Ma. Lea F.

Machete
BSIT 1M-G1

The History of Ballroom Dance

Ballroom dancing developed in England. However, the first authoritative knowledge of
the earliest ballroom dances was recorded in the 16th century in France. The term ‘ballroom
dancing’ is derived from the word ball. Ball originated from the Latin word ‘ballade’, which
means to dance. It makes perfect sense, a ball-room is a large room specially designed for
dancing. Ballroom dancing traces back to the early 20th century. English establishments
developed the art of ballroom dancing. Historically, ballroom dancing refers to any kind of
formal social dancing done for recreation.
Ballroom dancing started out as social dancing for the upper class. Folk dancing was for
the lower classes. In past centuries, ballroom dances were specific to their own regions and were
done to mark celebration or social class rather than to compete. The boundaries did change
through the years because many of the ballroom dances were actually folk dances. And
depending on the era, there were popular dances of the day such as the Minuet, Quadrille,
Polonaise, Polka, Mazurka, and others.
The famous ‘close hold’ done in ballroom dances came from the courts of Western
Europe in the 1500s. At that time, men carried swords on their left side. As a result of this, ladies
danced on the right of the man. When it came to turning, the men traditionally took the inside of
the circle, to avoid hitting the surrounding audience with their sword. Also, ladies could not
promenade backwards as the length of their skirts would become caught beneath their feet. As a
result, couples promenaded counter-clockwise.   This is why modern ballroom dances move
counter-clockwise around the floor.
Define the following:
Gravity- is an attraction that acts between any two objects that have a mass.
Centering- This is maintaining a sense of your body’s center, which holds you together as you
move. It allows you to move freely and gracefully.
Accented Beat- the dominant beat of the music measure, usually the first beat of the measure.
Syncopation- a temporary displacement of the regular metrical accent in music caused
typically by stressing the weak beat
Amalgamation- A combination of two or more patterns or movements.
Line of Dance- The counterclockwise flow of traffic around the dance floor. The Line of Dance
represents the general direction of movement overall, and is only pertinent to dances that travel
continuously around the floor, such as Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, and Samba.
Alignment- the proper positioning or state of adjustment of parts (as of a mechanical or
electronic device) in relation to each other.
Leading- Effective communication of intended actions by the leader through the use of leader's
own body movements and through one or more physical or visual connections to the follower
Following- The ability of the follower to react correctly to the signals given by the leader
through physical and visual connections. The act of moving a fraction of a second later than the
leader, and yet still be on time.
Link Elbow- Hook left (right) elbow with partner or any dancer.
Closed Position- is the most basic and common position used to move around the dance floor,
where man and lady face each other and move in opposite directions.
Free Hand- s the most basic and common position used to move around the dance floor, where
man and lady face each other and move in opposite directions.
Break- a stop in the music; dancers who have joined hands release hold or drop hands.
Elements of Dance
Posture- is the way you position your body or arrange your limbs.
Gestures- is the movement of any part of the body that is not weight bearing; an expressive
instrument to communicate feelings and ideas in patterns of movement.
Moving in Space- refers to the space through which the dancers body moves (general or
personal space, level, size direction, pathway, focus.)
Breathing- The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through the
mouth or nose due to muscle contraction and then exhaled due to muscle relaxation.
Basic Steps in Ballroom Dancing
Castoff- in long ways or contra formation, all couples face front and with the head couple
leading, counter marches outward to the foot of the set. As the head couples meets, they form an
arc through which other dancers pass.
Hesitations- the act of pausing uncertainly
Chasse Step- is a classical ballet term meaning “to chase”. Chasse is considered a basic step and
is commonly seen throughout ballet and other dance forms of dance.
Goose Step- a marching step of some infantries in which the legs are swung high and kept
straight and stiff.
Spin- Also known as pirouette is a ballet term meaning to whirl or spin while balanced on the
toes.
Point/Touch- touch the floor lightly with the toes of one foot, weight of the body on the other
foot.
Dance Sports- is the activity that combines sport and dance, and that allows the participants to
improve physical fitness and mental well-being, to form social relationships and to obtain results
in competition at all levels.
Cha Cha - The most popular Latin dance composed of quick steps.
Rumba- a ballroom dance of Cuban origin in ²/₄ or ⁴/₄ time with a basic pattern of step-close-
step and marked by a delayed transfer of weight and pronounced hip movements also: the music
for this dance.
Zamba- a Brazilian dance of African origin with a basic pattern of step-close-step-close and
characterized by a dip and spring upward at each beat of the music
Swing- Evolved from the jazz era. There are three types: triple, double, and single, depending on
the tempo of the music. Uses a hold similar to the fox trot. Also known as the lindy.