Timing is how we move our feet to the music. In social dancing, our dances are all structured around moving our feet together with our partner in time with the music. Partner dancing doesn't quite work if we don't do this together with our dance partner, as well as with the music.

BASIC TIMING

The basic timing is the timing of our Basic Step and most of the Beginner/Foundation level step patterns.

Salsa - 123 567 (8 beats, starting on 1)
Bachata - 123 tap, 123 tap (8 beats, starting on 1)
Merengue - 12 (2 beats, starting on 1)
Bolero - QQS or 123 (4 beats, starting on 1 or 3)
Forro - QQS or 123 (4 beats, starting on 1 or 3)
Samba de Gafieira - QQS or 123 (4 beats, starting on 1 or 3)
Zouk - 12& or SS& (4 beats, starting on 1)
Rumba - 234 234 (4 beats, starting on 2, preparation on 1 or 4)
Cha Cha Cha - 234&1 or 23-chachacha (4 beats, starting on 2, preparation on 1 or 4)
Ballroom Samba - 1a2 (2 beats, starting on 1)
Social Foxtrot - SSQQ (6 beats, starting on 1, 3, 5 or 7)
Waltz - 123 (3 beats, starting on 1)
English Tango - Based on the pattern, but normally is a combination of S and QQS.
Quickstep - Based on the pattern, but normally is a combination of S and QQS
Slow Foxtrot - Based on the pattern, but normally is a combination of S and QQS
Kizomba - Based on the pattern, but normally is a combination of S and QQS
Argentine Tango - Based on the leader's lead

DANCES WITH
ALTERNATE TIMINGS

Some dances having timing "variations", where the timing occasionally changes for special steps, but otherwise stays the same the Basic Timing for most of that dance. The following are the dances, and 1 example of an alternate timing for that dance.

Salsa - Tapping on 4 and 8
Bachata - Step tap timing
Merengue - Syncopated timing
Rumba - Rumba Rock Timing
Cha Cha Cha - 3 Cha Cha Chas Timing
Box Waltz
Social Foxtrot
Viennese Waltz

DANCES WITH
PATTERN-BASED TIMING

Some dances have timing that is dependent on the step pattern being danced. This means that your "Basic Timing" for these dances is really only the first timing that you learn and you dance different timings based on the step pattern. These dances are:

Ballroom Samba
Jive
Bolero
Forro
Samba de Gafieira
Zouk
Soltinho
Modern Waltz
English Tango
Quickstep
Slow Foxtrot

DANCES WHERE
THE STEP TIMING IS LEAD BY THE LEADER

Some dances have step timing that is controlled by the leader. The leader is able to control or alter the step timing based on their interpretation of the music and their communication of weight transfer. These dances are:

Bolero
Samba de Gafieira
Zouk
Kizomba
Argentine Tango (this dance has no basic timing and the timing is completely felt and lead by the leader)