History of ballroom dancing. Types of modern dances

Ballroom dance as an art form, sport or active leisure continues to be of interest to many people from different countries and nationalities. Exists ballroom dancing very many, but only 10 of them have gained worldwide popularity. These dances are part of the international dance program with the same requirements for their implementation.

See how many of the dances below are familiar to you.

Slow waltz

Waltz is the most airy and light ballroom dance due to the sliding, belonging to the European group of dances. The dance is characterized by long, flowing movements, continuous turns, as well as ups and downs. The dance is very graceful and elegant, from the outside it seems that the dancers move easily on the floor, almost effortlessly.

viennese waltz

This is a fast European ballroom dance with a subtle rise and fall. A simple and elegant rotary movement characterizes viennese waltz. This dance, according to most students dance schools, is considered one of the most difficult dances to learn.

Tango is considered one of the most exciting ballroom dances in Europe. This sensual dance originated in Latin America in the first half of the twentieth century.

Slow Foxtrot

Foxtrot is very similar to slow waltz, as many waltz figures are performed in it. The main difference is in the rhythm. The main figures are danced in a "slow fast fast" rhythm. The nature of the steps is sliding and smooth, with ups and downs, like a waltz. Dance from the European program.

Quickstep

The quickstep is a fast version of the slow foxtrot. It is a very fun and rhythmic dance, consisting of very fast steps, syncopated rhythms and runs. Quickstep is fun to watch simple figures not difficult to perform. Therefore, acquaintance with ballroom dancing begins with it. The same applies to European ballroom dancing.

Samba, as one of the most famous Brazilian dances, is popular with young people and the older generation. Samba can be danced alone or in pairs.

Cha cha cha is one of five Latin American dance groups. It is a lively, flirtatious dance filled with passion and energy. Classic “ Cuban movements” give cha cha cha dance its own unique style. Partners work in a coordinated and synchronous manner, trying to perform each movement clearly and beautifully.

According to most, rumba is the most romantic and most sensual dance of the entire group of Latin American dances. Due to its ancient origins, this dance is often referred to as the "grandfather of Latin American dances".

paso doble

Paso Doble is considered one of the most temperamental and lively ballroom dances of the Latin American program, created sometime in the south of France. This is a kind of fusion of music, dramaturgy and movements of the Spanish bullfight.

"Dance is your pulse, your heartbeat, your breath. It is the rhythm of your life. It is an expression in time and in motion, in happiness, joy, sadness and envy."

Jacques de Ambois

Dancing has fascinated me since childhood. Also in kindergarten I participated in all dance performances at matinees. A serious acquaintance with dancing began at school thanks to our teacher Mamonova Elena Eduardovna and the subject "Rhythm". Elena Eduardovna tried to teach us different directions in dance, she always had a lot of ideas for productions, which we implemented with pleasure. I have been dancing for about 8 years and I always remember this time with joy.

My dance classes are more of a hobby than a serious job. In our small team, the task was not to take prizes in competitions, since we were not professionals, but amateurs. We were invited to participate in various city and district events and, of course, performances at all school holidays. Someone was dancing for the sake of victories, medals and awards, and I - because I really liked it. Dancing taught me a lot - it's teamwork, discipline, hard work. After all, it only seems that this type of art does not require much effort, but in fact it is not!

History of ballroom dancing

The term "ballroom dance" comes from the word ball, which in turn comes from the Latin word ballare which means "to dance". In the past, ballroom dancing was like " social dance"for the privileged, turning as a result into" folk dances"for various segments of the population and classes. Gradually, of course, all these boundaries were erased.

The term "ballroom" refers to paired non-professional secular dances that arose in medieval Europe. Ballroom dancing in the process of evolution changed very much - and each subsequent era of European history - the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, classicism, romanticism - introduced new nuances and details. Each era gave rise to a kind of dance complex. Throughout the European cultural development elements of the most diverse ethnic groups and sources, as well as elements from the professional dance world.

