Let's Dance Trivia Quiz

Answer: Charleston

The Charleston is named after the city of the same name in South Carolina. Some of the steps in the Charleston come from the then-popular Juba dancing style that was performed by African-American dancers. It was popularized nationwide by a number of Broadway plays including "Liza" and "Runnin' Wild".

The Broadway plays added other steps not based on Juba so the dance would appeal to white audiences.

Answer: Foxtrot

The foxtrot is named after actor Harry Fox who is believed to have popularized the dance in 1914. However, dance instructors Vernon and Irene Castle are credited with adding the foxtrot's signature grace. The foxtrot, specifically the accompanying music, has its origins in ragtime. In fact, the foxtrot had been danced for decades in African-American clubs until it was mainstreamed by Fox. The Castles originally named the dance the bunny hug before changing it to foxtrot.

The foxtrot was so popular during the first half of the 20th century, that rock and roll songs were originally advertised as foxtrots by Decca Records because the company was afraid no one buy music that was unsuitable to dance the foxtrot too.

Answer: Viennese Waltz

The Viennese waltz is sometimes called the fast waltz to distinguish itself from the dance simply called waltz or slow waltz. It developed from several different dance styles including the allemande and the landler. A traditional Viennese waltz (one performed in the ballrooms of Vienna) would only have turns (changing the direction of the dance) and change steps (the footwork performed to change direction) and no other moves.

The American-style Viennese Waltz is considered to be significantly less strict where one would perform other moves such as the fleckerl and passing by other couples on the dance floor.

Answer: Paso Doble

The paso doble is danced to resemble a Spanish bull fight. The man is the matador and the woman is the cape (or sometimes said to be the matador's shadow). The matador is the obvious leader of the dance and is usually the more dominant partner and makes big, powerful and intense moves. In the traditional paso doble, the woman would never represent the bull; however, she might in a ballroom-style paso doble.

The paso doble has its origins in a French military step that was also used by the Spanish military in the 18th century. However, paso doble music has been around for at least a century longer than the dance or the military step. It is often played when a matador enters the ring and right before he kills the bull.

Answer: Bhangra

The bhangra is derived from a Punjab martial arts called bagaa. The bhangra was a popular dance in India and Pakistan until the 1940s when India and Pakistan became independent. The traditional bhangra was focused in Pakistan while a new freeform version developed in India. Dancers traditionally wear long, thin and baggy clothes.

The long shirt is called a kurta while the finger scarves are called rumal. Overall, the dancers' attire resembled something similar to what westerners would think of to be pajamas.

Answer: Cha-Cha-Cha

Enrique Jorrin is credited for writing the original cha-cha-cha music that accompanies the dance, which he is also credited with inventing. He was a Cuban composer from Havana, though he later moved around the world spreading his music and dance. The name cha-cha-cha comes from the sound the dancers' shoes make while performing their routines.

It may also come from the sounds of the music's beat. The cha-cha-cha is the proper name for the dance, not the cha-cha. It is also properly spelled with the hyphens, not without.

Answer: Flamenco

The Flamenco originated in Andalusia, Spain no later than 1774 and probably years before that. It later became infused with Gitano or Romani influences and culture. It may also have some Moorish influence also. Flamenco comes from the Spanish word for fire or flame. Where that came from is unknown but it could reference the sultriness of the dance or because the Gitano people had a stereotype for being hotheaded or hot tempered. Castanets are the little finger drum-like instruments that frequently accompany flamenco dancers.

It is also not unusually to see the dancers playing the castanets themselves.

Answer: Samba

Samba is a traditional Brazilian dance, popularly seen during parades of Carnival. It has its roots in African dances from Africans who were enslaved in Brazil. The "street" or traditional samba is characterized by bright, elaborate costumes and is considered more risqué or sexy than the ballroom samba. Traditional samba dancers' costumes, especially the women, usually have many feathers and are quite large in size. The men's costumes tend to be less elaborate but just as colorful. The men often wear sleeve ruffles.

The word samba may be derived from the sambuco, a Portuguese harp instrument. It may also come from the Bantu word for dance "semba" which is itself another kind of dance. Samba also bares a resemblance to the Portuguese word "sambar" which roughly translates to doing carpenter's work but in modern Portuguese means to dance the samba.

Answer: Tango

The tango was made a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage item in 2009 for being a recognizable symbol of Argentina's cultural. The tango is derived from the candombe dance performed by African slaves who were brought to Uruguay and Argentina and various ballroom styles of European dances. The tango was invented by lower-class Argentines in Buenos Aires or possible in Uruguay. It is commonly said to have been invented by prostitutes in bordellos but there is no evidence to support this, though the dance was extremely popular with brothel workers and patrons.

In the early to mid 20th century, tango was banned despite its popularity. A series of dictators sought to ban large public gatherings and tango performances often drew the largest crowds. The tango was systematically banned and then unbanned depending on who the leader was at the time. Also in those days, it was a tradition that the tango would be danced by either a male-female pairing or a male-male pairing. Many tango practices and routines were male-only events. That was particularly troublesome to the various dictators because they believed men would be more likely to rebel than women, especially in large groups.

Answer: Merengue

Rafael Trujillo, the famous Dominican dictator, made merengue music the official music of the Dominican Republic. As a result, the dance became popular as well. Merengue stems from traditional African slave dances mixed with local Indian dances and Spanish dances.

The signature hip action of the merengue is caused, not by moving the hips, but by bending the knees a certain way and then swaying the knees, which causes the hips to move.