Over the years, various types of ballroom dance have become popular thanks to TV, film, and even theater. Seeing dancers compete on shows like Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance totally made the type of dance accessible for many. And while it certainly takes a lot of skill to become a professional, you can also just try ballroom dancing for fun! In fact, ballroom dancing is a great recreational activity for people of all ages and genders.

With so many types of ballroom dances, the choices could get overwhelming. Don’t worry because this list got you covered! Read on to learn about the different types of ballroom dances, their history, characteristics, and more.

What is ballroom dance? 카지노사이트
Before listing down the different types of ballroom dance, it is important to first define what ballroom dance is. Most people usually think ballroom dance only refers to competitive ballroom dancing, which is called “dancesport”. Films and TV shows often portray only this side of ballroom dancing, where performers wear flashy costumes and win big trophies.

While dancesport is indeed a big part of ballroom dance, it isn’t the only thing ballroom dance offers. In general, ballroom dance can refer to either competitive or social partner dances, where two performers follow certain step patterns. These step patterns differ depending on the type of ballroom dance.

What is the history of ballroom dance?
Ballroom dance has been around for centuries. Its first record was during the 16th century, when a French author named Jehan Tabourot published Orchésographie. This book contained his study of French renaissance social dances. One example is the “galliard”, which Shakespeare also mentioned in his writing.

During the Renaissance, ballroom dancing was popular among royalty and noble families. They would hold fancy social gatherings in large function halls called “ballrooms”, where guests would eat, schmooze, and perform social dances together.

Ballroom dance continued to rise in popularity in the early 20th century. During this time, jazz music became prominent, with more types of dances invented.

In the 1920s, Broadway and films also featured ballroom dancing. Vernon and Irene Castle are notable examples from this time. This husband-and-wife tandem appeared in several performances, reviving the popularity of ballrooms.

By the 1930s, a dancesport team was formed in London, and soon different competitions for different types of ballroom dance emerged. 안전한카지노사이트

What is competitive ballroom dancing?
Another name for competitive ballroom dancing is dancesport. As a competitive sport, ballroom dancing requires performers to perform their routine perfectly. Precision, appearance, and stage presence are some ‌factors judges will score contestants on. Missteps, poor forms, or other mistakes will incur deductions.

There are two international governing bodies that regulate and organize dancesport competitions, namely the World Dance Council (WDC) and the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF). These organizations regulate the rules, dance area sizes, and scoring system for competitions.

Who can try ballroom dancing?
Dancesport requires a high level of athleticism because of its complicated choreography. A competitive dancer will need to train their flexibility, endurance, and overall body strength in order to execute different dance routines.

However, this doesn’t mean only professionals can try ballroom dancing. Nowadays, many schools offer ballroom dancing as a class that students can try for their physical education. Clubs and other local organizations also offer ballroom dancing classes for people of all genders and ages.

It is a great hobby where you can meet all kinds of people. Furthermore, ballroom dancing is also a fun way to exercise! It conditions and tones your body and improves your mental health by relieving stress and uplifting your mood.

Before signing up for classes, of course, it’s a good idea to learn about the different types of ballroom dance. That way, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into!

What are the different styles of ballroom dance?
There are several types of ballroom dance, but most of them fall under the four main styles of ballroom dance. Some types of ballroom dance can overlap because some styles have their own variation, but each of them still has distinct characteristics.

International School
Regulated by the WDC and WDSF, the International School of dance comprises the International Standard and the International Latin categories. It is most popular in England, where it was developed. This school of dance doesn’t include turns or dips in its choreography. Instead, it focuses on the chemistry and closeness between dance partners.

The International Standard comprises traditional routines where one partner leads and another follows. Slow and smooth movements are the primary focus of this style.

On the other hand, the International Latin style focuses on Latin dances performed outside of the US and Canada. These include the cha-cha, samba, rumba, and more. These dances are all about showing off the lines of the dancer’s long legs. 카지노사이트 추천

American School
Unlike the International schools, the USA Dance and Canada Dancesport (CDS) regulates competitions under the American School. This school of dance comprises the American Smooth and American Rhythm categories.

The American Smooth style focuses on fluidity and gracefulness. The American Smooth and International Standard often overlap with similarities. In fact, both styles have their own versions of certain types of ballroom dance. For instance, the American Smooth and International Standard each have their own version of the waltz. However, the American Style can include turns, dips, and other diverse footwork.

Meanwhile, the American Rhythm features upbeat music and movement. It is a much more energetic style where partners dance to Latin American music in US and Canadian competitions.

Nontraditional ballroom dances
Outside of competitive ballroom dancing are the nontraditional types of ballroom dances. These include partner dances that have either influenced or been influenced by the traditional styles of ballroom dancing.

This includes the Latin Nightclub Style, which emerged from social dancing in Latin nightclubs. Another style that falls in this category is the Swing dance from the 1920s.

With its definition, history, and schools out of the way, it is now time to learn about the different types of ballroom dance.

