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PE 2
LEARNING MODULE
RHYTHMIC ACTIVITIES
JAN CHRISTIAN S. NABAYRA
INSTRUCTOR

UNIT IV Learning Objectives

1. Discuss and explain the brief background
of recreational ballroom dancing.
2. Interpret written instructions with high
degree of adeptness.
3. Name and identify the basic steps of each
dance.
4. Perform the dance steps with correct
count pattern, rhythm and body
alignment

Lesson I
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RECREATIONAL BALLROOM DANCING

History of Ballroom Ballroom Dancing
Dancing
Ballroom dance is a type of set partner dancing and may
Previously, in times past, ballroom dancing refer at its widest definition, to almost any type of social
was social dancing for the fortunate and the dancing as recreation, which is both enjoyed socially and
lower class engaged in folk dancing. These
competitively around the world. Ballroom dancing is also
boundaries have since become something of
widely enjoyed on stage, television and film.
the past. Ballroom dancing is also dependent
on the era, where balls featured popular Sequence dancing, in pairs or other formations, is still a
dances of the day such as Quadrille, Minuet, popular style of ballroom dance. With the arrival of
Polonaise, Mazurka, and Polka, which are dancesport in modern times, the term has become
now being considered to be historical dances. narrower in scope and traditionally refers to the five
The phrase 'ballroom dancing' originates International Standard and five International Latin style
from the word 'ball' which in turn originates dances. Although the two styles differ in rhythm,
from the Latin word 'ballare' which means 'to
technique and costume, the two styles illustrate essential
dance'.
elements of ballroom dancing, such as control and
The Schonbrunn is one of the
cohesiveness.
finest Baroque masterpieces in the
world. I had the privilege of touring this palatial estate on a European holiday.
The six-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart gave a concert on 6 October 1762 at
the imperial summer residence of the Habsburgs.

The Grosse Redoutensaal (Grand Ballroom) of the Hofburg Imperial Palace

in Vienna, where much of Mozart's dance music was first performed

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CHA-
The ballroom is a large room specially designed for such dances. 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

CHA-
such dances). In times past, ballroom dancing was social dancing for the privileged,
leaving folk dancing for the lower classes. These boundaries have since become blurred.
The definition of ballroom dance also depends on the era: balls have featured popular
dances of the day such as the Minuet, Quadrille, Polonaise, Polka, Mazurka, and others,
which are now considered to be historical dances.

THE LATIN AMERICAN DANCES

Historical Background:

Historically, the dance cha-cha-cha is derived from triple mambo

BALLRO
with just a touch of swing, which is another Cuban import. Some
dance authorities said that its name was derived from the “hissing”
sound made by the heelless slipper worn by Cuban women.
Others Attributed it from the certain plants in the islands of west
indies, that produce seed pods called cha-cha or (depending on the The cha-cha is perhaps the most popular
islands) cha-cha or kwa –kwa. These are used to make a small rattle of the Latin Dances in the United States
also known as cha-cha. In Haiti, the typical voodoo band is consisting and in Asia. The name “rolls off the
of three drums, a bell, and a cha-cha. These instruments are used by tongue “and the rhythm is easy to

OM
the leader as a guide instrument or a “metronome” to set the time understand. the dance almost speaks for
in secular dancing as well as in religious music and singing. itself through the music where the beat
of the bongo drums and the maracas
Cha – cha is a form of mambo to rumba beat, originated by the seem to say Cha-Cha-Cha step –step.
Cuban Orchestra America. Some dance experts said that in 1935 a
group of orchestra called “ Charangas” or “ Orquestras Danzones”
introduced this dance in the United States. This also marked the
beginning of the dance.
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Many Ballroom dancers criticized the fast mambo beat of this kind
because of its acrobatic character since they are used to the smooth
 DANCES
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SWING
Historical Background:

