The Viennese Waltz is a faster paced dance than the standard waltz which also makes it somewhat more challenging to do. Like the standard waltz the Viennese Waltz incorporates a simple, elegant rotation and swinging movements, though there should be no foot rise on the inner turns. The Viennese Waltz also requires a good deal of stamina, the equivalent, actually of the amount of energy that would be needed to dance a polka.

The Viennese Waltz uses a right turn (natural turn), a left turn (reverse turn) and two change steps that link the moves between the turns. Dancing the line of dance (direction of traffic – turning left at the corners of the dance floor) and rotating in a clockwise direction is the Natural Turn. Following the line of dance and rotating in a counter-clockwise direction is the Reverse Turn. The step links (change steps) allow you to change directions while still following the line of dance.

Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you’re fully informed about Ballroom Dancing, keep reading.

The step links are simply two normal steps down the line of dance followed by a third step sliding the moving foot to the standing foot. By performing a string of change figures you can work your way through the tight spots on a crowded dance floor then resume the rotation. The “sway” is simply leaning slightly in the opposite direction of the line of dance movement
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Ballroom Dancing – The Quick Step

The Quick Step: The Charleston, the Black Bottom, the Shimmy and probably a couple other dances all melded into a faster version of the Fox Trot, which in 1923 became known as the Quick Step. The evolution of the Quick Step ended with a dance that utilizes a lot of movement, hops, runs, Quick Steps and rotation. It is a very brisk, energetic dance that was developed with very fast paced jazz music from the ragtime era.

The Quick Step is a fast, happy, lighthearted dance, the footwork can be a little complex using a slow, quick, quick, slow, quick, quick tempo. Like other dances the slow steps on the heel, Quick Steps on the toes.

The Quick Step utilizes a fast paced up and down swing motion. It’s important to look light on your feet even though the movements are powerful. Due to the quickness of the dance keeping in sync with your partner and trying to keep similar tension in the legs is a necessity. More so than the other dances facial expression is vital to express the fun aspect of the dance.

Take time to consider the points presented above. What you learn may help you overcome your hesitation to take action.

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By Anders Eriksson, proud owner of this top ranked web hosting reseller site: GVO

When you think of ballroom dancing, you probably think of slow music being played by a violin. Centuries ago, your thoughts would have been very accurate. Ballroom dancing was originally performed to acoustic guitars, violins, and cellos. This kind of music was appropriate at the time, as most ballroom dances were slow and very precise. However, as time passed and ballroom dancing gained popularity, the music changed right along with the dances.

Gone are the days of the mellow acoustic strings; today, a variety of music is used in ballroom dancing. The music depends strictly on the type of dance being performed. In ballroom dancing, there are over ten traditional dances with many more variations, so obviously the music will be different for each one. Here is a look at some examples of music and songs appropriate for each dance style.

The paso doble is a Spanish dance that demonstrates the bullfighter’s bravery and agility. Often, the woman represents the matador’s cape. The paso doble is a very intense and dramatic dance, so the music selected should fit the scene. Most of the time, the music for this particular dance is instrumental, but fast-paced with a dramatic appeal. The Spanish culture should be kept in mind, so choose music with horns, maracas, and acoustic guitars.

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The jive is a fun and upbeat dance that allows the dancers to express their careless personality. The moves are quick with lots of fast kicks and spinning or twirling of the woman. Most of the jive is performed in a stationery place and does not involve moving around on the dance floor. Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” is a great example for the jive, as is the obvious song, “Born to Hand Jive”. Any song that follows this kind of tempo is appropriate for the jive.

The quickstep is a combination of the swing and the jive. The steps are very quick and movements must be fast and concise. This dance is usually best performed to instrumental music. A couple of songs most commonly used for the quickstep are “Big Band”, “Flash”, and “Spoonful of Sugar”. These songs have a cheery and upbeat tempo and have a 1940′s dance club appeal.

