Ballroom dance refers collectively to a set of partner dances, which originated in Germany and are now enjoyed both socially and competitively around the globe. Partner dances are the Dances whose basic choreography involves coordinated dancing of two partners as opposed to individuals dancing alone or individually Social dance is a major category or classification of Danceforms or dance styles where sociability and socializing are the primary focuses of the dancing Competitive dance is a popular widespread activity in which competitors perform dances in any of several permitted dance styles—such as acro, Ballet, jazz Its performance and entertainment aspects are also widely enjoyed on stage, in film, and on television. Concert dance (also known as performance dance and theatre dance (particularly in the United Kingdom) is a category of Dances which is performed See also Entertainment (disambiguation and The Entertainer (disambiguation Entertainment is an activity designed to give people Theatre (or theater, see spelling differences) is the branch of the Performing arts defined by Bernard Beckerman as what "occurs when one Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic
While historically ballroom dance may refer to any form of formal social dancing as recreation, with the eminence of dancesport in modern times the term has become much narrower in scope, usually referring specifically to the International Standard and International Latin style dances (see dance categories below). DanceSport denotes Dance as a Sport activity Initially this term was applied to competitive ballroom dancing, in its International Style. Ballroom dance refers collectively to a set of Partner dances which originated in Germany and are now enjoyed both socially and competitively around the In the United States, two additional variations—"American Smooth" and "American Rhythm"—have also been popularized and are commonly recognized as styles of "ballroom dance".
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Definitions and history
The term "ballroom dancing" is derived from the word ball, which in turn originates from the Latin word ballare which means "to dance". A ball is a formal Dance. The word 'ball' is derived from the Latin word "ballare" meaning 'to dance' the term also derived into "bailar" which is the Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. In times past, ballroom dancing was "social dancing" for the privileged, leaving "folk dancing" for the lower classes. Social dance is a major category or classification of Danceforms or dance styles where sociability and socializing are the primary focuses of the dancing Folk dance is a term used to describe a large number of dances mostly of European origin that tend to share the following attributes originally danced in about the These boundaries have since become blurred, and it should be noted even in times long gone, many "ballroom" dances were really elevated folk dances.
The definition of ballroom dance also depends on the era. Balls have featured Minuet, Quadrille, Polonaise, Pas de Gras, Mazurka, and other popular dances of the day, which are considered to be historical dances. A minuet, sometimes spelled menuet, is a Social dance of French origin for two persons usually in 3/4 time. for the equestrian form of quadrille see Quadrille (dressage The term may also refer to Quad paper and a Square tiling The polonaise ( Polish: polonez, chodzony; Italian: polacca) or the Bizmarck as it is more colloquially known The mazurka is a stylized Polish Folk dance in Triple meter with a lively tempo that has a heavy accent on the third or second beat Historical dance (or early dance) in a collective term covering a wide variety of dance types from the past as they are danced in the present Today, the term applies to any one of the several dances in which two individuals, a "leader" and a "follower," dance with physical contact through their upper or lower bodies, or simply their arms depending on the particular variety of dance. Since most social dancing is unchoreographed, this contact is necessary for the leader to communicate the next dance move to the follower, and for the follower to respond to this insinuation. This stands in stark contrast with the style(s) of dance seen in clubs and other social gatherings where physical contact tends to be optional and the individuals in question can move freely without any such restraints imposed by firm physical contact or by the necessity to follow the rhythmic pattern present in the music. Some knowledge of known step patterns is essential for both the leader as well as the follower for ballroom dancing. As most ballroom style dances require some knowledge and practice, they have lessened in popularity among the public in the recent decades. Dance historians usually mark the appearance of the twist in the early 1960s as the end of social partner dancing. "The Twist" was a dance in the 1960s inspired by rock and roll music
Astaire and Rogers
In the early 20th century, the on-screen dance pairing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers greatly influenced ballroom dancing in the USA. Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz; May 10, 1899 &ndash June 22, 1987) was an American Academy Award Ginger Rogers ( July 16, 1911 &ndash April 25, 1995) was an Academy Award -winning American film and stage actress Although both actors had separate projects and careers, they are associated for their filmed dance sequences together, which included portrayals of early 20th century dancers Vernon and Irene Castle and have reached iconic status. An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works Vernon and Irene Castle were a husband-and-wife team of Ballroom dancers of the early 20th century [1] Much of Astaire and Rogers' work portrayed social dancing, although the performances were highly choreographed (often by Astaire or Hermes Pan), and meticulously staged and rehearsed. Hermes Pan ( December 10, 1910 &ndash September 19, 1990) was an American Dancer and Choreographer, principally celebrated [2]
