Ballroom dancing

Ballroom dancing

The term "ballroom dancing" come from the word ball, which come from the Latin word Ballare which means "to dance". Ballroom dancing was "social dancing" for the rich, leaving "folk dancing" for the poor. Ballroom dance refers to "a set of partner dancers who enjoyed both socially and competitively. Its performance and entertainment parts are also enjoyed on stage, in film, and on television. The ballroom dance may refer to any form of formal social dancing as recreation" , according to Will Adams in Wikipedia, 2006.

The definition of ballroom dance also depends on the area. Today, the term applies to any one of the several dances on which two individuals, a "leader" and "follower", dance with physical contact through their upper or lower bodies, or simply their arms depending on the particular variety of dance. Since most social dancing is immediately done, this contact is necessary for the leader to communicate the next dance move to follower, and the follower to follow to this suggestions. Some knowledge of known step patterns is essential for both the leader as well as the follower for ballroom dancers are judged by different parts as connection , frame, posture, speed, timing, proper body alignment, proper usage of weight/ankles/feet, and grooming.

"Ballroom dance" refers to the ten dances of International Standard and International Latin. International Standard are used primarily in competitions and are standardized because they are danced just about everywhere else in the world. However, International Latin dancers are commonly danced to contemporary Latin American music, where the dancers usually have the look of two straight legs which comes from the faster change of weight on the step. There are of course differences in the moves/steps/figures allowed as well as other things. The dance technique used for both International and American style is identical, but International Standard allows only closed positions, whereas American system allows closed, open and seperated dance movements. International Stnadard is danced alomost exclusively in closed dance opsitions while American Smooth allows more open work where the partners can separate from each other and dance in open positions. The International Latin and Rhythm dances tend to be a bit harder to tell apart. The dancers' leg action is probably the best clue as to which style they're dancing here. In American Rhythem, 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.