BALLROOM

Ballroom Dances
1. Ballroom
 A set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world.
 Because of its performance and entertainment aspects, ballroom dance is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and
television.
 May refer, at its widest definition, to almost any type of partner dancing as recreation.
1.1. Types of Ballroom Dances
 Dancesport
o Denotes competitive ballroom dancing, as contrasted to social or exhibition dancing.
o In the case of wheelchair dance sport at least one of the dancers is in a wheelchair.
o The name was invented to help competitive ballroom dancing gain Olympic recognition.
 Social Dances
o Category of dances that have a social function and context.
o Social dances are generally intended for participation rather than performance and can be led and
followed with relative ease.
o They are often danced merely to socialize and for entertainment, though they may
have ceremonial, competitive and erotic functions.
2. The two main styles in Ballroom Dancing

2.1 The American Style
o American style is danced primarily in the USA.
o American style is practiced more for social dancing.
2.1.1. The 2 categories (American Styles)
 Smooth
o Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz
 Rhythm
o Cha Cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Bolero, Mambo, Samba
2.2. The International Styles
o The “English” form of partner dancing.
o This style is typically learned after you have a base knowledge of the American Style.
o It most often is used competitively, but many people enjoy dancing this style socially as well.
2.2.1. The 2 Categories (International Styles)
 Standard
o Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot , Quickstep
 Latin
o Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, Jive
3. There are also other social styles of dances that are not ‘strictly ballroom.
 They include the hustle, salsa, merengue, west coast swing, Argentine tango, lindy and Hip Hop.
4. To distinguish between international and American style.

 International Standard is danced almost exclusively in closed dance positions.
 American Smooth allows more open work where the partners can separate from each other and dance in open
positions.
 In American Rhythm, the dancers will use a bent leg action allowing them to delay their change of weight on the
step, so you will frequently see them with bent legs.
 In International Latin, the dancers usually have the look of two straight legs which comes from the faster change
of weight on the step.
Different Kinds of Ballroom

1. Tango
 Argentine Tango
o The Tango originated in Buenos Aires during the late 19th Century and began as one of many
different forms of tango dances.
o Modern Argentine Tango styles are danced both in open (Tango Nuevo) and closed embraces
(traditional) that focus on the leader and the follower moving in harmony with the passionately
charged music.
 American Tango
o The American tango is a descendent of the original tango from Argentina and continues to evolve.
o Among those influences, the technical International (English) style Tango, the dramatic Paso Doble,
and even the original Argentine style continue to contribute to its evolution.
2. Cha-Cha
 Originally called the Cha-cha-cha, this dance evolved from the Mambo and the Rumba on Cuban dance floors
in the 1950’s.
 It is danced to Latin music with strong African and Cuban rhythms.
 Cha-cha has a 4/4 syncopation where 5 steps are danced in 4 beats of music. Its unmistakable counting “one,
two, cha-cha-cha” requires that the dancers use small steps.
3. Bolero
 Bolero is a 3/4 dance smooth, sophisticated, sentimental ballroom dance that originated in Spain in the late 18th
century.
 The emphasis is on smoothness, grace and communication between partners.
 The original dance was invented in about 1780 by Sebastian Cerezo a celebrated dancer from Cadiz, Spain.
 The music is 4/4 time, and is danced to the slowest rhythms of the Latin ballroom dances (the spectrum runs
Bolero, Rumba, Cha Cha, Mambo). The basic rhythm of steps in patterns, like Rumba, is Slow-Quick-Quick.
4. Foxtrot
 The Foxtrot is truly an American dance, credited to Harry Fox and dating back to 1914 when he was reportedly
doing rapid trotting steps with his partner to Ragtime music (the original form of Jazz), and it was originally
referred to as “Fox’s Trot”.
 Foxtrot is danced to jazz or Big Band music, the same style of music that you would dance swing to. Speed is
usually the deciding factor that makes a song better for Foxtrot (danced with a 4/4 rhythm and 110-150
beats/minute tempo) or for Swing (danced to 120-250 beats per minute), but you can usually dance a slow swing
to any Foxtrot tune.
 Foxtrot is danced in a closed position (facing your partner and holding them close). The walking steps are taken
as “slows” (2 beats per step) or “quicks”(1 beat per step), with the most common Foxtrot rhythms being SQQ,
SQQ or SSQQ, but ultimately the dancers may use whatever rhythm that they choose, which allows them to
change their dance to fit the music.
5. Waltz
 The introduction of the Waltz was the scandal of 19th century English society.
 Queen Victoria was an exquisite ballroom dancer who developed a passion for the Waltz.
 Johann Strauss can be credited with the persistence of the Waltz in mainstream ballroom dancing with his fast
paced Waltz compositions that paved the way for the quicker Viennese style.
 In America the Waltz tempo slowed to form a more smooth and graceful gliding dance with a gentle "rise and
fall" motion. Today the Waltz persists as the oldest of ballroom dances and perhaps the best loved.
 The Waltz is unique in that it is the only ballroom dance written in 3/4 time. There are three beats to each
measure, counted as "1-2-3" or "quick-quick-quick."
6. Rumba
 The Rumba, widely considered the most romantic and sensual of the Latin dances, has a magnetic interplay
between its partners.
 Sometimes called the Grandfather of the Latin dances, the Rumba made its way from Cuba to the United States in
the early 1920’s.
 Rumba music is in 4/4 time and there are four beats in each measure.
7. Paso Doble
 Paso Doble originated in France, but is reminiscent of the sound, dramas and movement of the Spanish bullfight.
 Paso Doble means "two step" in Spanish.
o It is a dance for the Man, which allows him to fill the "stage" with strong three-dimensional shapes and
movements danced with "Pride and Dignity".
o The woman's role varies depending on the interpretation of the dance. The woman can take the role of the
matador's cape, the bull or even the matador at different times within the dance. Characteristics of the
Paso Doble are the "marching" flavor given to the steps and the cape movements creating tension between
both dancers.
EXAMPLES OF FESTIVAL DANCES IN THE PHILIPPINES
1. BINIRAY
 January 9 - A festival parade in the sea followed by a celebration in Romblon Town.
2. PAMULINAWEN (LAOAG CITY AND PROVINCE)
 February 7 - 10 - Main feature is a Floral Parade. Celebrates the Feast of William, the town's patron saint.
3. SANDUGO RE-ENACTMENT
 March 16 - A re-enactment of the Blood Compact between Spain's Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna,
which helped forge friendly relations between the two countries. Held in Tagbilaran, Bohol.
4. HIGANTES
 November 22-23 - Held in Angono, Rizal to honor patron saint, St. Clemente. The parade features "papier-maché"
giants, dressed in native costumes
5. KANSILAY
 November 5-13 - Named after a tree with purple-pink flowers, the festival incorporates the celebration of
"Cincode Noviembre", a bloodless revolution in Silay, which overthrew the city guards.

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Ballroom Dances

2. The two main styles in Ballroom Dancing

4. To distinguish between international and American style.

Different Kinds of Ballroom

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