Ballroom dancing

by amare on June 7, 2009
in Sports

More at: White Womens Laptop Totes. Ballroom dance refers to types of social dances that require two people to dance together following a few standard steps.  Ballroom dance is a derivation from the word ‘ball’ (social events attended by elites in the early 18th century), that consecutively originates from the Latin word ‘ballare’ meaning “to dance”.  The most widely found types of ballroom dance could be mentioned as Quickstep, Tango, Slow Foxtrot, Modern Waltz, Viennese Waltz and numerous forms of Latin dances.

Originating somewhere betwixt the late 18th and early 19th century in England, ballroom dance was practiced by the privileged class in parties and balls.  Gradually over time and during the 19th century, ballroom dance became a trend amongst the middle classes and the working classes who participated in event gatherings at public dance halls. 

In the nineteen hundred twenties, the reputation of ballroom dance contests rose dramatically with the result of the setting up of the Ballroom Branch of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in Nineteen twenty-four that was instrumental in standardizing the steps, music and performance of ballroom dance.  Presently ballroom dance is practiced in Europe, the Asian-Pacific and The Americas too.  It is common to find formal ballroom dance competitions, known as DanceSport, for ballroom dancers at different proficiency levels.

The various ballroom dance forms come from various settings and boast of exclusive artistic values, tempos, techniques and beats.  In spite of these discrepancies, all ballroom dance forms have common related characteristics.   

Executed by a couple (generally by a male and a female, these dances demand that they perform in a set pattern which is prominently referred to as the ‘Close Hold’.  This posture demands that the 2 people uphold 5 regions of contact, i.e. 3 hand contact spots where the male’s left hand holds the female’s right hand, the female’s left hand is placed on the male’s right upper arm and the male’s right hand is positioned below the left shoulder blade on the female’s back; 1 elbow contact spot where the female’s left elbow is positioned on the male’s right elbow and both arms are positioned in a horizontal line facilitating the easy movement; 1 chest contact spot where the right area of the chest of the male contacts the right area of the female facilitating the manifestation of feelings and sentiments betwixt the couple.  

In conclusion, ballroom dance is a fashion that will never die away given the manifestations of love, joy and pain between 2 people.  

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