Hearing the expression "ballroom dancing", many will begin to imagine girls in beautiful puffy dresses with rings, men in black tailcoats, classical music. This is all for the reason that the word “ball” itself is associated with royal receptions, which we read about in fairy tales in our distant childhood. For example, in Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty.
What is this dance?
Dance is a kind of creativity in which heroes and artistic images are created through various movements of the body. Dance is very closely related to music. It is their common interaction that emotionally affects the viewer.
In Russian, the word "dance" came from French (ballare - "to dance"). Ballroom dancing has its own distinctive features:
- They are performed by two people.
- The couple consists of a man and a woman, they move, observing the points of contact.
This direction has its own history, which has made it popular as a new type of recreation, as well as a new sport in which competitions are held.
A bit of history
Ballroom is called non-professional pair dances. They take their history from medieval Europe. They have changed a lot in a few hundred years. All eras have contributed something of their own.
Twentieth century dances are a continuation of the European style. Most of the directions that have survived to this day are of African origin, only not in their pure form, but with the supplemented technique of the European school.
In the 20s of the last century, a specially created Council of Teachers brought to a single standard all the dances popular at that time, namely the waltz, foxtrot and tango. Thus, a dance competition was formed in two directions: sports and social dance. In the period from the 30s to the 50s of the last century, the number of standard ballroom dances grew due to the addition of several areas of the Latin American school: rumba, samba, jive, paso doble, cha-cha-cha.
At the moment there are three competitive programs: Latin American, European and ten, it includes all ten directions.
European program
Let's analyze each of the three dances in detail.
- Slow waltz - anyone can learn to dance this dance. It is danced at discos, and at graduations, and at balls. Almost every composer has a wonderful waltz melody that everyone knows.
- Tango is a very diverse and passionate dance. It is based on the ancient movements of the inhabitants of Africa. He came to Europe with touring artists. The first time he was danced in Paris, and then he went around the world.
- Foxtrot is a "weightless" dance. Its feature is the ease of steps. It is in this dance that the couple becomes one. He appeared in America in 1912. This dance reached its peak of popularity after the end of World War II.
Latin American program
- Samba is a dance that originated in Brazil. It was distributed by ten people who danced it at Brazilian carnivals. Today, samba is danced everywhere: both at international competitions and on modest dance floors.
- Cha-cha-cha is an incendiary Cuban dance. The name comes from the sound that occurs when you touch the floor while dancing.
- Rumba is a very emotional ballroom dance. This is just a mixture of feelings and emotions that will not leave anyone indifferent from the audience.
- Paso Doble is a dance that tells about the struggle in all spheres of life: love, life, work, and also personifies the confrontation of the individual. The Spanish origin is reflected in the aggression and emotionality of this dance.
- Jive is a dance for trained couples. A striking difference from other areas is the presence of sharp elements of choreography.
How is the competitive dance evaluated?
To give a couple a mark, the judges evaluate the following parameters:
- Rhythm is the most important criterion. If a couple does not hear the music and dances out of place, then they immediately put the lowest score and do not look at other characteristics.
- position in pairs. It should give elegance, make the dribbling easier.
- Line - stretching the entire body from the crown to the fingertips. Beautiful lines increase the volume of the figures.
- Frame - a fixed position of the hands in a closed dance. The line consisting of the hands of the partners must be straight along the entire length.
- Balance. There are only two balances: central and neutral. With a central balance, the weight of the body is distributed on both legs, with a neutral balance - on one. In general, any dance consists of transitions from one balance to another. If they are not observed, then the dance will be rough, heavy.
- Musicality. All movements should correspond to the atmosphere of ballroom dance music - focus on strong moments, work on weak ones.
- Dynamics. Movement on the parquet should be quite active. This is especially noticeable in the European program. If, for example, the step length of the couple is longer than that of the rivals, then they will immediately attract the attention of spectators and judges.
- Performance. The couple should dance with a show of emotion, and not think about which element is next.
- Energy. The energy of the dance must be controlled. If it is directed correctly, then you can get all the attention of the audience and judges, and then they will definitely vote for your couple.
