DANCESPORT

*What is Dancesport?
-Dancesport is a combination
of art and sport. It was called
competitive ballroom dancing
in the past. This goes with
partners (male and lady)
competing against partners
dancing on the floor at one
time. Dancesport provides an
avenue to gain discipline of
the body and mind of the
dance athletes.
What are the characteristics of
dancesport?
Fundamental characteristics of dancesport as a dance style (Radler, 1998):

1. Posture – enables a dancer to stand out on the floor,

which shows sophistication and confidence.
2. Timing – dancing on time with the music.
3. Line – the stretching of the body.
4. Hold – the correct position of the body with the partner in
closed position.
5. Poise – the stretch of the woman’s body upwards and
outwards and leftwards into the man’s right arm to
achieve balance and connection with his frame, as well
as to project outwards to the audience.
6. Togetherness – dancing of the two people as one on the
dance floor.
7. Musicality and expression – the basic characterization of
the dance with the particular music being played and the
choreographic adherence to musical phrasings and
accents.
8. Presentation – how the couple presents their dancing to
the audience as well as the proper costuming and
grooming.
9. Power – the energy that is controlled and not wild.
10. Foot and leg action – the use of lower extremities that
creates balance, beauty and strength.
11. Shape – the combination of turn and sway to create a
look or a position.
12. Lead and follow – the non-verbal communication of the
man and lady through shape, visual, and body weight.
13. Floorcraft – the ability to avoid bumping into other
couples and continue dancing without pause when boxed
in.
14. Intangibles – how a couple “look” together in performing
their dances.

What are the different dancesport

styles?

The International Standard and international Latin techniques

were codified by the Imperial Society of Teacher of Dance
(ISTD) to come up with a unified syllabus for all those
interested in learning ballroom dancing. This book became the
source in the development of dancesport in the world.
A. International Standard
1. Waltz – was introduced in
England in 1874 but it was in
1922 that it became as
fashionable as Tango. Waltz’s
steps have already undergone
and improvements as well and
as a result of this, many more
variations became possible.
These results have been
standardized eventually by the
Imperial Society of Teacher of
dancing (ISTD).
Time Signature – ¾ with the 1st beat
accented.
2. Tango – was first dance in
Europe before World War I. It
originate from Buenos Aires
(Argentina) where it was first
danced in “Barrio de Las Ranas,”
the ghetto of Buenos Aires
(Dance Universe data accessed
July 3, 2015).

Time Signature – 2/4 with both

beats accented.
3. Foxtrot – was named after an
American performer Harry Fox,
which was premiered in 1914.
W.C. Handy (father of the
Blues) notes in his
autobiography that his “The
Memphis Blues” was the
inspiration for the foxtrot, (W.C.
Handy, 1969).

Time Signature – 4/4 with the first

and third beats accented.
4. Quickstep – was developed
during World war I in New York
and became popular ballrooms.
It has a common origin as that
of the Foxtrot (Dance
Universe).

Time Signature – 4/4 with the first

and third beats accented.
5. Viennese Waltz – is
controversial dance with so
many claims about its origin but
known to be born in the modest
outskirts of Austria and Bavaria

Time Signature – 6/8 with the first

beat accented.
B. International Latin
1. CHACHACHA – is a newcomer in
Latin American dances with origin
only in the fifties but it became
popular shortly after Mambo was
introduced. Just recently, the
name was shorted to Cha-cha.
Time Signature – 4/4 with accented
beat on the first and fourth of
each bar.
2. Samba – is the national dance
of Brazil, which originated in
Africa. It is danced during
carnival time.

Time Signature – 2/4 with musical

accent on the first beat and
percussive accent on the
second beat.
3. Rumba – originates primarily
from Cuba in the sixteenth
century, which has its roots in
African rhythms brought to
America by the slaves. It is
composed of three rhythms: the
Guaguancó, the Yambú, the
Columbia.

Time Signature – 4/4 with an

accent on the first beat and
fourth beat of each bar.
4. Paso Doble – means “double
step,” which originated from
Spain and is inspired by
bullfighting. The Paso Doble is
one of the most dramatic of all
the Latin dances.

Time Signature – 2/4 with an

accent on the first beat of each
bar.
5. Jive – was developed from the
dance in the United States, it
slowly spread to the European
countries and in the united
Kingdom. The popularity of this
dance form coincided with that
of Rock n’ Roll.

Time Signature – 4/4 with accent

on the first beat, second beat,
and fourth beat of each bar.