layout image layout image
 
ballroom dancing header image

The Various Types Of Ballroom Dancing

It's amazing how so many people today want to learn ballroom dancing. Time was when it was the older people who danced it and it was also a preserve of the well-off. Who really had the time to learn? But with the breaking down of this class system, ballroom dancing has become accessible to everyone and even better, people seem to be enjoying it. It is no longer something you have to know if you belong to a certain class of society you now learn it if you want to, because you love it.

 

There are so many different types of ballroom dancing so let us take a look at some of them. Let's start with the old favorite the waltz. It was a dance form that has its roots in seventeenth century Germany. It is still very much a favorite in many places. Slow, precise and performed with circular and side to side movements, it evokes romance and is a great favorite at weddings and special functions.

It is probably hard to believe but the jive and the swing are also ballroom dances but much more energetic than the waltz or the foxtrot. The swing has a lot of twirling around, with the girl being lifted up and it also involves intricate footwork. It was born in New York at the Savoy Ballroom in the 20s and is still very popular, especially when there is jazz being played. It hasn't changed at all over the years and still has the same steps as when it began.

The jive is very like the swing but is even faster and the arms move even more than the legs and the feet. It was originally a Latin dance but it was in America that it became popular in the rock and roll time of the 50s. The jive needs music that is upbeat and the footwork involves the weight going from one foot to the other.

Then comes the Rumba which is an expression in dance of a woman pursuing the man and it often has movements of the woman around the man. It represents the attraction between the sexes and the steps are small and quick, with the man sometimes pursuing and sometimes the woman. This is one of the sensual ballroom dances and originates from Latin dancing.

The Spanish dance, paso doble is also a favorite today. It is a very sentimental dance and has a lot of meaning behind every move. In this ballroom dance, the woman represents the cape and the man the matador or Spanish bullfighter. Through the dance emerges just how brave and agile the bullfighter is. The steps are swift and forceful.

Then of course, you have the tango, Argentina's cowboy dance. The real reason behind the woman in the dance being held in the crook of the man's arm was because very often, the cowboys came in to the clubs at night straight from riding, without showering and it was easier for the woman in this position. This is a quick dance with a lot of head turning.

 

Ballroom Dancing Recommended Products
Ballroom Dancing Tuition News

Grand Ledge dance club honors couple on 45th anniversary - Lansing State Journal


Grand Ledge dance club honors couple on 45th anniversary
Lansing State Journal
"Glide into the sensuous world of ballroom dancing!" is a quote from their Web site, and when you watch John and Judy Tomlian dance, gliding is exactly what ...

and more »

Read more...


Damian Whitewood, Pamela Anderson's DWTS Partner (Video) - Right TV


Zap2it.com (blog)

Damian Whitewood, Pamela Anderson's DWTS Partner (Video)
Right TV
I for one though can not wait to see him do his thing in the ballroom, something tells me this guy has moves. The 32-year old dancing machine Damian is a ...
Meet Dancing's New Pro: Aussie Damian WhitewoodPeople Magazine
Kate's got a new hairdo and TV gigHamilton Spectator
Derek Hough Sustains Cut During 'Dancing' RehearsalsAccess Hollywood

all 14 news articles »

Read more...


Gilles Marini Hosts "Ballroom With A Twist" - LA Canyon News


LA Canyon News

Gilles Marini Hosts "Ballroom With A Twist"
LA Canyon News
This groundbreaking show pushes the boundaries of ballroom dance, infusing it with the energy and intensity of the latest hip-hop styles. ...

Read more...


Ballroom benefit - Montgomery Advertiser


Ballroom benefit
Montgomery Advertiser
... Riley seemed to float across the floor with dance partner Jim Williams leading her through such classic ballroom steps as grapevines and telemarks. ...

and more »

Read more...


Arthur Murray Dance Studios Presents Dancing for the Cure to honor Breast ... - PR Web (press release)


Arthur Murray Dance Studios Presents Dancing for the Cure to honor Breast ...
PR Web (press release)
They're hustling to learn their Latin, salsa and ballroom dance moves. “I'm totally impressed with their musicality and natural sense of rhythm,” Sharp said ...

and more »

Read more...


Community calendar - Dubuque Telegraph Herald


Community calendar
Dubuque Telegraph Herald
Ballroom Dance, 7-11 pm, Knights of Columbus Hall, 791 Locust St. Enjoy dancing on the wooden floor to big-band music and classic rock 'n' roll; ...

and more »

Read more...


 
layout image layout image