DanceMeTonight.com presents Ballroom Dance Tempos

American Ballroom Dance Tempos

||||||| Bolero ||||||| Cha Cha ||||||| Fox Trot ||||||| Hustle |||||||
||||||| Mambo ||||||| Merengue ||||||| Night Club Two-Step |||||||
||||||| Peabody ||||||| Polka ||||||| Quick Step ||||||| Rumba |||||||
||||||| Samba ||||||| Swing ||||||| Tango ||||||| Waltz |||||||

For Band Leaders and Disc Jockeys

Dear Dance Music Providers (Dance Band Leaders, Disc Jockeys and others):
We appreciate you! It's obvious that we need each other. You play music to attract dancers. We come to dance. As always, we have a few requests.
(1) Please play a variety of dance styles -- not just 90% slow/fast. To call yourself a dance band (or dance DJ), your Play List should include (minimum) three each of the dance styles (listed above and below).
(2) Please play the established, comfortable tempos evolved over the years via experiences of millions of dancers and the dance bands with the biggest followings (more gigs!). Many bands hit the correct tempos with a flashing LED metronome set at the applicable rate. Absent that (in rehearsal?), one can do a quick, 15 second count of the beats (times four = the BPM). If a song doesn't meet the standard, please adjust it.
(3) Take dance lessons (from a "pro," not a "back-yard mechanic") and experience the pleasures of dancing to good tempos and the agony of bad ones. You'll see why tempos are so important.
Result? If you want to please your audience of dancers and make them want to return, you will have succeeded. And, we'll appreciate each other more! -- YOUR Dance Columbus WEBMASTER

American Ballroom Dance Tempos

BALLROOM DANCE STYLE	Tempo	Measures per Minute	Beats per Minute
Bolero ^{1 2}	4/4	24	96
Cha-Cha ^{1 2}	4/4	28-30	112-120
Fox Trot ^{1 2}	4/4	30-32	120-128
Hustle ^{1 2}	4/4	28-30	112-120
Mambo ^{1 2 3}	4/4	47	188
Merengue ^{1 2 3}	4/4	29-32	116-128
Night Club Two-Step ⁴	4/4	16-22	64-88
Peabody ^{1 2}	4/4	60-62	240-248
Polka ^{1 2}	4/4	60-62	240-248
Quick Step ^{1 2}	4/4	52	208
Rumba ^{1 2} ^{3 5}	4/4	27-32	108-128
Samba ^{1 2} ³	2/4	54-56	108-112
Swing - East Coast Triple ^{1 2}	4/4	34-38	136-152
Swing - East Coast Double⁴	4/4	38-44	152-176
Swing - East Coast Single ⁴	4/4	44-48	176-192
Swing - Jive ^{1 2}	4/4	44	176
Swing - Lindy ^{1 2}	4/4	32-40	128-160
Swing - West Coast ^{1 2}	4/4	28-32	112-128
Tango ^{1 2}	2/4	30-32	60-64
Waltz - American ^{1 2}	3/4	28-30	84-90
Waltz - Viennese ^{1 2}	3/4	54-56	162-168
¹ National Dance Council of America (NDCA). ² United Stated Amateur Ballroom Dance Association (USA Dance). ³ The four noted are typical "Salsa" dances, not a dance style in itself. ⁴ Not an officially recognized dance style (MPM/BPM are suggestions). ⁵ Rumba and samba comprise "Bossa Nova," not a dance style in itself.
Click HERE to a printable page. After printing, use your back button to return. --- © 1998 LYNN PARKS -- Dance Columbus