Standard songs for ballroom dancing. Popular and well-known tracks.

The Phantom of the OperaAndrew Lloyd Webber

The Phantom of the Opera ballroom dance showcase

Even if you’ve never seen the original musical, chances are you’ve heard this piece at least once.

The 1986 musical The Phantom of the Opera, with music by British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, is one of the most famous musical productions to achieve historic success.

The moment the iconic pipe organ intro of the title and theme song, “The Phantom of the Opera,” resounds, you’re instantly drawn into the world of the show.

In Japan, the Shiki Theatre Company was the first to stage a non-English production, and many people have seen their performances multiple times.

There are numerous arrangements for piano, wind ensemble, and more, and perhaps because the grandiose atmosphere fits so well, metal bands have also covered it.

If you’re going to dance to such a historic masterpiece, then naturally the man ought to become the Phantom himself—and don that white mask!

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Let’s Get LoudJennifer Lopez

Abbey Clancy & Aljaz Cha Cha to ‘Let’s Get Loud’ – Strictly Come Danicing 2013: Week 2 – BBC

Jennifer Lopez is a singer who is also active as an actress.

Since she has appeared in many famous movies, many of you may already know her.

Among her works, one that is especially perfect for ballroom dancing is “Let’s Get Loud.” It’s a cha-cha-style track that carries a Latin vibe throughout.

As a ballroom dance song, because it’s a cha-cha, I think it’s somewhat challenging, but please give it a try.

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Por una cabezaCarlos Gardel

Por una Cabeza – Carlos Gardel

“Por una cabeza,” which literally means “by a head” in horse racing parlance, is one of the most famous pieces in the tango genre.

Composed by Argentina’s legendary tango singer Carlos Gardel in 1935 as an insert song for the film Tango Bar, it has since transcended tango, appearing in various arrangements across films, TV dramas, and as background music for figure skating—an enduring classic.

The piece is also the music used in the iconic scene from Scent of a Woman, in which Al Pacino, playing a blind retired officer, dances exquisitely with a young woman.

In fact, this same piece was played in 2016 when former President Obama visited Argentina and, without prior notice, was invited by a dancer to perform an impressive dance at a state dinner.

Obama reportedly had not danced tango before then, but in the world of social dancing, being able to dance to this piece could be considered a mark of cultural refinement.

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Sing,Sing,SingLouis Prima

Sing, Sing, Sing (Quick step) – Destini and Jamile

A quintessential swing jazz number, “Sing, Sing, Sing.” Because Benny Goodman’s version is the most famous, people often think it’s his original, but it was actually written by trumpeter Louis Prima.

Swing jazz pairs extremely well with ballroom dancing, and “Sing, Sing, Sing” in particular is always up-tempo, making it easy to dance to.

Nowadays, the electro-swing genre has developed, and you can hear a more contemporary, faster-paced take on “Sing, Sing, Sing” in those versions—definitely worth checking out.

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Beyond The SeaBobby Darin

Ashley Taylor Dawson & Ola dance to ‘Beyond The Sea’ – Strictly Come Dancing: 2013 – BBC

The classic, romantically mood-filled masterpiece “Beyond the Sea” is a signature song by Bobby Darin, a composer-singer who also worked as an actor and scored hits in the 1950s and ’60s.

Darin sang an English-lyric version of French singer Charles Trenet’s song “La Mer,” releasing it in 1960 and turning it into a world-famous hit.

The title of the 2004 biographical film about Darin, “Beyond the Sea,” directly uses the song’s name.

In this article, we also introduce a video of a dance performed to this song on the BBC dance reality show “Strictly Come Dancing,” so be sure to check it out as well!

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Tennessee WaltzPatti Page

Patti Page – Tennessee Waltz (1956)

Patti Page was one of the most prominent standard popular singers of the 1940s and 1950s.

While primarily a popular music artist, the era gave her music strong jazz characteristics, and her vocal quality is very similar to that of a jazz singer.

One of her signature songs is “Tennessee Waltz.” As the title suggests, it’s arranged in a waltz style and carries an overall romantic atmosphere.

If you’d like to dance a relaxed social dance, be sure to give it a listen.

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Part Time LoverStevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder – Part Time Lover

“Part-Time Lover,” one of Stevie Wonder’s timeless signature songs that reached No.

1 in five categories including the Billboard Hot 100, is a classic frequently used for social dances like Jitterbug and Jive.