Modern ballroom movements
Classic and vintage dance societies are dedicated to the performance and preservation of ballroom dances of the past, including older versions of current dances (and this format may also include dances of the present that were done the same way in the past). Vintage dance is the authentic recreation of historical Dance styles These companies perform at special events attired in traditional dance costume. The term costume can refer to Wardrobe and dress in general or to the distinctive style of dress of a particular people class or period Some instructors specialize in the dances of one place or time, or in fad dances: short-lived, time-specific dances that may be associated with the music or style of an era (such as the twist) or a particular song (such as YMCA or La Macarena). "Dance craze" redirects here For the documentary film see Dance Craze. "The Twist" was a dance in the 1960s inspired by rock and roll music " YMCA " is a 1978 song by the Village People which became a hit in January 1979 " Macarena " is a Spanish song by Los del Río about a woman of the same name or any woman from the La Macarena neighborhood of
Competitive dancing
In spite of its historical image as a pastime for the privileged; formal competitions, sometimes referred to as DanceSport, often allow participation by less advanced dancers at various proficiency levels. The United States national professional Ballroom dance champions are crowned at the United States Dance Championships (formerly USDSC and USBC as recognized by the National DanceSport denotes Dance as a Sport activity Initially this term was applied to competitive ballroom dancing, in its International Style.
In the United States, amateur dance proficiency levels are defined by USA Dance (formerly United States Amateur Ballroom Dance Association, USABDA) as Bronze->Silver->Gold for syllabus dancers, and Novice->Prechampionship->Championship for open competitors. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the [3] These levels roughly correspond to the "E" to "S" levels in Europe and Australia. Among professionals, levels classify into Rising Star and Open Professional.
Eligibility and "leveling up" requirements will vary greatly between countries and sometimes within. For instance, in addition to USA Dance competitions, amateur dancers in the United States often participate in competitions sanctioned by NDCA or YCN (Youth Collegiate Network), each with its own distinct culture in addition to differing definitions of level and eligibility requirements.
The International Olympic Committee now recognizes competitive ballroom dance. Competitive dance is a popular widespread activity in which competitors perform dances in any of several permitted dance styles—such as acro, Ballet, jazz It now appears doubtful that it will be included in the Olympic Games especially in light of efforts to reduce the number of offerings, but the application has not been permanently rejected. The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games
Ballroom dancing competitions in the former USSR also included the Soviet Ballroom dances, or Soviet Programme. Competitions in Ballroom dancing in the former Soviet Union were held in three dance categories ''Standard dances'', ''Latin dances'', and Soviet Australian New Vogue is danced both competitively and socially. The New Vogue dance style is an Australian form of sequence dancing that originated in the 1930s In competition there are 15 recognised New Vogue dances, which are performed by the competitors in sequence. Internationally, the Blackpool Dance Festival, hosted annually at Blackpool, England, is considered the most prestigious event a dancesport competitor can attend. The 8-day Blackpool Dance Festival is the world's first and most famous annual ballroom Dance competition of international significance held in the Winter Gardens Blackpool (/ˈblækˌpul is a seaside town in Lancashire, England. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland
Elements of competition
In competition ballroom dancers are judged by multifarious criteria such as connection, frame, posture, speed, proper body alignment, proper usage of weight/ankles/feet, and grooming. [4] Judging in a performance-oriented sport is inevitably subjective in nature, and controversy and complaints by competitors over judging placements are not uncommon. The scorekeepers—called scrutineers—will tally the total number recalls accumulated by each couple through each round until the finals, when the Skating system is used to place each couple by ordinals, typically 1-6, though the number of couples in the final can vary. The Skating system is a method of compiling scores in Ballroom dance competitions
Medal examinations enable dancers' abilities to be recognized according to conventional standards. In medal exams, each dancer performs two or more dances in a certain genre (e. g. , International Standard) in front of a judge. In North America, examination levels include Newcomer, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Championship. Each level (i. e. Newcomer, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Championship) may be further subdivided into either two or four separate sections.
