- Main part
3.1. A little history
The art of ballroom dancing originated many centuries ago in rainy England, but hot weather can rightfully be considered their homeland. Latin America, and snowy Russia. Modern ballroom dancing- is the result of long development and influence of culture different nations, music and costume. They include many different types of choreography, from ancient and folk to modern. Complicating choreography and technical requirements determined the need for dancers to have good physical fitness. Previously, dancing was considered a kind of art. Today it is common to consider modern ballroom dancing as an “artistic sport”.
This means that modern ballroom dancing is also an art, airy, so seemingly light, soaring above the ground and calling upward, an art that is associated with serious physical labor. Dancers are renowned for their excellent physical fitness; The more professional the dancer, the higher his speed, the better his coordination, and the greater his strength. In addition, to know and implement dance technique, it is necessary to have developed muscles in order to be able to demonstrate this technique clearly, with greater amplitude, speed and precise rhythm. If a dancer wants to shine and look his best, he needs to best form body was with him constantly. And dancing skill will grow in proportion to the level of physical fitness of the dancer.
Conducting a survey of children on the topic “The World of My Hobbies” (Appendix 1), I found that most boys of my age engage in wrestling, fewer in swimming and football, there are those who engage in music and painting, but only girls do dancing. The survey showed that boys are closer to sports (Appendix 2). But why? Why do boys, when they hear about dancing, roll their eyes and immediately say “no”!? Is this really embarrassing? It's a shame to have good posture good health, in the end, is it a shame to be able to communicate with girls? I think this is explained by the fact that few people are familiar with the sport of ballroom dancing.
Sports ballroom dancing is a set of dances that includes two programs: European and Latin American. The European program includes: slow waltz, quickstep, tango, Viennese waltz, slow foxtrot; The Latin American program includes dances: cha-cha-cha, jive, rumba, samba and paso doble. Because sports ballroom dancing is certain type sports, then dances are studied gradually, and each dance consists of a certain set of figures, the complexity of which also increases over time.
Another one of the inseparable parts good dance- these are facial expressions, gestures and the nature of the execution of figures that give the dance an emotional manifestation.
- Conclusion
- improves physique;
- trains muscles;
- strengthens the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
I was dancing
I do dancing
I'll be dancing!
- Kasatkina L.V. Dance is life. St. Petersburg, 2006
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“Topic: “Modern ballroom dancing - is it an art or a sport?” »
Subject:“Is modern ballroom dancing an art or a sport?”
Introduction
In everyone's life modern child whose parents are not indifferent to the development and upbringing of their beloved child, sooner or later the time comes when it is necessary to make a decision about where he will study - in sports section, theater studio or in art school. The same situation happened in my life 4 years ago. My mother took me to a modern ballroom dance club and told the leader: “My boy is shy, timid and unsure of himself. He is not an athlete by nature, let him dance. “To which the coach replied: “We have a sports dance club.” Mom continued: “Okay, let him dance sportily.” This is how I’ve been thinking for five years now, where did I end up, where did my mother take me: into sports or art?
All these years, my family and friends have supported me, praised me and are proud of me, but my peers began to laugh: “They say, Artyom, you are not doing a man’s business.” I'm annoyed and offended. There were times when I thought about quitting dancing and doing something else. But the coach and parents insist on dancing, claiming that they give a lot to my development.
This year I started studying at a music school, but I didn’t give up dancing, and I am still interested in the question “Is modern ballroom dancing an art or a sport?” And how are these activities useful? For an answer I turned to literary sources, Internet resources, and also asked friends. And I present the results of my research below.
Goals and objectives
The purpose of my work:
understand what modern ballroom dancing is and how the harmonious development of a person occurs through a combination of art and sport in dance.
During my work I need to solve the following problems:
reveal the concept of “ballroom dancing”;
highlight the qualities that are formed during dance classes;
get acquainted with the features of the training process;
analyze, summarize and systematize the data obtained;
Introduce your classmates to the results of your work.
