SOCIAL DANCES AND DANCE INJURIES

SOCIAL DANCING
- Social dancing is a non-competitive version of ballroom and Latin dancing. It is
comprised of all the same dances like foxtrot, tanga, swing or cha-cha but
designed to be used in practical settings like wedding receptions, nightclubs,
business functions, or informal gatherings.
- Social dancing is less formal that exhibition dancing and is meant to be enjoyed
while socializing.

ETIQUETTE
- Is the set of conventional rules which govern the social behavior of social dance
by its participants. Such rules include the way in which the participants should
look and way in which they approach, dance with and leave their partner.

DIFFERENT DANCE ETIQUETTES

1. NO FAULT DANCING
- Never blame your partner
- Dance to the level of your partner

2. ENJOYING THE DANCE

- Be sensitive to your partner’s preferences
- Observe proper demeanor

3. TEACHING ON THE FLOOR

- Solicit teaching from the appropriate person in the right place at the right time
- Avoid unsolicited teaching

4. PERSONAL GROOMING
- Before the dance:
a. Practice good hygiene (shower, apply deodorant, brush your teeth)
b. Abstain from certain items or activities (eating food with strong smell)
- During the dance:
a. Checking grooming and freshen up
b. Carry extra clothes

5. WHAT TO WEAR
- Follow dress protocol
- Prioritize comfort and safety when choosing clothes

6. ASKING FOR A DANCE

- Dance with as many as possible
- Decline a dance in a polite but straightforward manner
- Do not be discourage if decline
EXERCISE FOR BALLROOM DANCING
- Before dancing, it is important to do warm up. Participating to any activity like
dancing can put you at risk of injury
- Flexibility and strengthening exercises are recommended to help you retain
poses and perform dance movements properly.

FLEXIBILITY AND BALANCE EXERCISES

- Ballroom dancers perform a good range of movements by incorporating yoga
poses in their exercises routine that improves flexibility and balance.

STRENGTHENING EXERCISES FOR UPPER BODY AND CORE

- Muscular strength, especially a strong core, is crucial for male dancers in lifting
their partners.
- Core strength is important to maintaining posture and body alignment, and it is
the foundation for all dance moves.

BENEFITS OF BALLROOM DANCING

- Improves body coordination
- Improves balance and muscle tone
- Increase bone density
- Decrease risk of dementia and other mental illness
- Minimize the risk of heart-related disease like high blood pressure

LATIN AMERICAN AND MODERN STANDARD DANCES

- These dances, also called “rhythm dances” feature many of the sensual,
romantic

CHA CHA CHA

- The cha cha is a playful and flirtatious dance known for its vibrant energy.
Although it is traditionally dance to up beat music with a Latin or Cuban beat,
today it is common to dance the cha cha to many current styles of music
including top 40, pop and r&b.

JIVE
- The jive is lively and fast-paced dance that is typically danced to up beat swing
or contemporary music. In the competitive ballroom dancing communities, the
jive is considered a Latin dance, however, it also belongs to the swing dancing
family.

RUMBA
 - The rumba is one of the most beautiful Latin style dances, earning its nickname
as “the dance of love”
- It is characterized by swaying hips, a still upper body and close partner
connections. Although it is traditionally danced to slow Latin music, it is now
common to dance the rumba to current, popular ballads. Because of this, the
rumba is a popular style choice for a wedding dance and slow partner dancing.

MODERN STANDARD DANCES

- Modern ballroom, sometimes just ballroom or standard, is the term given to a
set of five dances: modern waltz (often called slow waltz, or just waltz)
quickstep, slow foxtrot, tango and Viennese waltz

MODERN WALTZ
- The name waltz comes from an old German word walzen, meaning to roll, turn
or glide. Waltz was the first dance in which the man and lady danced with body
contact
- Often called slow waltz or just waltz

QUICK STEP
- The quickstep is a light-hearted dance of the standard ballroom dances. The
movement of the dance is fast and powerfully flowing and sprinkled with
syncopations. The upbeat melodies that quickstep is danced to make it suitable
for both formal and informal events.

FOXTROT
- Foxtrot is a smooth dance, travelling around the line of dance. The long walking
movements involve a subtle rise and fall action. Turning movements are like
waltz, but with a more moderate rise and fall, and more length-wise action.

TANGO
- One of the most fascinating of all dances, the tango is a sensual ballroom
dance that originated in Buenos Aires. Argentina in the early twentieth century.
The tango dance 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.

COMMON DANCE INJURIES

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