What qualities should a dancer have?
Previously, dancing was considered creativity and individual self-expression. Today, ballroom dancing is an independent sport. In order for a dancer to master the load that is present in all dances, he needs to possess a number of certain qualities.
- Physical strength. Ballroom dancing has many different lifts and other complex elements where strength is required.
- coordination and flexibility. For the performance of various figures and maneuvering on the parquet, these qualities are indispensable. Basketball players, soccer players, and gymnasts also have these traits.
- Endurance. For the entire time of the competition, the dancer is required to perform in five rounds. The dance in each round lasts two minutes. For one two-minute dance, the muscles of the athletes are tensed in the same way as those of cyclists and middle-distance runners.
- Grace. The smoothness of movements in dancing, just like in rhythmic gymnastics, is one of the important components of success.
- Team spirit and discipline. A dance team may consist of two or sixteen people. The requirements for eight pairs, which still have to navigate in space relative to each other without problems, are very high.
- Musicality. All participants must have an understanding of music, like gymnasts.
Ballroom dancing for children
Many parents are considering whether to send their children to dance. To finally decide, you should know about the benefits of this lesson:
- Muscle strengthening.
- Increased endurance.
- Formation of correct posture.
- Motor skills are trained.
- A sense of rhythm develops.
- Ability to live in society and interact with other people.
- The development of intelligence and curiosity.
- Getting rid of complexes and fears.
- Ballroom dancing for girls will help improve stretching.
- The level of self-confidence increases.
When should classes start?
After the decision is made, parents often ask themselves the question, at what age should they send their child to classes? Experts recommend starting classes at 6-7 years old. But still, you should take into account the individual characteristics of your child.
On the other hand, children who started classes before the age of seven are more likely to succeed, and on the other hand, they get tired more often, their motor skills are not developed, and it is more difficult for them to perceive information from teachers.
If you still want to give at an earlier age, then ask yourself a few questions:
- Will the child be able to understand and accurately follow all the instructions of the teacher?
- Will he be able to pay attention to details?
- Will he be able to do the physical activity that is given in the classroom?
- Does your child have a desire to learn to dance? Or is it your whim?
- Does he have an ear for music?
If you answered yes to most of the questions, then feel free to take the baby to classes, you are ready for this.
Requirements for the outfit of little dancers
So, you decided to send your child to dance. You have your first competition ahead of you, it's time to sew a stage outfit.
Ballroom dance dresses for girls must comply with the most stringent rules:
- The color of clothing should be solid, but in no case flesh.
- Sleeve options: short, long or ¾, a flashlight is also allowed. Cuts are not allowed.
- Neck or neckline: semicircle, triangle or square. It is possible to sew a stand-up collar.
- The skirt should be loose-fitting and the same length front and back. The length of the skirt should not exceed 10 cm from the knee.
- There should be no laces, frills, applications and other additions.
- It is not allowed to use frills, ribbons and fishing lines to process the hem of the skirt.
- The material from which the dress is made should not be transparent, guipure, iridescent, etc. Only thick fabric is allowed.
There are also requirements for shoes:
- The maximum heel height is 3.5 cm.
- The heel should be wide and stable.
- Shoes can be of any material and color. Ebbs under metal are allowed.
- Shoes should not have buckles, rhinestones, stones, and so on.
- For shoes, you can pick up socks of any color or flesh-colored tights. You can not wear tights in a grid or with glitter elements, patterns, etc.
Shoes and dresses for ballroom dancing must comply with a number of strictly regulated rules, not following which, the artist may be disqualified.
Main items of expenditure
Sports ballroom dancing is one of the most costly sports. In addition to paying for classes, there are other expenses. Consider them:
- Paying for a circle is the first upcoming expense.
- Outfit for participation in competitions and concerts.
- Girls will need shoes with and without heels for training.
- Two sets of workout clothes. Boys will need to buy trousers and shirts, and girls - skirts and tops.