Main part
3.1. A little history
The art of ballroom dancing originated many centuries ago in rainy England, but hot Latin America and snowy Russia can rightfully be considered their homeland. Modern ballroom dancing is the result of a long development and influence of the culture of different peoples, music and costume. They include many different types of choreography, from ancient and folk to modern. The increasing complexity of choreography and technical requirements determined the need for dancers to be in good physical shape. Previously, dancing was considered a kind of art. Today it is common to consider modern ballroom dancing as an “artistic sport”.
The organic combination of sports and art led to the emergence of sports dance. Today it is one of the most beautiful, complex, interesting and spectacular views sports. Sports ballroom dancing promotes the harmonious development of not only all muscle groups, but also the brain, as well as a sense of musicality and plasticity, individuality and imagination, reaction and self-control.
3.2. Why is ballroom dancing recognized as a sport?
Not so long ago, ballroom dancing was considered just one of the art directions, and in 1997 the International Olympic Committee recognized dance Sport An Olympic sport. Why did this happen? This fact is explained very, very simply. Ballroom dancing requires dancers to display exactly the same qualities that are inherent in real athletes: agility, endurance, determination, daily hard work, and the like.
Here are the main criteria that allowed ballroom dancing to be recognized as an independent sport:
Physical strength. In terms of the intensity of the lifts and the complexity of performing the elements, ballroom dancing can be compared with ice dancing (many combinations came into ice dancing from ordinary dances).
Flexibility and coordination. These qualities are necessary for maneuvering on the floor and executing figures and lines. Similar qualities are characteristic of sports such as diving, sailing, surfing, basketball and even football, but it is closest to gymnastics.
Endurance. Dance sport competitions are held in several rounds - from preliminary to semi-finals and finals. In each round, dancers must perform five two-minute dances. A 1996 study found that the degree of muscle tension and breathing rate of dancers performing one two-minute dance were similar to those of cyclists, swimmers and middle-distance runners (over the same period of time). The finalist of the World Championship in 10 dances performs 30 dances during the tournament!
Discipline and team spirit. Dance sport is a team sport. A team can be one couple. A team can consist of 16 members (8 pairs) in formation competitions. The discipline requirements of 16 people performing up to 13 changes of dance tempo, and at the same time constantly coordinating their position on the floor relative to other team members, are much higher compared to other sports.
Musicality. All competitive dance competitors must demonstrate an understanding of music and rhythm in the same manner as required in rhythmic gymnastics.
Grace and style. Like ice dancing and rhythmic gymnastics, in sport dancing an important component of success is fluidity of movement and attractive appearance. appearance couples.
3.3. Why are they considered art?
However, unlike most other sports, dancing has features that allow it to be considered not only a sport, but also an art.
After all, dance is, first of all, an expression of music, a desire for beauty and harmony. The main connoisseurs of dance art - the audience - enjoy not the complexity of the dancers' elements, but the beautiful spectacle, music, and images created. The viewer's gaze clings to artistry and beauty, plasticity and emotionality.
This means that modern ballroom dancing is also an art, an airy one, so seemingly light, soaring above the ground and calling upward, an art that is associated with serious physical labor. Dancers are renowned for their excellent physical fitness; The more professional the dancer, the higher his speed, the better his coordination, and the greater his strength. In addition, in order to know and perform a dance technique, it is necessary to have developed muscles in order to be able to demonstrate this technique clearly, with greater amplitude, speed and precise rhythm. If a dancer wants to shine and look their best, they need their best body shape to be with them all the time. And dancing skill will grow in proportion to the level of physical fitness of the dancer.
3.4. To exercise or not to exercise?
Conducting a survey of children on the topic “The World of My Hobbies” (Appendix 1), I found that most boys of my age engage in wrestling, fewer in swimming and football, there are those who engage in music and painting, but only girls do dancing. The survey showed that boys are closer to sports (Appendix 2). But why? Why do boys, when they hear about dancing, roll their eyes and immediately say “no”!? Is this really embarrassing? It’s a shame to have good posture, good health, and in the end, is it a shame to be able to communicate with girls? I think this is explained by the fact that few people are familiar with the sport of ballroom dancing.
