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Ballroom Dancing
Danced as a partnership in a formal hold, ballroom dancers epitimise the fluid graceful movement around the floor; to be enjoyed by both participants and spectators. All ballroom dances progress around the dance floor in an anticlockwise direction.
Wonderful Waltz - probably the best known of the ballroom dances and the oldest of the current dances, having been around since the early 19th century, the waltz is known as the 'gliding dance'. The waltz is typically soft, gentle and romantic with long sweping steps. Danced to a rhythm of 3/4 music the waltz is characterised by sway, rise and fall.
Tantalizing Tango - generally believed to have originated in Argentina in the late 19th century, this dramatic dance is unique among the ballroom dances in that it has no rise and fall but is danced flat with flexed knees. It has a staccato movement and a more compact hold than the other ballroom dances. It is danced to 2/4 time music.
Quirky Quickstep - this lighthearted dance evolved in the 1920's from a combination of other dances includign the foxtrot and charlston. This fast tempo, fun dance includes the rapid coverage of the floor punctuated by moments of hops, pendulum swings and turns. It is considered the most attractive expression of rhythm with dancers light on their feet and using a 4/4 timing pattern.
Virtuous Vienese Waltz - danced to music which is faster than the waltz although still 3/4 timing. This is a swirly, twirly dance, where the dancers are continualy turning, flying gracefully around the floor. This dance requires an element of spatial awareness if attempted with other couples on the floor!
Fabulous Foxtrot - dating from just prior to the 1920's with its name originating from an American actor Harry Fox, this elegant dance is often considered the most difficult of the ballroom dances to master. But the joy invoked when dancing the foxtrot is well worth the effort involved in its learning - visualise Ginger Rogers and Fred Astair! The foxtrot relies not only on continuous movement and flow across the floor but also intricate footwork with heel leads and turns. The music this is danced to is 4/4 timing, typically Frank Sinatra! |