The main backbone of ballroom dancing of the twentieth century was formed on the basis of European dance, in which turn of XIX- XX centuries breathed new life African and Latin American musical and dance culture. The vast majority of modern ballroom dancing has African "roots", already well disguised by the technical processing of the European dance school.

In the 1920s in England, a special Council for Ballroom Dancing emerged under the Imperial Society of Dance Teachers. English specialists standardized all the dances known by that time - waltz, fast and slow foxtrot, tango. This is how competitive dances arose, and since then ballroom dancing has been divided into two areas - sports and social dance. In the 1930s and 1950s, the number of standard ballroom dances increased due to the fact that five Latin American dances were added to them (in this order: rumba, samba, jive, paso doble, cha-cha-cha).

Now by sports dancing competitions are held. Three programs have been formed: European, Latin American and the so-called "ten", which includes all ten dances. Amateur world championships are held under the auspices of the IDSF, and professional - under the auspices of the English dance organizations. The most prestigious in the world continue to be English competitions, in particular, the UK Open. In the United States of America, a peculiar national version of both some ballroom dances and competitions in them is preserved.

All ballroom dances are in pairs. The couple is made up of a gentleman and a lady, dancing in compliance with the points of contact. In the European program this contact is closer. It persists throughout the dance. In the Latin American program, contact is freer, most often carried out due to joined hands, and sometimes it can either be lost altogether or strengthened due to tension during the execution of figures. Since the performance of ballroom dancing requires certain skills and training, their popularity in society has declined over time. The introduction of the twist in the 1960s marked the end of partner dancing. Dances such as waltz, tango, foxtrot, etc. actually ceased to serve for mass entertainment. In the history of ballroom dancing began new round.

Samba

Year of appearance: 1956

Time signature: 2/4

Tempo: 48-52 beats per minute, fast

Origin of dance: Brazil

Accents: a characteristic feature of samba - vertical swaying (bounce), fundamentally distinguishes samba from other ballroom dances, primarily with an accentuated downward movement.

Character: cheerful, incendiary with an element of light flirting. The pulsating rhythm is complicated by the quality (springy) feeling of the bounce and the work of the hips. Particularly spectacular when combined with plasticity and unexpected, but "soft" syncopation (intermittent movement).

The history of samba is the story of the fusion of African dances that came to Brazil with slaves from the Congo and Angola, with Spanish and Portuguese dances brought from Europe by the conquerors. South America. In the 16th century, the Portuguese brought with them from Angola and the Congo to Brazil many slaves who brought dances such as Catarete, Embolada and Batuque from Africa. These dances were considered very sinful in Europe, because during the dance the dancers touched their navels (namely, their navels, not their stomachs - the Inquisition was then very strict and intellectually developed).

Embolada - a dance depicting a cow with balls on its horns for safety, the word "embolada" in Brazil is now synonymous with the word "stupid". The Batuque was so popular that King Manuel I of Spain issued a law banning the dance. It is a circle dance with Charleston-like steps, with a couple dancing in the center of the circle. A complex dance formed by combining the movements of these dances with additional swings of the body and hips was called Lundu in the 1830s. Later, steps taken by participants in the carnival in Rio (progressive, loki, etc.) were introduced into the dance, which were called Copacabana (the name of the beach near Rio de Janeiro). Gradually high society Rio de Janeiro also began to dance this dance, although it was changed to allow dancing in a closed dance position (which was then considered the only possible and correct one). The dance was then called the Zemba Queca, and was described in 1885 as "a graceful Brazilian dance".

The origin of the name "Samba" is unclear, although "Zambo" means "child of a Negro and a local (Brazilian) woman" (mulatto). The dance was later merged with Maxixe. This is a Brazilian circle dance, described as Two Step. Maxixe was known in the USA at the beginning of the twentieth century. The Maxixe became popular in Europe after a show in Paris in 1905. It was danced like polka steps to the music of the Cuban Habanera. Now in samba there is a maxixe movement, consisting of a chasse and a point (chasse and point).