The foxtrot is one of the most popular ballroom dances, although it is also one of the most difficult to learn. The foxtrot is a very smooth dance with fluid movements, and the movements are “slow, quick, quick, slow”. This dance is considered to be elite and one of the most formal, so choosing music can be quite a challenge. Keep in mind that the music should not be very fast, but should follow along with the steps. Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” and Shakira’s “Underneath Your Clothes” are excellent choices for the foxtrot.

Although not the last of the ballroom dances, the cha cha is a very lively and even flirty style of dance. It is also fast-paced and combines a lot of hip action with quick footsteps. This dance is one of the easier styles of ballroom dance when it comes to choosing music. Shakira’s “Whenever, Wherever” and Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” are ideal songs for dancing the cha cha.

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By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO

When you think of athletic competitions, chances are you probably don’t think of ballroom dancing. Most people tend to think of football games, tennis matches, or track and field meets. While all of these certainly qualify for an athletic competition, you probably already know exactly what to anticipate as a spectator. However, ballroom dance competitions shed a different light on athleticism and are by far entertaining to watch.

Until recently, ballroom dance was something associated with older generations or the wealthy. Around the late 1980′s, ballroom dancing began to take light once again but faded around 1995. It remained on the back burner of America’s athletic competitions until 1999, when it suddenly gained popularity and has remained stable ever since. With the media taking an interest in ballroom dancing over the past few years, more and more people are learning and competing in ballroom dancing.

Some of the most popular ballroom dance competitions are hosted by Access Dance with competitions held nationwide. Competitions are held all year long with prizes ranging in money to vacation packages. The competition is divided into three main categories: youth, amateur, and professional. This allows everyone of all ages and ability levels to compete in ballroom dancing.

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The Maryland Institute of Technology (MIT) also hosts an annual ballroom dance competition. The competition is open to members of the MIT ballroom dance team and anyone else who would like to compete. The competition is divided up according the style of dance you want to enter – for example, the mambo, jive, paso doble, etc. Each dance is classified into two categories, beginning and intermediate, with everyone invited to compete at the championship level. The cost for entering this competition ranges between $10 and $40 depending on your skill level and which category you are entering.

Perhaps the most notorious ballroom dance competition is “Dancing with the Stars”, aired twice annually on ABC. This highly addictive dance competition features celebrities from various backgrounds, from the entertainment industry to athletes. The most recent champion of ballroom dancing, Apollo Anton Ono, is a gold-medal Olympic speed skater who had no prior knowledge of ballroom dancing prior to the competition. The prior season of “Dancing with the Stars” also produced a winner from the athlete genre, Emmitt Smith, a former NFL player for the Dallas Cowboys. This competition pairs up celebrities with no ballroom dance knowledge with professional partners who teach ballroom dance. It begins with ten couples and each week, viewers eliminate a couple by voting for their favorite. It was after the first season of “Dancing with the Stars” that people took an interest in ballroom dancing and the craze soon spread all over the world. Now, over twenty countries host their own version of this televised ballroom dance competition.

If you are interested in competing in ballroom dancing, a simple search of the internet will provide you with information regarding a competition near you. Even if you are just starting out, there are competitions for every skill level and ability.

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By Anders Eriksson, proud owner of this top ranked web hosting reseller site: GVO

The Malta Wheelchair Dancesport Association is one of those groups. Wheelchair dancing had been practiced in parts of the world since the 1970′s but wasn’t started in Malta until 1999. The group holds classes to teach dance to disabled people using a format very similar to that used to teach non-disabled people. The classes are open to people who just want to learn to dance and those who want to dance competitively.

When it comes to the competitive dances there are two groups, Combi (one partner is in a wheelchair the other is not) or Duo (both parties are in wheelchairs). They learn all the Standard Ballroom dances and the Latin American Ballroom dances. For those who are just interested in social dancing they offer courses for line and solo dances.