What are the different types of ballroom dance?
Waltz

One of the most popular types of ballroom dance is the waltz. The word, “waltz”, comes from the German word, “Walzer”, which means “to roll or revolve”. The earliest mention of the waltz is in 16th century Europe. These accounts detail two dancers holding each other close as they moved together.

Waltz is a slow and elegant dance where the partners glide around the dance floor. The ballroom dancers focus on showing off long and flowing movements with rise and fall techniques.

In the International Standard, the dancers never break away from their embrace while dancing. On the other hand, the American Smooth waltz involves side-by-side steps and spins.

Aside from these two, there are other variations of the waltz dance. Some popular examples are the Mexican waltz, the Peruvian waltz, and the traditional Irish waltz.

Foxtrot
Another type of ballroom dance is the foxtrot. The foxtrot is a partner dance that arose in the early 20th century. Popularized by Vernon and Irene Castle, the foxtrot is a smooth, versatile dance where partners move across the dance floor.

The foxtrot looks similar to the waltz as both focus on long, gliding movements and rise and fall techniques. However, the two still differ. While the waltz is danced to a time signature of 3/4, the foxtrot uses the 4/4 time signature instead.

The foxtrot also comprises both slow and quick footwork. The step pattern in foxtrot is usually Slow-Quick-Quick or Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick, with the first and third steps accented.

This ballroom dance is under the American Smooth and the International Standard styles. The American Smooth uses a tempo between 120 and 136 beats per minute. The International Standard foxtrot, on the other hand, uses a faster tempo, with 112 to 120 beats per minute.

Tango

Among the types of ballroom dances, the tango might be the most popular. The tango is a partner dance featured in many films, TV shows, and plays.

This ballroom dance originated in the streets of Buenos Aires in Argentina in the 1880s. It was a social dance performed by the lower classes in bars and brothels to entertain patrons.

Influenced by African, South American, and European cultures, tango soon spread across the world. Its popularity began in Paris and soon reached Berlin, New York City, and Finland. Today, the tango is a part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

The tango is a sensual and sharp dance where partners keep their knees locked and their feet grounded. Ballroom dancers use snappy footwork, dramatic head-turning, and staccato movements.

Viennese Waltz

As the name suggests, the Viennese waltz is a variation of the waltz. The Viennese waltz originated in Vienna, Austria during the 18th century. While the English waltz is a slow dance, the Viennese waltz is fast-paced. In fact, the Viennese waltz can be up to four times faster than the waltz.

Even at such a fast pace, the dancers must perform elegantly. A Viennese waltz routine usually comprises lots of rotations with steps during or in between. Because of this, many consider the Viennese waltz one of the hardest types of ballroom dances to learn.

Both the International Standard and the American Smooth have their own versions of the Viennese waltz. The International Standard style requires dancers to be in a “closed position”. This means partners must always hold and face each other. Meanwhile, the American Smooth style affords the dancers more freedom.

Cha-Cha
The cha-cha, sometimes “cha-cha-cha”, is a Latin ballroom dance from Cuba. It emerged in the 1940s, following the influences of the mambo and rumba. Its name comes from the count of its step pattern, where partners dance to the rhythm “one, two, cha-cha-cha”.

Among the different types of ballroom dance, the cha-cha-cha is most known for its flirty and energetic style. Dancers usually perform the cha-cha to energetic and happy music with 110 to 113 beats per minute.

The cha-cha falls under the American Rhythm style and the International Latin style. Both styles focus on bent knees and hip movements. In the American Rhythm style, however, the dancer achieves the hip movements by dancing from a bent leg to a straight leg.

Rumba
Out of all the types of ballroom dance, the rumba might be the most romantic one. The Rumba, sometimes “rhumba”, is a ballroom dance ‌people call the “dance of love”. In a way, the dance is a retelling of a love story by the dancers. They use swaying hip movements and sharp eye contact to emphasize the chemistry between them.

The Rumba did not emerge in the United States until the early 1920s, but its roots are of Cuban origin. In fact, people also call rumba the “Grandfather of the Latin dances”.

While performing, the ballroom dancers use their bent knees to create large hip movements. These hip movements are called the “Cuban motion” or “Cuban action”. This is a distinct feature of both the American Rhythm and the International Latin styles. However, the American Rhythm is faster than the other style.

East Coast Swing

The East Coast swing is next on our types of ballroom dances list. This ballroom dance emerged in the United States during the 1940s as a variation of the Lindy Hop. At the time, people called it the “Eastern Swing”.

The East Coast swing features a lot of turns, spins, and hair loops. Like most types of ballroom dance, dancers make use of their bent knees. The dance has six steps, usually with a pattern of triple steps.

While dancers usually choose band music for their routines, any kind of music can work for the East Coast swing. In fact, some also dance to rock and roll, country, and pop songs.

Over the years, variations of the East Coast swing emerged as their own ballroom dance type. Some examples are the Charleston and the shag. The West Coast swing, however, is not one of them, contrary to popular belief.