A version of the samba called Carioca (from Rio de Janeiro) became known in the UK in 1934. It was performed by Fred Astaire in the movie Flying Down to Rio. In the US, Carioca appeared in 1938, its popularity peaked in 1941, after the performance of Carmen Miranda in feature films, especially in the movie "That Night in Rio de Janeiro" ("That Night in Rio"). Increased attention to samba in Europe began in the 1950s, when Princess Margaret, who played a leading role in British society, became interested in it. Samba was standardized for international performance by Pierre Lavelle in 1956.

Dance in existing modern form still has figures with different rhythms, conveying the multifaceted origins of the dance, for example, the Boto Fogo is performed in rhythm - "quarter of the account", and the right rolls (Natural Rolls) in a simpler - in "half rhythm". The hips are brought out between counts, the exit has a special name - "samba tic", the weight is in front, most steps are done from the toe. Samba is often called the "South American waltz", samba rhythms are very popular and easily modified, forming new dances - lambada, macarena. Various options sambas - from bayon (Baion or Bajao) to Marcha are danced at the carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

Paso Doble (Paso Double)

Year of appearance: 1920

Time signature: 2/4

Tempo: fast

Origin of dance: Spain

Accents: 3 musical accents corresponding to the 3rd partial form of Paso Doble: 1 - 4 and a half and 6 and a half eights; 2- 8 and a half eights; 3- repeat of the 1st part

Character: emotionally explosive, heroic dance, where the plot resembles a variety of bullfighting plots with the participation of a bullfighter, a bull and even a cloak. Special setting of the body, hands, head. An absolutely incredible image male character.

This is the dance of the Spanish gypsies. A dramatic French-Spanish Flamenco style march, where a man portrays a matador (brave man) in a bullfight, a lady depicts his cape or bull, as the case may be. This dance focuses on creating the matador's body shape with the addition of Flamenco dance moves in the arms, elbows, wrists and fingers. The feet, or rather the heels, are used to create the correct rhythmic interpretation. The Paso Doble is the most difficult dance in the Latin American program.

Paso Doble is the only one latin dance unrelated to African culture. Paso Doble roots in Spain. The name "paso doble" in Spanish means "double step" and possibly comes from "Paso a Dos", which means a dance for two. It also refers to the characteristic steps of the march, which can be considered "1, 2 steps" to the right and the same number to the left. Paso doble movements are opposed to the age-old Spanish steps that were customary to perform on every musical beat only one by one.

Dancing is one of the most amazing forms of artistry. They make it possible to be in unity with your body and soul, as well as to be content with the newfound freedom. In dance, a person can show all his feelings, emotions, love, passion. This kind of art conveys to the audience the full enthusiasm of the artist and composer, all activities and even hidden light.

Modern dance is the contemplation of the splendor of the surroundings and the Forces of movements during the dance literally enchant and can penetrate into the depths of the heart, since only here is stored the greatest happiness for humanity - the absolute experience of love. After all, love, no doubt, does wonders!

Types of modern dances

Such dances are simply born for those people who cannot imagine their existence without the rhythms of today's music, who are an ardent admirer of various discos and parties. And for those who wish to achieve the perfection of their body. You can master the skill of beautiful performance in the styles of such dances as:

• Hipe - connection in the dance of different people.
• Disko.
• Hip-hop - small jumps.
• Slide man - moon steps.
• house.
• Plastic - plastic movements.
• X-D is a program of modern club styles for youth.
• Break - floor dance.
• Club dance is a club performance that contains many basic movements from different styles.

We need to try and not be afraid

Dance is life. Only in this kind of art all the potentials open up. Dance is not only a sequence of automatic body movements, it is, first of all, a reflection of the soul and a demonstration of temperament. In the dance, a person shows his small world and gives the subconscious a chance to express itself.

There are people who are ashamed of their movements. In particular, this applies to persons. But children feel confident in the dance, and they can do everything the first time. They are not afraid of what may look ridiculous or funny. After all, dancing is also natural.

