PE 212 7.

Foot positions
includes the balletic positions and how they move. First position is considered a “neutral” position
LESSON 1 since your feet are straight under your body. The other positions, however, can move either
forward and back or side to side like a compass.
The History of Ballroom and Dancing
There are five basic positions of the feet:
The term 'ballroom dancing' is derived from the word ‘ball’ which in turn originates from the Latin
word ballade which means 'to dance' (a ball-room being a large room specially designed for such First position
dances). feet together (feet in line with heels together, toes forward and slightly turned out.);
Second position
In times past, ballroom dancing was social dancing for the privileged, leaving folk dancing for the feet apart (feet in line, heels apart, separated by about the length of one's foot;
lower classes. These boundaries have since become blurred. The definition of ballroom dance Third position
also depends on the era: balls have featured popular dances of the day such as the: heel to instep (feet touching, one foot in front of the other with heel to instep);
 Minuet Fourth position
 Quadrille normal walking step (feet apart, separated about the length of a foot, one foot in front of the
 Polonaise other);
 Polka Fifth position
 Mazurka feet touching, one foot in front, heel to toe and toe to heel. Often used in a rock-step.
and others, which are now considered to be historical dances.
Terminologies to remember in ballroom dancing. Footwork
Is specifically what part of your foot is touching the floor. Some examples for what it could refer to
Alignment is the toe or the ball of the foot.
is the directions that the leader uses to navigate the room in the travelling dances. Chasse
Line Is the side together side motion that you would use in dances like Bachata and Cha-cha.
of dance is the counter clockwise movement around the floor that dancers in travelling dances Poise
like Waltz and Tango follow. This is very important as it minimizes collisions on the dance floor! Is leaning forward over the balls of the feet for Latin dances like Rumba, or leaning back over the
Amalgamation heels for Ballroom dances like Waltz.
means taking several steps in a dance without doing a basic in between. This is a great way to Slows and quick’s
learn how to dance more fluidly. In short, slows take up two beats, and quicks are one beat.
Dance position Sway
for social dances is how the leader and the follower hold each other. Refers to stretching to keep your balance during rotation in Waltz, Foxtrot and Viennese Waltz. This
is what makes the dance look and feel voluminous and like it takes up a lot of space instead of
There are five basic positions of the dance: being static.
1. Closed position
the normal hold where partners stand facing each other. In the smooth ballroom dances, partners Syncopation
stand very close together in body contact, slightly offset to the left. In the Latin dances, partners Refers to when there are two steps in one beat, like in Cha-cha.
stand a few inches apart, either directly in front of each other or very slightly offset. Dance Sport
2. Open position Is the official name given to the sport of competitive ballroom dancing.
any dance position where man and lady stand apart or slightly apart, without taking a closed Ball Change
position dance hold. A change of weight from the ball of one foot to the flat of the other foot.
3. Open facing position Close
a variation of Open Position where man and lady stand apart, facing each other, usually with a To bring feet together without a change of weight
one- or two-hand connection. Fan
4. Outside partner position Circular motion of the free foot.
a variation of the Closed Position where the tracking of the man and lady's feet are slightly offset. Frame
When in Posture, body position, and arm position for the purpose of maintaining connection.
5. Outside Partner position Flex
the person moving forward will step in CBMP, to the partner's right or left. To bend slightly or relax a portion of the body. Example: the flex of the knee.
6. Promenade position Cuban Motion
A V-shaped dance position where both man and lady move forward and in the same direction, A hip motion resulting from the alternate bending and straightening of the knees
toward the open end of the "V”
Step
The transfer of weight from one foot to another. Frequently used to mean the same thing as figure Types of Latin Dances:
or pattern of steps
Ball Change Rhumba
A change of weight from the ball of one foot to the flat of the other foot. a rhythmic dance with Spanish and African elements, originating in Cuba.
Slide Cha-cha-cha
To bring the free foot slowly together to the weighted foot. a ballroom dance with small steps and swaying hip movements, performed to a Latin American
Split rhythm.
The feet move apart with the weight evenly distributed over both feet. Swing
Natural Turn Swing dance is a group of dances that developed with the swing style of jazz music in the 1920s–
A turn to the right. 1940s.
Outside Turn Pasodoble-
The follower turns to the right under the leader's left hand or to the left under the leader’s right is a theatrical Latin dance with Spanish and French origins. It is a dramatic dance that tells a story
hand. See also inside turn. through sharp, staccato movements, striking body poses, and flamenco style footwork.
Reverse Turn Samba
A turn to the left. ballroom dance of Brazilian origin, popularized in western Europe and the United States in the
early 1940s. Characterized by simple forward and backward steps and tilting, rocking body
Two Classifications of Ballroom Dancing: movements, it is danced to music in 4/4 time with syncopated rhythm.