Sports ballroom dancing is a set of dances that includes two programs: European and Latin American. The European program includes: slow waltz, quickstep, tango, Viennese waltz, slow foxtrot; The Latin American program includes dances: cha-cha-cha, jive, rumba, samba and paso doble. Because Since ballroom dancing is a specific sport, dances are learned gradually, and each dance consists of a certain set of figures, the complexity of which also increases over time.
It is clear that to become a good dancer you need to work hard. I have been training for several years and now I dance in class E, in the Children1 category.
During training, emphasis is placed on two aspects:
dance technique - a set of figures and technical elements, as well as their high-quality execution.
musicality of performance - starting from “getting” into the rhythm of the dance and ending with the feeling of music, giving it certain meaning and moods.
Another inseparable part of a good dance is facial expressions, gestures and the nature of the execution of figures, which give the dance an emotional manifestation.
I still have a lot to learn, there is still something to strive for, but the first skills acquired in this section will not help even that much capable person In the future, it’s good to dance at discos, control your body, have an idea of grace, a sense of rhythm, tact.
Conclusion
There is an active development of dance sports all over the world. Perhaps the growing popularity of ballroom dancing is due to high level physical perfection along with the vivid emotions that professional dancers demonstrate in their competitions. The impression of sports dancing is enhanced by wonderful music and stunning costumes, without which no sports dance tournament is unthinkable.
In the course of my work, I found out that modern ballroom dancing is an amazing harmonious combination of art and sport, which has the most beneficial effect on a person:
enriches with knowledge about sports and sports recreation;
instills composure and self-confidence;
improves physique;
creates slimness and fit;
trains muscles;
strengthens the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
In addition, it reveals creative potential, develops a sense of rhythm, helps to control the body, use it to convey feelings and emotions, and also keep them under control.
There are many advantages, which means:
I was dancing
I do dancing
I'll be dancing!
List of used literature and Internet resources
Kasatkina L.V. Dance is life. St. Petersburg, 2006
Krasnov S.V. Dance Sport. Moscow, 1999
Mishchenko V.A. Sports ballroom dancing for beginners. Moscow, 2007
Neminushiy G.P. Dukalskaya A.V. Ballroom dancing. History and development prospects. Rostov-on-Don, 2001
Popov V., Suslov F., Livado E. Body plastics. Moscow, “Physical Education and Sports”, 1997
Number of respondents: 66 people
Age of respondents: 9-11 years
| World of Hobbies | Total | Boys | ||
| Swimming | ||||
| Folklore | ||||
| Gymnastics | ||||
Note: there are guys who participate in two or more clubs.
Having heard the expression “ballroom dancing”, many will begin to imagine girls in beautiful fluffy dresses with rings, men in black tailcoats, classical music. This is all for the reason that the word “ball” itself is associated with royal receptions, which we read about in fairy tales in our distant childhood. For example, in "Cinderella" or "Sleeping Beauty".
What kind of dance is this?
Dance is a form of creativity in which, through various movements bodies are created heroes and artistic images. Dance is very closely related to music. It is their overall interaction that emotionally affects the viewer.
The word “dance” came into Russian from the French (ballare - “to dance”). Ballroom dancing has its own distinctive features:
- They are performed by two people.
- A couple consists of a man and a woman, they move, observing the points of contact.
This direction has its own history, which has given it popularity as both a new type of recreation and a new sport in which competitions are held.
A little history
Non-professional pair dances are called ballroom dances. They take their history from medieval Europe. Over the course of several hundred years, they have changed a lot. All eras contributed something of their own.
Twentieth century dances are a continuation of the European style. Most of the destinations that have survived to this day are of African origin, but not in pure form, but with complemented technology of the European school.
In the 20s of the last century, a specially created Council of Teachers led to a single standard for all dances popular at that time, namely the waltz, foxtrot and tango. This is how a dance competition was formed in two directions: sports and social dance. In the period from the 30s to the 50s of the last century, the number of standard ballroom dances grew due to the addition of several directions of the Latin American school: rumba, samba, jive, paso doble, cha-cha-cha.
