12 Types of Ballroom Dances
Submitted by: Shanedy Mae A. Vallejos
BS COE-2B
PE 3
Ballroom dancing was originally designed for
partner dancing in ballrooms. Progressive or
travelling ballroom dances are characterized
by long strides that result in the partners
quickly traversing the dance floor. Correct
posture and frame are very important in
ballroom dancing.
The combination of large steps, separation of
the partners' upper body, and a frame that
requires the shoulders and upper arms to stay
in one line, result in the need for a large dance
floor.
People all over the world enjoy the social and
competitive nature of ballroom dancing. These
dances are partner dances enjoyed socially and
competitively worldwide. The following 12
ballroom dances are seen on dance floors, on
stages, in films, and on television.
1. Cha-Cha
Type: American Latin Dances, International Style Dances
The cha-cha is a lively,
flirtatious ballroom dance full of
passion and energy. Cha Cha has a
modified Cuban Motion hip
action, because of the speed. This
is an exuberant dance that will get
your heart pumping and put a
smile on your face.
Grew out of the Cuban Mambo and became immensely
popular in the United States in the 1950’s which replaced
mambo as the latest dance craze. It consists of triple
chasse steps (cha cha cha’s) and rock steps.
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2. Foxtrot
The foxtrot is a ballroom dance that is lots of fun and
simple to learn, making it an excellent dance for beginners.
In the foxtrot, dancers make long, smooth, flowing
movements across the floor to swing or big-band music.
The Foxtrot is an early 20th Century American
dance that has its origins in the one-step, the two-step, and
syncopated ragtime dances (Norton). It was popularized in
the USA by dancers Vernon and Irene Castle in 1914, and
it is believed to be named after Harry Fox, who was an
entertainer (Bedinghaus). The versatility of the dance is
greatly responsible for its popularity. It can be danced to
most music that’s in a simple duple metre (Norton).
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3. Jive
Type: International Latin dances
Jive is a ballroom dance style that originated in the
United States with African-Americans. It is a very happy,
boppy, energetic dance, with plenty of knee-lifting,
bending, and rocking of the hips. The fastest of the Latin
dances, jive incorporates lots of kicks and flicks, even
twirling of the woman, and doesn't move around the dance
floor like other dances.
Jive was first demonstrated by Cab Calloway in 1934. It
caught on in the United States in the 1940s and was
influenced by the Boogie, Rock & Roll, African/American
Swing, and Lindyhop. The name either comes from jive
being a form of glib talk or from African dance terms. Jive
became a generic term for swing in the United Kingdom.
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4. Lindy Hop
The Lindy Hop is the ballroom dance considered
to be the father of all swing dances. It is known for its
athletic style and often contains aerial jumps, twists, and
flips. It was named for Charles Lindbergh's (Lucky Lindy)
transatlantic flight and popular in the 1930s.
Lindy Hop is an African American dance, which
originates from Harlem, New York City. It was danced
first in the famous Savoy Ballroom by African American
dancers in 1928, and was danced throughout the 1930s and
1940s.
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5. Mambo
The mambo is one of the most emotional Latin American
ballroom dances. Swaying hip movements, facial
expressions, arm movements, and holds all contribute to
the sensuality on display in the dance.
Originating from Cuba in the 1930s, Mambo is enjoyed
throughout the world at both the social and competitive
dance levels. The word “mambo” denotes an African
origin, particularly from the Congo region. The mambo is
believed to have been named after the voodoo priests who
thought they could send dancers into hypnotic states.
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6. Pasadoble
The pasodoble is one of the liveliest ballroom
dances, originating in southern France. It is modeled after
the sound, drama, and movement of the Spanish bullfight
and is danced to music used during a bullfight
Paso Doble was actually
invented in Southern France,
where its march-like steps were
used in the military, coined
“Paso Redoble”. The steps easily
travelled to Spain because of
their close proximity. Beginning
in the 18th century, the “Paso
Doble” was played during the
matador’s entrance into the
bullring.
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7. Quickstep
The quickstep is a
quick version (naturally) of the
foxtrot. It is a ballroom dance
composed of extremely quick
stepping, syncopated feet
rhythms, and runs. The
quickstep is exciting to watch
but among the most difficult
of all the ballroom dances to
master.
The
Quickstep
evolved in the 1920s from a
combination of the Foxtrot,
Charleston, Shag, Peabody
and One Step. This dance is
English in origin and was
standardized in 1927. The
Quickstep now is quite
separate from the Foxtrot.
Unlike the modern Foxtrot,
the man often closes his feet,
and syncopated steps are
regular occurrences as was the
case in early Foxtrot.
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8. Rumba
The word Rumba is a
generic term, covering a variety
of names (Son, Danzon,
Guagira, Guaracha, Naningo).
There are two sources
of the dances: one Spanish and
the other African. Although the
main growth was in Cuba, there
were similar dance developments
which took place in other
Caribbean islands and in Latin
America generally.
The "rumba influence" came in the 16th century
with the black slaves imported from Africa. The native
Rumba folk dance is essentially a sex pantomime danced
extremely fast with exaggerated hip movements and with a
sensually aggressive attitude on the part of the man and a
defensive attitude on the part of the woman.
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9. Samba
Possibly the most popular of all Brazilian ballroom dances,
both young and old enjoy dancing the samba. It can be
performed solo, such as during the Carnival in Rio de
Janiero, or with a partner socially.
Samba is both a style of music and a
type of dance that hails from Brazil.
Samba's origins lie in the intertwined
history of colonialism and slavery. The
word 'samba' is thought to possibly
come from a West African word semba,
meaning a navel thrust or kind of
physical invitation, an intimate
movement possibly connected to
religious and community celebrations in
an African homeland. In the 16th
century, Portuguese traders brought
West African enslaved men and women
to the state of Bahia in Brazil.
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10. Tango
Tango is a dance with dramatic flair, using
“stalking” and “sneaking” walking characteristics that
separate it from the other ballroom dancing styles. It is a
very sensual and visually exciting choice for a first wedding
dance.
Tango was originally formulated in Buenos Aires,
Argentina among the working-class citizens. The dance
roots lie in the Cuban habanera dance, the Argentine
Milonga and Candombe. It also has origins tracing back to
African rhythms and European music.
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11. Waltz
The waltz is one of the smoothest of ballroom
dances. It is a progressive dance marked by long, flowing
movements, continuous turns, and rise and fall. The dance
is so graceful and elegant that waltz dancers appear to glide
around the floor with almost no effort.
Waltz, (from German walzen, “to revolve”),
highly popular ballroom dance evolved from the Ländler
in the 18th century. Characterized by a step, slide, and step
in 3/4 time, the waltz, with its turning, embracing couples,
at first shocked polite society. It became the ballroom
dance par excellence of the 19th century, however, and
tenaciously maintained its popularity in the 20th. Its
variations include the rapid, whirling Viennese waltz and
the gliding, dipping Boston.
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12. Viennese Waltz
The oldest of all the modern ballroom dances, the
Viennese Waltz is a fast moving dance expressed most
beautifully when a large group of dancers is on the floor at
the same time.
It originates from the Volta, a couples-focused dance
enjoyed by high society in the 1500’s. The Viennese waltz
emerged in the second half of the 18th century from a
German dance called the Volta (or Lavolta) and later the
Ländler in Austria. The Volta was danced by members of
affluent society and became scandalous because of its
closeness and technique, causing it to eventually fade from
existence. But the high society connection developed a
focus on posture and elegance that remain key
characteristics today, along with the rotational emphasis of
the figures.
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