Ballroom Dance

is a paired dance that can enjoy both socially and competitively. "Ballroom dancing" is
derived from the word ball. From the latin word ‘ballare’ which means to dance

● Started late 18th century and early 19th century in England

● Ballroom started to build up during early 1920s
● Became popular on late 19th century and early 20th century
● ISTD - Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing formed

Elements of Ballroom

1. Timing
understand how to count the dance you are learning.
2. Steps and Footwork
to learn relates to the steps and footwork
3. Lead and Follow
focus on the leading and following techniques

Latin American Origin Modern Origin

Dances Standard
Dances

Cha Cha Cha Cuba Slow Waltz Austria

Rumba Cuba Tango Argentina

Jive USA Viennese Waltz Vienna

Samba Brazil Foxtrot USA

Swing USA Quickstep USA

Paso Doble Spain — —

Salsa Cuba — —

Mambo Cuba Cuba — —

Cha Cha Cha Dance

is a flirty dance that grew out of the Cuban Mambo and became popular in the United
States in 1950’s

has a Cuban Motion and Hip Motion. This is an exuberant dance that will get your heart
pumping and put a smile on your face

History of Cha Cha Cha

1948 - Enrique Jorrin is a Cuban Violinist and he created the first Cha Cha Cha song.
1952 - Pierre Lavelle is a English dance teacher who visited Cuba and saw dancers dancing
this triple step to slow rumba and mambo music.
1954 - When Cha Cha Cha was introduced to US which replaced mambo as the latest dance
craze.
1959 - Mambo was the most popular dance that has been replaced by Cha Cha Cha.

Doris Lavelle
Monsieur Pierre

Bruce Lee
at the age of 18 he joined a competition and was victorious in winning the Hong Kong Cha Cha
Cha Championship in 1958.

Characteristics of Cha Cha Cha

● Playful and vibrant dance
● Gives a unique sense of fun for dancers
● It danced with 4/4 time
● Fourth beat is divided into two which is 2,3,4 and 1 rhythm
● Five steps and four beats as in the “one, two, cha cha cha” pattern.

Musical Information
Beat: 4/4
Temp: 30-32 measures per min.
Count: “2-3-cha-cha-cha” or 1-2-3-cha-cha” and other variations
CPP - Counter Promenade Position

The Cha Cha Cha or 4&1 are called a chasse

Chasse is a gliding step in dancing in which one foot displaces the other.

Rumba Dance

● This captivating favorite of Latin American Dancers throughout the world

● Characterized by strong leg and hip action which adds to the styling of the sensual
and sexy Rumba.
● Rumba is acknowledged as the dance of passion/love.
● It's danced to slow, sensual music with a Latin beat and features a hip movement known
as "Cuban Motion."
● Rumba, spelled as rhumba, is a ballroom dance of Afro-Cuban folk-dance roots.
● Became internationally famous in the early 20th century.
● Best known for the subtle side-to-side hip motions of the dancers with an upright
chest.
● Rumba dances with a simple pattern of two fast side steps and a slow forward step.

History of Rumba
● It's developed from "Son" and "Danzon," which transpires from Cuba in 1860’s
● Cuban Rumba arrived in Cuba with the black slaves from Africa, and it's performed to a
fiery orchestra of drums.
● It's developed from "Son“ for regular class and "Danzon” for upper class
● Rumba Cubana is a mixture of Spanish Rumba (analytic side) and African Rumba
(energy and rhythmic parts)
● Started to talk and hear in US in 1914
 ● After Lew Quinn and Joan Sawyer introduced it in 1913, then by Emil Coleman in
1923 and Benito Collada in 1925
● Then, a famous orchestra leader named Xavier Cugat popularized Rumba in the late
1920s
● In 1930, "The Peanut Vendor" by Don Azpiazu's Havana Casino Orchestra was
released, and it became a hit as the new dance craze.
● While in the mid-1950s, it was introduced to Europe by Pierre Lavelle and has
evolved to today's "Ballroom Rumba."
● The united states, imperial society of teachers and dancing
● ISTD- include rumba in competition
● Style became more sensual and known as “dance of love”

Musical Information
Rhythm: 4/4
Counting: 2,3,4 …1
Dance Pattern: slow - quick - quick
●