On this moment There are three competitive programs: Latin American, European and ten, which includes all ten areas.
European program
Let's look at each of the three dances in detail.
- Slow waltz - anyone can learn to dance this dance. It is danced at discos, at proms, and at balls. Almost every composer has a wonderful waltz melody that everyone knows.
- Tango is very diverse and passionate dance. It is based on the ancient movements of the people of Africa. He came to Europe with touring artists. It was danced for the first time in Paris, and then it spread around the world.
- Foxtrot is a “weightless” dance. Its feature is the ease of steps. It is in this dance that the couple becomes one. It appeared in America in 1912. This dance reached its peak of popularity after the end of World War II.
Latin American program
- Samba is a dance that originated in Brazil. It was spread by ten people who danced it in Brazilian carnivals. Today, samba is danced everywhere: both at international competitions and on modest dance floors.
- Cha-cha-cha is a fiery Cuban dance. The name comes from the sound that occurs when touching the floor while performing the dance.
- Rumba is a very emotional ballroom dance. It's just a mixture of feelings and emotions that will not leave any of the viewers indifferent.
- Paso Doble is a dance that talks about the struggle in all spheres of life: love, everyday life, work, and also personifies the confrontation of the individual. The Spanish origin is reflected in the aggression and emotionality of this dance.
- Jive is a dance for prepared couples. A striking difference from other directions is the presence of sharp elements of choreography.
How is competitive dance judged?
To give a couple a score, judges evaluate the following parameters:
- Rhythm is the most important criterion. If a couple does not hear the music and dances out of place, then they immediately give it the lowest score and do not look at other characteristics.
- Pair position. It should give elegance and make leading easier.
- Line - stretching the entire body from the crown to the tips of the fingers. Beautiful lines increase the volume of figures.
- Frame - a stationary position of the hands in a closed dance. The line consisting of the partners' arms should be straight along its entire length.
- Balance. There are only two balances: central and neutral. With central balance, the body weight is distributed on both legs, with neutral balance - on one. In general, any dance consists of transitions from one balance to another. If they are not followed, the dance will be rough and difficult.
- Musicality. All movements must correspond to the atmosphere of the music for ballroom dancing - emphasize strong moments, work out weak ones.
- Dynamics. Movements on the parquet should be quite active. This is especially noticeable in the European program. If, for example, a couple’s step length is longer than that of their opponents, then they will immediately attract the attention of spectators and judges.
- Performance. The couple should dance with emotion, and not think about what element is next.
- Energy. The energy of the dance must be controlled. If you direct it correctly, you can get all the attention of the audience and judges, and then they will definitely vote for your couple.
What qualities should a dancer have?
Dancing used to be considered creativity and individual expression. Today, ballroom dancing is an independent sport. In order for a dancer to cope with the load that is present in all dances, he needs to have a number of certain qualities.
- Physical strength. In ballroom dancing there are many different lifts and other complex elements that require strength.
- Coordination and flexibility. To perform various figures and maneuver on the parquet, you cannot do without these qualities. Basketball players, football players and gymnasts also have these traits.
- Endurance. During the entire competition, the dancer is required to perform in five rounds. The dance in each round lasts two minutes. In one two-minute dance, the athletes' muscles tense up in the same way as cyclists and middle-distance runners.
- Grace. Smoothness of movements in dancing, just like in rhythmic gymnastics, is one of the important components of success.
- Team spirit and discipline. A dance team can consist of two or sixteen people. The requirements for eight pairs, who must still navigate in space relative to each other without problems, are very high.
- Musicality. All participants must have an understanding of music, just like gymnasts.
Ballroom dancing for children
Many parents are wondering whether to send their children to dance. To finally decide, you should know about the benefits of this lesson:
- Strengthening muscles.
- Increased endurance.
- Formation correct posture.
- Motor skills are trained.
- A sense of rhythm develops.
- Ability to live in society and interact with other people.
- Development of intelligence and curiosity.
- Getting rid of complexes and fears.
- Ballroom dancing for girls will help improve stretching.
- The level of self-confidence increases.
When should classes start?
