1   &  a  2	&      3  &  a  4
Rhythm Units
Rhythm	Triple	Triple
Beat Value	¾      ¼  1	¾      ¼  1
	Quick Quick Slow	Quick Quick Slow
Man
Foot	L        R   L	R       L   R
Direction	F        S  T	B       S   T
Lady
Foot	R       L   R	L        R   L
Direction	B       S   T	F        S  T
Both
Dance Position	Closed	Closed
Foot Position	4th   2nd 1st	4th   2nd 1st
Body Movement	Dn    Up Dn	Dn   Up Dn
Turn	Entire pattern is a gradual Left Turn.  Both partners look over their own left shoulder

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL Basic Pattern 

Count	1       2	3      4	5        6
Rhythm Units
Rhythm	Double	Single	Single
Beat Value	1       1	1	1        1
Verbal Cal	STEP Hold	STEP Hold	BACK ROCK
Man
Foot	L        (L)	R     (R)	L       R
Direction	Pl    ( h )	Pl    ( h )	B      Pl
Lady
Foot	R     (R)	L     (L)	R        L
Direction	Pl     (h)	Pl    ( h )	B       Pl
Resistance	Slightly pull on your partner on the count 5.

BOOGIE (Two-Beat Jive) Basic Pattern 

Count	1       2	3      4	5        6
Rhythm Units
Rhythm	Double	Single	Single
Beat Value	1       1	1       1	1        1
Verbal Call	BACK ROCK	Tap STEP	Tap STEP
Man
Foot	L       R	( L )      L	( R )      R
Direction	B      Pl	(tap)   Pl	(tap)   P
Lady
Foot	R       L	( R )      R	( L )      L
Direction	B      Pl	(tap)   Pl	(tap)   Pl
Both
Dance Position	One-Hand	One-Hand	One-Hand
Foot Position	3rd   3rd	2nd   2nd	2nd   2nd
Resistance	Slightly pull on your partner on the count 5.

JIVE Basic Pattern  

Count	1         2	3      a  4	5      a  6
Rhythm Units
Rhythm	Double	Triple	Triple
Beat Value	1         1	¾      ¼  1	¾      ¼  1
Man
Foot	L         R	L       R   L	R      L   R
Direction	B        Pl	S       B  S	S      B  S
Lady
Foot	R       L	R       L  R	L       R   L
Direction	B      Pl	S       B  S	S       B  S
Both
Dance Position	Closed	Closed	Closed
Foot Position	3rd   3rd	2nd 1st 2nd	2nd 1st 2nd

WEST COAST SWING Basic Pattern 

Count	1         2	3  &  a  4	5  &  a  6
Rhythm Units
Rhythm	Double	Triple	Triple
Beat Value	1         1	½   ½   1	½   ½   1
Verbal Cal	Back Turn Right	Step Tog. Fwd	Anchor in Place
Man
Foot	L        R	L     R     L	R     L     R
Direction	B        F	B     Pl    F	ANCHOR
Lady
Foot	R       L	R     L    R	L     R     L
Direction	F       F	B     T    F	B     T    B
Both
Dance Position	Closed	Closed	Closed
Foot Position	4th   4th	3rd 3rd 3rd	3rd 3rd 3rd
Turn	Man turns 1/4 R on Count 2. Lady turns 1/2 L on "&" between Counts 2 and 3.

MERENGUE Side Basic Pattern

Count	1         2	3         4	5         6	7         8
Rhythm Units
Rhythm	Double	Double	Double	Double
Beat Value	1       1	1       1	1       1	1       1
Verbal Cal	Side Together	Side Together	Side Together	Side Together
Man
Foot	L       R	L    ( R )	R       L	R     ( L )
Direction	S       T	S       T	B      F	S    (tap)
Cuban Hip Motion	R       N	R       N	L       N	L       N
Lady
Foot	R       L	R     ( L )	L       R	L    ( R )
Direction	S      T	S       T	S       T	S   (tap)
Cuban Hip Motion	L       N	L       N	R      N	R      N
Both
Dance Position	Closed	Closed	Closed	Closed
Foot Position	2nd   1st	2nd   1st	2nd   1st	2nd   1st
Body Movement	Down   Up	Down   Up	Down   Up	Down   Up