It is important to remember that performance outfits are made to order, and custom tailoring involves additional expenses.
If the competition is not held in your city, then you also need to include expenses for travel, accommodation and meals, and a fee for participating in the tournament.
How to choose a school?
In order to correctly determine the school and not regret the choice in the future, you need to learn as much information about it as possible. Stick to the following algorithm:
- Find out as much as you can about the teaching staff. Ask where teachers have been trained and if they have special education diplomas.
- Find out if they have awards, if they have been mentioned in newspapers or on the Internet.
- Do school students participate in ballroom dancing tournaments, are there famous alumni.
- Collect the opinions of the parents of the students about the school, find out the advantages and disadvantages.
- Attend an open day. So you will see the learning process from the inside, you can choose the most suitable program.
- See how the classes are equipped with inventory, if there is everything you need.
- Check out the price. Remember that in good schools the prices are rather high.
Many cities have ballroom dancing schools. Moscow, of course, is the leader in the number of schools, and there are plenty to choose from. Therefore, if you live in the capital, walk around these institutions, collect information about them. When choosing, you must be sure that the school suits you in all respects.
Dancing is one of the most amazing forms of artistry. They make it possible to be in unity with your body and soul, as well as to be content with the newfound freedom. In dance, a person can show all his feelings, emotions, love, passion. This kind of art conveys to the audience the full enthusiasm of the artist and composer, all activities and even hidden light.
Modern dance is the contemplation of the magnificence of the surroundings and the Forces of movements during the dance literally enchant and can penetrate into the depths of the heart, since only here is stored the greatest happiness for humanity - the absolute experience of love. After all, love, without any doubt, does wonders!
Types of modern dances
Such dances are simply born for those people who cannot imagine their existence without the rhythms of today's music, who are an ardent admirer of various discos and parties. And for those who wish to achieve the perfection of their body. You can master the skill of beautiful performance in the styles of such dances as:
- Hipe - connection in the dance of different people.
- Disco.
- Hip-hop - small jumps.
- Slide man - moon steps.
- house.
- Plastic - plastic movements.
- X-D is a program of modern club styles for youth.
- Break - floor dance.
- Club dance is a club performance that contains many basic movements from different styles.
We need to try and not be afraid
Dance is life. Only in this kind of art all the potentials open up. Dance is not only a sequence of automatic body movements, it is, first of all, a reflection of the soul and a demonstration of temperament. In dance, a person shows his little world and gives the subconscious a chance to express itself.
There are people who are ashamed of their movements. In particular, this applies to persons. But children feel confident in the dance, and they can do everything the first time. They are not afraid of what may look ridiculous or funny. After all, dancing is also natural.
Benefit for health
Classes of any kind of dance have a positive effect on human health. They develop plasticity, strengthen all types of muscle mass, develop coordination of movements and create a good posture. In addition, dance lessons give determination, allow you to temper the will, which is of great importance in today's difficult world. Dancing is an ideal means for one's own spiritual and physical development. They help relieve stress and help overcome depression. No wonder psychologists advise dance group physiotherapy.
Dancing for slimness
Ballroom dancing is perhaps the most beautiful and plastic sports variety. This is a real sport, despite what is called dancing. Such a sport requires a lot of energy and effort. Competitions in various competitions and championships keep dancers in harmony and tone, prepare them for self-control and stamina, develop confidence in victory and strength of character. At the same time it is charming and beautiful art.
Watching a dancing couple is a real pleasure. Dance is life that can be shown during performance. It's also a book that you can't wait to read, it's also music that draws you in and takes you deep into the world of dreams and dreams. Ballroom dance is a performance in which only two artists are involved - a woman and a man. The performance conveys the experiences, emotions and relationships of the couple. And so it is always in demand and modern.
Varieties of ballroom dancing
A necessary accessory for this type of dance is the parquet floor. Only on such a floor polished to a mirror finish are the smooth movements of the dancers possible. It should be noted that parquet is very slippery and will require certain skills and experience. It is sometimes difficult for a beginner to hold on and not lose balance during each step.