On March 12, 1926, the Savoy Ballroom has opened at Lenox

Avenue and 140th street in New York. The featured band was
the leading black band of that day, the fletcher –Henderson’s
Band. Nightly dancing attracted most of the best dancers in
New York area, including many outstanding black dancers.
One evening in 1927. Following Lindbergh’s flight to Paris, a
local dance enthusiast named “Shorty George” Snowden was
watching some of the more acrobatic couples, muttered,
“Look at them kid hoppin’ over there. I guess they’re doing’ Keep your body relaxed and your knees
the Lindy hop”. Today, more than fifty years later, the Lindy is slightly flexed to dance the swing
still one of the most popular ballroom dances. correctly. A flexible knee, coupled with a
slight swaying motion of the upper torso is
According to Laccarino(1977) although it is possible that this the characteristics of swing movement.
version of the origin of Lindy may be fiction, it is a fact that Swing dancers develop their own unique
the Lindy _________________________________________________________________PE
did originate in the Savoy Ballroom in about 1927, style because it2 offers
Rhythmic Activities
a wide variety of
where it was done to swing music. rhythmical patterns.
Along with other Jazz forms, the Swing also known as
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RUMB
A
Historical Background:

Rumba which is a contemporary ballroom dance of

Afro-Cuban Caribbean folk dance origin and
became internationally popular in the early 20 th
century is an erotic dance.
According to some critics “In its most primitive
form it was an expressive pantomime danced by
the natives under the hypnotic spell “Even today in
the back country of Cuba, this same ritual
pantomime is performed. The true Cuban Rumba
which evolved in the slave quarters of the Cuban
plantations, dancers faced but not touching each
other.
Because the uninhibited and wild Rumba was
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considered a bit too risky, a watered down version
known as the “son” a slow Cuban dance rumba
version was the form introduced to European
The feeling of the dancer performing the
rumba should be one of effortless floating,
created by the body motion, which is
concentrated in the hips. The upper torso will
remain still while the dancer moves his hips
horizontally and sways to the Cuban motion a
pronounced flexing of the knees.
Alignments are given purely for ease in
learning. As the Rumba is a non- progressive
dance, the figures may be commenced and
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Boogie/
Boogie-
Historical Background:

Woogie
Boogie or Boogie-Woogie began in the early 20 th century as music
of Black Americans. It was intended for singing, for singing, for
dancing, and for entertainment atmosphere at parties and social
dancing. Boogie has continued to develop and has produced some
of the United States Leading figures as singers, instrumentalists
and composers. Today it is considered by many as America’s art
music. It has also influenced almost every other kind of music in
America. Europe and even in the Orient.
The dance style in dancing the Boogie
The Origin of the word Boogie is not known, but the term comes depends on the mastery of the basic
into common use after the first phonograph records of boogie step coupled with the different ballroom
were made in 1917. Boogie represents blending ideas of harmony dance hold. The combination of these
and Melody, but the rhythm is more African in origin. It is usually holds will give the dancer the freedom
said to be syncopated irregular in rhythm and polyrhythmic which to create more figures with his dancing
means it uses many rhythms around one basic rhythm. partner. A repertoire of figures depends
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on the innovative Activities
skill of the dancer
The boogie is a jazz piano style characterized by sustained, rolling
while making the basic step as his
(8-beats to a bar). Riffs in the left hand. As a fast rhythmically
starting point.
intense version of blues guitar, it was played as dance music in
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SAMB
A
Historical Background:

The Samba is an energetic and lively dance that is

currently popular in many parts of the world.
Syncopated rhythms, bouncing actions, and rolling hip
movements characterize the dance. It may be danced
with or without a partner.

Samba dance holds a rich and cultural history. There
are a variety of types of samba music and dancing.
While the Ballroom version has grown popular,
originally Samba was a solo dance from Latin America.
Samba music started in the 19  century and evolved in
th
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in the early 20  century.
th
It became the quintessential music and dance form of
Rio de Janiero’s world famous carnival. The lively
dance moves and rich and syncopated rhythm have
made it a South American favorite.
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Musicologists argue about its true origins. Many agree
that the word “samba” is derived from the Angolan
Kimbundo term “semba” which is the navel thrust in
Throughout Samba’s development, a variety of
influences shaped the flavor the music and
dance. Marcha and Maxixe are Samba’s
Brazilian predecessors that influenced Samba
as well as Cuba’s Habanera and Germany’s
polka. Samba music became very popular in
song from and some of it’s earliest recordings
date back to 1911. Alfredo da Rocha Vianna Jr.
was a pioneer of the song form. Sambas of the
1920s and the radio era of the 1930s were
slow and romantic and birthed a sub-genre
known as “samba-cancao”. Samba cancao
emphasized sentimental lyrics and highlighted
melody over rhythm. The Brazilian singers and
composers put samba cancao on the
international radar. During this time of the
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PASA
DOB
Paso Doble or Pasodoble is a lively style of dance to the duple meter
march-like pasodoble music.

