March 21,2020 Lecture, STUDY AT HOME

Lecture Objective:
1. developed a more active interest in performing social dancing;
gained better understanding of the basic principles of leading and following in
ballroom dancing.
BALLROOM DANCING
Ballroom dancing began in the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe when kings and
queens were entertained by dancing performances, but it became popular with the
masses in the early 1900s.
• Originated from the Latin word “BALLARE” which means “TO DANCE”
• Applies to any one of several dances in which two individuals, a “leader” and a
“follower”, dance with physical contact.
• A form of social dancing whose primary purpose is for recreation and
entertainment.
• People nowadays do ballroom dancing as a form of exercise or personal
enjoyment.
• Also known as “Partner Dancing”
• DANCE SPORT (or Competitive Dancing) helped revive interest in ballroom
dancing.
• 19th century – Ballroom Dancing became an integral part of Physical Education in
American public and in private schools.
• A form of social dancing whose primary purpose is for recreation and
entertainment.
• People nowadays do ballroom dancing as a form of exercise or personal
enjoyment.
TYPES OF BALLROOM DANCES
1. Waltz
• From the German word “WALZEN”, which means “to roll” or “to turn”.
• First popularized in Vienna, Austria
• Popularly known as the “WELLER” or “SPINNER”.
• It is performed fashionably by couples or partners in fast sliding or gliding
movements.
• It was the first time men and women were seen holding each other “so closely
that their faces
touched” (Montaigne,1580)
• It is danced in CLOSED-HOLD POSITION
• It was the first time men and women were seen holding each other “so closely
that their faces
touched” (Montaigne,1580)
• It is characterized by its graceful movements and gracious turning.
2. Cha-Cha-cha
• A Latin dance which originated in Cuba.
• It is a fun, flirtatious and energetic dance with lots of hip movements and fancy
foot work.
• It is actually derived from Mambo.
• Dance in4 time.
• “slow-slow-quick-quick- slow”/ “2-3-4 and 1”
3. Tango
• “BAILE CON CORTE” – to dance with many dramatic or artistic poses.
• First performed as a solo dance by a woman in 19th century.
• “Andalusian Tango” – use of castanets.
• At first, it was considered immoral.
• RUDOLF VALENTINO – made the Tango a hit in 1921
• low-slow-quick-quick- slow”
Styles
• ARGENTINE TANGO – Close Embrace where the lead and follow connected chest-
to-chest.
4. Jive
• Also known in recent years as “Swing”, is a lively, energetic dance combining
quick footwork and graceful arm movements with swirls and dips.
• One evening in 1927, SHORTZ GEORGE SNOWDEN named it “LINDY HOP”.
• Mid-1930s, it was renamed “JITTERBUG”.
• LAURÉ HAILE
• 1940s, made the first documentation of the dance and named it “WESTERN
SWING”
April 2,2020 Lecture, STUDY AT HOME
Objectives
1. developed a more active interest in performing social dancing;
2. gained better understanding of the basic principles of leading and following in
ballroom dancing;
TANGO
History
Originated in Spain or morocco, it was introduced to the new world by Spanish
settlers.
Early 19th century tango was a solo dance performed by women The dance spread
throughout Europe in the 1900s
Tango was introduced to Europe at the beginning of the 20th century
Translation of tango is: to touch
Before tango bands would often be made up of flute ,violin. And guitars, or tango
might be played on a solo piano.
Occasions
• Very dramatic dance
• Middle class usually are the ones dancing it
• Danced at parties or competitions
Cultural Comparison
• The tango has many cultural influences, from Spanish to African American. It is a
very diverse dance and musically it can be reinvented in many different cultures.
Around the world, each culture does the tango a different way. In Argentina they do
a style where its called Argentine Tango, in the US it is called Ballroom Tango, and
in Uruguay it is called the Uruguayan Tango. All have different aspects to their
dances, but collectively, all are influenced by the traditional Tango.
Rhythms
• --Is created with ‘melodic’ instruments (violin, guitar, piano) rather than
percussion instruments (drums, maracas, etc.)
• --Dancers can choose between following a slower rhythm within a song or a faster
rhythm
• --Music tends to have little to no constant rhythmic patterns
• Carlos Gardel was a popular tengo artist who brought the dance to new
audiences, Especially in the US. This was because of the dance being shown in
movies and films all over. Another artist was Astor Piazzolla, who composed many
tengo style songs. He actually reinvented the sound of the tango by adding many
elements from jazz to classical music into the song.