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Wheelchair dancers use their upper bodies and arms to perform the same movements in the same manner as non-disabled dancers. Also, no different from non-disabled dancers, some are good and some aren’t but ALL dance because they love it. The dance classes have the added benefit of teaching both the wheelchair users and their helpers more and better uses of their chairs encouraging them to become more independent

The Gallaudet Dance Company is comprised of about 15 students all of whom are deaf or hard of hearing. Gallaudet is the worlds only accredited Liberal Arts University for the hearing impaired. The dancers rely on many things using their vision and sign language to communicate.

For years hearing people have bought into the theory that the deaf “hear’ by feeling vibrations through the floor. Although that may work when standing still on a surface that will conduct the vibrations it wouldn’t do much good when you are moving, jumping, or standing on a concrete floor. The Gallaudet Dancers practice for hours on end to develop an inner sense of the timing for each dance. This is accomplished in part by watching an instructors counting out the rhythm of the dance. The instructor will give a sign for each step in much the same way hearing dancers will get a vocal count from their instructor.

Deaf and hearing-impaired dance students work had to remain “in time” with or without music. The most important things for teaching these students to dance are a visual count, high quality sound systems and use of sign language.
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Hundreds of viewers watched fascinated as Heather Mills competed for several weeks on Dancing with the Stars with one prosthetic leg. Not only was it difficult to tell which leg it was most of the time but she performed some high difficulty moves that the other dancers didn’t even attempt!

There’s no doubt that the topic of Ballroom Dancing can be fascinating. If you still have unanswered questions about Ballroom Dancing, you may find what you’re looking for in the next article.

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By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO

There are several different theories on the origin of this ballroom dance’s name. The most often told story is that the dance was made popular by a young man named Harry Fox who was a vaudeville comedian with the Ziegfeld Follies. Another story says that the dance is so named because of the similarity to an equestrian gait that was dubbed the Foxtrot by the military. It is a gait where unlike a normal trot where the front left and rear right (or front right and rear left) legs are moved at the same time causing a somewhat jerky motion, the Foxtrot has the animal moving each leg one at a time making for a smooth trot that is easier on the animal and the rider. This trot actually led to the development of a breed of horse known as the Missouri Fox Trotter. Still a third suggestion is that the dance (in its earlier version) resembled the way a fox walks (with one foot in front of the other leaving a single track).

In the early fox trot the feet were placed in a single line one in front of the other. It wasn’t until the 1950′s that this ballroom dance was revised to have two different dance lines, one for each foot. Around 1922 the jerking, trotting steps of the dance were exchanged for a more relaxed movement called a Saunter. By 1927 the jumpiness was gone and the steps were smooth and gliding and the dance was now referred to as a Slow Foxtrot.

This ballroom dance is composed of walking steps and side steps. When on a crowded dance floor like in a night club short steps are used. For ballroom dancing long, smooth, easy gliding steps combine to give the Fox Trot its unhurried appearance.

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The Fox Trot is danced with the same type of hold that is used in the standard waltz, with a combination of long slow steps and short lively ones. The timing of this ballroom dance is of great importance. The slower steps are done on the heels while the quick steps are done on the toes.

The Fox Trot can be danced to most any music regardless of whether it is slow or fast. In the 1920′s the Fox Trot was embraced by America’s youth. They loved this ballroom dance, which started out as a bouncy trot-like step that had been incorporated into the vaudeville act of Harry Fox. The Fox Trot has become one of the most loved ballroom dances to date. It is also one of the hardest to learn.

There is also what is referred to as an American Smooth style of Fox Trot that differs in as much as the hold can be broken throughout the performance so you will see more open movements and underarm turns.

Ballroom dancing has undergone many changes and one of the most significant developments was the use of the quick and slow steps of the Fox Trot allowing the dancers more variety than the earlier one and two step dances.

When word gets around about your command of Ballroom Dancing facts, others who need to know about Ballroom Dancing will start to actively seek you out.

