"Ballroom dancing is split into two streams: standard, which includes the foxtrot, tango, waltz, Viennese waltz and quickstep, and the more sensual Latin dances, such as the jive, rumba, cha-cha, samba and paso doble. To accomplish dances of either stream with flair, you must consider the following:

COSTUME

" Dress is key because it helps convey the character and story of the dance. Make sure you choose a fabric that is flattering to the body and enhances the flow of your movement, rather than heavy, stiff fabrics. Also consider what you want to dance. For a rumba, which is full of romantic movement, chiffon is good, while for a cha-cha, samba and jive you might want something cheekier with more movement, like a fringe, or you could go for feathers and ruffles.

CONFIDENCE

" Imagine yourself in a bubble. Shut everything out but listen to the music. This is actually quite easy to do as you are spotlighted, making it difficult to see anybody else but your partner. Your partner should always have your full focus, so fix your gaze on them. And if you make a mistake, improvise. Think of a dance as a three-minute drama. You cannot let a little step out of time spoil the rest of the three minutes, so keep up the rhythm, tempo and mood. Never think of a mistake as a mistake. Think: “This is the way I am supposed to move.” You have to convince the audience—including your partner.

PRACTICE

" Have a goal, like performing in a show or a competition to urge you on. To dance flawlessly, I would recommend practising twice a week. Practise the rumba walk, which is the basis of any Latin dance, at home and I recommend you watch dance videos by professionals to get an idea of how you are supposed to move.

PARTNER

" When choosing a partner, physical chemistry is the top priority. Try out different partners and see how you feel. Some are too strong; some are too weak. You have to feel comfortable. And you have to feel each other’s movement, communicate through touch. Hopefully your partner will be someone you get along with. And remember, it takes two to Tango!"

Yumi Honda is Managing Director of public relations firm Center Stage Asia and a lover of Latin ballroom dance

This story originally appeared in the October 2014 issue of Hong Kong Tatler