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Where to go ballroom dancing in western MA and the NY capital district.
Ballroom dance - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. WDC World Youth (Under 2. Champions 2. 01. 3, Michael Foskett & Nika Vlasenko.
Ballroom dance is a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world. Because of its performance and entertainment aspects, ballroom dance is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television. Ballroom dance may refer, at its widest definition, to almost any type of partner dancing as recreation. However, with the emergence of dancesport in modern times, the term has become narrower in scope, and traditionally refers to the five International Standard and five International Latin style dances (see dance categories below). The two styles, while differing in technique, rhythm and costumes, exemplify core elements of ballroom dancing such as control and cohesiveness. Developed in England,[1] the two styles are now regulated by the World Dance Council (WDC) and the world dancesport federation.
Wdsf). In the United States, two additional variations are popular: American Smooth and American Rhythm, which combine elements of both traditional Latin and Ballroom dances. There are also a number of historical dances, and local or national dances, which may be danced in ballrooms or salons. Sequence dancing, in pairs or other formations, is still a popular style of ballroom dance.[2]Definitions and history[edit]The term 'ballroom dancing' is derived from the word ball which in turn originates from the Latin word ballare which means 'to dance' (a ball- room being a large room specially designed for such dances). In times past, ballroom dancing was social dancing for the privileged, leaving folk dancing for the lower classes.
These boundaries have since become blurred, and it should be noted even in times long gone, many ballroom dances were really elevated folk dances. The definition of ballroom dance also depends on the era: balls have featured popular dances of the day such as the Minuet, Quadrille, Polonaise, Polka, Mazurka, and others, which are now considered to be historical dances.
Early Modern Age[edit]The first authoritative knowledge of the earliest ballroom dances was recorded toward the end of the 1. Jehan Tabourot, under the pen name "Thoinot- Arbeau", published in 1. Orch. Г©sographie, a study of late 1. French renaissance social dance.
Among the dances described were the solemn basse danse, the livelier branle, pavane, and the galliarde which Shakespeare called the "cinq pace" as it was made of five steps.[3]. Galliard in Siena, Italy, 1. In 1. 65. 0 the Minuet, originally a peasant dance of Poitou, was introduced into Paris and set to music by Jean- Baptiste Lully and danced by the King Louis XIV in public, and would continue to dominate ballroom from that time until the close of the 1.
Largest and newest Ballroom in Antelope Valley, Ca. Join us for great Club dances and classes every Friday night. Places to go ballroom dancing in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, and the Capital district, New York. Incudes a calendar, schedules, prices, and maps. Incudes a list. Ballroom dancing videos and DVDs including swing, waltz, cha cha, foxtrot, rumba, tango, mambo, samba, bolero, quickstep, merengue, polka and west coast swing. Ballroom dance is a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world. Because of its performance and entertainment aspects. Dancing Club LA is the home of Ballroom and Latin American dancing in North London. You will learn the latin dances of Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba, Paso Doble and Jive. Latin & Ballroom (International) Beginners, Advanced & Weddings Very Patient Private Classes Singles and Couples.
Learn Ballroom Dancing, Tango, Salsa dance classes and lessons at Arthur Murray International Inc. We have over 250 dance schools and studios in Africa, Asia. Ballroom Dancing at the Cubberley Pavilion every Friday and Saturday night on the single largest all-wooden dance floor in the U.S. No partner required. Ballroom.
Toward the latter half of the 1. Louis XIV founded his 'Acad. Г©mie Royale de Musique et de Danse', where specific rules for the execution of every dance and the "five positions" of the feet were formulated for the first time by members of the Acad. Г©mie. Eventually, the first definite cleavage between ballet and ballroom came when professional dancers appeared in the ballets, and the ballets left the Court and went to the stage. Ballet technique such as the turned out positions of the feet, however, lingered for over two centuries and past the end of the Victoria era.[3]1. The waltz with its modern hold took root in England in about 1.
Carl Maria von Weber wrote Invitation to the Dance, which marked the adoption of the waltz form into the sphere of absolute music. The dance was initially met with tremendous opposition due to the semblance of impropriety associated with the closed hold, though the stance gradually softened.[3] In the 1. Polka, Mazurka, and the Schottische. In the meantime a strong tendency emerged to drop all 'decorative' steps such as entrechats and ronds de jambes that had found a place in the Quadrilles and other dances.
Early 2. 0th century[edit]Modern ballroom dance has its roots early in the 2. The first was a movement away from the sequence dances towards dances where the couples moved independently. This had been pre- figured by the waltz, which had already made this transition. The second was a wave of popular music, such as jazz, much of which was based on the ideas of black musicians in the USA.