After decision taken Parents often ask the question, at what age should a child be sent to classes? Experts recommend starting classes at 6-7 years old. But it should still be taken into account individual characteristics your child.
On the other hand, children who started classes before the age of seven are more likely to succeed, but on the other hand, they are more likely to get tired, their motor skills are not developed, and it is more difficult for them to absorb information from teachers.
If you still want to give more early age, then ask yourself a few questions:
- Will the child be able to understand and accurately follow all the teacher’s instructions?
- Will he be able to concentrate on details?
- Will he be able to exercise stress which is given in class?
- Does your child also have a desire to learn to dance? Or is it your whim?
- Does he have an ear for music?
If you answered affirmatively to most of the questions, then feel free to take your child to classes, you are ready for this.
Requirements for the outfit of little dancers
So, you have decided to send your child to dance. You have your first competition ahead, it’s time to sew your stage outfit.
Ballroom dance dresses for girls must comply with the strictest rules:
- The color of clothing should be monochromatic, but in no case flesh-colored.
- Sleeve options: short, long or ¾, a flashlight is also allowed. No cuts allowed.
- Neck or neckline: semicircle, triangle or square. It is possible to sew a stand-up collar.
- The skirt should be loose-fitting and the same length in front and back. The length of the skirt should not be higher than 10 cm from the knee.
- There should be no laces, frills, appliqués or other additions.
- It is not allowed to use frills, ribbons or fishing lines to finish the hem of a skirt.
- The material from which the dress is made should not be transparent, guipure, iridescent, etc. Only thick fabric is allowed.
There are also requirements for shoes:
- The maximum heel height is 3.5 cm.
- The heel should be wide and stable.
- Shoes can be of any material and color. Metal castings are allowed.
- There should be no buckles, rhinestones, stones, etc. on shoes.
- You can pair your shoes with socks of any color or nude tights. You cannot wear fishnet tights or those with glitter, patterns, etc.
Shoes and dresses for ballroom dancing must comply with a number of strictly regulated rules, without following which the artist may be disqualified.
Main expense items
Ballroom dancing is one of the most expensive sports. In addition to paying for classes, there are other expenses. Let's look at them:
- Payment for the circle is the first upcoming expense.
- Outfit for participation in competitions and concerts.
- Girls will need shoes with and without heels for training.
- Two sets of workout clothes. Boys will need to buy trousers and shirts, and girls will need to buy skirts and tops.
It is important to remember that outfits for performances are made to order, and custom tailoring involves additional expenses.
If the competition is not held in your city, then you also need to include expenses for travel, accommodation and food, and a fee for participation in the tournament.
How to choose a school?
In order to correctly decide on a school and not regret your choice in the future, you need to find out as much information as possible about it. Follow the following algorithm:
- Find out as much as you can about the teaching staff. Ask where the teachers trained and if they have any certifications special education.
- Find out if they have any awards or been mentioned in the newspapers or online.
- Do school students participate in ballroom dancing tournaments, are there any famous graduates.
- Collect the opinions of the students' parents about the school, find out the advantages and disadvantages.
- Attend an open house. This way you will see the learning process from the inside and will be able to choose the most suitable program.
- See how the classrooms are equipped with equipment and whether everything you need is there.
- Check out the price list. Remember that in good schools the prices are quite high.
Many cities have ballroom dancing schools. Moscow, of course, is the leader in the number of schools, and there is plenty to choose from. Therefore, if you live in the capital, visit these establishments and collect information about them. When choosing, you must be sure that the school suits you in all respects.
Ballroom dancing as a form of art, sport or active leisure continues to arouse interest among many people different countries and nationalities. There are a lot of ballroom dances, but only 10 of them have gained worldwide popularity. These dances are included in the international dance program with uniform requirements for their performance.
See how many of the following dances are familiar to you.
Slow waltz
Waltz is the most airy and lightest ballroom dance due to gliding, belonging to the European group of dances. The dance is characterized by long, smooth movements, continuous turns, as well as rises and falls. The dance is very graceful and elegant; from the outside it seems that the dancers move on the floor easily, almost effortlessly.