Ballroom dancing championships contain two types of disciplines:
- Latin American dances ("latina") - rumba, samba, jive, cha-cha-cha, paso doble;
- European dances - slow and Viennese waltz, tango, quickstep (fast foxtrot) and slow foxtrot.
slow dancing
This type of dance was valued at all times, was popular at any party, prom or wedding. Under it, as a rule, good and calm music is put, gentlemen choose their partners to slowly spin in the movement of pleasant sensations. But it is not always the men who are invited to dance. After all, there is also a white dance. This is when the ladies themselves choose their partners.
It is not always easy for a representative of the weaker sex to take the first step - to come up and invite a young man to dance. But a slow dance can be an opportunity to start a conversation and get to know each other better. The main thing is not to be too annoying, but it is better to imagine yourself slightly indifferent and not show your passion. Ideally, present your proposal in such a way that it does not turn out to be uncompromising. And, perhaps, then the white dance can turn into a further family life for the partners.
Movement, dancing - this is health and a beautiful body!
This type of art is a very useful activity for the harmony of the body and the health of the body. What results can be achieved through:
- strengthen the lower muscles;
- improve coordination of movements;
- form an even posture and;
- remove excess weight and correct the figure;
- relieve stress and learn to cope with depression;
- develop muscle plasticity and relieve them of cramps;
- be able to keep your body in good shape.
In this combination, all the central muscles of the body are worked out, there is no need to do monotonous, uninteresting body movements, as during ordinary exercises. All that needs to be done is to turn on rhythmic music and enjoy the movements of the dance.
First, a five-minute kneading should be done, making the pelvis, arms, body and head. Then do some squats and bends. Now that the body has warmed up, you can try to learn some common dance moves. Ideally, they should be performed in front of a large mirror in order to control the accuracy of the dance steps.
Newlyweds dance
The first dance is one of the most important and touching components of a wedding celebration for young people. It brings back memories of the first meeting, of a tender kiss and romantic evenings that the newlyweds had before the wedding. And just with the dance of the newlyweds, the entertainment program at the wedding party begins.
Music is usually ordered by the bride and groom. As a rule, this is “their melody”, which makes it possible to remember something wonderful that happened to them earlier. Which direction of the first dance - a waltz or an incendiary samba, energetic rock and roll or a stormy foxtrot, is chosen only by spouses.
There is only one important condition - the dance should not be ordinary, boring footsteps or ridiculous and ridiculous body movements. After all, dancing is the opening of the soul, a manifestation of looseness and freedom of action at any entertainment event. And that is why young people often go to dance groups before the wedding to learn some unusual movements, so that their first dance will be remembered by them for a lifetime.
Ballroom dance must be performed in pairs. Such dances today are commonly referred to as standardized sports dances performed at dance competitions and ceremonial events. Today in the world of dance there are two main classifications, in the aggregate consisting of ten dance styles: European and Latin American programs. Read more about dancing below.
History of ballroom dancing
The origin of the concept of "ballroom dance" comes from the Latin word "ballare", meaning "to dance". In the past, such dances were secular and were intended only for the highest persons, and folk dances remained for the poorer segments of the population. Since then, such a class division in dances, of course, no longer exists, and many ballroom dances are actually ennobled folk dances. In particular, the culture of the African and Latin American peoples had a great influence on modern ballroom dancing.
What to call a ballroom dance also depends on the era. Various dances were presented at balls at different times, such as polonaise, mazurka, minuet, polka, quadrille and others, which are now considered historical.
In the 1920s, the Ballroom Dancing Council was founded in Great Britain. Thanks to his activities, ballroom dance then acquired the format of a competition and began to be divided into two groups - into sports dances and the so-called social dances. The program included: waltz, tango, as well as slow and fast types of foxtrot.
During the period of the 30s - 50s, the number of dances increased: such paired Latin American dances as rumba, samba, cha-cha-cha, paso doble and jive got into the program. However, in the 60s, ballroom dancing ceased to be an ordinary entertainment, since it required certain technical training from the dancers, and was supplanted by a new dance called the twist, which did not have to be danced in pairs.