Ballroom dancing isn't mainly enjoyed by only adults but it is taught to youngsters at an early age of 10-11 in the 5th grade in some US states. Not only are they taught, but they participate in city wide competitions. They are taught dances randomized from tango, rumba, swing(jitterbug), foxtrot and the merengue as a celebration to their senior year in elementary school. This competition is called "colors of the rainbow".
Dances
In one common usage "ballroom dance" refers to the ten dances of International Standard and International Latin, though the term is also often used interchangeably with the five International Standard dances [5] In the United States, the American Style (American Smooth and American Rhythm) also exists. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Others dances sometimes placed under the umbrella "ballroom dance" include Nightclub Dances such as Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, Nightclub Two Step, Hustle, Salsa, and Merengue. In a wider sense the term Nightclub dance, or Club dance, is used in the meaning of Disco dance (see Disco music) Lindy Hop is an African American dance that evolved in New York City in 1927 West Coast Swing ( WCS) is a Partner dance derived from Lindy Hop. Nightclub Two Step ( Nightclub Two-step, NC2S) was initially developed by Buddy Schwimmer in the mid-1960s The Hustle is a catchall name for several Disco dances which were extremely popular in the 1970s Salsa refers to a fusion of informal dance styles having roots in the Caribbean (especially in Cuba and Puerto Rico) Latin and North America Merengue is a style of Latin American music and dance with a two-step beat The categorization of dances as "ballroom dances" has always been fluid, with new dances or folk dances being added to/removed from to the ballroom repertoire from time to time, so no list of subcategories or dances is any more than a description of current practices. There are other dances historically accepted as ballroom dances, and are revived via the Vintage Dance movement.
In Europe, Latin Swing dances include Argentine Tango, Mambo, Lindy Hop, Swing Boogie (sometimes also known as Nostalgic Boogie), and Disco Fox. Argentine Tango is a Social dance and a Musical genre that originated in Argentina and moved to Uruguay and to the rest of the world later on Mambo is a Latin dance of Cuban origin that corresponds to Mambo music. Lindy Hop is an African American dance that evolved in New York City in 1927 Discofox or Disco Fox is a social Partner dance evolved in Europe in mid-seventies as a rediscovery of the dance hold in the improvisational Country and Western dances are danced both competitively and socially at Country & Western bars, clubs, and ballrooms. There is also a Rock 'n' Roll dance variant accepted as a social dance. Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African A related category is regional social dances. One example of this is the subcategory of Cajun dances that originated in New Orleans, with branches reaching both coasts of the United States. This is a list of ethnic folk traditional regional or otherwise traditionally assiciated with a particular ethnicity dances, grouped by Ethnicity, Country New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana The United States of America —commonly referred to as the
Standard/Smooth dances are normally danced to Western music (often from the mid-twentieth century), and couples dance counter-clockwise around a rectangular floor following the line of dance. This is the list of dance terms that are not names of dances or types of dances In competitions, competitors are costumed as would be appropriate for a white tie affair, with full gowns for the ladies and bow tie and tail coats for the men; though in American Smooth it is now conventional for the men to abandon the tailsuit in favor of shorter tuxedos, vests, and other creative outfits. White tie ( evening dress, full evening dress in the UK is the most formal evening Dress code. The bow tie is a men's Necktie popularly worn with Formal attire, such as suits or Dinner jackets It consists of a ribbon of fabric tied around A tailcoat is a coat with the front of the skirt cut away so as to leave only the rear section of the skirt known as the tails.
