Ballroom | Latin
Ballroom
Viennese WaltzIt's uncertain if the Viennese Waltz came from a
French or Italian peasant dance in the 1550s, as both had similar
dances performed to folk music, the Volta. Both require couples to
rotate as they dance and "volta" is Italian for "the turn". For
couples to get from one side of their partner to the other, they had
to embrace so closely many declared it immoral.
Ada and Aric demonstrate perfect Viennese form
Modern WaltzIn the early 19th Century another turning dance,
the "Waltzen", became popular in many parts of Germany and Austria,
with local variants named after their area. The popular step from
Landl ob der Enns in upper Austria became known as the Landler.
Meanwhile, a more sedate form of the fast Viennese Waltz evolved in
America around 1834, known originally as the Boston. The Modern
Waltz is said to be a combination of the Landler and the Boston
derived in England about 1910.
Alicia and John-Paul waltz up a storm
Modern TangoThe Modern Tango is probably a result of Spain's
Flamenco dance merging with the African slave dance the Tangano, and
a host of other folk dances infiltrating South America. In the
Buenos Aires slums in the late 19th century, they both merged with
the Habanera – a Cuban folk dance – to provide a new step; the
Milonga. Originally the Milonga was a soft private dance, with
emphasis on leg movements. In Paris in the 1930's, it was combined
with other ballroom dances and given a staccato action, moving the
emphasis to the torso and head, a characteristic which remains.
It takes Ky and Masha to tango
FoxtrotOne story says it was introduced as the Castle Walk into
nightclub performances of Vernon and Irene Castle, and popularised
by Harry Fox in the stage show Ziegfeld Follies in New York in 1913 -
and named after him. Others say it mimicked the gait of a horse, or
even a fox. Regardless, the step was fashionably rebellious against
19th Century dancing, as it used parallel feet rather than turned
out feet used in Victorian dances. About 1922, the trotting steps
were discarded for a less energetic movement called the Saunter and
by 1927 it was called the Slow Foxtrot with gliding movements.
Foxy couple, Chris and Trenton
Latin
RumbaThe Dance of Love, the Rumba is the most sensual of Latin
dances with the lady dominating the man using her womanly charms.
Incorporating teasing and withdrawal, partners dance to each other
not the audience.
Leeanne and Dicko perform a red hot rumba
SambaThe word Samba is supposedly derived from a West African Bantu
word meaning "to pray" or invoke spirits of ancestors. It is said to
be a dance that can send people into a trance. It is danced annually
at Rio's Carnivale.
Brodie sizzles
Jive From its start in 1927, the Jive shocked adults who tried to
ban it. American GIs in World War II took it to Europe but it was
danced underground due to its "corrupting influence". It's a
variation of the Jitter Bug adding rock'n'roll and swing.
Ada gets down and jives
Paso DoblePaso Doble Made famous in the movie "Strictly Ballroom",
The Paso Doble is a Spanish gypsy dance based on the bullfight. The
man represents the bullfighter, Torero, and the lady his red cape or
cappa. It is danced to the characteristic march music used for the
procession at the beginning of a corrida.
Chris and Trenton do the Paso Doble
Cha ChaWhen the English dance teacher Pierre Lavelle visited Cuba in
1952, he saw the Rumba danced with extra beats. He returned to
Britain and began teaching these steps as a new dance.
Simone loves to cha cha

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