Dances of the European program
The program of European dances, or the Standard, includes: slow waltz, tango, foxtrot, quickstep and Viennese waltz.
Slow waltz
In the 17th century, the waltz was a folk dance in Austrian and Bavarian villages, and only at the beginning of the 19th century was it presented at balls in England. Then it was considered vulgar, since it was the first ballroom dance where the dancer could hold his partner so close to him. Since then, the waltz has taken many different forms, but each of them is united by a unique elegance and romantic mood.
A feature of the waltz is the musical time signature in three quarters and a slow tempo (up to thirty beats per minute). You can master its basic figures at home on your own.
Tango is a ballroom dance that originated in Argentina at the end of the 19th century. At first, tango was part of the Latin American dance program, but then it was transferred to the standard European program.
Perhaps, having seen the tango at least once, subsequently everyone will be able to recognize this dance - this assertive, passionate manner cannot be confused with anything. A feature of tango is a sweeping step on the whole foot, which distinguishes it from the classic "flow" from heel to toe.
Slow Foxtrot
The Foxtrot is a relatively simple ballroom dance that provides beginners with a great foundation to build upon. Foxtrot can be danced in slow, medium, and fast tempo, which allows even beginners to move gracefully on the parquet without any special skills. The dance is pretty easy to learn from scratch.
The main feature of the foxtrot is the alternation of fast and slow rhythms, but the smoothness and lightness of the steps are necessary, which should give the impression that the dancers are fluttering over the hall.
Quickstep
Quickstep appeared in the 1920s as a combination of foxtrot and Charleston. Musical bands of that time played music that was too fast for foxtrot movements, so they were modified in quickstep. Since then, as it has developed, this ballroom dance has become even more dynamic, allowing dancers to show off their technique and athleticism.
Quickstep combines many different elements such as chassis, progressive turns and steps, to name a few.
The Viennese waltz is one of the oldest ballroom dances, which is performed at a fast pace, which characterizes the first waltzes. The golden age of the Viennese waltz in Europe came at the beginning of the 19th century, when the famous composer Johann Strauss was still living and working. The popularity of this waltz rose and fell, but it never went out of fashion.
The size of the Viennese waltz is the same as that of the slow waltz, it is three quarters, and the number of beats per second is twice as much - sixty.
Dances of the Latin American program
The following sports ballroom dances usually represent the Latin American dance program: cha-cha-cha, samba, rumba, jive and paso doble.
Samba
This ballroom dance is considered the national dance of Brazil. The world began to discover samba since 1905, but this ballroom dance became a sensation in the USA only in the 40s thanks to the singer and movie star Carmen Miranda. Samba has many varieties, for example, the samba danced in Brazilian carnivals and the ballroom dance of the same name are not the same.
Samba combines many movements that distinguish other Latin American ballroom dances: there are circular movements of the hips, and "springy" legs, and measured rotations. However, it is not very popular to learn: the fast pace of performance and the need for physical training often deprive beginner dancers of enthusiasm.
The name of this dance is a reference to the sounds the dancers make with their feet as they dance to the rhythm of the maracas. The dance evolved from the rumba and the mambo dance. Mambo was widespread in the USA, but its fast music was very difficult to dance to, so the Cuban composer Enrique Jorin made the music slower - and the cha-cha-cha dance was born.
A feature of cha-cha-cha is the so-called triple step for two counts. This feature made cha-cha-cha a separate dance, distinguishing it from mambo, although the rest of the movements are quite similar to this style. Cha-cha-cha is also characterized by minimal movements around the hall, basically, this ballroom dance is performed almost in one place.
Rumba has a rather rich history - it emerged both as a musical genre and as a dance style with roots in Africa. Rumba is a very rhythmic and complex dance that has spawned many other dance styles, including salsa.
Previously, this Latin American dance was considered too vulgar because of its uninhibited movements. It is still called the dance of love. The mood of the dance can change during its execution - from measured to aggressive. The performance style is reminiscent of mambo and cha-cha-cha styles. The main measures of the rumba are QQS or SQQ (from the English S - "slow" - "slow" and Q - "quick" - "fast").
