Total Expression is a chill out dance fusion of latin, blues & smooth moves with modern jive, suitable for dancing to ‘soulful’ music played at slower tempos.

The dance

Total Expression is a slotted style of dancing with an emphasis on musicality and connection. It can best be described as having the smooth flowing turn patterns of Cross Body Salsa, the framework and connection of West Coast Swing together with the communication, sensuality, expression and grounding of Blues. Total Expression incorporates various other dance styles such as ochos from Tango, mambos from Meringue and the copa from Salsa, using techniques such as the triple step and right to left hand holds while still maintaining the freedom of footwork and musical interpretation only found in modern jive. Check out our Video clips.

The music

Over the past few years the type of music played in modern jive venues has been changing. These changes have taken place largely because of innovative DJs who realise that other kinds of slower music lend themselves to the smoother, more expressive side of modern jive. This music includes R’n’B, Tango, Soul, Salsa, Funk, other Latin styles and of course Blues. Total Expression is simply a way to help express this more soulful and expressive music always remembering that, ‘the music, not the dancer, leads the dance’.