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By Anders Eriksson, proud owner of this top ranked web hosting reseller site: GVO

Getting dressed for an evening on the ballroom dance floor is much different than getting ready for a night out at the club. With ballroom dancing becoming a popular American pastime, the attire is also constantly growing and changing. We’ve seen several styles of ballroom dancing dresses on television, thanks to the media’s recent interest in covering this elite activity. However, there are several differences in ballroom dress styles depending on the country.

American ballroom dresses are typically easy to distinguish from other nationalities. A primary trait of American dresses is that they “flow” much easier than those from other countries. For example, an American ballroom dress usually has at least two layers of skirt, along with other cuts of fabric flowing from the neck and back. In contrast, international dresses are known for heavier fabrics and feathers. Several American styles also are adorned with feathers, but are not the essential accent of the ballroom dress. Most international ballroom gowns are designed for appearance from one angle – either they look appealing from the front or back, but not usually both.

You’re most likely to find that American ballroom dresses are accented with sequins or jewels, and come in a variety of lengths. Most ballroom dresses do not extend all the way to the floor – this is probably because a long dress could become tangled in the dancer’s feet and lead to a disaster on the dance floor. However, the style of ballroom dress greatly depends on the type of dance being performed. For example, the paso doble is a popular style of ballroom dance that incorporates Spanish culture in the steps. It only makes sense that the dress would represent the theme; this particular dress would probably have sleeves, a ruffled knee-length skirt that twirls easily, and be decorated with lace.

So far, we’ve uncovered some interesting facts about Ballroom Dancing. You may decide that the following information is even more interesting.

For more contemporary ballroom dances, the dress is usually very lightweight and moves well with the dancer. A popular look for the top of the dress is either halter-style or sleeves that dangle from the shoulder. Strapless-style dresses are not very common in ballroom dancing, probably because of the risk of falling off during a fast-paced dance or not fitting properly while moving about on the dance floor.

Most ballroom dresses come in a variety of colors and there are usually no limitations in this aspect. It is common American protocol for women to match their partner when it comes to choosing the color of their ballroom dress. However, the color can be anything the couple chooses, but it should be kept in mind that the shoes will need to match the dress exactly.

There are many options for finding a ballroom dress to match your needs. Most women choose to have their dress tailor made, especially if it is for a competition. This can get pricey, so there are a few other options. The internet is a great tool for finding everything you need in a ballroom dress. Although you can’t physically try it on, most online retailers will allow you to send them your exact measurements and have an excellent return policy.

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By Anders Eriksson, proud owner of this top ranked web hosting reseller site: GVO

After seeing ballroom dancing on television, you decide it’s time for you to get up and strap on those dancing shoes. Or, maybe you are looking to get into shape but don’t exactly want to pay for a gym membership that may never be used. No matter what your reason, deciding to learn ballroom dancing is an excellent decision. However, if you have never been the dancing type before, you may be a bit apprehensive and a bit confused as to where to start. Here are some helpful tips to learning ballroom dancing.

First of all, it’s possible that you’re really shy and aren’t ready to attend a class of other dancers. While personal instruction is best, it isn’t your only option. Recently, ballroom dance has been brought into the spotlight thanks to media coverage. Ballroom dancing has grown by leaps and bounds in the past decade, and more and more people are catching on to the dance craze. This is important and certainly works in your favor because you can find several instructional DVD’s and videos on ballroom dancing. You can watch them in the comfort of your own home and practice at any time. These may also be a more affordable option than ballroom dance lessons.

You can also scout out the internet for instructional ballroom dance websites. There are a couple of really good ones out there that break down every type of ballroom dance, and some that even have videos you can watch. This may present a better option for you if you are on a budget, as these websites are free of charge and all you need is access to the internet.

The best time to learn about Ballroom Dancing is before you’re in the thick of things. Wise readers will keep reading to earn some valuable Ballroom Dancing experience while it’s still free.

If you’d prefer to physically attend ballroom dance lessons, look for local dance studios in your area. You may have to research every studio to see if they offer ballroom dance lessons for adults; several dance studios only instruct children or certain types of dance such as ballet or jazz. However, some dance studios will offer ballroom dance camps or programs that last for a specified amount of time and aren’t expensive.

