PE 206

BALLROOM DANCES

DANCE

 Dance, patterned and rhythmic bodily movements, usually performed to music, that serve as a form of
communication or expression.

 Dance is an art form characterized by use of the human body as a vehicle of expression.

 Dance has been described as “an exciting and vibrant art which can be used in the educational setting
to assist the growth of the students and to unify the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of the
human being.” (Dance Directions, 1988). Dance is immediately accessible for most people—no special
equipment is needed, just the ability to move.

DANCING

 is actually doing it (actual performance). This is a means of expressing one’s emotions through
movement disciplined by rhythm.

 It is an act of moving rhythmically and expressively to an accompaniment. The word dancing came
from an old German word “danson” which means “to stretch”. Dancing is a verb; dance is a noun.

SIGNIFICANCE OF DANCE EDUCATION

 Dancing is a part of dynamic cultural expression of all societies, and every individual has potential
ability to dance.

 The inclusion of dancing in the physical education programs of school simply to:

 expose everyone, especially the youth to the many benefits of learning dance.

 engage students in artistic experiences through the processes of creation, performance and
response.

1. Dancing promotes personality development since people involved in dance improve their:

 Grace and rhythm

 Posture and biomechanics
 Discipline
 Dedication, motivation and determination
 Self-esteem and confidence
 Self-actualization
 Values of cooperation, resourcefulness, obedience and respect

2. Dancing improves emotional, mental, social and physical well-being;

3. Dancing provides a happy, fulfilled and satisfying life.

 4. Dancing improves reflexes and awareness of one’s own body and the immediate environment; and

5. Dancing educates oneself and the audience during the performance of a dance.

Dance education programs include opportunities for the development of:

1. Critical thinking and analytical skills;

2. Cooperation and teamwork;
3. Self-expression and teamwork;
4. Organization and problem solving;
5. Cultural literacy; and
6. Communicating emotions through movement.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF DANCING

Dancing can be a way to stay fit for people of all ages, shapes and sizes. It has a wide range of physical and
mental benefits including:

1. improved condition of your heart and lungs

2. increased muscular strength, endurance and motor fitness
3. improved muscle tone and strength
4. weight management
5. stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis
6. better coordination, agility and flexibility
7. improved balance and spatial awareness
8. increased physical confidence
9. improved mental functioning

REASON WHY PEOPLE DANCE

1. enjoyment
2. profession
3. ritual, praise and worship of God
4. socialization

CLASSIFICATION OF SOCIAL DANCES

1. Social Dance Mixer

2. Square Dance
3. Ballroom Dance

BALLROOM DANCING
 Ballroom Dancing is a part of Physical Education programs. It is a form of social dancing whose primary
purpose is to widen one’s social horizon, for recreation, entertainment, and fitness. It is widely enjoyed not only
in gatherings but also on stage, in film, and on television. People nowadays do ballroom dancing as a form of
exercise and personal enjoyment. Competitive dancing, more popularly known as Dance Sport, helped revive
interest in ballroom dancing. Dance sports encompasses both standard dances as well as Latin dances and has
been recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as an official sport Cha cha cha, Tango, Waltz,
and Swing are some of the popular ballroom dances.

THE HISTORY OF BALLROOM DANCE

The term ballroom dancing is derived from the word ball that originated from the Latin word ballare which
means “to dance”. It applies to any of several dances in which two individuals, a “leader” and a “follower”, dance
with physical contact through their upper and lower bodies, or simply their arms, depending on the particular
variety of dance. This physical contact tends to be optional. Dancers can move freely and just follow the rhythmic
pattern present in the music.

In the latter part of the 19th century, ballroom dancing became an integral part of physical education in American
public and in private schools. It continues to be taught in dancing schools in England.

RULES AND GUIDELINES OF BALLROOM DANCE

SOCIAL ETTIQUETTE
Any set of rules as a guide to help people become aware of the common courtesies and to help develop a
consciousness of social responsibility.

It is also a set of guidelines that help you navigate the social dimensions of dancing. Why do you care about
dance etiquette? Because it is essential for you to maximize how to go about the process of social dancing and
have a happy dancing experience.

1. A lady always accepts graciously a gentleman’s to dance unless she has a very good excuse, in which case
she does not accept an invitation from another gentlemen for the same dance.

2. A gentleman and a lady accepts graciously with any partner with whom he or she maybe paired in a mixer.
If they do not wish to cooperate, they should sit out during the mixer.

