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.

"Social Dance is a must-have for all dancers. Judy Wright covers the essentials of performing both smooth and rhythmic dances in this fun and engaging text." Pamela Haibach, PhD-- Associate Professor, College of Brockport  "With more dances, enhanced diagrams, an instructor guide, and an accompanying DVD featuring dances and music, the third edition of Social Dance is a must-have for students. Social Dance makes learning fun! Judi Fey-- Dance Consultant, Anne Arundel County Public Schools "Judy Wright is an exceptional teacher, and her ability to explain proper technique in an easy-to-follow way makes Social Dance a must-have book." Christy Lane-- Dance Educator and Producer, Author of Christy Lane's Complete Book of Line Dancing

• Part I What Every Dancer Needs to Know: Building a Solid FoundationStep 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 VariationsStep 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 TouchesStep 15 Dance Floor Etiquette: Moving From Practice to Social Dance Settings Step 16 Turn Technique, Styling, and Timing Options: Looking Good