HISTORY OF BALLROOM DANCING

• Ballroom dancing as a term hails from the Latin word “ballare” which, coincidentally, means “to dance.”
• Today, ballroom dancing applies to numerous dances in which a “leader” and a “follower” dance together in close proximity, usually with some degree of physical contact. This closeness is to permit the leader to get the follower to, well, follow along.
• The first documented authority of early ballroom dancing is Jehan Thoinot’Arbeau’s Orchesographie (1588) that discussed 16th-century French social dance. In 1650, Jean-Baptiste Lully introduced the Minuet to Paris—a dance that would dominate ballroom until the end of the 18th century.
• The Waltz came about in England in the early 1800s
• By 1840, the Polka, Mazurka, and Schottische emerged.
• In the early 20th century, ballroom dancing experienced massive popularity in the US with the extremely successful dancing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
• The “ballroom” dances are generally “smooth” dances
• Triple step - Triple steps are popular in swing dancing. The Triple Step is a three step sequence taken on two beats of music. 1 & 2 ( one-and-two)
• Rock Step - Here we see a sequence of two steps called a rock step. The step timing is usually slow-slow.
• • Basic of East Coast Swing The combination of two triple steps and a rock step form the basic step of triple timing swing or the East Coast Swing. The step timing is usually called out as 1&2, 3&4, 5,6.
• Ball-Change - Here we see a sequence of two steps called a ball-change. Weight on the ball of the foot is changed to the other foot
• Kick Ball Change - A popular swing dance step is the kick-ball-change step, which can be used to replace the rock step. The timing is usually 1&2.
• The Basic Step of the Carolina Shag - The combination of two triple steps and a kick ball change can be used in triple timing swing dances such as the Carolina shag.
• Coaster Step - The coaster step is usually a back-together-forward triple step danced to the timing of 1&2 or quick, quick, slow.
• Sailor Step - The sailor step has a side to side look. It is also a triple step danced to the timing of 1&2. The step is accomplished by leaning in the opposite direction of the crossing foot.
• Anchor Step - The anchor step is a stationary triple step danced in third foot position to the timing of 1&2. It is popular in the west coast swing.
• Grapevine - The grapevine is a continuous traveling step pattern to the side usually with alternating crosses behind and in front of the supporting foot.
• Lock Step – The lock step is usually danced to triple step timing. During the step, the lower part of the legs cross such that the back leg becomes locked behind the leading leg until the leading leg moves forward. The lock step is often used in the triple step of the cha cha cha.