Nature and Background of Social Dances and Dance Mixers

SOCIAL DANCES AND DANCE MIXERS

 It is primarily intended to get to know other people.

 Also called ballroom dances.

BALLROOM DANCES

 Usually performed in pair: male and female. Sometimes, it is performed

by group.

2 MAJOR CLASSIFICATIONS OF BALLROOM DANCES

1.LATIN AMERICAN DANCES

 It can be determined through the costume worn by the performers. It is

revealing, tight-fitting, sexy and sophisticated in nature.
 It can be performed in an open hold or close hold.
 It can also be aesily determined by the nature of movement. The
movement shows rhythmic expression, sensual, and spicy style.
a. Cha-cha-cha
 Country of Origin: Cuba
 It is lively, fun, cheeky and playful dance.
 The music for the international ballroom cha-cha-cha is energetic
and with a steady beat. The music may involve complex
polyrhythms.
b. Rumba
 Country of Origin: Cuba
 It is recognized for the subtle side to side hip movements with the
erect torso.
 It is universally recognized as the “dance of love”.
 It is danced to slow, sensual music with a Latin beat and features
a hip action known as “Cuban Motion”.
c. Samba
 Country of Origin: Brazil
 It is known to the simple forward and backward steps and tilting,
and rocking body movements.
 A fun, upbeat, lively dance that progresses counter-clockwise
arounf the floor.
  It is characterized by its syncopated timing bounce, rolling hip
action and pelvic tilt and a great deal of rhythm is expressed
throughout the torso.
d. Paso Doble
 Country of Origin: Spain
 It is an energetic dance modeled after the drama of the Spanish
bullfight.
e. Boogie and Jive
 Country of Origin: USA
 It is described as very happy, boppy, lively dance, with many of
knee-lifting, bending, and rocking of the hips.
f. Swing
 Country of Origin: USA
 It is known as an energetic style of dancing in which a dancer often
lifts, spins and flips his or her partner.
g. Merengue
 Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
 It is described as a fun, fast and easy dance made up of simple
steps.
 It is composed of a non-progressive dance, but can also travel
counter-clockwise around the floor.
h. Salsa
 Country of Origin: Cuba
 It is a combination of many Latin and Afro-Caribbean dances
whose movements was coming from in the Cuban Son, Cha-Cha-
Cha, Mambo and other dance forms.
i. Mambo
 Country of Origin: Cuba
 It is recognized as a fast and spicy dance. The Cuban motion,
staccato movement and expression of rhythm through the body is
noticeable.

2.MODERN STANDARD DANCES

 The performers wear ankle-length gowns for females and coat-and-tie for
males.
  Most of the time, they perform close ballroom position. However, if it is
dancesport, it is strict to do ballroom position.

5 Genres of Modern Sandard Dance

1. Slow Waltz
 Country of Origin: Austria
 It is a smooth dance that travels around the dance floor.
 It is easy to recognize slow waltz because of the “rise and fall”
action.
2. Tango
 Country of Origin: Argentina
 It is very rich in expression, improvisation and connection.
 It is described as vibrant and playful dance between two people.
3. Viennese Waltz
 Country of Origin: Vienna
 It is known for its noticeable gracefulness and constant, wide-
sweeping turns along with its fast tempo.
 A true Viennese waltz consists only of turns and change steps.
4. Foxtrot
 Country of Origin:USA
 It is beautiful, romantic dance that consists of fairy simple
walking steps and side steps.
5. Quick Step
 Country of Origin: USA
 The dance is suited for both formal and informal events because ot
the upbeat melodies that Quickstep is danced.
 The dance steps can be described as fast, powerfully flowing,
sprinkled with syncopation.

DANCESPORTS

 Is different from social or ballroom dances because it requires

athleticism. It has estav]blished rules of different levels of difficulty.

DANCE MIXERS

 Are social dances that allows group of performers to change partners

periodically while dancing to allow chance to get to know other members
of the performing group.
 The major purpose of dance mixers is to maximize the social dimension
of the dance.