The History of Ballroom Dancing

The bevy of beautiful women and men in formal suits may be the image you see when ballroom dance is mentioned. They are composed of different forms of steps such as the slow motion waltz, the lively fox trot or the passion of Tango.

The definition by Webster for ballroom dancing is “any of various, usually social dances in which couples perform set moves”. The word ball does not originate from the toy “ball” but from the Latin word “ballare” which means to dance. Interestingly, this is also the base word for ballerina and ballet.

In the late 18th and 19th century this form of dance is a craze among members of the upper class in England. People form the working class did not participate in such occasions and therefore were alienated from such gathering and therefore have no opportunity to partake in such lavish activities. In the early 1920’s competitive ballroom dancing was gaining popularity so the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (formerly known as The Imperial Society of Dance Teachers) formed a Ballroom Branch whose function was to standardize the ballroom dances.

There are five major moves that make up the modern day ballroom: the Waltz, the Viennese Waltz, the Slow Foxtrot, Tango and the Quickstep. Of course Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, Cha-Cha and the Jive are just some of the most popular American Latin ballroom dance to name a few. Latin America refers to Latin and America, and not in reference to any particular South American countries.

Ballroom dancing consists of couples moving in specific set of moves in predetermined rhythm and tempo, dancing closely together. Basically, there are five main points of contact between the couples. Three points involve the hand, where his left hand holds her right and her left hand will be on the top of his right upper arm, and the Tango would need her hand to go hand his arm while other right hand will rest on her left shoulder blade. Other point come close as her right side of the set touches his left chest and the elbow, her left touches his right touch each other as they glide round the dance floor. This is the posture that the European Royal Court had been graced as couples float endlessly on the dance floor during grand social gatherings.

The strange right to right contact comes from an era when men danced while wearing their swords which was placed on the left side. The dance involves some counter clockwise movements, this is also attributed to the existence of the sword during a dance and this movement helps prevent the sword form hitting any of the watching audience. In Latin American dances, he postures varies from dance to dance. The American Latin version has been standardized as much as the Modern ballroom dances.