Ballroom Dance
Ballroom dance means kind of social dances where a couple would dance together following very common steps. Ballroom dance is a derivation from the word ‘ball’ (social events attended by elites in the early 18th century), that consecutively originates from the Latin word ‘ballare’ meaning “to dance” that successively comes from the Latin word ‘ballare’ with the meaning ‘to dance’. The most common ballroom dance forms can be distinguished into Viennese Waltz, Modern Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, Tango, Quickstep and the various forms of Latin Dances.
Originating somewhere betwixt the late 18th and early 19th century in England, ballroom dance was practiced by the privileged class in parties and balls. Gradually over time and during the 19th century, ballroom dance became a trend amongst the middle classes and the working classes who participated in event gatherings at public dance halls. In the 1920’s, ballroom competitions rose in popularity which led to the formation of the Ballroom Branch of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in 1924 that bore the vision to standardize the steps, music, and technique of ballroom dance. Today, ballroom dance is performed not only in Europe, but in the Asian-Pacific and the Americas as well. It is common to find formal ballroom dance competitions, known as DanceSport, for ballroom dancers at different proficiency levels.
The various ballroom dance forms come from various settings and boast of exclusive artistic values, tempos, techniques and beats. In spite of these discrepancies, all ballroom dance forms have common related characteristics. Executed by a couple (generally by a male and a female, these dances demand that they perform in a set pattern which is prominently referred to as the ‘Close Hold’. This position requires the two people to maintain five areas of contact – three hand contact points wherein the man’s left hand holds the woman’s right hand, the woman’s left hand is positioned on the man’s right upper arm and the man’s right hand is placed below the left shoulder blade on the woman’s back; one elbow contact point wherein the woman’s left elbow is placed on the man’s right elbow and both arms are maintained in a horizontal line contributing to the ease of movement; one chest contact point wherein the right area of the chest of the man touches the right area of the woman contributing to the expression of feelings and emotions between the two.
In conclusion, ballroom dance is a fashion that will never die away given the manifestations of love, joy and pain between 2 people.
Tags: ballroom dance, ballroom dancing, professional ballroom dancing