Since dance is to a large extent tied to music, this led to a burst of newly invented dances. There were many dance crazes in the period 1. The third event was a concerted effort to transform some of the dance crazes into dances which could be taught to a wider dance public in the US and Europe. Here Vernon and Irene Castle were important, and so was a generation of English dancers in the 1. Josephine Bradley and Victor Silvester.
These professionals analysed, codified, published and taught a number of standard dances. It was essential, if popular dance was to flourish, for dancers to have some basic movements they could confidently perform with any partner they might meet.
Here the huge Arthur Murray organisation in America, and the dance societies in England, such as the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, were highly influential. Finally, much of this happened during and after a period of World War, and the effect of such a conflict in dissolving older social customs was considerable.[1][4]Later, in the 1. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers influenced all forms of dance in the USA and elsewhere.
Although both actors had separate careers, their filmed dance sequences together, which included portrayals of the Castles, have reached iconic status.[5] Much of Astaire and Rogers' work portrayed social dancing, although the performances were highly choreographed (often by Astaire or Hermes Pan), and meticulously staged and rehearsed.[6]Competitive dancing[edit]Competitions, sometimes referred to as Dancesport, range from world championships, regulated by the World Dance Council (WDC), to less advanced dancers at various proficiency levels. Most competitions are divided into professional and amateur, though in the USA pro- am competitions typically accompany professional competitions.[7] The International Olympic Committee now recognizes competitive ballroom dance.[8] It has recognized another body, the World Dance. Sport Federation (WDSF), as the sole representative body for dancesport in the Olympic Games. However, it seems doubtful that dance will be included in the Olympic Games, especially in light of efforts to reduce the number of participating sports.[citation needed]Ballroom dance competitions are regulated by each country in its own way. There are about 3. There are another 2. WDC and/or the WDSF, but whose dancers rarely appear in international competitions.[9] In Britain there is the British Dance Council, which grants national and regional championship titles, such as the British Ballroom Championships, the British Sequence Championships and the United Kingdom Championships.
In the United States, amateur dance proficiency levels are defined by USA Dance (formerly United States Amateur Ballroom Dance Association, USABDA). Ballroom dancing competitions in the former USSR also included the Soviet Ballroom dances, or Soviet Programme. Australian New Vogue is danced both competitively and socially. In competition there are 1. New Vogue dances, which are performed by the competitors in sequence.
These dance forms are not recognised internationally, neither are the US variations such as American Smooth, and Rhythm. Such variations in dance and competition methods are attempts to meets perceived needs in the local market- place. Internationally, the Blackpool Dance Festival, hosted annually at Blackpool, England, is considered the most prestigious event a dancesport competitor can attend. Formation dance is another style of competitive dance recognised by the IDSF.
In this style, multiple dancers (usually in couples and typically up to 1. Elements of competition[edit].
Intermediate level international style Latin dancing at the 2. MIT ballroom dance competition. A judge stands in the foreground.
In competition ballroom, dancers are judged by diverse criteria such as poise, the hold or frame, posture, musicality and expression, timing, body alignment and shape, floor craft, foot and leg action, and presentation. Judging in a performance- oriented sport is inevitably subjective in nature, and controversy and complaints by competitors over judging placements are not uncommon.
The scorekeepers—called scrutineers—will tally the total number recalls accumulated by each couple through each round until the finals, when the Skating system is used to place each couple by ordinals, typically 1–6, though the number of couples in the final may vary. Sometimes, up to 7 couples may be present on the floor during the finals. °—and bronze the lowest. In these levels, moves are restricted to those written in syllabus, and illegal moves can lead to disqualification. Each level, bronze, silver, and gold, has different moves on their syllabus, increasing in difficulty. At these levels, the elaborate costumes are not allowed, as there are very strict clothing restrictions. Jewels on costumes or hair can lead to disqualification.[1.
Open levels are reserved for higher- skilled dancers, usually taking time to get to that caliber of dancing. There are three levels in the open category; novice, pre- champ, and champ in increasing order of skill. At those levels, dancers no longer have restrictions on clothing, so gowns covered in jewels for example, are allowed in the smooth and standard dances, and fringe dresses with huge cutouts and elaborate designs are now allowed in the rhythm and Latin categories. Women also tend to wear extremely intricate hairstyles and bright makeup, often with jewels glued on in patterns. Medal tests[edit]Medal examinations for amateurs enable dancers' individual abilities to be recognized according to conventional standards.