Ballroom Dancing

Our next entry comes from Nastia, who is writing about one of her favorite subjects, ballroom dancing.

"Dance is music made visible."

~ George Balanchine

In my description in the first post it's said that if I'm not lucky enough to marry some prince, I'd marry a ballroom dancer. I hope you'll understand why after reading this.

As this is happens to be a subject which I'm really passionate about, get ready for a long post with a lot of pictures :)

"Let us read and let us dance - two amusements that will never do any harm to the world."

~ Voltaire (French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher)

A little bit of history...

The term 'ballroom dancing' is derived from the Latin word “ballare” which means “to dance”

In times past, ballroom dancing was social dancing for the privileged, leaving folk dancing for the lower classes. However it should be noted even in times long gone, many ballroom dances were really elevated folk dances. The definition of ballroom dance also depends on the era: balls have featured popular dances of the day such as the Minuet, Quadrille, Polonaise, Polka, Mazurka, and others, which are now considered to be historical dances. At that time ballroom dance was just leisure, one of the ways to spend spare time, something which is now considered to be social dancing. It was also an art, exhibition dancing, like, for example, ballet.

In the end of the 19th century it became available for people from lower classes, who started to attend public dances or “social assemblies”. Later, in 1920th ballroom dance competitions were started to develop. They were unofficial and not very strict, because there wasn’t specific criteria how to evaluate dancers. That’s why in England in 1924 Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) started to create standards in music, steps and technique of dancing.

Therefore, people found out how to do every movement right or wrong. It meant that ballroom dance stopped being only leisure for people, it started to be competitive. Definition of ballroom dance in that time became equal to todays and it’s assumed that its homeland is England.

"The body says what words cannot."

~ Martha Graham (American dance choreographer regarded as one of the foremost pioneers of modern dance)


International Styles of Competitive Ballroom

For competitions from all ballroom dances which existed up until that time ISTD chose the most interesting and emotional dances, which can be transformed into sensual and artistic forms. I would like to give a little description and historical review of each dance.

There are 3 international styles of competitive ballroom:

- Standard

- Latin American

- 10 Dances

Both Standard and Latin American styles consist of 5 dances. Dancers can choose between Standard and Latin American styles or dance all of them, which means that they choose 10 dances. Standard and Latin American dances are very different from each other: they have different roots, dress code and even the shoes for these styles are different.

In Standard physical contact between man and woman is closer and permanent during the whole duration of dance. There's always a dress code for the Standard: long dresses for the ladies and bow tie and tail coats for the men.

In Latin American dances physical contact is more loose and often made only by hands. Sometimes partners are not touching at all, dancing their own part, and sometimes it's made much tighter, especially in Rumba. The dress code is also simpler: the women are often dressed in short-skirted open Latin outfits while the men are outfitted in tight-fitting shirts and pants. The goal is to emphasize the dancers' leg action and body movements.

Dances

Standard consists of 5 dances; I'll represent them in the order which they are danced during a competition:

Slow Waltz (English Waltz)

It should be mentioned that the roots of this Waltz aren't in England as you might think from its name, but in Boston, USA in 1800s. The name of the forerunner of our competition Waltz was The Boston. After the 1st World War The Boston came to England but the English changed it. During 1910-1914 many people went to the Boston club in the Savoy Hotel, Central London, where they created their own new style of waltz which had slower and more smooth choreography and was given the name Slow or English Waltz. And now it's the slowest dance in Standard.

Tango

In the beginning of the 20th Century the Tango was danced in small theaters for the High Society from Brazil. Until 1907 the Tango was not accepted in London, the dance was too passionate and, to European mind, wasn't decent to dance. After some stylistic changes the Tango was accepted by The English. From the original dance they saved only sharp-cut choreography with head and shoulder movements that suddenly switched over to stillness. But still the Tango is the dance of passion.

Viennese Waltz

It's the oldest dance out of Standard. This Waltz was created in 12-13 century in South German Alps Area and was called “German” at first. The Viennese waltz is different from other waltzes because of its fast rhythm and absence of much choreography: it has only nine figures.

Slow Foxtrot

Slow fox is the dance which was born in 20th century in USA and was called so in honor of American musical and vaudeville dancer Harry Fox. The Foxtrot was introduced in Europe just before World War 1, and it was a passion dance with slow and quick movements. The European dance teachers were not enthusiastic about the "wild" character of the Foxtrot and started to polish it more. Since then, Slow Foxtrot has been a very charming and gallant dance.

Quickstep

The Quickstep is a quicker version of Foxtrot. This dance was created in the New York’s suburbs during the 1st World War and was danced by Afro-Americans at first. It’s the quickest dance of Standard which has a lot of choreography that was taken from another one American dance – Charleston. The Quickstep is a joyful and cheerful dance.

Latin American group also consists of 5 dances:

Samba

The roots of the Samba are in Africa, but most of the development is done in Brazil: you will recognize the Samba from the Carnival Parties. In 1925 the Samba was imported into Europe. This dance includes active hip movements and bouncing. It creates the atmosphere of a Brazilian carnival.

Cha Cha

Exciting Latin American dance appeared in the 1950th in Cuba. Cha-Cha-Cha is developed from the Mambo and this name was created because of a sound imitation of "shoes" from dancing Cuban women. According to its roots the Cha Cha Cha music should be played using staccato and maracas, allowing dancers to create happy, careless and a bit of a cheeky atmosphere.

Rumba

They estimate that the Rumba was brought to America by the African slaves. After World War II The rumba was further developed into the "Cuban Rumba». This dance is the slowest of Latin American dances which represents feelings between man and woman. It includes long and sensual jesters full of love.

Paso Doble

The Paso Doble is the only Latin Dance that doesn’t come from the Afro-American culture; the roots of the Paso Doble are in Spain. It’s a dance of Spanish gypsies. It has features of Corrida and Flamenco where the man is playing the role of matador and the women – his cloak. It’s a dance full of passion.

Jive

Jive is a rhythmic and swinging dance which was influenced by Rock&Roll, Boogie and African/American Swing. It was created in New York, USA in the 1940th. It's the fastest dance in Latin American program and always danced in the end to show that tiredness can't stop dancers from dancing.

Competitions commonly include events that group dancers by age, experience, or both.


Me as a kid :)

 

juvenile (less 12yrs)
junior (12-16yrs)

youth (16-19yrs)

adult

senior I (Over 35yrs)

senior II (Over 45yrs)

senior III (Over 50yrs)

Each group has its own specific rules connected with costumes, dances and number of elements. For example, juveniles don’t dance rumba, paso doble and slow foxtrot which are difficult for such young dancers because of showing emotions, characterizing these dances, and complicated choreography. Juveniles are allowed to dance only in one costume for both Standart and Latin American and it mustn’t be much opened.

From juniors to seniors dancers may dance all dances. Juniors also have some restrictions in costumes: boys aren't allowed to wear tailcoats and girls must dances in dresses without stones. Since youth dancers follow the full dress code.

Of course, to understand what ballroom dancing is it's not enough to describe it in words. So I prepared videos! I chose my two favorite dances in each style - Rumba and Slow Foxtrot and found them performed by my favorite couple. They are juniors, but they have already been called "dancing wonders". Multiple World Champions in both styles among juniors and I'm so proud that they are Russian! Meet these two incredible persons: Sergey Rozhkov and Marina Zaharova.

 

 

"Dance is the mother of the arts.
Music and poetry exist in time;
painting and architecture in space.
But the dance lives at once in time and space."
     ~ Curt Sachs (A German-born but American-domiciled musicologist. He was one of the founders of modern organology (the study of musical instruments)