Latin/Rhythm dances are commonly danced to contemporary Latin American music, and with the exception of a few travelling dances (e. g. Samba and Paso Doble) couples do not follow the line of dance and perform their routines more or less in one spot. Samba is a lively rhythmical dance of Brazilian origin in 2/4 time danced under the Samba Music. Paso Doble or pasodoble is a lively style of Dance to the duple meter march -like Pasodoble music In competitions, the women are often dressed in short-skirted latin outfits while the men outfitted in tight-fitting shirts and pants; the goal being to bring emphasis to the dancers' leg action and body movements. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome.
International Style
- International Standard
- Slow Waltz - Tango - Viennese Waltz - Slow Foxtrot - Quickstep
- International Latin
- Cha Cha - Samba - Rumba - Paso Doble - Jive
American Style
- American Smooth
- Waltz - Tango - Foxtrot - Viennese Waltz
- American Rhythm
- Cha Cha - Rumba - East Coast Swing - Bolero - Mambo
Historical/Vintage Dance
- Waltz - Polka - Schottische - Tango - One-Step - Foxtrot
Other dances occasionally categorized as ballroom
- Nightclub
- Nightclub Two-step - Hustle - Modern Jive / LeRoc / Ceroc - and the whole swing variety: West Coast Swing / East Coast Swing (always included in the "Rhythm-Swing" category) / Carolina Shag / Collegiate Shag
- Country/Western
- Polka - Cha-cha-cha - Two-step - Waltz. Waltz is one of the five dances of the "Standard" category of the International Style ballroom dances. Ballroom tango is a Ballroom dance that branched away from its original Argentine roots by allowing European American Hollywood and competitive (a Viennese Waltz (Wiener Walzer is the genre of a Ballroom dance. FoxTrot is an American Comic strip written and illustrated by Bill Amend. Quickstep is an International Style Ballroom dance that follows a 2/4 or 4/4 time beat similar to a fast Foxtrot. The Cha-cha-cha (in Spanish Cha-cha-chá) is a Latin American Dance of Cuban origin Samba is a lively rhythmical dance of Brazilian origin in 2/4 time danced under the Samba Music. Rumba is a dance organically related to the Rumba genre of Afro-Cuban music. Paso Doble or pasodoble is a lively style of Dance to the duple meter march -like Pasodoble music Jive is a Dance style in 4/4 time that originated among African-Americans in the early 1940s The waltz is a ballroom and folk Dance in time, performed primarily in Closed position. Ballroom tango is a Ballroom dance that branched away from its original Argentine roots by allowing European American Hollywood and competitive (a FoxTrot is an American Comic strip written and illustrated by Bill Amend. Viennese Waltz (Wiener Walzer is the genre of a Ballroom dance. The Cha-cha-cha (in Spanish Cha-cha-chá) is a Latin American Dance of Cuban origin Rumba is a dance organically related to the Rumba genre of Afro-Cuban music. East Coast Swing ( ECS) is a form of social Partner dance that evolved from the Lindy Hop with the work of the Arthur Murray dance Bolero is a name given to more than one type of Latin-American music and its associated dance and song Mambo is a Latin dance of Cuban origin that corresponds to Mambo music. The waltz is a ballroom and folk Dance in time, performed primarily in Closed position. The polka is a fast lively Central European Dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas The Schottische is a partnered Country dance, Bohemian in origin Tango is a Musical genre and its associated dance forms that originated in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Montevideo, Uruguay and FoxTrot is an American Comic strip written and illustrated by Bill Amend. Nightclub Two Step ( Nightclub Two-step, NC2S) was initially developed by Buddy Schwimmer in the mid-1960s The Hustle is a catchall name for several Disco dances which were extremely popular in the 1970s Modern Jive is a dance style derived from Swing, Lindy Hop, Rock and Roll, Salsa and others the main innovation being to simplify LeRoc is a form of Modern Jive, a dance style that was derived in the 1980s from dances including Swing, Lindy Hop and Rock and Roll, the main Ceroc (səˈrɒk short for the French "C'est le roc!" Ceroc Enterprises describe their dance as "a fusion of Salsa, Ballroom, West Coast Swing ( WCS) is a Partner dance derived from Lindy Hop. East Coast Swing ( ECS) is a form of social Partner dance that evolved from the Lindy Hop with the work of the Arthur Murray dance The shag is a form of swing dancing that evolved from the Jitterbug and Jump blues of the Big band Jazz era and originated