Different Types of Couple Dances

This table categorizes a number of couple dances by the way the man and the woman move together.

Dance Types

Spin In Place

These dances take place around a fixed spot on the dance floor, with the partners moving around each other. In some of these dances, the partners move the same feet, while in others, they move opposite feet.
 

Gammeldans/Ballroom

In these dances, the partners' movements follow each other as if the opposite feet of the man and the women are tied together (when the man's left foot moves forward, the woman's right foot move back). The music to these dances is usually 2/4 or 4/4. In some of these dances, the first step is taken sideways the line of direction (LOD), while in others, the first step is taken facing or with back to the LOD. Further, some dances are danced in place whereas others move in the LOD
 

Basic Polska

These dances are usually danced counterclockwiase around the floor to 3/4 music. Here, the partners' steps shifted in phase, with the woman's movements 1 beat ahead of the man's (or two behind). When the man steps around with his left, the woman is generally placing the feet together. In some of these dances, the man steps around the women on the first beat, and in others on the second beat. There appears to be two ways to do S&oring;nderhoning, one as a basic polska and another as an advanced polska, like the Senpolska fr. Torp. We prefer the latter and have placed it there.
 

Advanced Polska

These dances are also usually danced counterclockwise around the floor to 3/4 music. At least one, Sønderhoning, is danced to 2/4 music. The partners' steps are shifted in phase, this time with the woman's movements 2 beat ahead of the man's (or 1 behind). These dances are more generally more difficult than the basic polska dances because the woman will step forward with the right foot on the same count at which the man is stepping around her with his left. If the man does not anticipate this with a pivot on the right foot, the partners will be struggling to match the dance with the music. In most of these dances, The man steps around the woman on the first beat, but it can happen also on the second beat (Hambopolska fr. S. Dalarna) or on the third beat (Polska fr. Hogdal-Lommeland)
 

Type	Subtype	Dances
Spin in place	Same feet	Leksandslåten Ardeleana
	Opposite feet	Lejdelåten fr. Norrbärke
Gammeldans and Ballroom	In Place	Salsa Cha-cha East Coast Swing West Coast Swing Rhumba
	Left/Right on Ct 1	Polka Polketteering Mazurka
	Forward/Back on Ct 1	Waltz Snoa Schottis Springdans fr. Hogdal/Lommeland Melparing Försteg in Bondpolska fr. Överhärde Foxtrot Tango Nightclub Twostep Box-step Waltz West Coast Swing
Polska	Man: L(1) Woman: L(3)	Polska fr. Bingsjö Polska fr. Södra Dalarna Polska fr. Ore Slängpolska fr. Malung I Polska I Turer fr. Idre Slängpolska fr. Ramsele Nåsföra Nigpolska fr. Alfta Skuvpolska fr. Västmanland Polska fr. Alfta/Arbrå Senpolska fr. Gimdalen Rørospols
	Man: L(2) Woman: L(1)	Polska fr. Boda Polska fr. Orsa Hambo Bondpolska fr. Viksta
Advanced Polska	Man: L(1) Woman: L(2)	Polska fr. Särna (Woman: R(1) L(2) R(2&) L(3)) Polska fr. Älvdalen (Woman: R(1) L(2&) R(3) L(3&)) Polska fr. Transtrand (Woman: R(1) L(2&) R(3) L(3&)) Slängpolska fr. Malung II Polska fr. Kall Gammelvänster Polska fr. Rörbäcksnäs (Woman: R(1) L(2) R(3) L(3&)) Polska fr. Rättvik Polska fr. Övre Klarälvsdalen Storpolska fr. Vemdalen Polska fr. Åmot Gammalpolska fr. Delsbo Senpolska fr. Torp "Norsk Mazurka" fr. Transtrand Sønderhoning
	Man: L(2) Woman: L(3)	Hambopolska fr. S. Dalarna
	Man: L(3) Woman: L(1)	Polska fr. Hogdal-Lommeland

Fšrsteg:

Man: L(1), Woman: R(1): almost always
Man: R(1), Woman: L(1): Boda, Orsa, Hogdal/Lommeland
Man: L(1), Woman: L(1): Bakmes fr. Ragunda, Särna, Transtrand, Boda (variation)