Ballroom dancing
ballroom dance (in English: ballroom dance) is a group of partner dances, enjoyed socially and competitively throughout the world. world. Due to its spectacle and entertainment aspects, ballroom dancing is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television.
Ballroom dancing can refer, in its broadest definition, to almost any type of couple dancing for recreation. However, with the rise of sport dance in modern times, the term has become narrower in scope, traditionally referring to the five international standard dance styles and the five international Latin dance styles (see categories of dance below). The two styles, while differing in technique, rhythm, and costumes, exemplify the basic elements of ballroom dancing, such as control and cohesion. Developed in England, both styles are now regulated by the World Dance Council (WDC) and the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF). In the United States, two additional variations are popular: American smooth and American rhythm, which combine elements of standard and Latin styles with influences from other dance traditions.
There are also a number of historical dances and local or national dances that can be performed in ballrooms or salons. Sequence dancing, in pairs or other formations, remains a popular style of ballroom dancing.
Definitions and history
The term "ballroom dancing" is derived from the English word ball which in turn comes from the Latin word ballare meaning "to dance" (a ballroom being a large room specially designed for such dances). In times past, ballroom dancing was a social dance for the privileged, leaving folk dancing for the lower classes. These limits have been blurred. The definition of ballroom dances also depends on the era: ballrooms have featured popular dances of the day, such as the quadrille, mazurka, minuet, polka, polonaise, and others, which are now considered historical dances.
Modern Age
The first authoritative knowledge of early ballroom dancing was recorded towards the end of the XVI century, when Jehan Tabourot, under the pseudonym "Thoinot-Arbeau", published in 1588 his Orchésographie, a study of French Renaissance social dancing in the XVI. Among the dances described are the solemn baja dance, the livelier branle, the pavane, and the gallant which Shakespeare called the "cinq pace" since it was made up of five steps.
In 1650 the minuet, originally a peasant dance from Poitou, was introduced to Paris and set to music by Jean-Baptiste Lully and danced by King Louis XIV in public, and would continue to dominate the ballroom from then until the closing of the 18th century.
Around the second half of the 17th century, Louis XIV founded his Académie Royale de Musique et de Danse, where the specific rules for the execution of each dance and the "five positions" of the feet were first formulated by members of La Académie. Eventually, the first definitive split between ballet and ballroom dance came when professional dancers appeared in ballets, and ballets moved off the court and onto the stage. However, the ballet technique, like the foot positions, lasted for more than two centuries and after the end of the Victorian era.
19th century
The waltz with its modern grasp took root in England in about 1812; in 1819 Carl Maria von Weber wrote Invitation to the Dance, which marked the adoption of the waltz form in the realm of absolute music. The dance initially met with tremendous opposition due to the appearance of impropriety associated with the closed hold, although the stance gradually softened. In the 1840s several new dances made their appearance in the ballroom, including the chotis, the mazurka and the polka. Meanwhile, a strong tendency arose to abandon all "decorative" steps such as the entrechats and ronds de jambes that had found a place in the Cuadrillas and other dances.
Early 20th century
Modern ballroom dancing has its roots in the early 20th century, when several different things happened more or less at the same time. Same time. The first was a move away from the dance sequence towards dances where the couples moved independently. This had been foreshadowed by the waltz, which had already made this transition. The second was a wave of popular music, such as jazz, largely based on the ideas of black musicians in the United States. Since dance is largely tied to music, this led to an explosion of newly invented dances. There were many dance fads in the period 1910-1930.
The third event was a concerted effort to transform some of the forms of dance into dances that could be taught to a broader dance audience in the United States and Europe. Here Vernon and Irene Castle were important, and so was a generation of English dancers in the 1920s, including Josephine Bradley and Victor Silvester. These professionals analyzed, codified, published, and taught a number of standard dances. It was essential, if folk dance were to prosper, for dancers to have some basic movements that they could confidently perform with any partner they could find. Here the great Arthur Murray organization in America, and dance societies in England, such as the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, were very influential. Lastly, much of this occurred during and after a period of world war, and the effect of such a conflict in dissolving old social mores was considerable.
