Ballroom P.E

Ballroom Dance
A Brief History of Ballroom Dancing

• Ballroom dancing is a formal social dance for couples, where
one person leads and the other follows the steps.
• The word “ball” is from the Latin word “ballare”, which means dance.
• It is popular both as a recreational (social) and competitive

(dancesport) activity.
• These dances started appearing first in Italy, during the
early years of Renaissance.
Ballroom Dance
 Frame
 Body Movement

StandardMusic Latin
(smooth  Timing
dance) (rhythm dance)
Standard Ballroom Dances
• Standard ballroom dances are smooth, flowing ballroom
dances that move around the entire dance floor in a
counterclockwise movement.
• Closed frame
• Must move in contra body movement (CBM) and foot gliding.
• Standard dancing has a slow and graceful pace, where the

two partners glide across the room effortlessly with the music.
Foxtrot
• Was named after an American performer Harry Fox,
which was premiered in 1914.
• It is an elegant dance whose objective is to travel smoothly around the
dance floor.
• The time signature is 4/4 with the first and third beats accented.
• “Slow” count = 2 beats. “Quick count = 1 beat.
• Counting in beats and bars: 1 2 3 4, 2 2 3 4, 3 2 3 4, 4 2 3 4, etc.

Waltz
•Was introduced in England in 1874 but it was in 1922 that it became
as fashionable as Tango. Waltz’s steps have already undergone change
and improvements as well and as a result of this, many more variations
became possible.
• It is also considered by some as “mother of present-day dances” and
the “backbone dance” of the ballroom.
• It is a smooth, progressive dance that travels around the line of

dance, characterized by its “rise and fall” action.
Waltz
• The time signature is 3/4 with the first beat accented.
• Each step = 1 beat.
• Counting in beats and bars: 1 2 3, 2 2 3, 3 2 3, 4 2 3, etc.
Tango
• Was first danced in Europe before World War I. The word “tango” may be
an African term for “closed space” or “reserved ground,” or it may be
from the Latin verb tanguere which mean “to touch”.
• It originates from Buenos Aires (Argentina) where it was first danced in
“Barrio de Las Rana”, the ghetto of Buenos Aires.
• It is a sensual ballroom dance that originated in South America during the
early 20th century.
• The time signature is 2/4 with both beats accented.
• “Slow” count = 1 beat. “Quick” count = 1/2 beat.
• Counting in beats and bars: 1 2, 1 and 2, etc.
Quick Step
• Was developed during World War I in New York and became
popular in ballrooms. It has a common origin as that of the Foxtrot.
• It is an up-and-down, rise-and-fall swinging motion performed at a
fast pace. Music used is usually jazz or swing with a brisk tempo. It
is little faster than brisk walking, although it seems much faster for
beginners.
• The time signature is 4/4 with the first and third beats accented.
• “Slow” count = 2 beats. “Quick” count = 1 beat.
• Counting in beats and bars: 1 2 3 4, 2 2 3 4, 3 2 3 4, 4 2 3 4, etc.
Latin Ballroom Dances
•Latin ballroom dances are energetic dances which reflect the shift in rhythm of
the music being danced to.
•Latin dance has a rich cultural history rooted in the traditional dances of native
peoples of Latin America.
• The dancers in Latin dances alternate between several holds

based on the requirements of the dance.They can have an
open hold, a closed hold, a double handhold, or a single
handhold.
Latin Ballroom Dances
• Body movement for Latin dance is a mixture of Cuban motion
with hips, shifting of the knees, and upper body isolations.
• Latin dances have very different music and timing.

• Latin dances have a much faster pace, and they are fun and
lighthearted.
Cha-cha-cha
•Is a newcomer in Latin American dances with origin only in the fifties and became popular shortly after mambo was introduced.
•It is passionate, energetic, lively and a flirtatious dance.
•The time signature is 4/4 with accented beat on the first and fourth of each bar.
•Count 2 = 1 beat; Count 3 = 1 beat; Count 4 = half beat
•Counting in beats and bars: 2 3 4 and 1, etc.
Jive
• Was developed from the dance “jitterbug” from America. After
the origination of the jive dance in the United States, it slowly
spread to the European countries and in the United Kingdom.
• A lively style of dance popular especially in the 1940s and 1950s,
performed to swing music or rock and roll.
• The time signature is 4/4 with accent on the first beat, second beat,
and fourth beat of each bar.
• Count 1 = 1 beat; Count 2 = 1 beat; Count 3 = 2/4 beat; Count a =
¼ beat; Count 4 = 1 beat
• Counting in beats and bars: 1 2 3 and 4 5 and 6 etc.
Samba
• It is one of the five international Latin dances developed in
Brazil during the 19th century.
• The basic footwork features fast, three-step weight changes
with a slight knee lift, led with alternating feet. The basic
rhythm is “quick”, quick, slow, and repeat.
• The time signature is 2/4 with musical accent on the first
beat and percussive accent on the second beat.
• Counting rhythms: 1 and 2, 3 and 4, etc.
Rumba
• It originates primarily from Cuba in the sixteenth century, which
has its roots in African rhythms brought to America by the slaves.
• Considered as the sexiest of the ballroom dances which tells the
story of love and passion between a strong man and a teasing
woman.
• The time signature is 4/4 with an accent on the first beat and fourth
beat of each bar.
• Counting in beats: 2 3 4 1. Count 2 = 1 beat; Count 3 = 1 beat;
Count 4 1 = 2 beats half beat.

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Ballroom Dance

A Brief History of Ballroom Dancing

• It is popular both as a recreational (social) and competitive

• Standard dancing has a slow and graceful pace, where the

• “Slow” count = 2 beats. “Quick count = 1 beat.

• Counting in beats and bars: 1 2 3 4, 2 2 3 4, 3 2 3 4, 4 2 3 4, etc.

• It is a smooth, progressive dance that travels around the line of

• The dancers in Latin dances alternate between several holds

• Latin dances have very different music and timing.

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