along the The Collegiate Shag is a form of Swing dancing, which has some visual similarity with balboa (another swing dance but with different footwork. Salsa refers to a fusion of informal dance styles having roots in the Caribbean (especially in Cuba and Puerto Rico) Latin and North America Merengue is a style of Latin American music and dance with a two-step beat Cumbia is originally a Colombian Folk dance and Dance music and is Colombia 's representative national dance and music along with Vallenato Bachata, a form of Music and Dance that originated in the countryside and the rural neighborhoods of the Dominican Republic. The Cha-cha-cha (in Spanish Cha-cha-chá) is a Latin American Dance of Cuban origin Samba is a lively rhythmical dance of Brazilian origin in 2/4 time danced under the Samba music. Forró is a kind of Northeastern Brazilian dance as well as a word used to denote the different genres of music which accompanies the dance Pagode is a Brazilian style of music which originated in the Rio de Janeiro region as a subgenre of Samba. Samba ( is one of the most popular forms of music in Brazil. It is widely viewed as Brazil's national musical style Lambada ( is a fast sensual Brazilian Dance for couples or groups typically performed with the stomachs touching The polka is a fast lively Central European Dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas The Cha-cha-cha (in Spanish Cha-cha-chá) is a Latin American Dance of Cuban origin The waltz is a ballroom and folk Dance in time, performed primarily in Closed position. . .
- also referred to as "Country and Western" or C/W:
- C/W Polka - C/W Cha-cha - C/W Two-step - C/W Waltz. . .
- Cajun dances
- Cajun One Step or Cajun Jig - Cajun Two Step - Zydeco - Cajun Waltz - Cajun Jitterbug
- Other
- Argentine tango
- Peabody
- Cabaret
See also
- List of dance organizations
- Ice dancing, a branch of figure skating that derives from ballroom dance. Cajun Jig, or Cajun One Step, is among the simplest of Cajun dance forms Cajun Jig, or Cajun One Step, is among the simplest of Cajun dance forms Zydeco as a dance style has its roots in a form of Folk dance that corresponds to the heavily Syncopated Zydeco music originated in the beginning of the Cajun Jitterbug is a style of Cajun dancing with two variations Argentine Tango is a Social dance and a Musical genre that originated in Argentina and moved to Uruguay and to the rest of the world later on Peabody was a Foxtrot type Ballroom dance in the United States of the beginning of the 20th century Cabaret is a form of entertainment featuring Comedy, Song, Dance, and Theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue &mdash a Restaurant International dance organizations The International Dance Council (CID is the official umbrella organization for dance internationally it is based at UNESCO Ice dancing is a form of Figure skating which draws from the world of Ballroom dancing. Figure skating is an athletic Sport in which individuals pairs or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging
References
- ^ History of Musical Film, by John Kenrick. Musicals101. com. Retrieved on 2008-05-29. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian defeats the Sassanid army in the Battle of Ctesiphon, under the walls of the
- ^ Review of "Swing Time" (1936). rogerebert.com (1998-02-15). Roger Joseph Ebert (iːbɝt born June 18, 1942) is an American film critic and Screenwriter. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Events 590 - Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia 1637 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor Retrieved on 2008-05-29. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian defeats the Sassanid army in the Battle of Ctesiphon, under the walls of the
- ^ USABDA 2007-08 Rulebook. Retrieved on 2007-02-20. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1472 - Orkney and Shetland are left by Norway to Scotland, due to a Dowry payment
- ^ What Judges Look For. Retrieved on 2006-12-22. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1790 - The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies
- ^ History of Modern Ballroom Dancing. Retrieved on 2007-02-20. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1472 - Orkney and Shetland are left by Norway to Scotland, due to a Dowry payment .
External links
- International DanceSport Federation
- USA Dance (formerly U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dance Association)
- Canadian Amateur DanceSport Association
- Inter Varsity Dancesport Competitions and Forum
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