Benefit for health

Classes of any kind of dance have a positive effect on human health. They produce plastic, strengthen all types muscle mass, develop coordination of movements and create a good posture. In addition, dance lessons give determination, allow you to temper the will, which is of great importance in today's difficult world. Dancing is the ideal vehicle for your own spiritual and physical development. They help relieve stress and help overcome depression. No wonder psychologists advise dance group physiotherapy.

Dancing for slimness

Ballroom dancing is perhaps the most beautiful and plastic sports variety. it real look sports, regardless of what is called dancing. Such a sport requires a lot of energy and effort. Competitions in various competitions and championships keep dancers in harmony and tone, prepare them for self-control and stamina, develop confidence in victory and strength of character. At the same time it is charming and beautiful art.

Watching a dancing couple is a real pleasure. Dance is life that can be shown during performance. It's also a book that you can't wait to read, it's also music that draws you in and takes you deep into the world of dreams and dreams. Ballroom dance is a performance in which only two artists are involved - a woman and a man. The performance conveys the experiences, emotions and relationships of the couple. And so it is always in demand and modern.

Varieties of ballroom dancing

A necessary accessory for this type of dance is the parquet floor. Only on such a floor polished to a mirror finish are the smooth movements of the dancers possible. It should be noted that parquet is very slippery and will require certain skills and experience. It is sometimes difficult for a beginner to hold on and not lose balance during each step.

Ballroom dancing championships contain two types of disciplines:

• Latin American dances ("latina") - rumba, samba, jive, cha-cha-cha, paso doble;
• European dances - slow and Viennese waltz, tango, quickstep (fast foxtrot) and slow foxtrot.

slow dancing

This type of dance was valued at all times, was popular at any party, prom or wedding. Under it, as a rule, good and calm music is put, gentlemen choose their partners to slowly spin in the movement of pleasant sensations. But it is not always the men who are invited to dance. After all, there is also a white dance. This is when the ladies themselves choose their partners.

It is not always easy for a representative of the weaker sex to take the first step - to approach and invite young man dance. But a slow dance can be an opportunity to start a conversation and get to know each other better. The main thing is not to be too annoying, but it is better to imagine yourself slightly indifferent and not show your passion. Ideally, present your proposal in such a way that it does not turn out to be uncompromising. And, perhaps, then the white dance can turn into a further family life for the partners.

Movement, dancing - this is health and a beautiful body!

This art form is very useful occupation for body slimness and body health. What results can be achieved with:

• strengthen the lower muscles;
• improve coordination of movements;
• form an even posture and;
• put away excess weight and correct the figure;
• relieve stress and learn to cope with depression;
• develop muscle plasticity and relieve them of cramps;
• be able to keep your body in good shape.

In this combination, all the central muscles of the body are worked out, there is no need to perform monotonous, uninteresting body movements, as during ordinary exercises. All that needs to be done is to turn on rhythmic music and enjoy the movements of the dance.

First, a five-minute kneading should be done, making the pelvis, arms, body and head. Then do some squats and bends. Now that the body has warmed up, you can try to learn some common dance moves. Ideally, they should be performed in front of a mirror. large sizes to control the infallibility of dance steps.

Newlyweds dance

The first dance is one of the most important and touching components of a wedding celebration for young people. It brings back memories of the first meeting, of a tender kiss and romantic evenings that the newlyweds had before the wedding. And just with the dance of the newlyweds, the entertainment program at the wedding party begins.

Music is usually ordered by the bride and groom. As a rule, this is “their melody”, which makes it possible to remember something wonderful that happened to them earlier. Which direction of the first dance - a waltz or an incendiary samba, energetic rock and roll or a stormy foxtrot, is chosen only by spouses.

There is only one important condition - the dance should not be ordinary, boring stomping of feet or ridiculous and ridiculous body movements. After all, dancing is the opening of the soul, a manifestation of looseness and freedom of action on any entertainment event. And that's why young people often go to the wedding before the wedding. dance groups to learn some unusual movements, so that their first dance will be remembered by them for a lifetime.