3. A gentleman should precede the lady when the couple makes its way out to the dance floor.

4. Couples dance freely in a counter-clockwise direction and do not cut or go to the wrong direction against
traffic.

5. It is not acceptable to dance fast partners, which require extra space when you are in a crowded dance
floor.

6. A gentleman always thanks a lady after dancing.

7. A lady may excuse herself after two successive dance in order to allow the gentleman to take another
partner.
8. It is not acceptable to sing while dancing or to show off in any way.

9. It is not good taste to smoke or chew gum on the dance floor.

10. It is not good taste to teach or ask partner to teach new steps on the dance floor.
How should you behave and perform in a certain social dancing activity? The answer is simple. You must practice
etiquette in dancing to help you go bout successfully with the social dimensions of dancing. Why do you care
about dance etiquette? Because this will not just give you a fruitful dancing experience but will also provide with
a widened social network. The following aspects of social dancing should always be considered:

WHAT TO WEAR
Dancing has its own culture. In social dance and dance mixers, the more formal the dance, the more formal
the outfit.

Appropriate Attire

ATTIRE GENTELEMEN LADIES

Formal Tailcoat, Tuxedo Coat, Ball Gown, Evening Gown,

Regular Coat, Bow Tie or
Regular Necktie, Black
Trouser
Semi-Formal Dress Shirt and Tie, Vest or
Sweater that shows the Tie
Dress Casual Solid Color T-shirts,
(Practices, Workshops, Turtleneck, Polo Shirt, Cotton
Dance Lessons) Slacks
Latin Button-up shirt, Solid T-shirt,
Turtleneck, Dress Slacks,
Bright Colorful Outfits are
Accepted
Dinner Gown, Cocktail Gown
Dinner Dresses, Flowing
Pants
Anything that displays a
conservative, toned-down
appearance
Sexy Outfits and Long Slits
skirts, Low Necklines and
Exposed Midriffs are Popular

Inappropriate Attire

DON’Ts IN TERMS OF OUTFITS & DANCE SHOES

x Do not wear sneaker. Always wear dance shoes.
x Avoid sleeveless shirts and strapped dresses.
x Avoid shaggy, baggy, low armpit upper shirt.
x Avoid accessories like big rings, watches, brooches, loose/long necklace and big belt buckles.
x Long hair should be put up or tied in a pony tail.

Personal Grooming Before the Dance

 Shower and use deodorant

 Brush your teeth and use mouthwash/ breath mint
 Abstain from foods that produces strong odor
 Don’t smoke, it causes foul mouth and clothing odor
Personal Grooming During the Dance

 Check your grooming periodically

 Freshen up and towel off periodically in the bathroom
 Carrying an extra shirt is advisable for men in case they need to change

DANCE FLOOR BEHAVIOR

On the Dance Floor

 Line of Direction (Counter clockwise)

 While on the Floor (Avoid colliding with other pairs)
 Be Polite (Thank or Compliment your Partner)
 Accompany your Partner back to her Seat

No- Fault Dancing

 Never blame a partner for missed execution of figures

 Dance to the level of your partner
 The show must go on, say “sorry” to your partner if something went wrong

Demeanor

 Be personable, smile and make eye contact with partner.

 Project a positive image on the dance floor even if it’s not your personal style.
 If you don’t know the dance, be honest, refuse promptly if asked to dance.
 No teaching on the dance floor. It may insult your partner.
 Do not cut other dancers off.

POSTURE IN RELATION TO DANCE

1. Keep yourself up right.

2. Keep yourself a moving weight.
3. Transfer weight smoothly and evenly from foot to foot without unnecessary motion of the hips from
side to side or body up and down.
4. Practice walking backward.
5. Keep your eyes off the floor or feet.
6. Relax, listen to the music and enjoy dancing.

BASIC STEPS

1. Walking step
2. Rocking step
3. Box step step
4. Cross step
5. Side step
6. Balance step
BASIC BALLROOM POSITIONS

Reverse Open Promenade Promenade Position Challenge Position

Two Hand Hold Open Facing Position Right Outside Partner Position Skater's Position
Cape (Shadow) Position Left Outside Partner
Fallaway Position Position

Closed Dance Hold One Hand Hold Open

Lower Cape Position Facing Position

Forward Open
Promenade Right Side Wrap
Hammerlock Position
 International styles of Dance sport

There are two categories of International style dancing, Standard and Latin. International Standard allows only
closed dance positions, whereas American Smooth allows closed, open and separated dance movements.

1. Latin Dance

a. Cha-cha-cha
b. Rumba
c. Samba
d. Jive
e. Paso-doble

2. Modern Standard

a. Waltz
b. Tango
c. Foxtrot
d. Viennese Waltz
e. Quickstep

Cha cha cha

The Cha cha cha is a Latin dance which originated in Cuba. The music is a combination of African and Cuban
rhythms blended into a Latin beat.