It actually originated in southern France, but is modeled after the

sound, drama, and movement of the Spanish bullfight. Paso doble
means "two step" in Spanish.

The name 'Paso Doble' in Spanish means 'Two Step', and may be
distinguished from 'Paso a Dos' which means 'Dance for two'. "Two
Step" refers to the marching nature of the steps, which may be
counted '1, 2' for 'Left, Right'.

The dance itself became popular amongst the upper classes of Paris A bit more information about the Paso Doble
in the 1930's (thanks to Pierre Lavelle), and acquired a set of French music (more about Espana Cani). It has breaks in
names for many of the steps. fixed positions in the song (two breaks at
syllabus levels, three breaks and a longer song at
It has still only limited popularity amongst English speaking society. Open levels). Traditionally Paso Doble routines
There are places in Spain, France, Vietnam, Australia and Germany are choreographed to match these breaks, as
where it is played regularly as social dance. well as the musical phrases. Accordingly, most
other ballroom Paso Doble tunes are written
The competition version of the Paso Doble is danced with a high with similar breaks (those without are simply
chest, the shoulders wide and down, and with the head kept back but avoided in most competitions).
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inclined slightly forward and down (the bullfight nature of the dance). 2 Rhythmic Activities

Pasodoble is based on music played at bullfights during the

bullfighters' entrance (paseo) or during the passes (faena) just before
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JIVE
Historical Background:
The origins of the word "jive" are unknown. It may refers to
"jive talk" or badmouthing. This word reflects the character
of the dance. It is sassy and loud. The first hints of Jive came
from African-American slaves.
Jive's correct name is Jitterbug Jive.
It is named after a 30's Mickey Mouse cartoon where Mickey
and Minnie danced a country style Jitterbug. The name came In the 30's jive dancing was very smooth and with
from Jitterbugs being the dancers and Jive meaning "fake" or sliding footwork whereas later the footwork was not as
"not right". smooth due to the dancers lifting their feet so as not to
Earlier we mentioned Afrcan-American slaves. These slaves trip on rough floor boards or the local rough country
danced several native dances that had triple and single steps. entertainment establishments. American soldiers
Their music had a continuous drum bass, and several hints of brought these dances to Europe around 1940, where
jive rhythms. Jive itself has now split into two parts, one they swiftly found a following among the young. After
based on this original African beat and the other based upon the war, the Boogie became the dominant form for
its evolved style.Nowadays Jive can be separated in two popular music. However, it was never far from criticism
groups: a dance with an authentical African sound or a more as a foreign, vulgar dance. The famous ballroom dancing
contemporary variant. guru, Alex Moore, said that he had "never seen
anything uglier". English instructors developed the
Jive can be known by many different names. It is sometimes elegant and lively Jive, danced to slightly slower music.
called Swing, the Jitterbug, Lindy hop or the Charleston , In Britain the closed position was considered by many to
although it is a completely different dance. These dances are be indecent, and sometimes the lady wore "bumpers"
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all similar, and their steps are interconnected.In the 1880's, 2 Rhythmic Activities
to preclude body contact. In 1968 it was adopted as the
the dance was performed competitively amongst the fifth Latin dance in International competitions. It is
Negroes in the South, and the prize was frequently a cake, so considered that Jive is not to be further developed into
the dance became known as the Cake Walk. another dances or styles even though there are some
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Jive is the last dance in a competition, and is

also one of the hardest dances to perform.
For this reason, many dancers save their
energy for one last burst at the end of a night
of competing. Good couples' performances
are easy to be differentiated from the
mediocre one

THE MODERN STANDARD DANCES

WALT
Z
Historical Background:
It originated from the dances of several different peoples in
Europe but its main predecessors were the "Matenick" and
a variation called the "Furiant" that were performed during
rural festivals in the Czech Republic. The French dance, the
"Walt", and the Austrian "Lindler" are the most similar to
the waltz among its predecessors.

