Ballroom dance

Ballroom dance is a style of partner dance which originated in the western world and is now enjoyed both socially and competitively around the globe. Its performance and entertainment aspects are also widely enjoyed on stage, in film, and on television.

"Strictly ballroom" - competitive dancing

Contemporary ballroom dance technique has been extensively studied and formalized. Medal examinations enable dancers' abilities to be recognized according to conventional standards. In North America, examination levels include Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Medal exams are normally performed by students who are less advanced than competitive dancers (someone who passes a Bronze exam would not likely compete at the Bronze level in a formal competition). Amateur competitive dance levels range from Novice-> Bronze-> Silver-> Gold-> Prechampionship-> Championship (roughly corresponding to the E->..-> A-> S levels in Europe and Australia), then Rising Star and Open Professional for the pro ranks. The International Olympic Committee recognizes competitive ballroom dance as DanceSport.

Related Topics:
Medal examinations - International Olympic Committee - Competitive - DanceSport

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Coming from grouping dances in competitions, the following divisions of contemporary ballroom dance are recognized: International Standard and International Latin. In addition, American Smooth, and American Rhythm are widely popular in the USA. The former two divisions are called International Style and the latter two are American Style.

Related Topics:
International Standard - International Latin - American Smooth - American Rhythm - International Style - American Style

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As you may see below, both International and American styles include dances with the same names. However, they are danced quite differently. Therefore, when discussing dance technique, the dance is named including its style, e.g., it is spoken of American Style Rumba vs. International Rumba or American Tango vs. International Tango. In a way, "Standard" matches "Smooth" and "Latin" matches "Rhythm".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Australia also has a division called New Vogue and is often referred to as 'Australian New Vogue'. It is danced both competitively and socially. In competition there are 15 recognised New Vogue dances which are performed by the competitors in sequence.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As a historical curiosity, ballroom dancing competitions in the former USSR included the Soviet Ballroom dances, or Soviet Programme, in addition to Standard dances and Latin dances.

Related Topics:
Soviet Ballroom dances - Standard dances - Latin dances

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

International Standard is sometimes called International Ballroom or Modern Ballroom.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Standard and Smooth are travelling dances: couples travel around the dance floor (along the line of dance (LOD), counter-clockwise). Time may be 2/4 (tango), 4/4 (Foxtrot, Quickstep), 3/4 (Waltz), or 6/8 (Viennese Waltz).

Related Topics:
Travelling dance - Line of dance - Time

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Most Latin and Rhythm dances are spot dances, which do not travel, although Samba and Paso Doble travel along the LOD. Time is 2/4 or 4/4.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~