One place you may want to consider looking into for ballroom dance lessons is a local college or university. Several colleges now offer ballroom dancing as a credit for physical education, and often they will invite the public to attend the classes. These classes are typically about one hour long, once or twice a week, and last for about four to five months. Although the cost depends on the particular institution, ballroom dance classes offered here are usually very inexpensive or free.

A good way to keep cost at a minimum is to share your dance lessons with a friend or partner. Even if you do not have a partner to attend ballroom dance lessons with, most classes will pair you up if you are single. There has never been a better time to learn ballroom dancing, so why wait? Start learning to ballroom dance today!

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By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO

Weddings are a special time for everyone. It’s a time of new beginnings for the happy couple and friends and families become witnesses to the exceptional event. With so many details that go into planning a wedding, often choosing a dance for the reception isn’t a priority; rather, a lot of time goes into choosing which song the bride and groom will dance to.

Selecting a song to dance to is typically the first step in the couple deciding on a ballroom dance. Most couples will opt to enroll in professional ballroom dance lessons with a certified instructor to come up with a dance for their song. With ballroom dancing growing in popularity, couples are beginning to steer away from the traditional circular dance. In fact, more and more engaged couples are choosing to learn a ballroom dance for their wedding.

Not only is performing a ballroom dance for your wedding very sentimental, but it is also likely to be remembered by everyone. However, a ballroom dance doesn’t have to be strictly between the bride and groom. It can involve the bride and her father, the groom and his mother, or anyone else the happy couple chooses to share a dance with. With so many variations of ballroom dancing, it may be difficult to select a specific dance. Below are some popular song suggestions for weddings and ballroom dances that would be appropriate with them.

Those of you not familiar with the latest on Ballroom Dancing now have at least a basic understanding. But there’s more to come.

Two very well-known wedding songs are “Love Me Tender” and “I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You,” both performed by Elvis Presley. These songs, while traditional at weddings, set the perfect tone for a slow waltz. The waltz is a careful collaboration of steps involving walking and side to side motions – these songs provide the exact tempo and beat for this style of ballroom dancing. Another major plus of performing the waltz is that it’s easy to learn and can be done by nearly anyone of any skill level.

“From This Moment On” is a song performed by legendary country music singer Shania Twain and is a popular choice among bride and groom dances. This song remains slow and romantic, but the beat is slightly faster compared to the Elvis Presley songs. “From This Moment On” is an excellent choice for dancing the foxtrot, a slow yet very smooth dance that follows forward and backward patterns around the dance floor. Like the waltz, it is fairly easy to learn.

A few popular choices for dancing with the parents of the couple are “Through the Years” by Kenny Rogers and “Wind beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler. The waltz would also be appropriate for these songs as well as the tango, although this ballroom dance may take a little longer to learn due to its sharp and precise steps.

By choosing to perform a ballroom dance at your wedding (as opposed to just moving about in a circle or from side to side), you are sure to create lifelong memories for yourself and your guests.

If you’ve picked some pointers about Ballroom Dancing that you can put into action, then by all means, do so. You won’t really be able to gain any benefits from your new knowledge if you don’t use it.

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By Anders Eriksson, proud owner of this top ranked web hosting reseller site: GVO

Unlike all the other ballroom dances, the Rumba emphasizes ones body movements more than their footwork. The rhythm of the dance, which is emphasized by any type of percussion, drums, pots, maracas, etc., is more essential to the dance than the tune itself. The fascinating rhythms and mesmerizing body movements of this dance make it one of the more popular ballroom dances.