Having heard the expression "ballroom dancing", many will begin to imagine girls in beautiful puffy dresses with rings, men in black tailcoats, classical music. This is all for the reason that the very word “ball” is associated with royal receptions, which we read about in fairy tales in our distant childhood. For example, in Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty.

What is this dance?

Dance is a kind of creativity in which characters and characters are created through various movements of the body. artistic images. Dance is very closely related to music. It is their common interaction that emotionally affects the viewer.

In Russian, the word "dance" came from French (ballare - "to dance"). Ballroom dancing has its features:

• They are performed by two people.
• The couple consists of a man and a woman, they move, observing the points of contact.

This direction has its own history, which has made it popular both as a new type of recreation and a new sport in which competitions are held.

A bit of history

Ballroom is called non-professional pair dances. They take their history from medieval Europe. They have changed a lot in a few hundred years. All eras have contributed something of their own.

Twentieth century dances are a continuation European style. Most of the directions that have survived to this day are of African origin, just not in pure, but with the supplemented technique of the European school.

In the 20s of the last century, a specially created Council of Teachers brought to a single standard all the dances popular at that time, namely the waltz, foxtrot and tango. Thus, a dance competition was formed in two directions: sports and social dance. In the period from the 30s to the 50s of the last century, the number of standard ballroom dances grew due to the addition of several areas of the Latin American school: rumba, samba, jive, paso doble, cha-cha-cha.

On the this moment there are three competitive programs: Latin American, European and ten, it includes all ten directions.

European program

Let's analyze each of the three dances in detail.

• Slow waltz - anyone can learn to dance this dance. It is danced at discos, and at graduations, and at balls. Almost every composer has a wonderful waltz melody that everyone knows.
• Tango is very diverse and passionate dance. It is based on the ancient movements of the inhabitants of Africa. He came to Europe with touring artists. The first time he was danced in Paris, and then he went around the world.
• Foxtrot is a "weightless" dance. Its feature is the ease of steps. It is in this dance that the couple becomes one. He appeared in America in 1912. This dance reached its peak of popularity after the end of World War II.

Latin American program

• Samba is a dance that originated in Brazil. It was distributed by ten people who danced it at Brazilian carnivals. Today, samba is danced everywhere: both at international competitions and on modest dance floors.
• Cha-cha-cha is an incendiary Cuban dance. The name comes from the sound that occurs when you touch the floor while dancing.
• Rumba is a very emotional ballroom dance. This is just a mixture of feelings and emotions that will not leave anyone indifferent from the audience.
• Paso Doble is a dance that tells about the struggle in all spheres of life: love, life, work, and also personifies the confrontation of the individual. The Spanish origin is reflected in the aggression and emotionality of this dance.
• Jive is a dance for trained couples. A striking difference from other areas is the presence of sharp elements of choreography.

How is the competitive dance evaluated?

To give a couple a mark, the judges evaluate the following parameters:

• Rhythm is the most important criterion. If a couple does not hear the music and dances out of place, then they immediately put the lowest score and do not look at other characteristics.
• position in pairs. It should give elegance, make the dribbling easier.
• Line - stretching the entire body from the crown to the fingertips. beautiful lines increase the figures in volume.
• Frame - a fixed position of the hands in a closed dance. The line consisting of the hands of the partners must be straight along the entire length.
• Balance. There are only two balances: central and neutral. With a central balance, the weight of the body is distributed on both legs, with a neutral balance - on one. In general, any dance consists of transitions from one balance to another. If they are not observed, then the dance will be rough, heavy.
• Musicality. All movements should correspond to the atmosphere of ballroom dance music - focus on strong points, work on weak ones.
• Dynamics. Movement on the parquet should be quite active. This is especially noticeable in the European program. If, for example, the step length of the couple is longer than that of the rivals, then they will immediately attract the attention of spectators and judges.
• Performance. The couple should dance with a show of emotion, and not think about which element is next.
• Energy. The energy of the dance must be controlled. If it is directed correctly, then you can get all the attention of the audience and judges, and then they will definitely vote for your couple.