Later, in the 1930s, the screen dance pairing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers influenced all dance forms in the United States and elsewhere. Although both actors had separate careers, their dance sequences filmed together, which included portraits of the Castles, have achieved iconic status. Much of Astaire's and Rogers' work portrayed social dancing, although the performances were highly choreographed (often by Astaire or Hermes Pan), and meticulously staged and rehearsed.
Competitive dance
Contests, sometimes referred to as Dancesport, range from world championships, regulated by the World Dance Council (WDC), to less advanced dancers at various levels of competition. Most competitions are divided into professional and amateur, although in the United States pro-am competitions normally accompany professional competitions. The International Olympic Committee now recognizes competitive ballroom dancing. It has recognized another body, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF), as the sole representative body for dancesport at the Olympic Games. However, it seems doubtful that dance would be included in the Olympic Games, especially in light of efforts to reduce the number of participating sports.
Ballroom dance competitions are regulated by each country in its own way. There are about 30 countries that regularly compete in international competitions. There are 20 or more other countries that are members of the WDC and/or WDSF, but whose dancers rarely appear in international competitions. In Great Britain there is the British Dance Council, which awards national championship titles. and regional, such as the British Ballroom Championships, the British Sequence Championships and the United Kingdom Championships. In the United States, the member branches of the WDC (National Dance Council of America) and the WDSF (USA Dance) award national and regional championship titles.
Ballroom dance competitions in the former USSR also included the Soviet ballroom dance, or Soviet Programme. Australian New Vogue is danced competitively and socially. In competition there are 15 recognized New Vogue dances, which are performed by the competitors in sequence. These dance forms are not recognized internationally, nor are the American variations such as American smooth and rhythm. Such variations in dance methods and competition are attempts to meet perceived needs in the local market.
Internationally, the Blackpool Dance Festival, held annually in Blackpool, England, is considered the most prestigious event a dancesport competitor can attend.
The formation dance is another competitive dance style recognized by the IDSF. In this style, multiple dancers (usually in pairs and typically up to 16 dancers at a time) compete on the same team, moving in and out of different formations as they dance.
Elements of competence
In ballroom dance competition, dancers are judged on various criteria such as balance, grip or frame, posture, musicality and expression, timing, alignment and body shape, track boats, foot and leg action and presentation. Judging in a performance-oriented sport is inevitably subjective in nature, and controversy and competitor complaints about judging practices are not uncommon. The scorers - called tellers - will record the total number of claims accumulated by each pair in each round until the finals, when the skating system is used to place each pair in ordinals, normally from 1-6, although the number of pairs in the end it can vary. Sometimes up to 8 couples can be present on the court during the finals.
Competitors dance at different levels based on their skill and experience. The levels are divided into two categories, syllabus and open. The syllabus levels are novice/pre-bronze, bronze, silver, and gold, with gold being the highest syllabus level and novice the lowest. At these levels, moves are restricted to those written in the syllabus, and illegal moves can lead to disqualification. Each level, bronze, silver and gold, has different moves in its syllabus, increasing in difficulty. There are three levels in the open category; rookie, pre-champion, and champion in increasing order of skill. At those levels, dancers are no longer restricted in their movements, so complex routines are more common.
Medal Evaluations
Amateur medal evaluations allow individual skills of dancers to be recognized according to conventional standards. In medal evaluations, which are run by bodies such as the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) and the United Kingdom Alliance (UKA), each dancer performs two or more dances in a certain genre in front of a judge. Genres like modern Ballroom or Latin are the most popular. Societies such as ISTD and UKA also offer medal events in other dance styles (such as Country & Western, Rock and roll or Tap). On some North American exams, levels include novice, bronze, silver, gold, novice, pre-champion, and champion; each level can be subdivided into two or four separate sections.
