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.

Rufus Hound wins Let's Dance For Sport Relief! - NME.com

NME.com

Rufus Hound wins Let's Dance For Sport Relief! NME.com Rufus Hound has been crowned champion of Let's Dance For Sport Relief, after a closely fought battle against fellow performer Katy Brand. ... It's nice to make Cheryl giggleThe Sun Cheryl Cole spoof bags dance titleThe Press Association Relief now that Steve Jones' waltzed offMirror.co.uk (blog) Fromtheold -Unreality TV (blog) -InTheNews.co.uk all 159 news articles »

Let's Dance For Sport Relief Final: Katy Brand does Beyonce 'Single Ladies' - Unreality TV (blog)

Unreality TV (blog)

Let's Dance For Sport Relief Final: Katy Brand does Beyonce 'Single Ladies' Unreality TV (blog) However she really won us over during her time on BBC's Let's Dance For Sport Relief. Her booty shaking, booby bouncing routine to Beyonce's 'Single Ladies' ... 'Magic' for Katy Brand's leotardThe Press Association Brand takes 'Single Ladies' dance on tourDigital Spy all 5 news articles »

When active kids get hurt - Edmonton Journal

When active kids get hurt Edmonton Journal Injuries happen all the time in dance, as in all sports, says Sue Stephenson. She thinks a lot of people in the dance community "appreciate knowing there's ... and more »

Let's Dance For Sports Relief Final: Kate Garraway & Richard Arnold do Grease - Unreality TV (blog)

Daily Mail

Let's Dance For Sports Relief Final: Kate Garraway & Richard Arnold do Grease Unreality TV (blog) Despite worries that she wouldn't be well enough to do so, Kate Garraway braved her spinal injury and took to the Let's Dance stage tonight. ... Kate Garraway recovers from rehearsal injury to hand jive for Sport ReliefDaily Mail Kate Garraway May Miss Final Let's Dance PerformanceMerchant News Garraway in doubt for 'Let's Dance'?Digital Spy What's On TV -The Sun -Digital Spy all 15 news articles »

NCAA caves to TV pressure by going easy on Duke By JASON WHITLOCK - Kansas City Star

National Post

NCAA caves to TV pressure by going easy on Duke By JASON WHITLOCK Kansas City Star In an effort to hoodwink a TV network into again overpaying for the Big Dance, the NCAA is considering expanding the tourney to 96 teams. ... A 96-team NCAA Tournament? Please stop the madnessFlorida Times-Union NCCA basketball tournament draws a lot of attention in business circlesOnline Athens all 1,268 news articles »

Dancers take a swing against cancer - OCRegister

Dancers take a swing against cancer OCRegister The Dance-A-Thon began at 11 am Saturday on the glossy hardwood of a basketball court at a 24-Hour Fitness Ultra Sport gym in Irvine. ... and more »