"Paso doble" is Spanish for "two steps", which defines its marching nature. It is a powerful and rhythmic dance, which is characterized by a straight back, a look from under the eyebrows and dramatic postures. Among many other Latin American dances, paso doble is notable for the fact that you will not find African roots in its origin.
This Spanish folk dance was inspired by bullfighting, with the man invariably portraying the matador tamer and the woman playing the role of his cape or bull. However, during the performance of paso doble at dance competitions, the partner never depicts a bull - only a cloak. Due to its stylization and large number of rules, this ballroom dance is practically not performed outside of dance competitions.
Jive
Jive originated in African American clubs in the early 40s. The word "jive" itself means "misleading chatter" - a popular slang term among African Americans of the time. The US military brought the dance to England during World War II. There jive was adapted to British pop music and took the form it has today.
A characteristic feature of jive is the fast pace of the dance, due to which the movements come out springy. Another feature of jive is straight legs. You can dance this sports ballroom dance both on a six-bar count and on an eight-bar count.
We tried to make a classification of dance types with the possibility of describing each dance direction (links with the name of the dances are clickable). This classification of dance types will be updated and supplemented over time and with the addition of new styles and types of dance.
Main directions
Among the various dance styles and trends that exist today are the following, the most popular and famous:
Ballet
● classic;
● romantic;
● modern.
Ethnic (folk) dances that reflect the essence and rituals, traditions and rituals of certain peoples. Among them are the following groups:
● European;
● Asian (oriental);
● African;
● Latin American.
In each of them there are different types of folk dances: group, individual, pair and others.
historical dances
These are dances popular in past eras and performed today, for example, ballo, contradans, polonaise and others.
ballroom dancing
Includes two main programs: European And Latin American.
Here is the name of the types of dances included in the Latin program:
In the standard European program, the following types of dances are performed:
Let us dwell in more detail on each of them, since they had a great influence on the formation and development of many styles and trends of modern dance art.
free dance
First of all, this is a special worldview of the performer, formed under the influence of Nietzsche's ideas. The performer, denying the canonical rules of ballet choreography, sought to combine dance and real life, manifesting himself as a liberated spirit of creativity. It was on the basis of the free style that such trends as modern and butoh, jazz-modern and contemporary were born and developed.
Modern
Emerged at the beginning of the century, this dance direction is very popular today and is one of the leading ones in the Western choreographic school. As well as free dance, modern denies any ballet norms and seeks to embody various forms on the stage using new original methods. It is characterized by semantic fullness, a wide range of movements, high jumps and flexibility, “broken” poses and movements unusual for ballet choreography, various twists.
contemporary dance
It is quite reasonable to say that such popular styles in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as free dance and modern served as the basis for the formation of such a direction as contemporary (contempo). This dance, as an art form, offers the dancer, through various choreographic styles, to demonstrate as fully as possible in improvisation all the inner emotions and resources he has.
Jazz Modern
The main feature of this direction is the combination of jazz improvisational rhythms and energy, coordination and work with the body and breath of a modernist performer, as well as movements inherent in the classical ballet school. Thus, the body of a jazz-modern dancer becomes another musical instrument that manifests the melody through the plasticity of its own body.
Buto
This is one of the youngest dance techniques that appeared in the fifties of the XX century in Japan. Buto, despite its rather long existence, remains the most difficult for people in the Western world to understand today. It is based on the cultural, philosophical, religious and aesthetic values of the Land of the Rising Sun. This dance seeks to show the earthliness of the everyday life of an ordinary person, as well as to comprehend and demonstrate the body and its capabilities in space and time.
Modern dance of the late XX and early XXI century
The whole variety of contemporary dances can, of course, be conditionally divided into two large groups:
● street;
street dance
Hip-hop and Krump, popping and locking, breakdance and C-walk - all these are the names of the types of dances, "born" not on stages and in choreographic studios, but on the streets and in the courtyards of megacities, discos and clubs.