Viennese Waltz
This is a fast European ballroom dance with a subtle rise and fall. A simple and elegant rotational movement characterizes the Viennese waltz. This dance, according to most students dance schools, is considered one of the most difficult dances to learn.
Tango is considered one of the most exciting ballroom dances in the European program. This sensual dance originated in Latin America in the first half of the twentieth century.
Slow foxtrot
Foxtrot is very similar to a slow waltz, as it uses many of the waltz figures. The fundamental difference is in the rhythm. The main figures are danced in the rhythm of “slow fast fast.” The nature of the steps is sliding and smooth, with ups and downs, like a waltz. Dance from the European program.
Quickstep
Quickstep is a fast version of the slow foxtrot. This is a very cheerful and rhythmic dance consisting of very quick steps, syncopated rhythms and runs. Quickstep is fun to watch simple figures not difficult to implement. Therefore, acquaintance with ballroom dance begins with it. The same applies to European ballroom dancing.
Samba, as one of the most famous Brazilian dances, is popular among young people and the older generation. Samba can be danced alone or in pairs.
The Cha Cha Cha is one of the five Latin American dance groups. This is a lively, flirty dance filled with passion and energy. Classic “Cuban moves” give the cha cha cha dance its own unique style. Partners work coordinatedly and synchronously, trying to perform every movement clearly and beautifully.
According to the majority, rumba is the most romantic and most sensual dance of the entire group Latin American dances. Due to its ancient origins, this dance is often called the “grandfather of Latin American dances.”
Paso Doble
The Paso Doble is considered one of the most spirited and lively ballroom dances of the Latin American program, once created in the south of France. This is a kind of fusion of music, drama and movements of Spanish bullfighting.
Ballroom dance must be performed in pairs. Such dances today are usually called standardized sports dances performed on dance competitions and special events. Today in the world of dance there are two main classifications, together consisting of ten dance styles: European and Latin American programs. Read more about dancing below.
History of ballroom dance
The origin of the concept of “ballroom dance” comes from the Latin word “ballare”, meaning “to dance”. In past times, such dances were secular and intended only for high-ranking people, while folk dances remained for the poor. Since then, such a class division in dance, of course, no longer exists, and many ballroom dances are in fact ennobled folk dances. In particular, modern ballroom dancing has been greatly influenced by the culture of African and Latin American peoples.
What is called ballroom dance depends on the era. At balls in different time Various dances were presented, such as polonaise, mazurka, minuet, polka, quadrille and others, which are now considered historical.
In the 1920s, the Ballroom Dancing Council was founded in Great Britain. Thanks to his activities, ballroom dance then acquired a competition format and began to be divided into two groups - sports and so-called social dances. The program included: waltz, tango, as well as slow and fast types of foxtrot.
During the period of the 30s - 50s, the number of dances increased: the program included such paired Latin American dances as rumba, samba, cha-cha-cha, paso doble and jive. However, in the 60s, ballroom dancing ceased to be an ordinary entertainment, since it required a certain amount of dance from the dancers. technical training, and was supplanted by a new dance called the twist, which did not need to be danced in pairs.
European program dances
The program of European dances, or Standard, includes: slow waltz, tango, foxtrot, quickstep and Viennese waltz.
Slow waltz
IN XVII century The waltz was a folk dance in Austrian and Bavarian villages, and only at the beginning of the 19th century was it introduced at balls in England. It was considered vulgar back then because it was the first ballroom dance where a dancer could hold his partner so close to him. Since then the waltz has taken many different forms, but each of them is united by unique elegance and romantic mood.
The peculiarity of the waltz is the musical size in three quarters and a slow tempo (up to thirty beats per minute). You can master its basic figures at home on your own.
Tango is a ballroom dance originating in Argentina. late XIX century. At first, tango was part of the Latin American dance program, but then it was transferred to the standard European program.
Perhaps, having seen tango at least once, subsequently everyone will be able to recognize this dance - this assertive, passionate manner cannot be confused with anything. A feature of tango is a sweeping step over the entire foot, which distinguishes it from the classic “flow” from heel to toe.