Latin Dances - consists of the Cha-cha-cha, Rhumba, Samba, Paso doble, and also the Swing. PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN DANCE
Modern Standard – consists of the Modern Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, and
Quickstep, are dance the world over both socially and in Dance Sport competitions. Dance
• The word “Dance” come from an Old German word Danson Which means “ to stretch”.
LESSON 2 All dancing is made up of stretching and relaxing.
Dance Defines...
Modern Standard • as an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and music,
earliest evidence of the Waltz resides in descriptions of peasant or lower-class dances where the used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance
partners would hold each other closely. setting.
• as an art that uses non- verbal movement in an ordinary way to create a form, order, or
Types of Modern Standard: statement
• as movement that transcends function and becomes communication.
Waltz - a dance in triple time performed by a couple, who as a pair turn rhythmically around and Dance (also called "dancing") can fit the following categories:
around as they progress around the dance floor. • an activity or behavior.
Foxtrot - is a smooth, progressive dance characterized by long, continuous flowing movements • one of the arts – a creative endeavor or discipline.
across the dance floor. It is danced to big band (usually vocal) music. The dance is similar in its • one of the performing arts.
look to Waltz, although the rhythm is in a 4/4- time signature instead of 3/4. • Hobby – regular activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure, typically
Quick Step - is a light-hearted dance of the standard ballroom dances. The movement of the done during one's leisure time.
dance is fast and powerfully flowing and sprinkled with syncopations. Its origins are in combination • Exercise – bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall
of slow foxtrot combined with the Charleston, a dance which was one of the precursors to what health and wellness.
today is called swing dancing. • Sport—bodily activity that displays physical exertion
Tango - a ballroom dances of Latin American origin in 2/4 time with a basic pattern of step-step- • Recreation – leisure time activity
step-step-close and characterized by long pauses and stylized body positions also: the music for • Ritual
this dance. These three areas known as:
Viennese Waltz - is a genre of ballroom dance. A rotary dance where the dancers are constantly 1. SPACE- encompasses the overall design of movement- where it takes place in the space, as
turning either toward the leader's right (natural) or toward the leader's left (reverse), interspersed well as its size and shape.
with non-rotating change steps to switch between the direction of rotation. 2. ENERGY (also called Force) involves the flow of motion- how movements are animated by
kinetic energy in distinctive ways.
LESSON 3 3. TIME includes how fast or slows of the movement

Latin dance
is a general label, and a term in partner dance competition jargon. It refers to types of ballroom
dance and folk dance that (with few exceptions) originated in Latin America. Social Latin dances
(Street Latin) include salsa, mambo, merengue, rumba, bachata, bomba and plena.
Dancing maintains and improves our quality of life more than any other human activity:
• physical fitness - whole body
• mind/body coordination
• social engagement and cooperation
• memory, and whole brain exercise
• accessibility and diversity
• self-expression and artistic/creative outlet
• mental health

Health benefits of dancing

Dancing can be a way to stay fit for people of all ages, shapes and sizes. It has a wide range of
physical and mental benefits including: improved condition of your heart and lungs
• increased muscular strength, endurance and motor fitness
• increased aerobic fitness
• improved muscle tone and strength
• weight management
• stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis
• better coordination, agility and flexibility
• improved balance and spatial awareness
• increased physical confidence
• improved mental functioning
• improved general and psychological wellbeing
• greater self-confidence and self-esteem
• better social skills