Most of them are based on hip-hop. In street style, the performer is not limited to any form and can boldly improvise and experiment, creating an individual and unique pattern of movements, as well as interact with both other dancers and the public. In a "pure" form, they are extremely rare, and for the most part they began to be performed in clubs, and not on the streets, which is why they often fall into the club category.
Here are the most popular and common destinations:
● Ragga (ragga) and many others
It is impossible to list all kinds of dances. The list of names of modern styles and trends is constantly changing and supplementing. Today, dancing is not only a plastic art, but also a fairly common sport.
Dance Sport
If in the old days dancing was perceived only as an art form, then the complication of technical and choreographic requirements for performance led to the need for excellent physical shape of those who do it.
Today, the main types of sports dances are, first of all, ballroom dances. Their feature is the performance by partners of a set of certain mandatory movements and figures to a predetermined music. The ballroom sports dances evaluated at the competitions consist of a European and Latin American program, as well as a biathlon (competitions in 10 dances).
Over time, new musical and choreographic styles and trends appear. And now such modern types of sports dances as break or locking, jumpstyle or pole dance (dancing on a pole) attract more and more fans from different age groups. To participate in competitions in these areas, athletes need not only excellent choreographic, but also physical training.
Ballroom dancing is not just dancing, it is a whole art, and at the same time science, sport, passion, in a word - a whole life embodied in movement. Also, ballroom dancing is not in vain called sports - it is a colossal workout for all the muscles of the body, as well as a correct and healthy cardiological load.
During the dance, the couple communicates with each other and with the audience with body language, which can express both a huge message of positive energy, and a gentle, peaceful, perhaps even dreary mood - an anguish of the soul, and this depends on the type of ballroom dance.
At the moment, such areas as, for example, bachata or solo latina for girls are often considered types of ballroom dance, but this is not entirely correct. The traditional ballroom dance program (they are necessarily paired) includes ten dances, divided into a European direction or program (otherwise called “standard”) and Latin American (“latina”). So, what are the types of ballroom dancing - let's start in order.
Dance King - Waltz
The most noble and solemn dance of the classical program is the slow waltz. This direction of the waltz originated at the beginning of the last century and has not undergone any changes since then. The dance has a very measured movement in three counts, like all waltz ballroom dances. , and accompanied by lyrical music.
There is another waltz in the standard program - Viennese, which is distinguished by an abundance of rotations at a fairly high speed and is danced to a fast melody, thereby creating simply enchanting sensations for the audience.
Other elements of the European program
Filled with the breath of Argentine passion, tango is another element of the European program, very sensual, combining fast and slow movements. All types of ballroom dancing assign a dominant role to the partner, but it is tango that especially focuses on this.
The standard program also includes a slow foxtrot (they dance to a count of up to 4), which is distinguished by a moderate tempo with some transitions from slow and fast, and quickstep. The latter is the most mischievous dance of the entire program, based on jumps, quick turns. The task of the dancer is to combine these sharp movements with smooth transitions to very energetic music.
Dancing to incendiary Latin American rhythms
The types of ballroom dances of the Latin program are, firstly, no less exciting than tango, but at the same time, a very gentle dance - rumba.
The rhythm is slow, with an emphasis on even slower beats. Secondly, the exact opposite of rumba is jive, incredibly positive and very fast, the most modern and constantly acquiring new movements.
The carefree Latin American dance cha-cha-cha is the most amazing invention of mankind, it is characterized by movements of the hips and legs that cannot be confused with anything, and a very interesting manner of counting (“cha-cha-1-2-3”).
Akin to the incendiary cha-cha-cha, the samba dance can be both quite slow and incredibly fast, so much so that the dancers have to show the highest level of skill.
Samba is based on "spring" movements of the legs, combined with smooth movements of the hips. And of course, both samba and other types of ballroom dances of the Latin program are a clear rhythm and frantic energy that extends to the dancers themselves and the audience, even if the dance is performed by non-professionals.
