Dance | Sweet Range | Extended Range |
Cross-Step Waltz | 114 – 122 | 105 – 130 |
Rotary Waltz | 140 – 160 | 135 – 170 |
Fast Waltz | 170 – 200 | 160 – 210 |
Polka | 110 – 125 | 105 – 140 |
Schottische | 150 – 165 | 145 – 170 |
One-Step | 115 – 130 | 110 – 135 |
Lindy Hop | 140 – 170 | 135 – 180 |
Sweet Lindy | 115 – 135 | 110 – 140 |
6-Count Swing | 85 – 105 | 80 – 115 |
4-Count Swing | 120 – 140 | 115 – 145 |
West Coast Swing | 100 – 120 | 90 – 130 |
Blues / Fusion | 65 – 90 | 60 – 100 |
Hustle | 115 – 125 | 110 – 130 |
Club 2-Step | 80 – 85 | 75 – 90 |
Salsa | 90 – 100 | 85 – 110 |
Cha-Cha | 115 – 125 | 110 – 130 |
Tango | 120 – 130 | 115 – 140 |
Foxtrot | 135 – 170 | 130 – 180 |
Quickstep | 90 – 105 | 85 – 110 |
Merengue | 115 – 130 | 110 – 135 |
Chart image download: png, svg, pdf
If a song feels like a certain dance type and falls in the sweet range, it’s usually fine to play at that tempo.
If a song is at the low end of the extended range, it should feel more mellow.
If a song is at the high end, it should have more energy.
Although it may be tempting to play a song outside the extended range, this is rarely a good idea. Modify the song’s tempo until it’s inside the extended range and make sure it still feels appropriately mellow/energetic.
(Exception: It’s fine to play an occasional special song like a really fast waltz. If there are less-experienced people in the crowd, make it clear that that the song is meant to have a challenging tempo.)
These tempos are based on Richard Powers’s guidelines, in addition to personal experience DJing at events like Friday Night Waltz and talking to friends who also DJ social dances in the Stanford area. Note that these tempos are specifically tuned for social partner dances (and not competitive ballroom dancing).