The king of dances acquired different national traits in

different countries. Thus there appeared the English Waltz, However popular the waltz, opposition was not
the Hungarian Waltz, and the Waltz-Mazurka. lacking. Dancing masters saw the waltz as a threat to
the profession. The basic steps of the waltz could be
The "Waltz" is derived from the old German word "walzen" learned in relatively short time, whereas, the minuet
meaning "to roll, turn", or "to glide". Nowadays the dance and other court dances required considerable
has three main forms: practice, not only to learn the many complex figures,
 The Ballroom waltz (a slow dance with measured but also to develop suitable postures and deportment.
steps that moves around the room in a controlled During the 18th century, the allemande form of the
fashion with lots of figures) waltz became very popular in France. Originally
 The Viennese Waltz (a fast dance with lots of danced as one of the figures in the contredanse, with
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turning, the feet positions are based on ballet arms inter-twining at 2 the
Rhythmic Activities
shoulder level, it soon
though for a correct Viennese Waltz); evolved into an independent dance and the close-hold
 The Folk Waltz (what most people know as waltz, position was introduced. This was the first time that
and can be done to various speeds of music). the close hold or ballroom hold was used in a dance,
The Waltz was born out of dances such as the Weller, the

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The waltz was also criticized on moral grounds by

those opposed to its close hold and rapid turning
movements. Religious leaders almost unanimously
regarded it as vulgar and sinful. In July of 1816, the
waltz was played at a Ball given in London by the
Prince Regent and a blistering editorial in The
Times a few days later stated:

Even as late as 1866 an article in the English

magazine Belgravia stated:

"We who go forth of nights and see without the

slightest discomposure our sister and our wife
seized on by a strange man and subjected to
violent embraces and canterings round a small-
sized apartment - the only apparent excuse for
such treatment being that is done to the sound of The first documented time the waltz was danced in the
music - can scarcely realize the horror which United States was in Boston in 1834. Lorenzo Papanti, a
greeted the introduction of this wicked dance." Boston dancing master, gave an exhibition, and was
roundly condemned. (The slower style he demonstrated
A lot of the disapproval was voiced by the older
became known as The Boston and though it eventually
generation, but seldom mentioned is the fact the
faded away, it did stimulate the development of the Slow
reigning Queen (Victoria) was a keen and expert
Waltz.) But by the middle of the nineteenth century, the
ballroom dancer with a special love of the waltz!
waltz was firmly established in US society.
Antagonism, of course, only served to increase the
Fortunately, violent opposition eventually faded out and
popularity of the dance all over Europe. In Paris
the Waltz emerges today in three main forms, all reflecting
alone there were nearly seven hundred dance
different characteristics and evolution of the dance.
halls.

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JAN CHRISTIAN S. NABAYRA

INSTRUCTOR
Gmail: janchristiansotillo440@gmail.com

TANG
Historical Background:
The choreographic sources of the Tango are Argentine and
Spanish folk dances.

In the early 19th Century, the Tango was a solo dance

performed by the woman. The Andalusian Tango was later done
by one or two couples walking together using castanets. The
dance was soon considered immoral with its flirting music!

The story of Tango as told is that it started with the gauchos of Phrasing is an important part of Tango.
Argentina. They wore chaps that had hardened from the foam
and sweat of the horse’s body. Hence to gauchos walked with Tango music is like a story. It contains paragraphs (Major
knees flexed. They would go to the crowded night clubs and ask phrases); sentences (Minor phrases); and the period at
the local girls to dance. Since the gaucho hadn't showered, the the end of the sentence is the Tango close.
lady would dance in the crook of the man's right arm, holding Boldness and resolution, sudden pauses and unexpected
her head back. Her right hand was held low on his left hip, close poses, and changes of directions are small part of this
to his pocket, looking for a payment for dancing with dance's charm.
him.Clothing was dictated by full skirts for the woman and
gauchos with high boots and spurs for the man. Contemporary Ballroom Tango could be differentiated in
two main styles: International (English) Style and
The man danced in a curving fashion because the floor was American one. The English Style is a predecessor of the
small with round tables, so he danced around and between competitive dance Tango.
them.
American Style Tango is not so much of a competitive
The dance spread throughout Europe in the 1900's. Originally dance, as a social one. Its main accent is concentrated on
popularized in New York in the winter of 1910 - 1911, Rudolph the partner's abilities to lead and follow. As a result of
Valentino then made the Tango a hit in 1921. this, there are some simplifications in the way of
After its succes in South America, in the beginning of the 20th performing the dance which leads to the main difference
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century Tango became hit in Europe. between the two styles. 2 Rhythmic
This is also
Activities
the reason for the
less competitions and champions for the American Style
The well-known French choreographer and composer Camil de Tango. The main difference between Argentine and
Rinal revamped the dance making it more simple and thereby competitive Tango is that the second one possess more
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Viennese Waltz
Historical Background:
Viennese Waltz (German origin, Wiener Walzer) is a genre of
a ballroom dance.

