History of the Ballroom Dance

By Esther Frances


When you hear the words ballroom dancing, do you imagine dapper, clean men in tuxedos twirling luxuriously long-gowned women around a large dance floor? Or do you think of Baroque-period European royalty dancing a minuet to Bach? But would you ever consider the Jitterbug or the rumba to be ballroom-type dancing?

All of the above mentioned are considered ballroom dances and are still taught around the world and dancers compete in such categories as these for top awards and titles. This is an age where people are becoming more overweight and paying loads of money to gyms and the latest weight-loss craze so that they can either force themselves onto a treadmill every week to exercise or starve themselves to lose weight. In the same breath, many people are turning to dance for a more traditional and fun way to exercise. There are many benefits to dancing. One can meet members of the opposite sex, improve coordination (especially when partner dancing), and even reap the cardiovascular benefits. There's sure to be a dance studio in your area and sure to be cheaper than a night out at the movies where you are probably also paying for snacks at the concession stand.

You can expect to meet a lot of people. There are usually more women than men, so the men usually change partners frequently during the evening to give each lady a chance to practice their steps. If you are a man, this means you can expect to meet a lot of ladies. If you are a lady, you can expect to learn both the male and female steps, as you will have to partner occasionally with another lady. This is a great thing for the women, who will most likely have to teach a future boyfriend or husband how to dance his part someday. Dance groups usually schedule local dance club outings where students can meet more people and practice what they have learned.

There are many styles of dance you can learn. Tap dancing is a great workout and is very impressive, but it is a performance dance rather than a recreational dance. Ballet will increase your flexibility, but you probably won't dance it during an evening out. Some people who love to swing and Jitterbug get all decked out in vintage clothing and hairstyles and dressing up is half the fun. Of course, learning the Cuban Motion to Cha-cha or Samba like a pro will knock 'em dead on the dance floor of just about any nightclub.

Experimenting after learning the basic steps of any dance just adds to the fun and joy of dancing. And by having a regular dance partner, you can create your own special moves and create your own individual style. All dances were developed from some previous style of dance so the next new dance craze could be created by you!




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