Copyright Ó 1995 Don Yacktman.  All rights reserved.

Ballroom Dance Tempos
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This table contains standard tempos for ballroom dancing.  Each row is for a different dance; each column is for the organization which set the tempos.  Music claiming to be ªstrict tempoº should conform to these standards.

ICBD = International Council of Ballroom Dancing
IDSF = International Dance Sport Council (Federation)
NDCA = National Dance Council of America
USABDA = United States Amateur Ballroom Dance Association

ICBD and NDCA govern professional dancers; IDSF and USABDA govern amateurs.

All tempos are given in measures per minute.
			NDCA /
Dance	IDSF	ICBD	USABDA
------------------------------------	-------	--------	-------------

International Waltz	30	31	30
International Tango	33	33	33
International Viennese Waltz	60	60	60
International Slow Foxtrot	30	30	28
International Quickstep	50	52	52
International Samba	50	56	50
International Cha Cha	30	32	32
International Rumba	27	28	27
International Paso Doble	62	62	62
International Jive	44	44	44
American Waltz			28-30
American Tango			30-32
American Foxtrot			30-32
American Peabody			60-62
American Viennese Waltz			54-56
American Bolero			24
American Cha Cha			28-30
American Mambo			47
American Merengue			29-32
American Rumba			32
American Samba			54-56
American East Coast Swing			34-38
American West Coast Swing			28-32
American Polka			60-62