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The Cha-cha-cha -

Introduced in Cuba in the 1950s, cha-cha-cha is not an impassioned plea for a cup of tea, but rather a triple quickstep style of dance that's performed to music of the same name.

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The Waltz -

Clear the patio and imagine you're a guest at the glitzy Viennese Ball, swirling around the dance floor in an atmosphere of 19th-century elegance and romance.

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The Foxtrot -

Similar in its look to the waltz, this dance style was all the rage in the 1930s. If you want to practice the foxtrot, get some big band music coming through the speakers—all saxophones, trumpets, and trombones.

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The Balboa -

This lively dance is named after the Balboa Peninsula in southern California, where it originated in the 1920s. It's danced to a ballroom rhythm, so give yourself plenty of room to maneuver.

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The Rhumba -

If you do have lots of room, then the rhumba is for you. This dance style combines American big band music with Afro-Cuban rhythms In other words: loud and hot. Good when it's chilly outside!

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Discofox -

Dust off those '70s reflective disco balls and try out this improvisational dance style, which was greatly influenced by the nifty dance moves seen in 'Saturday Night Fever' (1977).

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The Salsa -

A Latin dance with many styles, salsa is not for the unfit or fainthearted. Salsa involves significant movement above the waist, with up-and-down shoulder movements and shifting of the rib cage. And that's over and above the dance's hot and spicy connotations...

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The Jitterbug -

This will brush off the cobwebs. Popularized among African Americans in the United States in the early 20th century, the jitterbug is an extremely vigorous and athletic style of dance. Best put away the crockery first!

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Hand jive -

If you'd rather sit it out, you can still move in by joining in the hand jive. It resembles a highly elaborate version of patty-cake, and is a great option when the living room and kitchen are crowded. It's mostly associated with the rhythm and blues music of the 1950s.

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East coast swing -

East coast swing is an expressive, rotational dance often performed to rock and roll and boogie-woogie music. It's for those carefree moments when the neighbors aren't looking!

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West coast swing -

West coast swing on the other hand is a kind of elasticated dance with lots of extension and compression movements.

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The Twist -

Here's a dance everybody knows. Made famous in the early 1960s and loved by teenagers back in the day, the twist requires a flexible torso and lots of grinding of feet on the floor. Don't attempt on a full stomach!

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The Watusi -

Remember your uncle at your cousin's wedding? Yep, that's the Watusi! Another 1960s dance craze, the dancer is almost stationary with knees slightly bent. The arms, well, take a look at the photograph.

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The Shimmy -

Probably the easiest dance on this list to learn, the shimmy just means keeping your body still except for the shoulders, which are quickly alternated back and forth. Holding up the hands in an "I'm guilty!" posture is optional.

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The Loco-motion -

This is a great feel-good dance, something the whole family can enjoy. Essentially a line dance, it evolved from the hit song of the same name by Little Eva in 1962. Kylie Minogue also sang and danced the 'Loco-Motion' in 1988. It's easy to do, and you won't run out of steam along the way...

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The Charleston -

Named after the American city of Charleston in South Carolina, this dance was popular in the mid-1920s. Kick up your heels and give it a go!

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The Lindy Hop -

The Lindy Hop is straight out of 1920s Harlem, evolving with the jazz music of the time. It's often referred to as a street dance, a nod towards its improvisational and social nature. For the moment though, keep it in the backyard.

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The Conga line -

Are you a large family currently self-isolating under the same roof? Well, the next time one of you leaves the living room to go into the kitchen, take everybody with you in a Conga line, just for a laugh.

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Limbo dance -

How about this for a party game? Loosen up and "limbo" down as far as you can go. The popular dance contest originated on the Caribbean island of Trinidad.

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The Time Warp -

If you're able, screen the cult movie 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' (1975) in your living room and join in with the Time Warp. Much of the song consists of dance step instructions.

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The Hustle -

Do the Hustle, urged Van McCoy in 1975. This popular disco dance will bring back memories for some, and provide plenty of distraction for others. Turn those lights down low.

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The Moonwalk -

Michael Jackson made it look simple, but if you manage to pull it off you'll accomplish a thriller of a dance move!

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The Merengue -

The Merengue is a style of Dominican music and dance where partners hold each other close and personal for much of the time. But they can switch to an open position and do separate turns without letting go of each other's hands or releasing one hand.

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Ballet -

Ballet is a highly technical form of dance that requires hours of practice and a bit of equipment. You'll need to requisition door handles and handrails as stand-in barres, and turn the living room into a rehearsal studio.

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Breakdance -

That open backyard or even a roof both work as a great stage to perfect those toprocks, downrocks, power moves, and freezes.

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Robot Dance -

Admit it—you thought the robot dance was a 1980s phenomenon. Actually, it became popular in the 1960s. But get this: it was being performed as early as the '20s, when it was used theatrically in miming (pictured).

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Pole Dance -

You know that drainpipe out back? Well if you feel so inclined, it could become a very useful prop for working out some acrobatic moves or something, er, a bit more erotic...

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The Mambo -

Another fantastic dance style from Cuba, bursting with vigor and intensity, mambo is the dance style of choice to practice when you're feeling down and need a vibrant pick-me-up.

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The Tango -

Feeling amorous and romantic? Grab your partner and indulge in a spot of tango, arguably the most passionately intense dance on the planet. If that doesn't lift your spirits, nothing will.

See also: Traditional dances from around the world

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