Social Dance

Judy Patterson Wright earned her PhD in 1981 in motor learning and motor development from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she focused on the learning process for sequential dance skills and how teachers may facilitate that process. She is an accomplished dancer and educator who has taught social dance at the junior high, high school, college, and community levels since 1971. Dr. Wright's dance experience includes tap, jazz, modern, ballet, social, folk, square, country Western, line, and aerobic dance. She specializes in ballroom and social dance in which she has extensive experience as a competitor, coach, author, and instructor. She has taught courses at Walsh College in Ohio, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Richland Community College in Illinois, and the Wright Way Dance Studio, which she co-owns. She has also presented workshops at the state and national levels for the National Dance Association and AAHPERD, the National Teachers Association for Country Western Dance Instructors, and the National Dance Educators Organization. Wright has judged and competed in dance competitions and specializes in teaching progressive classes and workshops for both social and competitive dancers. Wright and her husband placed second overall in the UCWDC Silver Advanced Showcase Division at the world finals in both 1996 and 1997. They are the 2009 UCWDC couples gold combined world champions. They also won first place in both strictly swing and strictly hustle at the 2012 world finals in Orlando, Florida. In a career spanning 23 years as an acquisitions editor for Human Kinetics, Wright created the format for the Steps to Success activity series (of which her book is a part) while acquiring numerous books related to dance and exercise and remaining active in the dance community. She resides in North Carolina, where she is a member of the Charlotte USA Dance chapter, the Carolina Ballroom Dance Club, and Lynn’s Dance Club.

Part I What Every Dancer Needs to Know: Building a Solid Foundation

Step 1 Posture, Frame, and Centering: Looking Like a Dancer

Step 2 Music Structure: Hearing Reliable Cues in the Music

Step 3 Dance Rhythm Strategies: Connecting With the Music

Step 4 Partner Dynamics and Etiquette: Communicating Effectively

Part II 10 Social Dances: Rhythmic Step Patterns, Transitions, and Variations

Step 5 Merengue: Joining the Party

Step 6 Four-Count Swing/Hustle: Keeping the Rhythm

Step 7 Waltz: Moving Stately

Step 8 Six-Count Swing: Looking Jazzy

Step 9 Foxtrot: Dancing Regally

Step 10 Polka: Having Fun

Step 11 Cha-Cha: Being Flirtatious

Step 12 Rumba: Reflecting Romance

Step 13 Tango: Expressing Attitude and Flair

Step 14 Salsa/Mambo: Adding Spice and Flavor

Part III Etiquette On the Dance Floor: Adding the Finishing Touches

Step 15 Dance Floor Etiquette: Moving From Practice to Social Dance Settings

Step 16 Turn Technique, Styling, and Timing Options: Looking Good