At least three different meanings are recognized. In the

historically first sense, the name may refer to several
versions of the waltz, including the earliest waltzes done in
ballroom dancing, danced to the music of Viennese Waltz.

The first dance of a three-fourth beat on record was danced

to folk music called the Volta. The dance was a peasant folk
dance from a provincial area in France in 1559.The Volta, In this waltz, the man assists his partner in the
however, is also claimed to be a folk dance from Italy during big step by lifting her as she takes the step
this time.The word "Volta" is an Italian word that means "the therefore accommodating gracefully the
turn". This shows that even in its earliest form, the waltz difference in leg length between partners.
involves a couple turning while dancing.
When this lift is incorporated in the Volta, the
The Volta became well-known in the royal courts of Western couple was required to hold each other in a very
Europe during the 16th century. It was described as similar to tight embrace. The level of intimacy produced
the Galliard, which is a dance performed to music with a 3/2 was deemed immoral by Louis XIII and banned
beat, but instead danced to a slower 6/4 beat. They are the action from court on this account.
similar because both dances make five steps to six beats,
therefore the dancers need to alternate feet in alternate What is now called the Viennese waltz is the
measures. original form of the waltz and the first ballroom
dance in the closed hold or "waltz" position. The
The partners in the Volta are in a closed position but the lady dance that is popularly known as the Waltz is
is positioned at the left of the man and is held by the waist. actually the English or slow waltz, danced
The lady places her right arm on her partner's shoulder and approximately at 90 beats per minute with 3
holds her skirt with her left hand. Holding the skirt is an beats to the bar (the international standard of 30
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important part of the dance because the frequent turning 2 Rhythmic Activities
measures per minute) while the Viennese Waltz
and lifting may cause the skirt to fly up. The lifting was done is danced at about 180 beats (98-60 measures) a
by the man using his left thigh which is positioned under the minute. To this day however, in Germany, Austria
lady's right thigh. This lift is demonstrated in the famous and France, the words "Walzer" (German for
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The Volta evolved from a three-time and became a

five-time. One of the first dances in three-time that
were published was the "Hole in the Wall" in 1695.
The first music played for the actual "Waltzen" was in
Germany in 1754. However, any link between the
Volta ad the Waltzen is unclear, although the word
"Waltzen" also means "to revolve" in German.

The Waltzen, as written in a magazine from 1799, is

performed by dancers who held on to their long
gowns to prevent them from dragging or being
stepped on. The dancers would lift their dresses and
hold them high like cloaks and this would bring both
their bodies under one cover. This action also
required the dancers' bodies to be very close
together and this closeness also attracted moral
The competitive style Viennese Walts has reduced
disparagement.
amount of steps: Change Steps, Passing Changes,
Wolf published a pamphlet against the dance entitled Hesitations, Hovers, the Contra Check, Natural и Reverse
"Proof that Waltzing is the Main Source of Weakness Turns.
of the Body and Mind of our Generation" in 1797.
The "Flecker" is one of the moves of the Viennese waltz
But even when faced with all this negativity, it that is performed at dancing competitions. It is a very
became very popular in Vienna. Large dance halls like ancient move that originated from the primitive folk
the Zum Sperl in 1807 and the Apollo in 1808 were dances of Austria and Germany. (For several centuries
opened to provide space for thousands of dancers. pairs have danced, spinning round on the same spot
The dance reached England in 1812 and was while holding each other very closely.)
introduced as the German Waltz and became a huge
This dance is performed third on competitions.
hit. Throughout the 19th century, the dance gained
further fame with the music of Josef and Johann
Strauss.

