Ballroom Dance Types

Dance exudes class, grace, sensuality, passion and flexibility. And in no dance form is it more apparent than in the ballroom dance. Ballroom dance lends a touch of aristocracy where the graceful movement of the body blends smoothly with the flow of the music, bringing out a sense of refinement. No wonder, this dance form is the most preferred choice in any social gathering, and has become popular in every nook and corner of the globe. Another important aspect of ballroom dance is that it requires ‘two to tango’. That is, a ballroom dance depends on the chemistry and fusion of two entities — a couple. Apart from the moves and music in this dance, it is the grace of the partners that come out in totality and lends the aesthetic appeal. Perhaps in no other art form has the positive and negative, the alpha and omega, the yin and yang been so beautifully coalesced! Thus, ballroom dance is also the most romantic of all dances where lovers can stay ensconced in each other’s warm embrace swaying ever so lightly in the soft music. Then, as the tempo increases, the bodies swagger and stretch, pulsating, pushing and caressing, bringing to fore the passion underneath. There are various genres of ballroom dancing. As such, anyone looking to try their luck in this will have to choose from the different types. This is not an easy task, as each type of ballroom dance is as enticing as the other. However, to make a choice, you need to first know what the different types of ballroom dance are.

 

This is a ‘closed position’ dance. The couple press close to each other, holding one arm crossed with each other at the elbows and the shoulders, at their side and the other extended forward with the palm closed as they glide across the room. There are different variations of waltz and all the varieties have their own characteristic music beats. The music tempo is around 28 to 30 bars per minute with ¾ time beat.

 

This ballroom dance originated in Argentina, but the present variation also includes European and American influences. There are two styles — the American and the International. This is also a ‘closed position’ dance, though in the American style, open moves are also executed. The music tempo is 31 to 33 bars per minute with 4/4 time beat.

 

This dance is a form of waltz and is considered to be the original form of waltz. This is a rotator dance, where the couples embrace each other in the waltz form and constantly rotate, either to the right or to the left. The direction is also changed from time to time. Thus, the dance consists solely of turns and change in steps. The music tempo consists of 50 to 60 bars per minutes with ¾ time beat.

 

Foxtrot dance was first noticed after the 1914s. Its signature grace and style was developed by Vernon and Irene Castle. It was one of the most popular fast dances. Such was the popularity that when the rock and roll first emerged, it was labeled as foxtrot. In foxtrot, there are both the slower and quicker versions. The music tempo is 28 to 30 bars per minute with 4/4 time beat.

 

The quickstep started as a faster version of foxtrot, though, now, it has developed a distinct characteristic. This ballroom dance has the fastest tempo. It involves a lot of movement with hops, runs involving a lot of momentum and rotation. The dance takes place at a very brisk pace. The music tempo is 50 to 52 bars per minute with 4/4 time beat.

 

Originated in Brazil, samba is a partner dance. The dance is characteristic by its constant changing rhythms and cross rhythms. The samba is generally danced to traditional samba music and also under several different rhythms. The music tempo in this dance is 50 to 52 bars per minute with ¾ foot timing beat.