Table of Contents

Introduction
……………………………………………………………………………….
I. What is Ballroom Dance?
……………………………………………………………
II. History of Ballroom Dance?
………………………………………………………..
III. Types of Ballroom Dances
…………………………………………………………..
IV. Videos and Clips
…………………………………………………………………………
V. Bibliography
………………………………………………………………………………

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 Introduction

This book introduces you ideas and backgrounds all about

ballroom dance. It includes history, description and types of
dances. Also at the last page, there will be burned disc provided
containing all the dance tutorials and performances of each types
of ballroom dance. This project is intended for educational
purposes and is created by STEM 12 Q – Patmos.

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I. What is Ballroom Dance?

Ballroom dance is a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed

both socially and competitively around the world. Because of its
performance and entertainment aspects, ballroom dance is also
widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television.

II. History of Ballroom Dance

The term ‘ballroom dancing’ is derived from the word ball

which in turn originates from the Latin word ballare which means
‘to dance’ (a ball-room being a large room specially designed for
such dances).

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 Centuries ago, ballroom dancing was primarily for the
privileged and well-to-do, while the commoners had to make do
with folk dancing; however, these boundaries have since
disappeared, leaving ballroom dancing a fun hobby for everyone.

III. Types of Ballroom Dances

1.) Foxtrot

The foxtrot is a smooth, progressive dance characterized by

long, continuous flowing movements across the dance floor. It is
danced to big band (usually vocal) music. The dance is similar in
its look to waltz, although the rhythm is in a 4 time signature
instead of 3.

History

The origin of the name of the dance is unclear, although one

theory is that it took its name from its popularizer, the vaudeville
actor Harry Fox.

At its inception, the foxtrot was originally danced to ragtime.

From the late 1910s through the 1940s, the foxtrot was the most
popular fast dance, and the vast majority of records issued during
these years were foxtrots. Over time, the foxtrot split into slow
and quick versions, referred to as "foxtrot" and "quickstep"
respectively. In the slow category, further distinctions exist

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between the International or English style of the foxtrot and the
continuity American style, both built around a slow-quick-quick
rhythm at the slowest tempo, and the social American style using
a slow-slow-quick-quick rhythm at a somewhat faster pace. In the
context of International Standard category of ballroom dances, for
some time the foxtrot was called "Slow Foxtrot", or "Slowfox".

The dance was premiered in 1914, quickly catching the eye of

the husband and wife duo Vernon and Irene Castle, who lent the
dance its signature grace and style.

Costume

Women:

The Foxtrot costumes for women normally have long

sweeping sleeves or skirts, to help elongate the moves of the
dancers, making the dance look smoother. The bodice is a tighter
fit, with the skirt flaring out at the waist, the costumes normally
have floor length skirts, but on the rare occasion may fall a bit
shorter. The look is all about elegance, while still being attractive.
The hair is normally done to perfection, mostly pulled up high on
the women's head, but those with shorter hair wear it down,
though normally sprayed into place. The woman wears heels, and
most of the time a flashy necklace to finish off the look.

Men:

The men's costumes are much less elaborate then the

women's, being some version of a suit. The men don't always have
to wear a jacket and tie, but those wanting to impress the ladies
will sometimes wear a full tuxedo or suit. The jacket can easily be

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replaced with a vest, for the warmer weather or just to change it
up a bit. The men's suit tend to have something coordinated with
the women's dress. Whether a handkerchief or vest that matches
or tie with a similar pattern. For example if the women was
wearing a burgundy dress the men could have a burgundy tie or
handkerchief.

Basic Steps

Men:

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Basic Forward
1. Step forward with your left foot (slow step).
2. Step forward with your right foot (slow step).
3. Sidestep to the left with your left foot (quick step).
4. Move your right foot to your left foot (quick step).

Basic Backward
1. Step backward with your left foot (slow step).
2. Step backward with your right foot (slow step).
3. Sidestep to the left with your left foot (quick step).
4. Move your right foot to your left foot (quick step).

Women:

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Basic Forward
1. Step backward with your right foot (slow step).
2. Step backward with your left foot (slow step).
3. Sidestep to the right with your right foot (quick step).
4. Move your left foot to your right foot (quick step).

Basic Backward
1. Step forward with your right foot (slow step).
2. Step forward with your left foot (slow step).
3. Sidestep to the right with your right foot (quick step).
4. Move your left foot to your right foot (quick step).

2.) Pasodoble

Pasodoble is a fast-paced Spanish military march used by

infantry troops. Its speed allowed troops to give 120 steps per
minute. This march gave rise to a traditional Spanish dance, a
musical genre including both voice and instruments, and a genre
of instrumental music often played during bullfight.

History

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 During the 18th century, the Paso Doble was incorporated
into comedies. Then later it was adopted as a regulatory step for
the Spanish infantry, with a special feature that made the troops
take the regular step: 120 steps per minute.

