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The Ballroom Academy specializes in both American & International styles. The styles are categorized as follows:
Although some of the dances are common to both styles, the two styles are totally different in technique and execution. The International style is popular throughout the world, whereas the American style is pre-dominant in the US with some influence in other countries. The Academy also features some specialty dances such as the Peabody, Argentine Tango, and Lindy Hop! Listed below are most of the ballroom dances frequently studied, a brief history and a description of each.
The Foxtrot was known as the first truly American ballroom dance and was named after the creator Harry Fox. In 1913 Harry Fox, a vaudeville comedian, introduced this trot to a ragtime song in the Ziegfield Follies, that pushed the other trots, such as, Turkey Trot, Grizzly Bear, Bunny Hug, Kangaroo Hop, and Harlem Glide, into the background. These other trots were labeled as the animal dances due to the exaggerated body and arm movements. Dance teachers at the time wanted to rid themselves of the 'animal dances' and modified the Foxtrot for the ballrooms. Ever since the 1910's the music changed to a more smoother and flowing rhythm and it has till this day been accepted as the 'the slow dance'.
The Foxtrot is a basic dance from which you can acquire a good foundation. You will learn how to combine steps easily and smoothly to all the three tempos; slow, medium and fast. The basic components of the dance are walking steps and side steps, which, will develop into long, smooth gliding steps, demanding ease of movement and control in order to give this dance an unhurried appearance.
In the early 1800's according to the Church authorities, the Waltz was banned from the public ballrooms for many years because it was the first dance that used closed dance position for an extended period of time. As a result, the Waltz, surviving its scrutiny, was forced to split into two styles, the Waltz and the Viennese Waltz. The Viennese Waltz was known to the Germans who refused to give into the criticism of the church and the Waltz among the French and the English. The Waltz was to be performed solely for the purpose of its elegance and not pleasure. The gentleman had to wait till the music started before wrapping his arm around the lady's waist since that gesture was considered immoral.
The gentlemen were required to have their hands covered so that direct contact was not made with that portion of the lady's anatomy. The Viennese Waltz became immoral due to the mobility and freedom and the speed at which the youth dancers glided and turned around the room from one side to the other. The popularity of the Waltz grew with the music of Johann Strauss and eventually blossomed into the twentieth century. It is the basis for many dances and is popular all over the world today.
The elegant sweeping, movement of the Waltz gives dancers a chance to practice balance and move with ease. The basic components of Waltz are walking steps and side steps. Rise and fall, body sway, correct posture and flowing movements are just some of the styling characteristics which makes even the simplest Waltz patterns elegant and graceful.
The Tango began in the West Indies and found its way to Argentina where the Gauchos stylized it. It became a rage in 1921 after the silent screen star Rudolph Valentino brought this romantic dance to millions in "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" in 1921. More recently it's been danced in movies such as "True Lies" and "Scent of a Woman". Tango has also found its way to Broadway where it has been glorified in "Forever Tango". Today the Tango is considered the "dancer's dance" and becomes a dramatic, sexy favorite to all who learn it.
Tango is the most romantic of all the dances, its earthy and dramatic movements characterize it. The hold in Tango is more compact than the other dances. The walk differs from the walks in other dances in that it is a staccato action obtained by delaying the follow through of the free leg and foot. The unique rhythm of the music is great training for timing and phrasing which develops as the dancer becomes more proficient.
Also see Waltz. The Viennese Waltz became popular in Vienna and in 1812 the dance was introduced in England under the name of the German Waltz. Currently the Viennese Waltz is danced at a tempo of about 180 beats per minute, with a limited range of figures.
In the 1920's, as ragtime music evolved into the Swing, new dances such as the Charleston, the Shimmy, and the Black Bottom became popular. Later these dances became absorbed into a faster version of the Foxtrot. The Quickstep, or the joy dance of ballroom dancing, is also known as a quick Foxtrot.
The Quickstep is characterized by a Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick-Slow rhythm performed to relatively fast, approximately 200 beats per minute, music that brings out all of the frills it has. Its main aspect is the quick, short steps with a distinct rise and fall motion in the walk. This dance is considered to be a dance that has the most attractive expression of rhythm the world has ever known. It retains the walks, runs, chasses and turns, of the original Foxtrot, with some other fast figures such as locks, hops, and skips added.
One of the most popular Latin dances in the U.S. is the Cha-Cha. The Cha-Cha began as a variation of the Mambo called the triple Mambo. It was so easy, and so much fun that it became the rage of the 1950's. Its infectious two-three-four-and-one rhythm demands that sitters become dancers.
The energetic rhythm of the Cha-Cha encourages you to cut loose and let yourself go. Triple steps and rock steps are the basic components of Cha-Cha. Derived from the Rumba and Mambo, the Cha-Cha incorporates Cuban motion as well as syncopated steps and open patterns.
The national dance of Brazil, Samba became the rage of its society in the 1930's but began as an exhibition dance in Paris in 1905. Movie Star and Singer Carmen Miranda is credited with making the dance popular in the U.S in the early 1940's.