What qualities should a dancer have?

Previously, dancing was considered creativity and individual self-expression. Today, ballroom dancing is independent view sports. In order for a dancer to master the load that is present in all dances, he needs to have a number of certain qualities.

1. Physical strength. Ballroom dancing has many different lifts and other complex elements where strength is required.
2. coordination and flexibility. For performance various figures and maneuvering on the parquet, these qualities are indispensable. Basketball players, soccer players, and gymnasts also have these traits.
3. Endurance. For the entire time of the competition, the dancer is required to perform in five rounds. The dance in each round lasts two minutes. For one two-minute dance, the muscles of the athletes are tensed in the same way as cyclists and runners on average distances.
4. Grace. Smoothness of movement in dancing, as well as in rhythmic gymnastics, is one of the important components of success.
5. Team spirit and discipline. A dance team may consist of two or sixteen people. The requirements for eight pairs, which still have to navigate in space relative to each other without problems, are very high.
6. Musicality. All participants must have an understanding of music, like gymnasts.

Ballroom dancing for children

Many parents are considering whether to send their children to dance. To finally decide, you should know about the benefits of this lesson:

• Muscle strengthening.
• Increased endurance.
• Formation of correct posture.
• Motor skills are trained.
• A sense of rhythm develops.
• Ability to live in society and interact with other people.
• Development of intelligence and curiosity.
• Getting rid of complexes and fears.
• Ballroom dancing for girls will help improve stretching.
• The level of self-confidence increases.

When should classes start?

After decision Parents often ask themselves the question, at what age should they send their child to classes? Experts recommend starting classes at 6-7 years old. But still, you should take into account the individual characteristics of your child.

On the other hand, children who started classes before the age of seven are more likely to succeed, and on the other hand, they get tired more often, their motor skills are not developed, it is more difficult for them to perceive information from teachers.

If you still want to give more early age then ask yourself a few questions:

1. Will the child be able to understand and accurately follow all the instructions of the teacher?
2. Will he be able to pay attention to details?
3. Will he be able to exercise stress given in class?
4. Does your child have a desire to learn to dance? Or is it your whim?
5. Does he have an ear for music?

If you answered yes to most of the questions, then feel free to take your baby to classes, you are ready for this.

Requirements for the outfit of little dancers

So, you decided to send your child to dance. You have your first competition ahead of you, it's time to sew a stage outfit.

Ballroom dance dresses for girls must comply with the most stringent rules:

• The color of clothing should be solid, but in no case flesh.
• Sleeve options: short, long or ¾, a flashlight is also allowed. Cuts are not allowed.
• Neck or neckline: semicircle, triangle or square. It is possible to sew a stand-up collar.
• The skirt should be loose-fitting and the same length front and back. The length of the skirt should not exceed 10 cm from the knee.
• There should be no laces, frills, applications and other additions.
• It is not allowed to use frills, ribbons and fishing lines to process the hem of the skirt.
• The material from which the dress is made should not be transparent, guipure, iridescent, etc. Only thick fabric is allowed.

There are also requirements for shoes:

• The maximum heel height is 3.5 cm.
• The heel should be wide and stable.
• Shoes can be of any material and color. Ebbs under metal are allowed.
• Shoes should not have buckles, rhinestones, stones, and so on.
• For shoes, you can pick up socks of any color or flesh-colored tights. You can not wear tights in a grid or with glitter elements, patterns, etc.

Shoes and dresses for ballroom dancing must comply with a number of strictly regulated rules, not following which, the artist may be disqualified.

Main items of expenditure

Sports ballroom dancing is one of the most costly sports. In addition to paying for classes, there are other expenses. Consider them:

1. Paying for a circle is the first upcoming expense.
2. Outfit for participation in competitions and concerts.
3. Girls will need shoes with and without heels for training.
4. Two sets of workout clothes. Boys will need to buy trousers and shirts, and girls - skirts and tops.