Slow foxtrot
The Foxtrot is a relatively simple ballroom dance that gives beginners an excellent foundation for further development. Foxtrot can be danced at a slow, medium or fast tempo, which allows even beginners without special skills to move gracefully across the floor. The dance is quite easy to learn from scratch.
main feature Foxtrot is an alternation of fast and slow rhythms, but always smooth and light steps, which should give the impression that the dancers are fluttering over the hall.
Quickstep
Quickstep appeared in the 20s of the XX century as a combination of foxtrot and Charleston. Musical groups At that time they played music that was too fast for foxtrot movements, so they were modified into quickstep. Since then, as it has evolved, this ballroom dance has become even more dynamic, allowing dancers to show off their technique and athleticism.
The quickstep combines many different elements such as chassis, progressive turns and steps, to name a few.
The Viennese Waltz is one of the oldest ballroom dances, which is performed at a fast tempo that characterizes the first waltzes. The golden age of the Viennese waltz in Europe was early XIX century, when he still lived and worked famous composer Johann Strauss. The popularity of this waltz rose and fell, but it never went out of fashion.
The size of the Viennese waltz is the same as that of the slow one, it is three quarters, and the number of beats per second is twice as large - sixty.
Latin dances
The Latin American dance program is usually represented by the following sports ballroom dances: cha-cha-cha, samba, rumba, jive and paso doble.
Samba
This ballroom dance is considered national dance Brazil. The world began to discover samba in 1905, but this ballroom dance became a sensation in the United States only in the 40s thanks to the singer and movie star Carmen Miranda. Samba has many varieties, for example, the samba danced at Brazilian carnivals and the ballroom dance of the same name are not the same thing.
Samba combines many of the movements that distinguish other Latin American ballroom dances: there are circular movements of the hips, “springy” legs, and measured rotations. However, it is not very popular for learning: the fast pace of performance and the need for physical preparation often deprive beginning dancers of enthusiasm.
The name of this dance is a reference to the sounds that dancers make with their feet while dancing to the maracas rhythm. The dance evolved from rumba and mambo dance. Mambo was widespread in the United States, but its fast music was very difficult to dance to, so Cuban composer Enrique Jorin made the music slower - and the cha-cha-cha dance was born.
A special feature of the cha-cha-cha is the so-called triple step on two counts. This feature made the cha-cha-cha a separate dance, distinguishing it from mambo, although other movements are quite similar to this style. The cha-cha-cha is also characterized by minimal movement around the hall; basically, this ballroom dance is performed almost in one place.
Rumba has quite a rich history - it arose simultaneously and as musical genre, And How dance style, whose roots go back to Africa. Rumba is a very rhythmic and complex dance that has given rise to many other dance styles, including salsa.
Previously, this Latin American dance was considered too vulgar due to its relaxed movements. It is still called the dance of love. The mood of the dance can change during its performance - from measured to aggressive. The performance style is reminiscent of mambo and cha-cha-cha styles. The basic measures of rumba are QQS or SQQ (from English S - “slow” - “slow” and Q - “quick” - “fast”).
"Paso doble" means "two steps" in Spanish, which defines its marching nature. It is a powerful and rhythmic dance characterized by a straight back, eyebrow gaze and dramatic poses. Among many other Latin American dances, Paso Doble is notable for the fact that you will not find African roots in its origin.
This Spanish folk dance was inspired by bullfighting: the man invariably portrays the matador tamer, and the woman plays the role of his cape or bull. However, when performing a paso doble at dance competitions, the partner never portrays a bull - only a cape. Due to its stylization and large quantity According to the rules, this ballroom dance is practically not performed outside of dance competitions.
Jive
Jive originated in African American clubs in the early 40s. The word "jive" itself means "misleading chatter" - a popular slang word among African Americans of the time. US military personnel brought the dance to England during World War II. There, jive was adapted to British pop music and took the form it has today.
A characteristic feature of jive is the fast pace of the dance, thanks to which the movements come out springy. Another feature of jive is straight legs. This sporty ballroom dance can be danced on either a six-beat count or an eight-beat count.