Informational Blog

Ballroom dancing may be associated with women and men in formal attires dancing the night away in grand halls. This type of dancing can be elegant and sophisticated (like the Waltz) but it can also be hot, sultry and sexy (like the Tango or Paso Doble), or a good bit of lively fun (like the Fox Trot Jive or Quick Step).

The Webster dictionary defines ballroom dancing as “any of various, usually social dances in which couples perform set moves”. The word “ball”, when referring to a social gathering as opposed to a child’s toy, comes from the Latin “ballare” meaning to dance. It is good to note that the word ballet and ballerina has the same origins as ballroom too.

History reveals that this is a form of dance famous among the people from the upper class in England back in the late 18th and 19th century. 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. The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing is set up with the purpose of standardizing the modern day ballroom dance.

One can enjoy the elegance of Waltz, the passion of tango and the liveliness of the Quickstep, the slow Fox trot and the Viennese Waltz as forms of modern day ballroom dancing. 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. The Latin American refers to Latin and America not to countries of latin origin.

Modern day ballroom dances do vary considerably in tempo, and rhythm and still they all consists of couples 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. The other two points of contact are her left elbow resting on his right elbow and the right side of her chest touching the right side of his chest. This posture dates back form the days of the European royal courts when royal couples and aristocrats dance gracefully during social gathering.

many years ago, the men danced while wearing their swords and this helps to explain why the strange right to right chest contact between the man and the women. This would also explain the counter clockwise movement around the dance floor as the man would’ve stood on the inside of the circle so he wouldn’t inadvertently hit any of the people watching the dancers with his sword as he danced past. In Latin American ballroom the postures vary from dance to dance with some using the closed hold and others where the partners hold each other with only one hand. Today, the American Latin ballroom dance has been standardized for the purposes of teaching.