MODERN

BALLROOM
DANCES
MODERN BALLROOM DANCES
Introduction
Over the centuries every kind of
ballroom dance had been tried out,
some being discarded, others going
on to become popular dance

Dance in the ballroom maintained its

continuing identity as a polite art,
standard four dances – foxtrot, waltz,
tango and quick step had been
codified in England.
 CHA CHACHA
Definition
In 1953, Cuban Orchestra America started
playing the time-honored-danzon with a
new syncopated beat. It sounded like a
slow mambo, and Cuban dancers used a
slight triple hip undulation on the slow
count. This was changed gradually into
triple step on the slow count, thus cha cha
cha was born. It was introduced in the US
in 1954

It is the most popular of the Latin dances

CHA CHA CHA
Characteristics
Shoulders remain quiet and free
arms are kept about shoulder level
with palms down

All steps are taken on the flat of

the foot with the exception of the
back step which is taken on the
ball of the foot with weight kept
well forward.
Forward steps are taken with
weight held back

TIMING: Take the forward of leading

foot and step off the second beat of
the bar of the music
 WALTZ
Definition

It was derived from old German word

waltzen, meaning to roll,to turn or to
glide.

It was born in the suburbs of Vienna and

in the alpine regions of Austria. It is a
progressive dance written in ¾ time where
the first beat measure is accented
 WALTZ
Characteristics
Erect posture and rise-and-fall. The
first step of the measure is taken with
bent knee and followed on the
second and third steps by both
partners rising to full height on balls
of the feet

Forward steps are taken on the heel

directly toward the partner.
On side steps, both partners sway
slightly away from their direction
of the travel
Partners stay fairly close together
and take a long reaching steps
 TANGO
Definition
Tango is thought to be an African in origin, and
denotes a “meeting place” or “special dance”
Cuban Habanera, Spanish, Contradanza, and
Afro-Argentinian Candombe all influenced the
evolution Tango.
Ballroom tango originated among the lower
classes in Buenos Aires during the 19th century. It
was called Baile de con corte, a dance with a
stop.
The music itself was lively, vivacious and joyful.
It was introduced in France at the turn of the
19th century and into England in 1912
 TANGO
Characteristics
A graceful progressive dance
with a basic rhythm of slow-
slow-quick-quick-slow

The hold is unique, with

partners in close contact and
“no daylight” between them.
The man’s right arm is farther
around the woman and his left
arm closer to the body.
It is a staccato dance