Ballroom dance
In 1588, a French music teacher named Thoinot-Arbeau published a book called Orchésographie that described the social dances of his time. The text detailed movements like the basse danse and the branle, which were performed in large rooms designed for such gatherings. These early forms of ballroom dancing were reserved for the privileged classes while folk dances remained with the lower orders. By 1650, the Minuet had become the dominant dance in Paris after Jean-Baptiste Lully set it to music for King Louis XIV. The King himself danced this style publicly, establishing a precedent for courtly performance. A decade later, Louis XIV founded the Académie Royale de Musique et de Danse to create specific rules for every movement. This institution formulated the five positions of the feet that would influence ballet technique for over two centuries. The waltz emerged as a country folk dance in Austria and Bavaria during the 17th century before entering England around 1812. Carl Maria von Weber wrote Invitation to the Dance in 1819, marking the adoption of the waltz into absolute music. The dance faced initial opposition due to its closed hold but eventually softened societal resistance. In the 1840s, new dances like the polka and mazurka appeared in ballrooms across Europe. The boundaries between social and competitive dancing began to blur as the 20th century approached.
The International School developed in England and is now regulated by the World Dance Council and the World DanceSport Federation. It encompasses Standard and Latin categories with five dances each. The Standard category includes International Waltz, International Tango, International Viennese Waltz, International Slow Foxtrot, and International Quickstep. The Latin category contains International Samba, International Cha Cha, International Rumba, International Paso Doble, and International Jive. A Ten Dance competition requires all ten dances from both categories. The American School operates primarily within the United States under USA Dance regulations. Its Smooth category features four dances: American Waltz, American Tango, American Foxtrot, and American Viennese Waltz. The Rhythm category includes American Cha Cha, American Rumba, American East Coast Swing, American Bolero, and American Mambo. A Nine Dance competition covers these nine specific routines. While both schools share similar roots, their permitted patterns differ considerably. For instance, International foxtrot and American foxtrot are quite different despite their shared origins. In Canada, both styles exist under the regulation of Canada Dancesport. Some sources regard Sequence Dancing as a style of ballroom dance performed in pairs or formations.
The Blackpool Dance Festival hosted annually at Blackpool, England is considered the most prestigious event for any dancesport competitor. About 30 countries compete regularly in international competitions while another 20 have membership in the WDC or WDSF but rarely appear internationally. The International Olympic Committee recognizes competitive ballroom dance through the World DanceSport Federation. Competitions range from world championships to local proficiency levels with professional and amateur divisions. In Britain, the British Dance Council grants national and regional championship titles like the British Ballroom Championships. Judges evaluate diverse criteria including poise, frame, posture, musicality, timing, body alignment, floor craft, foot action, and presentation. Scorekeepers called scrutineers tally total recalls accumulated by each couple through every round until finals. The Skating system places couples by ordinals typically ranging from 1 to 6 during final rounds. Up to 8 couples may be present on the floor during these finals. Levels split into syllabus categories like newcomer, bronze, silver, and gold where moves are restricted to written syllabi. Open categories include novice, pre-champ, and champ where dancers perform complex routines without restrictions. Formation dance involves multiple dancers moving in various formations while dancing as a team.
Waltz began as a country folk dance in Austria and Bavaria before entering England around 1812. When performing this dance, the upper body stays to the left throughout all figures while the follower leans right. Figures with rotation have little rise but start slowly from the first count and peak on the second count. Sway is used on the second step to make the step longer and slow down momentum. Viennese waltz originated in Provence area in France in 1559 and became popular throughout the 19th century via Josef and Johann Strauss music. It is often referred to as the classic old-school ballroom with quite fast music. Tango originated in Buenos Aires in the late 19th century and focuses on lead and follow moving in harmony. Ballroom tango uses a far more open frame with strong staccato movements unlike Argentine tango. The foxtrot was named by vaudeville performer Harry Fox in 1914 after he rapidly trotted steps to ragtime music. Partners face one another while frames rotate from side to side changing direction after each measure. Quickstep was invented in the 1920s as an English combination of faster foxtempo and Charleston elements. Men are allowed to close their feet while couples move in short syncopated steps including walks runs chasses turns locks hops jumps and skips.
Pasodoble originated from Spain and its dramatic bullfights where the lead plays the matador role while the follow takes the cape or bull role. The chasse cape refers to the lead using the follow to turn them as if they were the cape. Samba is the national dance of Brazil with rhythm originating from West African slave language and culture. In 1905, samba became known internationally during an exhibition in Paris before being introduced to America through Carmen Miranda in the 1940s. International Ballroom Samba differs strongly from Brazilian Ballroom Samba called Samba de Gafieira. Rumba came to the United States from Cuba in the 1920s becoming a popular cabaret dance during prohibition. It includes Cuban motions through knee-strengthening figure-eight hip rotation and swiveling foot action. Cha Cha developed by Enrique Jorrín in the early 1950s as a slower alternative to Mambo originally called Triple Mambo. The dance features many hip rotations with partners synchronizing movements while bending and straightening knees. East Coast Swing was established by Arthur Murray shortly after World War II and performed only in American Smooth or Rhythm within U.S. or Canada. Jive originated from African American clubs in the early 1940s and was introduced to England by American soldiers during World War II.
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Common questions
When did Thoinot-Arbeau publish the book Orchésographie that described early ballroom dances?
Thoinot-Arbeau published the book called Orchésographie in 1588. The text detailed movements like the basse danse and the branle performed in large rooms designed for such gatherings.
Who founded the Académie Royale de Musique et de Danse to create rules for every movement?
Louis XIV founded the Académie Royale de Musique et de Danse a decade after 1650. This institution formulated the five positions of the feet that would influence ballet technique for over two centuries.
Where did the waltz emerge as a country folk dance before entering England around 1812?
The waltz emerged as a country folk dance in Austria and Bavaria during the 17th century. It entered England around 1812 and faced initial opposition due to its closed hold before eventually softening societal resistance.
What are the five dances included in the Standard category of International Ballroom dancing?
The Standard category includes International Waltz, International Tango, International Viennese Waltz, International Slow Foxtrot, and International Quickstep. These five dances form part of the ten dances required for a Ten Dance competition under World Dance Council regulations.
When was the foxtrot named by vaudeville performer Harry Fox after he rapidly trotted steps to ragtime music?
Harry Fox named the foxtrot in 1914 after he rapidly trotted steps to ragtime music. Partners face one another while frames rotate from side to side changing direction after each measure.
Who developed Cha Cha in the early 1950s as a slower alternative to Mambo originally called Triple Mambo?
Enrique Jorrín developed Cha Cha in the early 1950s as a slower alternative to Mambo originally called Triple Mambo. The dance features many hip rotations with partners synchronizing movements while bending and straightening knees.