The Viennese Waltz is a rotary dance where the

dancers are constantly turning either in a clockwise
(natural) or anti-clockwise (reverse) direction
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interspersed with non-rotating change steps to
switch between the direction of rotation. A true
Viennese waltz consists only of turns and change
steps. Other moves such as the fleckerls, American-
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FOXTROT
Historical Background:
In the early days of the Twentieth Century, during the
Ragtime Era, a whole flock of "animal dances" were
briefly popular, formed out of the earlier Two Step.
There was the Squirrel, in which dancers took small,
mincing steps, a Duck Waddle involving quick walks and
sways of the upper body to the left and right, a Snake,
where dancers walked sinuously to banjo with a dip and
then to sidecar. There was the Lame Duck, Chicken
Scratch, Kangaroo Hop, a Horse Canter, and a Horse
Trot. And of course, there was the Fox Trot. In early 1914, Fox was appearing in various
vaudeville shows in the New York area. In April he
The Foxtrot originated in the summer of 1914 by teamed up with Yansci Dolly of the famous Dolly
Vaudeville actor Harry Fox. Born Arthur Carringford in Sisters in an act of Hammerstein's. At the same
Pomona, California, in 1882, he adopted the stage name time, the New York Theatre, one of the largest in
of "Fox" after his grandfather. the World, was being converted into a movie
According to legend, he was unable to find single female house. As an extra attraction, the theater's
dancers capable of performing the more difficult two- management decided to try vaudeville acts
step.[citation needed] As a result, he added stagger between the shows. They selected Harry Fox and
steps (two trots), creating the basic Foxtrot rhythm of his company of "American Beauties" to put on a
slow-slow-quick-quick. The dance was premiered in dancing act. An article in Variety Magazine stated
1914, quickly catching the eye of the talented husband "Harry Fox will appear for a month or longer at a
and wife duo Vernon and Irene Castle, who lent the large salary with billing that will occupy the front
dance its signature grace and style. of the theatre in electrics".

Harry was thrown on his own resources at the age of At the same time, the roof of the theatre was
fifteen. He joined a circus for a brief tour and he also converted to a Jardin de Danse, and the Dolly
played professional baseball for a short while. sisters were featured in a nightly revue.

The May 29, 1914 2issue

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music publisher liked his voice and hired him to sing of Variety
Rhythmic ActivitiesMagazine
songs from the boxes of vaudeville theaters in San reported
Francisco. "The debut of Harry Fox as a lone star and act
amidst the films of the daily change at the New
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The Foxtrot originated in the Jardin de Danse on the
roof of the New York Theatre. As part of his act
downstairs, Harry Fox was doing trotting steps to
ragtime music, and people referred to his dance as
"Fox's Trot."
In his versions of the dance Arthur Murray began to
imitate the positions of Tango, which probably had
played a role in the way the dance was performed
later.
The Foxtrot might not actually have started as an
"animal dance." One story tells of Harry Fox who
scattered with scantily clad women in static poses.
His act involved a fast, comical dance to 4/4 ragtime
music from one woman to the next where he would
deliver his jokes. The act was popular, the music was
widely marketed, and Fox's "Trot" became popular
in dance halls and dance studios. It was introduced
to members of the Imperial Society of Teachers of
Dancing in London in 1915.
The elite of the dancing world were soon trying to
capture the unusual style of movement and when a
very talented American, G.K. Anderson came over to
London, and with Josephine Bradley won many
competitions, he set the seal on the style of the
foxtrot
In its earliest days, the Foxtrot was not the smooth:
slow, quick, quick, of today (which if you think about dances, for some time Foxtrot was called Slow Foxtrot, or Slowfox.
it, is nothing like a "trot"). Back then dancers might These names are still in use, to distinguish from other types of
have taken four slow steps down line and then eight
quicks with just a little bit of a prance. They walked
in a circle. There was a lunge, close, lunge, close;
producing a full turn. There were hops and kicks.
There was a definite strutting or trotting look. One of
the first "definitions" of the rhythm came from an
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American teacher who said, "There are but two
things to remember; first a slow walk, two counts to
a step; second a trot or run, one count to each step."
As a result of the great popularity which ballroom dancing was
enjoying, it was necessary to evolve a form of dance that could
express the slow syncopated 4/4 rhythm and yet could remain "on
the spot."This did not mean that the "traveling" fox-trot was
dropped, but the "on the spot" dance did provide a means of
enjoying the music in a background which large numbers of people
could afford and enjoy, and where various bands were all producing
excellent and individual musicians and experimenting with and
perfect all of the new sounds and beats from America.
The "on the spot" dancing was known appropriately as crush, then
rhythm dancing. It is now called "social" dancing and possibly this
conveys its purpose and limitations. It would be anti-social to
attempt to stride around a ballroom crowded with dancers, to dance
with only one partner when out with a party, or to be so engrossed
with the performance of figures that any conversation is taboo.
The Foxtrot was the most significant development in all of ballroom
dancing. The combination of quick and slow steps permits more
flexibility and gives much greater dancing pleasure than the one-
step and two-step which it has replaced. There is more variety in the
fox-trot than in any other dance, and in some ways it is the hardest
dance to learn!
The Foxtrot appeared in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century
and reached its peak of popularity in the 20's. The rapid growth in its
popularity was due to the talented American dancers Vernon and
Irene Castle.
In the context of International Standard category of ballroom
Foxtrot.
There is such a great variety of steps and figures in this dance like
there is in no other balroom dance. This surely makes the Foxtrot
one of the hardest ones to perform.
Contemporary Foxtrot has steps from dances such as Peabody,
Quickstep и Roseland Foxtrot. 2 Rhythmic Activities
Foxtrot is fourth in the Standard program of all competitions - it is
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QUIC
KSTE
Historical Background:
The Quickstep evolved in the 1920s from a combination of the