College Ballroom Dancing
There is a part of the world of ballroom dancing dedicated to college students. These sections are usually clubs or teams that have an interest in ballroom dancing. The teams hold fundraisers, social events, and ballroom dance classes. The goals of the ballroom dance team are to have fun and learn to dance well. There is a strong focus on finding a compatible dance partner and bonding with teammates. There is also a competitive side to collegiate ballroom dancing - varsity teams often hold contests and invite other teams to participate. These competitions are often run with many of the same rules as regular amateur competitions as explained above., but they are usually organized entirely by collegiate teams. Examples include the MIT Open Ballroom Dance Competition and the Harvard Invitational.
Dances
“Ballroom dance” most often refers to the ten dances of the International Ballroom (or standard) and the International Latin, although the term is also often used interchangeably with the five international ballroom dances. Sequence dancing, which is danced predominantly in the United Kingdom, and its development of New vogue in Australia and New Zealand are also sometimes included as a type of ballroom dance.
In the United States and Canada, the American style (American smooth and American rhythm) also exists. The dance technique used for both international and American styles is similar, but International Ballroom only allows for closed dance positions, while American smooth allows for closed, open, or closed dance movements. and separated. In addition, different sets of dance figures are taught for the two styles. The International Latin and the American Rhythm have different styles, and have different dance figures on their respective programs.
Other dances are sometimes placed under the umbrella of "ballroom dancing" including Nightclub dances such as the lindy hop, west coast swing, nightclub two-step, hustle, salsa, and merengue. The categorization of dances as "ballroom dances" has always been fluid, with new dances or folk dances being added or removed from the ballroom repertoire from time to time, so no list of subcategories or dances is more than a list. description of current practices. There are other dances historically accepted as ballroom dancing, and they are revived through the vintage dance movement.
In Europe, Latin swing dances include Argentine tango, mambo, lindy hop, swing boogie (sometimes also known as nostalgic boogie), and discofox. An example of this is the sub-category of Cajun dances that originated in Acadiana, with branches reaching both coasts of the United States.
Ballroom/Smooth dances are typically danced to Western music (often from the mid XX century), and the couples dance counterclockwise around a rectangular floor following the dance line. In the competitions, the competitors are dressed as would be appropriate for a tuxedo affair, with long dresses for the women and tails and bow tie for the men; although in the American smooth it is now conventional for men to ditch the tail suit in favor of shorter tuxedos, vests and other creative gear.
Latin/Rhythm dances are commonly danced to contemporary Latin American music and (in the case of Jive) Western music. With the exception of a few traveling dances like the samba and the pasodoble, couples do not follow the dance line but perform their routines more or less in one place. In competitions, women often dress in short-skirted Latin suits while men are dressed in tight shirts and pants, with the aim of emphasizing the dancers' leg action and body movements.
Competitive dances
Standard/Smooth-Musics
Waltz
The waltz began as a peasant folk dance in Austria and Bavaria in the 1600s. In the early 1800s it was introduced to England. It was the first dance where a man held a woman close to her body. When performing the dance the upper part of the body is kept to the left in all the figures, the body of the woman leaving the right side of the man while the head is extended to follow the elbow. The figures with rotation have low magnification. Swaying is also used in the second step to make the step longer and also to curb the impulse to bring the feet together. The waltz is performed for both the International standard and the American smooth.
Viennese Waltz
The Viennese waltz originated in the Provence region of France in 1559, and is recognized as the oldest of all ballroom dances. It was introduced to England as a German waltz in 1812 and was made popular throughout the 19th century by the music of Josef and Johann Strauss. It is often referred to as the classic "old-school" ballroom dance. Viennese waltz music is quite fast. The light body shape moves to the inside of the turn and the shape moves forward and up to lengthen the opposite side of the steer. The reverse turn is used to travel the long side and is reversed. While the natural turn is used to go the short side and dips to go around the corners. The Viennese Waltz is performed to both the International standard and the American smooth.
Tangos
Tango originated in Buenos Aires at the end of the XIX century. Modern Argentine tango is danced in open and closed embraces that focus on the male leader and women moving in harmony with tango's passionate charge music. Tango technique is like walking into the music as you keep your feet rooted and allow your ankles and knees to brush against each other during each step. The body weight is kept on the fingers and the connection takes place between the man and the women at the hips.
