The following dances are used in Ballroom competitions.
The Foxtrot began in the United States about 1912 originating on the
vaudeville stage by Harry Fox two years before the sinking of the Titanic. It
is a distinctly "American" dance consisting of alternating short and
long steps with occasional slides and glides. When couples first dance the
foxtrot, they will most likely start with walking and rocking back and forth
with matching footwork. More advanced dancers may dance intricate patterns and
swivels.
The Quickstep is lively and energetic dance which is characterized by fast
movements, including a variety of hops, kicks, skips, lock steps, and chasses.
An experienced dancer may employ frequent changes in rhythm and pattern. Note
this dance is not for beginners; the basic elements of foxtrot or waltz should
be mastered first.
- Tango - American and Argentine
TheTango is considered to be one of the most passionate of the ballroom
dances and involves couples to be held in close contact at all times. It can be
stately or involve quick, sharp movements to contrast the slower music.
Originally danced by Argentine Gauchos around the campfire, it traveled first
to Paris where it was initially considered "risque" in contrast to
the more stately waltz which was danced socially at the time.
Recently,the Tango found its way to America via movies such as "True
Lies" and "Scent of a Woman". American tango is danced to strict
eight counts and is danced in competitions, whereas Argentine tango is free
form with many changes in tempo and more of a social dance. Beginners can learn
the steps of either tango immediately.
- Waltz - also known as the Slow
Waltz
The Waltz , both slow and Viennese, are the only dances in 3/4 time.
Developed from a German peasant dance, the weller, and an Austrian folk dance,
the Laendler, it is best known for its elegance and lightness as couples turn
around the dance floor. It was the most popular dance of the 1800s and is still
a favorite today. Beginning dancers can enjoy simple box steps and underarm
turns while advanced technique includes rise and fall motion and precise body
placement. The slower form is an excellent dance for beginners to learn first
and is a favorite at weddings.
The Viennese Waltz is the oldest and most elegant of the ballroom dances
and like the slow Waltz, is unique due to its 3/4 timing. It was first
developed in Vienna as a fast paced dance to the music of Johann Strauss, from
which a slower version was later developed. The Viennese waltz is characterized
with quick swirly motion as couples spin across the floor. This dance is not
suitable for beginners and experience with the slow waltz is highly
recommended.
Cha Cha is an exciting, syncopated Latin dance that originated in the
1950's at the Palladium in New York City by area dance instructors who danced
the triple Mambo. The beat is very slow and the dance gets its name and
character from its distinct triple repetitive foot rhythm. Considered a flirty
dance, it is a favorite among many dancers to this day.
The Mambo dance was developed in Cuba from the influx of American influence
into the rumba. American GI's danced swing moves to rumba music that was sped
up, and the Cubans said they "danced like Mambos." A Mambo is a
voodoo priestess.
The Mambo is the predecessor of cha cha, and many of the same steps in the
latter dance can be done to the mambo rhythm. Considered a little more
difficult than cha cha, mambo's timing somtimes confuses the beginner. However,
once learned, the mambo is a favorite of the dance enthusiast. This dance is
many times confused with the salsa, which is indistinguishable with regard to
steps.
Paso Doble is an infrequently seen dance that originated from Spain. The
movements of the man are symbolic of a matador (a bullfighter), and the woman
is his cape. This dance involves many stylized dramatic movements and posturing
and is one of the few dances where the male and female partners do different
moves. This dance is for advanced levels and is done mostly for competitions.
- Rumba or also known as the Bolero
The Rumba originated from Afro-Cuban folk rhythms and became popular in the
1930's. It was imported from Cuba by Arthur Murray, who hired Cuban dancers to
train his instructors. A variation called the bolero is much slower and more
dramatic. The steps are reminiscent of the waltz, but danced slowly and
sensuously in a latin rhythm. Danced in 4/4 time, the basic step is
quick-quick-slow, quick-quick-slow. This is a good dance for beginning dancers
and servers as an excellent breather between salsa and merengue sets in social
dancing.
Rumba is considered the sexiest of the Latin dances. Like the tango, the
couples dance very closely and use a lot of body language to express emotion
between them. Beginning dancers can experience the closeness of partner dancing
while advanced rumba dancers can master the art of body language.
The Sambe is a Brazilian dance with Mardi Gras flavor. The form taught in
the workshops differ to some extent to the Samba danced currently in Brazil,
and it is closer to the style that is danced in competitions. New Latin styling
has regenerated this dance among the public and competitive dancers. This dance
incorporates the jumping actions of African dance tempered with the more
sensual movements of ballroom dance to create the form it exists today.
The Swing is a lively, upbeat dance with roots similar to the Jitterbug and
the Lindy and gained much popularity with the rise of big band music. Depending
on the speed of the music Swing can be danced in three styles: single, double
or triple time. It is danced with a relaxed frame and quick bouncy footwork.
Basic steps and underarm turns are the beginning steps but there is virtually
no end to turns, tucks, and kicks for the creative advanced dancer.
East Coast swing (sometimes called the Jitterbug) is an American Folk dance
originated in the 1940's and was popularized by Swing Bands and Jitterbug
Contests. Variations of Swing include Lindy hop, jive, boogie-woogie, rock roll
and shag. Basic swing involves many turns and intricate hand movements, and
advanced levels can involve throws and flips. It can be very athletic and
"hoppy", or grounded and shuffling. There is renewed popularity of
swing with the advent of the Swing Club at UGA.
An American dance created in the 1970's by Van McCoy, it was made popular
by the film Saturday Night Fever. Hustle has had a tremendous impact
upon the American dance public and still has a string following in the United
States. This dance is very similar to the East Coast swing but is much faster.
The possible moves are therefore more limited than the slower swing.
The Lindy Hop originated in Harlem in the late 1920s and is the original
swing dance from which all other swing dances (east coast, west coast,
jitterbug) evolved. The lindy hop begins with a syncopated two step that is
followed by separate steps for each partner, including kicks and spins. It is
more complex than east coast swing and is a better dance for intermediate
dancers.
This dance, the Merengue originated in the Dominican Republic by combining
African dance styles and perhaps a remnant of the times in which slaves were
shackled together, thus restricting the movement of the feet. Merengue is
danced with shuffling steps, and one can incorporate all the arm movements in
the swing and salsa.
Polka originated as a folk dance in Bohemia and later versions spread
throughout the world to become a ballroom craze in the mid-19th century. The
Polka is a lively and rapid dance in 2/4 time. It is one of the most enjoyable
and exhilarating dances you will ever learn. The basic step is straightforward
and is a food beginning dance.
Salsa is very closely related to the Mambo, and in fact some forms of Salsa
have exactly the same footwork but moved on a different rhythm. Created by
Puerto Ricans in New York City in the late 1940's, they modified the timing of
the steps to occur starting at the first beat of every four counts and added
ethnic styles to the existing Mambo dance.
The West Coast Swing is a blues form of swing danced in 4/4 time to slower
tempos than most other forms of swing. This dance differs from other swing
styles because it is a "plank" dance. The partners move back and
forth as if on a plank, and the men are seen to push and pull the women to
where they need to go.