P
Foxtrot, Charleston, Shag, Peabody and One Step. This dance is
English in origin and was standardized in 1927. The Quickstep now
is quite separate from the Foxtrot. Unlike the modern Foxtrot, the
man often closes his feet, and syncopated steps are regular
occurrences as was the case in early Foxtrot.

There was a debate as to why this dance became so popular in

Britain. It has been thought that the Quickstep was Brit's answer to
keeping warm indoors during the winter.

In the twenties many bands played the slow-Foxtrot too fast.
Eventually they developed into two different dances. The slow-
Foxtrot tempo was slowed down and Quickstep became the fast
version of the Foxtrot.
1925 began the Charleston fever, it had a lot of influence on the
development of the Quickstep. The English developed the
Quickstep from the original Charleston as a progressive dance
without kicks and mixed in the fast Foxtrot. They called this dance
"the QuickTime Foxtrot and Charleston".
At the 'Star' Championships of 1927, the English couple Frank Ford
and Molly Spain danced a version of the QuickTime Foxtrot and
Charleston without the characteristic Charleston knee actions and
made it a dance for two instead of a solo.
Note that there was a 19th century Quickstep,
which was a march-like dance and has no relation
to the modern ballroom step.
Competitions in America do not include the
Quickstep but there are social groups who dance
it regularly in bars and clubs.
Apparently there are several levels of
interpretation: a sparkling dance for youthful
dancers, a more refined nobility for middle-aged
dancers, and a more reserved, choice
choreography for older dancers.

It has been in the group of the Standard dances since 1927.

By the end of the 20th century the speed of Quickstep as done by

advanced dancers has increased even more, due to the extensive
use of steps with eighth note durations. While in older times
quickstep patterns were counted with "quick" (one beat) and
"slow" (two beats) steps, many advanced patterns today are cued
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with split beats, such as "quick-and-quick-and-quick-quick-slow".

Main difference between Foxtrot and Quickstep is that in the

second one the use of sincopated steps is almost compulsory. In
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Rich with variations, the Quickstep is considered The Pocket Grammar of standard dances. Main
reasons for that are:

 while the basic figures are quite simple, the tempo of the music and the whole character
of the dance seem to invite a carefree interpretation of its bright rhythm;
 it is a proven fact that the energy exerted while dancing a 60 second Quickstep is
equivalent to running a mile in record time;
 experienced dancers' level of performing and interpretation the Foxtrot is often
considered impossible by beginners.

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