It is important to remember that performance outfits are made to order, and custom tailoring involves additional expenses.

If the competition is not held in your city, then you also need to include travel expenses, accommodation and meals, and a fee for participating in the tournament.

How to choose a school?

In order to correctly determine the school and not regret the choice in the future, you need to find out as much information about it as possible. Stick to the following algorithm:

• Find out as much as you can about the teaching staff. Ask where the teachers studied, if they have diplomas special education.
• Find out if they have awards, if they have been mentioned in newspapers or on the Internet.
• Do school students participate in ballroom dancing tournaments, are there famous alumni.
• Collect the opinions of the parents of the students about the school, find out the advantages and disadvantages.
• visit day open doors. So you will see the learning process from the inside, you can choose the most suitable program.
• See how the classes are equipped with inventory, if there is everything you need.
• Check out the price. Remember that in good schools prices are big.

Many cities have ballroom dancing schools. Moscow, of course, is the leader in terms of the number of schools, and there are plenty to choose from. Therefore, if you live in the capital, walk around these institutions, collect information about them. When choosing, you must be sure that the school suits you in all respects.

Ballroom dancing is not just dancing, it is a whole art, and at the same time science, sport, passion, in a word - a whole life embodied in movement. Also, ballroom dancing is not in vain called sports - it is a colossal workout for all the muscles of the body, as well as a correct and healthy cardiological load.

During the dance, the couple communicates with each other and with the audience with body language, which can express both a huge message of positive energy, and a gentle, peaceful, perhaps even dreary mood - an anguish of the soul, and this depends on the type of ballroom dance.

At the moment, such areas as, for example, bachata or solo latina for girls are often considered types of ballroom dance, but this is not entirely correct. The traditional ballroom dance program (they are necessarily paired) includes ten dances, divided into a European direction or program (otherwise called “standard”) and Latin American (“latina”). So, what are the types of ballroom dancing - let's start in order.

Dance King - Waltz

The most noble and solemn dance classical program- slow waltz. This direction of the waltz originated at the beginning of the last century and has not undergone any changes since then. The dance has a very measured movement in three counts, like all waltz types of ballroom dancing. , and accompanied by lyrical music.

There is another waltz in the standard program - Viennese, which is distinguished by an abundance of rotations for quite a long time. high speed and dances to a fast melody, thereby creating simply enchanting sensations for the audience.

Other elements of the European program

Filled with the breath of Argentine passion, tango is another element of the European program, very sensual, combining fast and slow movements. All types of ballroom dancing assign a dominant role to the partner, but it is tango that especially focuses on this.

The standard program also includes a slow foxtrot (dance to the count of up to 4), which is distinguished by a moderate pace with some transitions from slow and fast, and quickstep. The latter is the most mischievous dance of the entire program, based on jumps, quick turns. The task of the dancer is to combine these sharp movements with smooth transitions to very energetic music.

Dancing to incendiary Latin American rhythms

The types of ballroom dances of the Latin program are, firstly, no less exciting than tango, but at the same time, a very gentle dance - rumba.

The rhythm is slow, with an emphasis on even slower beats. Secondly, the exact opposite of rumba is jive, incredibly positive and very fast, the most modern and constantly acquiring new movements.

The carefree Latin American dance cha-cha-cha is the most amazing invention of mankind, it is characterized by movements of the hips and legs that cannot be confused with anything, and a very interesting manner of counting (“cha-cha-1-2-3”).

Akin to the incendiary cha-cha-cha, the samba dance, which can be both quite slow and incredibly fast, so much so that the dancers have to show the highest level of skill.

Samba is based on "spring" movements of the legs, combined with smooth movements of the hips. And of course, both samba and other types of ballroom dances of the Latin program are a clear rhythm and frantic energy that extends to the dancers themselves and the audience, even if the dance is performed by non-professionals.