Ballroom tango, however, is a dance with a much more open frame, often using strong, staccato movements. It is the ballroom tango, rather than the Argentine tango, that is performed in international competition.
Foxtrot
The foxtrot is an American dance, credited to vaudeville performer Harry Fox in 1914. The foxtrot was a quick step into ragtime music (an original form of jazz). The dance was originally named as the "fox trot". You can dance to slow, medium or fast rhythms depending on the speed of jazz or big band music. The couples face each other and the frame rotates from one side to the other, changing direction after one measure. The dance is flat, without rising or falling like the waltz. Walking steps are taken as slow for two beats per step and fast for one beat per step. The foxtrot is performed for both the International standard and the American smooth.
Quickstep
The quickstep was invented in the 1920s as a combination of the faster tempo of the foxtrot and the Charleston. This is a fast moving dance so men are allowed to lock their feet and couples move in short syncopated steps. The quickstep includes the walks, runs, chasses and turns, of the original foxtrot dance, with some other quick figures like locks, hops and hops can be added. The quickstep is performed as an International standard dance.
Latin/Rhythm
Samba
Samba is the national dance of Brazil. The rhythm of the samba and its name comes from the slaves of West Africa. In 1905, the samba became known to the rest of the countries during an exhibition in Paris. Eventually in the 1940s, samba was introduced to North America by a movie star named Carmen Miranda. The modern ballroom samba dance differs compared to the traditional Brazilian samba in that it was modified as a partner dance. Samba is danced with a slight bounce that is created by bending and straightening the knee. Samba is performed as an International Latin dance.
Chacha
The cha-cha was originally called the "cha-cha." The term came from Haiti and resembled the sound bells made when rubbed together. It was evolved from the rumba and mambo in the 1950s. As mambo music was quite fast and difficult for some to dance to, Cuban composer Enrique Jorrín reined in the music and the cha-cha took hold. The cha-cha is a very flirtatious dance with lots of hip rotation and couples synchronizing their movements. The dance includes bending and straightening of the knee giving it a touch of Cuban movement. The cha-cha is performed for both International Latin and American rhythm.
Rumba
The rumba is known to be the most romantic and passionate of all dances. In the early 1920s, the dance came to the United States from Cuba and became a popular cabaret dance during prohibition. The rumba is very polyrhythmic and complex. Includes Cuban movements using knee strengthening, figure-eight hip rotation, and rotating foot action. An important characteristic of the rumba is the powerful and direct advance achieved through the ball of the foot. Rumba is performed for both International Latin and American rhythm.
Pasodoble
The pasodoble originated in Spain with its spectacular bullfights. The dance is mainly performed in competitions, and rarely in a social setting due to the complexity of the many choreographic rules that comprise it. In the dance, the man plays the role of the matador while the woman assumes the role of the cape, the bull, or sometimes the matador himself. The movement of the chassez cape refers to the moment in which the man uses the woman to turn it around as if it were the cape, and the apel consists of the stomp made by the man on the ground, in his role as matador, as if he wanted to attract the attention of the bull. The pasodoble is considered one of the International Latin dances.
Jive
The jive is part of the swing dance group and is a lively variation on the jitterbug. Jive originated from African-American clubs in the early 1940s. During World War II, American soldiers introduced the jive to England, where it has been adapted into competitive jive to this day. In the jive, the man leads the dance while the woman encourages the men to ask them to dance. They dance to big band music and some techniques are taken from salsa, swing and tango. Jive is performed as one of the International Latin dances.
East coast swing
Swing in 1927 was originally called lindy hop after Shorty George Snowden. There have been 40 different versions documented over the years, most common being the East coast swing which is performed in the American smooth (or the American rhythm) only in the United States or Canada. East coast swing was established by Arthur Murray and others shortly after World War II. Swing music is very lively and upbeat and can be danced to jazz or big band music. Swing dancing is a style with a lot of bounce and energy. The swing also includes a lot of twisting and turning of the arms. East Coast swing is performed as one of the American smooth dances.