The Cha cha cha was actually derived from the Mambo. Because of the fast and jerky characteristics of the
Mambo, the audience complained and the orchestras began slowing it down. This gave birth to the Cha cha
cha which is a variation of the Mambo with Jazz and Latin rhythm. It is a flirtatious and cheeky, energetic
dance.

Its rhythm requires very small steps, a chasse, or a series of gliding steps. It is danced in 4/4 time. A count is
slow-slow-quick-quick-slow, and dancers turn while they are executing the steps. The dance requires a lot of
hip movements to make it more expressive, along with spin and dips. Although the Cha cha cha has smaller
steps, competing dancers try to elongate the movements around the floor alternately between long and
shorts steps.

RUMBA

This sensual dance is based on slow hip movement. Rumba belongs to the International Standard as well as
American Style.
 This dance is known for the beauty of the steps that are coordinated on a slow rhythm. A slow,
sensuous, romantic Latin dance which spot lights the body and features much flirtation.
SAMBA

The beautiful and energetic dance also has many forms. The steps may differ in Samba that is danced as per
Ballroom style and the traditional style Samba.
 The official dance of Brazil, this Latin dance has a tempo of about 100 beats per minute.

JIVE

Because of the popularity of the Charleston and the Lindy Hop in the African-American community, the
ballroom dance, Jive, took a lead in New York in the 1920s. Because of this, many dance studios opened in
different places across America between then and the 1990s. Its music was largely a swinging jazz.

One evening in 1927, a dance enthusiast named Shortz George Snowden, while he was watching a couple
dance, was asked by a reporter the name of the dance. He named it “Lindy Hop,” taken from the title of an
article in a newspaper held by someone on a bench next to him.

In the mid-1930s, it was renamed from a tune entitled “Jitterbug,” a bouncy six beat variant. With the
discovery of the Jitterbug, the communities began dancing it with contemporary jazz and swing music and
incorporated into it tap and jazz steps. These dances were included in the competition of the Harvest Moon
Ball in 1938.

In the late 1939s and through the 1940s, the terms Lindy Hop, jitterbug, Lindy, and Swing were
interchangeably used by the media and the people showed different reactions to the dance.

The documentation of the dance started only in the 1940s. This was made by Laure Haile, a swing dancer and
competitor, after she saw the dance of the whit community. She gave it the name Western Swing.

As the music change between 1920s and the 1990s, the Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Lindy and Swing evolved across
the U.S. with many regional styles.

These variations swing styles are used in the International Style version of the dance and are competitively
danced in the U.S. and all over the world. This was later named the Jive.

PASO DOBLE

This lively dance is also and International Latin dance style with less emphasis on the hip movement.
 The basic structure of this Latin dance is based on the sounds and movements used in Spanish
bullfights.

WALTZ

The Waltz derived its name from the German term walzen which means “to roll” or to “turn”. It is performed
fashionably by couples or partners in fast sliding or gliding movements. This dance was first popularized in
Vienna, Austria before its spread across Europe. It was more popularly known as the Weller or Spinner in the
mountainous terrains of southern Germany and Austria. Its feature as a fast sliding or gliding dance appealed
to many of the German bourgeoisie. But it met strong opposition among the purists and dancing masters in its
early years. It was the first time that men and women were seen holding each other “so closely that their face
touched,” wrote the French philosopher Montaigne in Augsburg sometime in 1580. Even then, the waltz has
outlived such dances as the polka, mazurka, and gallop, which gained prominence in the 19th century.

The rhythm of Waltz is easy, and the romantic melodies are in ¾ time. The accent is on the first beat.

TANGO

It definitely does take two to tango and this dance also belong to the American Style category.

The Tango is often considered as one of the most fascinating of all dances. The dance is also called “Baile Con
Corte,” meaning “the dance with many dramatic or artistic poses.” The Tango was first performed as a solo
dance by a woman in the early 19th century. Later it was done by couples using castanets. It was then known
as the Andalusian Tango and was considered immoral, not only because of the flirtatious skirts worn by the
female but also because of the very close full upper body contact.

Ballroom Tango originated within the lower classes of Bueno Aires, especially the “Barrio de la Ranas.” In the
1990s, the dance spread throughout Europe and was popularized in New York from 1910 to 1911. Then
entered Rodulph Valentino. He made the Tango a hit in 1921. Finally, the dance was considered respectable
even in Argentina.

There are many styles of Tango: Argentina, Americana and International. The American version is a
combination of the best parts of each.

FOXTROT

Foxtrot, as a dance style, gives a dancer flexibility to combine the slow and fast movements together.
 This social dance was named after the actor Harry Fox.