Sometimes called the South American Waltz, the Samba pulsates to a unique Latin rhythm. Walking steps and side steps are the basic components of Samba. The major characteristic that sets it aside from all the rest is the vertical bounce action. Steps are taken on the ball of the foot, while knee action and body sway create a pendulum motion in the accomplished dancer. The Samba rolling teaches the body to be supple, move lightly, quickly, and smoothly without effort.
Rumba marked the beginning of the Cuban/Latin American dance craze. Danced to music inspired by African Rhythms and Spanish melodies, the Americanized Rumba was the basis for the Mambo and Cha-cha in the U.S. Rumba rhythms have found their way into Country Western, Blues, Rock and Roll, and Pop music.
The Rumba will sharpen your sense of rhythm, timing, and muscular control. The distinctive hip movement of the Rumba, called Cuban Motion is an important element of this dance, as well as neat, precise, controlled footwork.
The Paso Doble originated in Spain in the 1930s. It is most popularly known as the "man's" dance, portraying the story of the matador with (the female being) his cape. The matador wields his cape according to the anger and intensity of the roaring bull. The main features of the Paso Doble include the precision of footwork and elegant deportment as seen in all Spanish dancing. The hold is higher than the normal ballroom hold with a light hip contact. The style should project the male fighting the bull and handling his cloak.
The Jive was developed in the 1940s by taking over and taming the Jitterbug. There are three basic forms of Jive, single, double, and triple. The triple has given Jive the exuberance of the 50s as defined by performers like Bill Haley and his most famous "Rock Around the Clock". Although Jive has undergone many names and style changes, and as the dances come and go, the Jive stays because it has definite basic steps.
The Lindy(Swing) picked up where the Charleston left off. It had "swing outs," "break aways" and "shine steps." With the birth of the Swing music in the 1930's the Lindy climbed the social ladder. In August 1935, at the Palomar Ballroom, the bandleader Benny Goodman played Fletcher Henderson's arrangement of "Stompin' at the Savoy". The rest as they say is history. The dance craze swept the nation and depending on where you lived it was known as the Jitterbug, the Lindy hop or the Swing. Since those days, each successive generation has enjoyed the fun of Swing.
Perhaps the most uniquely American of all dances, the Swing brings a buoyant carefree movement. A side step or triple step followed by a rock step danced to lively music is the fundamental pattern of this dance. The various speeds of music are excellent training for quick footwork and good leading and following which will add comfort and ease to your dancing.
The Bolero has the same Afro-Cuban beat as the rumba and is thought to have originated from Cuban or Spanish folk dances such as Danzon and Beguine.
The romantic Bolero is the slowest of Latin dances. It combines controlled movement with dramatic expression. The Bolero has the same characteristics as Rumba but its long sweeping side steps and use of rise and fall create a softness that makes this dance unique among the Latin family. The expanding and contracting dance position makes a very romantic statement.
In the 1940's, Americans became fascinated by Latin American rhythms. The original mambo music, El Guardia Con El Tolete, had its beginning in 1944 as a Rumba with a riff improvisation. The Mambo combined American Jazz with the Afro-Cuban beat. As a parent of the Cha-cha and Salsa, the mambo is an exciting challenge for all dancers. Movies such as "Dirty Dancing" and "Salsa" have made this dance popular.
The wild exciting music, and the rhythmical body movements make the earthy Mambo irresistible. Mambo components consist of rock steps and side steps with foot styling that can include points, kicks and flicks. Most importantly the Latin hip movement helps you to develop your own feeling and expression. The overall flavor of the dance is contained in the translation, simply meaning "say it" or "shake it."
There are two stories floating around about the Merengue. One tells us that it originated in the Dominican Republic by African slaves as a peasant dance. Another says that a returning war hero, a General Maringie, danced dragging an injured leg. Whatever the case Merengue attracts all people from around the world with its intoxicating beat.
Merengues uncomplicated timing makes this dance easy and fun to learn. Walking steps and side steps are the basic components of Merengue. The turns, spins, wraps can make the Merengue look fabulous. This dance is introduced as marching but can be developed into a very rhythmical dance, with Cuban motion and animated body movement. The Merengue will sharpen timing and coordination making it a festive party dance.
Discotheques with high quality sound systems and flashing lights became popular in Europe and America in the late 1960's, and throughout the 70's. In the early 1970's a new dance craze became popular on the crowded dance floors of New York. This "touch Disco" was called the Hustle. The Hustle marked the return of popular dances where couples touched each other. Thanks to movies like "Saturday Night Fever" and the popularity of clubs like "Studio 54", the Hustle swept the nation like wild fire, and although the gold chains and white suits have faded, the dance has still remained as popular as ever.
Hustle gives us a fusion of Swing and Disco. Turns, spins and wraps are primary components of this dance. The more accomplished a dancer will use syncopated timing and fakes along with elaborate arm styling.
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