Bolero
The original version of the bolero was created by Sebastián Cerezo in Cádiz, Spain during the 18th century. However, the bolero performed now was modified in Cuba a century later. The dance represents a couple in love. The bolero is a combination of many dances and is danced to the Spanish voice with a fine percussion rhythm. It's like a slow salsa with the counter-body of the moment of the tango, rumba patterns and up and down technique and personality of the waltz and the foxtrot. It can be a dance in a close or in isolation and then come back together. The bolero is performed as one of the dances of the American smooth.
Mambo
The mambo originated in Cuba but the name came from Haiti. Mambo music was first written in the late 1930s by a Cuban composer. Finally, in the late 1940s, a Cuban musician named Pérez Prado invented a mambo dance. Pérez introduced the dance from Havana to Mexico and up to New York. Mambo is performed as one of the dances of the American smooth.
Classification of dance styles
International Style Competition Dances
According to the World Dance Council.
Standard
Waltz: 28 bars per minute, 3/4 time, also known as slow waltz or English waltz depending on locality
Tangos: 32 bars per minute, 2/4 time
Viennese Waltz: 60 bars per minute, 3/4 time. In Europe, the Viennese waltz is known simply as waltz, while the waltz is recognized as the English waltz or the slow waltz
Foxtrot: 28 bars per minute, 4/4 time
Quickstep: 50 bars per minute, 4/4 time
Latin
Samba: 48 bars per minute, 4/4 time
Cha-cha-cha: 30 bars per minute, 4/4 time
Rumba: 24 bars per minute, 4/4 time
Pasodoble: 56 bars per minute, 2/4 time
Jive: 42 bars per minute, 4/4 time
American-style competition dances
Only in the United States and Canada
Smooth
Waltz: 28–30 bars per minute, 30–32 bars per minute for Bronze
Tangos: 30 bars per minute, 30–32 bars per minute for Bronze
Foxtrot: 30 bars per minute, 32–34 bars per minute for the Bronze
Viennese Waltz: 53–54 bars per minute, 54 bars per minute for the Bronze
Rhythms
Chacha: 30 bars per minute for the Bronze
Rumba: 30–32 bars per minute, 32–36 bars per minute for the Bronze
East coast swing: 36 bars per minute, 34–36 bars per minute for the Bronze
Bolero: 24 bars per minute, 24–26 bars per minute for the Bronze
Mambo: 47 bars per minute, 48–51 bars per minute for the Bronze
Others
Historical/Vintage Ballroom Dancing:
- Vals – Polca – Chotis – Tango – One-step – Foxtrot – Peabody
Other dances are sometimes classified as ballroom:
- Nightclub
- Nightclub two-step – Hustle – Modern Jive / LeRoc / Ceroc – and all swing varieties: West coast swing / East coast swing / Lindy hop (always included in the category «Rhythm swing») / Carolina shag / Collegiate shag / Balboa / Blues – Fusion
- Latin nightclub
- Salsa – Cumbia – Mambo – Merengue – Porro – Cha-cha – Bachata
- African Nightclub
- Kizomba - Semba - Zouk
- Brazilian dances
- Forró – Pagode – Samba de Gafieira – Lambada - Zouk
- Country/Western
- C/W Polka – C/W Cha-cha – C/W Two-step – C/W Waltz
- Danzas cajun
- Cajun One Step or Cajun Jig – Cajun Two Step – Zydeco – Cajun Waltz – Cajun Jitterbug
- Danzas musette
- Java – musette-vals – musette-tango – musette-pasodoble
- Other
- Argentine Tango – New Vogue
Further reading
Nott, James, Going to the Palais: a social and cultural history of dancing and dance halls in Britain, 1918-60 - Published 2015 OUP ISBN 9780199605194 https://global.oup.com/academic/product/going-to-the-palais-9780199605194?cc=gb&lang=en&
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