VIENNESE WALTZ

This style of Ballroom dance is based on the original form of the Waltz dance. There are many versions of this
style dance.
 This dance originated in the latter period of the 18th century. Very similar to the standard Waltz except
faster.

QUICKSTEP

This style belongs to the International Style of Ballroom dancing which originated in the 1920’s.
 This dance includes many steps with quick momentum.

Other Ballroom Dances:

1. Swing
2. Mambo
3. Reggae
4. Boogie
SWING

 The most popular social dance for couples in the USA in 1940s and 1950s.
 It is an outgrowth of Jitterbug. Partners hold both hands and do the quick steps followed by placing
weight on the ball of one foot then shifting the weight on the other.
 Swing is the newest name given to Jitterbug. Although the type of dancing originated with very young
people, the infectious gaiety of the music appeals to all ages.
 Swing step patterns lend themselves to varied interpretation.
 The swing dancing refers to partner dancing where the man literally “swings” the lady through the
series of dance pattern.

MAMBO

 Mambo is a Latin dance of Cuba which was developed in the 1940s when the music genre of the same
name became popular throughout Latin America. The original ballroom dance which emerged in Cuba
and Mexico was related to the danzón, albeit faster and less rigid.
 In the mid-1940s, bandleader devised a dance for a new form of music known as mambo music, taking
its name from the 1938 song Mambo 1980 song a charanga which had popularized a new form of
danzon known as danzon mambo. This was a syncopated, less rigid form of the danzón which allowed
the dancers to more freely express themselves during the last section, known as the mambo section.
 From Havana Pérez Prado moved his music to Mexico, where his music and the dance was adopted.
The original mambo dance was characterized by freedom and complicated foot-steps. The mambo
dance that was spearheaded by Pérez Prado and was popular in the 1940s and '50s in Cuba, Mexico,
and New York is completely different from the modern dance that New Yorkers now call "mambo" and
which is also known as salsa "on 2". The original mambo dance contains no breaking steps or basic
steps at all. The Cuban dance was not accepted by many professional dance teachers. Cuban dancers
would describe mambo as "feeling the music", in which sound and movement were merged through
the body. Professional dance teachers in the US saw this approach to dancing as "extreme",
"undisciplined", and thus deemed it necessary to standardize the dance to present it as a salable
commodity for the social and ballroom market.
 In the 1940s, Puerto Rican dancer Pedro Aguilar, known as "Cuban Pete", and his wife became popular
as the top mambo dancers of the time, dancing regularly at The Palladium in NY. "Cuban Pete" was
named "the greatest Mambo dancer ever" by Life magazine and the legendary Tito Puente. Pedro
Aguilar was nicknamed "Cuban Pete" and el cuchillo for his mambo dance style.

REGGAE
 Filipino reggae or Pinoy reggae is reggae music created in the Philippines. The country has several bands
and sound systems that play reggae and dancehall music in a style faithful to its expression in Jamaica.
Reggae in the Philippines comprises the many forms of reggae and its subgenres, and at times combining
traditional Filipino forms of music and instruments in their music.
 The provinces of Aklan (mainly Boracay Island), Quezon, Pampanga and Pangasinan, Negros Occidental
and Negros Oriental, Palawan, Surigao del Norte (mainly Siargao Island) and Marinduque, and the cities
of Manila, Cebu and Davao are some of the places that reggae has found a base, with many artists
residing in these cities and performing at local bars and clubs. The Visayas section of the Philippines has
had the largest concentration of reggae groups, with Cebu City of Central Visayas even being dubbed
"The Reggae Capital of the Philippines". In early 2007, Ziggy Marley performed at the MTV Philippines
festival, "Reggae Fest by the Bay" in Manila. Marley played with local Filipino reggae talents.[1]
BOOGIE

Boogie-woogie is a dance for couples based on free landing. The basic step is based on the traditional 1, 5 bars
basic (two walk steps and two chasse steps) but it does not have a compulsory basic step or rules that would
limit the dance performance. Improvisation is allowed. Boogie-woogie is the style of the 50’s. The dance has
certain completely free “let-it-go” feeling
Music: The dancing must go to the music. The dance is the interpretation of the music.

The Boogie-woogie has 4 beats to bar. The emphasis is on the beats 2 and 4.
1/4 1/4 3/16 1/16 1/4 3/16 1/16 ¼
1 2 3 a 4 5 a 6
It is more accurate to measure the time for 8 bars than to calculate the beats for 15 seconds.
In swing-music the phrase is 8 bars. In boogie-woogie the phrase is 12 bars.