The music was introduced into bullfights during the 19th

century. It is now played during the bullfighter's entrance into the
ring (paseo) or during the passes (faena) just before the kill. It
corresponds to the Paso Doble dance (traditional and ballroom).

Famous bullfighters have been honored by having Paso Doble

tunes named after them. Other tunes have been inspired by
patriotic motifs or local characters.

Costume

Traditional:

The traditional Paso Doble costume features the male dancer

in a matador's costume. A matador outfit usually consists of pants
and matching bolero jacket, white shirt and tie. A traditional
woman's Paso Doble costume should include a full skirt, often red,
that represents the matador's cape. The male and female costumes
should match or complement each other in color and style.
Consider buying a plain bolero jacket and embellishing it with
rhinestones and decorative trim. Add rhinestones and matching
trim or lace to the female costume.

Non-Traditional:

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 Though the Paso Doble is a traditional Spanish dance, a dance
couple can break from traditional costumes and wear outfits that
are better suited to the theme of the routine and the music. If
dancers chooses a modern song with a techno beat, the costumes
should reflect that theme. For instance, the male dancer can wear
a black vinyl suit with chrome appointments while the female can
wear a black vinyl dress with a full skirt. It's entirely appropriate
for a Paso Doble costume to have a Spanish influence, but it's also
acceptable to break from the Spanish style to match the theme of
the routine.

Basic Steps

Men:

1.) Right foot forward (small step).

2.) Left foot forward (small step).
3.) Right foot forward (small step).

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4.) Left foot forward (small step).

Women:
1.) Left foot back (small step).
2.) Right foot back (small step).
3.) Left foot back (small step).
4.) Right foot back (small step).

3.) Rumba

Rumba, also known as ballroom rumba, is a genre of

ballroom music and dance that appeared in the East Coast of the
United States during the 1930s. It combined American big band
music with Afro-Cuban rhythms, primarily the son cubano, but
also conga and rumba.

History

Quite simply, Rumba was born all over the West Indies and
but really grew up in Cuba. Several styles developed on different
islands that include Son, Danzon, Guagira, Guaracha, Naningo.
Aside from the latin influence of Spanish culture, African folk
dances played a huge role in creating the rumba, with the ladies
dancing with a defensive attitude towards their male partners.
American Rumba was modified from a popular Cuban “Bolero-Son”
dance, incorporating small steps of the dancers and the hip
movements as a result of the bending knees. Because of the movie
industry, rumba became even more well-known during the 1930’s.
It began to represent the essence of Latin American dance through
its romantic subtleties and rhythmic body motions.

Costume

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Women:

The woman‘s bata cubana ensemble is not a dress but consists

of a long flamenco-style skirt cut low on her hips and a bustier.
The flounces of the skirt are striped in red, yellow, pink, blue,
green, brown, with each thin stripe separated by a strip of see-
through material. The basic material of the skirt is pink as is the
belt around her hips. The belt is embroidered with a geometrical
pattern in silver thread. At the back of her belt is a large bow with
long ribbons. She is also wearing a cropped pink bustier which
leaves the middle part of her torso free. The bustier has cape
sleeves made of two flounces of the same material used for the
skirt. On her head is a scarf wrapped tightly around her head and
tied at the front with a large bow. It is of the same material as the
skirt flounces.She is holding a white cotton shawl in her left hand
that is swirled around her hips, giving the impression of
movement. On her feet are white high-heeled court shoes.

Men:

The man is wearing a pair of narrow high-waisted white

cotton trousers. He has on a rumba shirt (guarachera) whose body
is made of black velvet and is decorated with red braid down the
front. The braid is embroidered in a geometric design with silver
thread. The sleeves have ruffles from shoulder to wrist. Each
ruffle is a single colour but each one varies in colour from red,
yellow, lilac, blue, pink and white. He has a red scarf around his
neck. His has heel-less white shoes with pointed toes.

Basic Steps

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Men:
1. Step forward with your left foot.
2. Sidestep to the right with your right foot.
3. Move your left foot to your right foot.
4. Step back with your right foot.
5. Sidestep to the left with your left foot.
6. Move your right foot to your left foot.

Women:
1. Step back with your right foot.
2. Sidestep to the left with your left foot.
3. Move your right foot to your left foot.
4. Step forward with your left foot.
5. Sidestep to the right with your right foot.
6. Move your left foot to your right foot.

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4.) Waltz

Waltz is a progressive dance marked by long, flowing

movements, continuous turns, and rise and fall. The dance is so
graceful and elegant that waltz dancers appear to glide around the
floor with almost no effort.

History

The Waltz had humble beginnings in rural Germany. In the

mid 18th century, peasants began to dance something called the
landler in Bohemia, Austria, and Bavaria. At the time, the
sophisticated upper class was dancing to the minuet at their balls,
but the peasants' dance was so much more fun that noblemen
would attend the lower class gatherings just to enjoy it.

