Standard (Ballroom) Dancing

Ballroom dancing refers to a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world. Although definitions vary, there are essentially three groups of ballroom dances:

• Standard Ballroom Dances – Waltz, Quickstep, Foxtrot, Tango, Viennese Waltz
• Latin Ballroom Dances – Cha-Cha, Jive, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble
• Sequence Dances – New Vogue and Old Time sequence dances where dancers move together in a set pattern.

Standard (Ballroom) dance usually refers to traditional partnered dance forms that are done by a couple, often in the embrace of closed dance position (“ballroom dance position”). These include waltz, quickstep, foxtrot, tango, cha cha, rumba and jive.

Standard (Ballroom) dancing can be enjoyed at different levels:
– most people take up “social ballroom” dancing for fun and to make new friends;
– some progress to competition ballroom (DanceSport) with judges and choreographed moves;
– finally, there is an exhibition ballroom dancing to entertain the audience.

Standard (Ballroom) dancing continues to stand the test of time and keeps evolving so that it can be something every age and every ability can enjoy. Back in the day when our grandparents were dancing ballroom, it was danced to those Big Band sounds that were current for that era. Many of the same dances are still danced today but to modern music.

Standard (Ballroom) dancing can be done to many types of music because the moves follow a strict tempo – that is an even pattern of beats. The two main types of music you will be dancing to will either be in 3/4 or 4/4 time.

Standard (Ballroom) dancing does have specific steps and patterns, but there are new moves and variations continually being added.