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Costume

Women:

Ladies wear full-length formal ball gowns with either full or

straight skirts. The gown traditionally has a full length skirt
reaching at least to the ankles and is made of a luxurious fabric
such as satin, silk, taffeta, or velvet or synthetic equivalents. The
“gown” may be a two piece ensemble. Bare shoulders are
acceptable.

Men:

Gentlemen wear “tuxedos,” that is, a black dinner jacket with

silk facings, usually grosgrain or satin and matching trousers.
Gentlemen may substitute a summer-weight, white dinner jacket
for the first and last dances of the season. A tailcoat may be
substituted for the tuxedo jacket at all dances.

The traditional interpretation of black tie includes a white

formal shirt with either standard or wing collar. The tie should be
a black silk bow with matching cummerbund or waistcoat. A
patterned/colored tie and cummerbund or waistcoat coordinated
with the lady’s attire is appropriate. Black socks and highly
polished black shoes are appropriate.

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Basic Steps

Men:
1. Step forward with the left foot.
2. Right foot step sideways to the right.
3. Bring your left foot next to your right foot.
4. Step back with the right foot.
5. Step back sideways with the left foot.
6. Bring your right foot next to your left foot.

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Women:
1. Step back with the right foot
2. Left foot step sideways to the left
3. Bring your right foot next to your left foot
4. Step forward with the left foot
5. Step forward sideways with the right foot
6. Bring your left foot next to your right foot

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5.) Tango

Tango is danced to a repetitive style of music, with the count

of the music being either 16 or 32 beats. It is one of the most
fascinating dance; the tango is a sensual ballroom dance that is
usually performed by a man and a woman, expressing an element
of romance in their synchronized movements. Originally, the
tango was performed only by women, but once it spread beyond
Buenos Aires, it developed into a dance for couples.

History

In the 1880’s, Tango was born among the lower urban classes
in both cities as an expression originated in the fusion of elements
from Argentine and Uruguayan`s African culture, authentic
criollos and European immigrants. As the artistic and cultural
result of hybridization`s processes, Tango is considered nowadays
one of the fundamental signs of the Rio de la Plata’s identity.

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Costume

Women:

When tango was born it was customary that women wore

long skirts. That style was adopted in tango as well. As time went
by, they started making openings on skirts and dresses in order to
have a wider range of movement. Nowadays it is usual to wear all
lengths of skirts, as long as movement is allowed: from long skirts
with openings to really short skirts and dresses. Tango dresses
often have asymmetrical hemlines and are adorned with fringes
and crochet applications. The tops normally show cleavage and are
very sensual. The shoes should always be tango dance shoes.

Men:

The typical outfit for a man that dances tango is the shirt,
normally silk or some other similar material, and straight cut
trousers. To be complete this outfit requires a good pair of dance
shoes. To complement his outfit the man can also wear some other

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accessories, like suspenders, vests and hats, all these being part of
tango imagery.

Basic Steps

Men:
1. Step forward with your left foot.
2. Step forward with your right foot passing the left foot.
3. Step forward again with your left foot this time passing the right
foot.
4. Step forward and to the right with your right foot.
5. Left foot close to right foot.

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Women:
1. Step back with your right foot.
2. Step back with your left foot passing the right foot.
3. Step back again with your right foot this time passing the left
foot.
4. Step back and to the left with your left foot.
5. Right foot close to left foot.

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Famous Dancers

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o Carlos Gavito – Gavito was known as a performer and a
teacher. He was most recognizable by his apilado style.
o Ricardo Vidort – Rick McGarry from “Tango and Chaos in Bs
As” calls him “The Last Compadrito”. He had elegance and
musicality unmatched by any other milonguero.
o Pedro “Tete” Rusconi – He was the milonguero for many
generations of social dancers. With his charisma and specific
way of dancing, he conquered hearts of his students.

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V. Bibliography

o https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxtrot
o https://www.centralhome.com/ballroomcountry/foxtrot.ht
m
o https://prezi.com/_qtym5h9ur2y/the-foxtrot/
o https://www.liveabout.com/all-about-the-tango-1007439
o http://www.motionartscenter.com/tango-
history/4593759924
o http://www.pasiontango.net/articles.aspx?id=tango-clothes
o https://www.dancing4beginners.com/tango/
o http://tangomentor.com/famous-tango-dancers-you-must-
see/
o https://babogenglish.wordpress.com/2016/01/28/cuba-
bolero-rumba-dancers/
o https://www.quickquickslow.com/blog/a-brief-history-of-
ballroom-dancing
o https://dance.lovetoknow.com/history-dance/history-waltz
o http://broadmoorwaltzclub.com/documents/DressCode.htm
l
o https://www.dancing4beginners.com/waltz/
o Physical Education and Health (Grade 12) – First Quarter
Module

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