The Rumba was influenced by the Spanish and Africans with most of the development of the dance taking place in Cuba. The Rumba evolved in 19th century Havana, originating with the African Negro slaves who had been imported. The rural Rumba was originally for exhibition rather than participation. In some reference works the Rumba is said to be a pantomime of the movements of barnyard animals with the steady level shoulders depicting the movements of slaves as they carried heavy burdens. However, most look at the Rumba as a dance of love and sensuality with the woman tempting the man with her charms, teasing then withdrawing. Some go a step farther saying the dance is a pantomime of sex with the man dancing very fast in a very sensual yet aggressive manner with greatly exaggerated hip movements, and the woman responding with a defensive attitude. Whichever is correct, the Rumba is the most sensual of all the Latin ballroom dances.

Son, Danzon, Guagira, Guaracha and Naningo are all names for the Rumba. The Son, which is a slower more refined Rumba was a favorite among the middle class Cubans. The wealthy section of Cuban society preferred the Danzon, which is an even slower Rumba using very small steps and more subtle hip movements.

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The modified version of the Rumba known as the Son was introduced to Americans in 1913. In the late 1920′s Xavier Cugat formed an orchestra specializing in Latin American Music which really didn’t develop a following until around 1929. By the end of the decade Xavier had the best Latin American orchestra of his day.

Monsieur Pierre Lavelle, a London dance teacher, and his partner Doris Lavelle were responsible for bringing and popularizing the Rumba and other Latin American dances to Europe. In 1955 with the help of Pierre and Lavelle the Cuban Rumba was finally named as the officially recognized version of the Rumba.

During ballroom dance competitions the judges will be watching for the following:
* Interplay between the partners – this is a dance of love, a portrayal of romance. This is not the time for solemn, passive expressions
* A strong direct walk
* Lots of slow body shapes – the body NEVER stops changing its shape
* Figure eight hip rolls – hips alternating in a forward motion
* NEVER leading with the heel, stay on the balls of the feet
* The Cucaracha step – you should rock to the right or left then replace and close
* The fan position – the woman positioned to the man’s left side, at arms length and at a 90° angle to the man

The day will come when you can use something you read about here to have a beneficial impact. Then you’ll be glad you took the time to learn more about Ballroom Dancing.

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By Anders Eriksson, proud owner of this top ranked web hosting reseller site: GVO

Let’s start by discussing the meaning behind the world “ballroom”. In simple theory, it means a place where balls may be held. The English language adopted this term from the Latin word “ballare”, meaning “to dance”. Ironically, this also serves as a base for words like “ballerina” and “ballad”. Ballrooms were a very popular source of entertainment before the days of cable television, internet, or satellite radio. Often couples would congregate here to socialize and dance with other couples, and it wasn’t long before dance competitions gained popularity.

There are many different dances and versions of ballroom dancing. Each of these unique dances has specific steps and characteristics that make it different from other dances – but there is one aspect that remains constant throughout each style of dancing. No matter what dance style is being performed, you can bet they are being performed by a couple. Every ballroom dance involves a man and a woman, usually remaining in contact throughout the entire routine (although there are some ballroom dances where contact is broken, but the couple reunites by the dance’s end). As common as it seems, this style of dancing was developed in Western Europe in the early 1600′s. Dances were often held the evening prior to men going off to battle, as a way for the men to go off to war in good spirits.

You can see that there’s practical value in learning more about Ballroom Dancing. Can you think of ways to apply what’s been covered so far?

Men often wore their swords while dancing with a woman and it is believed that this led to a woman placing her left hand on her partner’s right shoulder, while grasping his left hand for additional balance. This is also where the concept of men leading on the dance floor was developed.

As time passed throughout the centuries, many styles of ballroom dancing were born. Each particular dance has its own history, but the Waltz and Foxtrot were the first to gain popularity in the realm of ballroom dancing. Dancing soon became a growing trend in several countries, and other styles of ballroom dancing were formed based on the various cultures. For example, the paso doble was developed in Spain in the 1700′s to demonstrate bullfighter’s agility and strength. In Italy, the mambo became a popular dance at weddings and special events, while the quickstep became the trend in America after World War I.

By the 1970′s, all of these different dances had made their way to America’s ballrooms and dance competitions soon became popular. Today, ballroom dancing is the number one form of dance among adults and is widely covered by the media. It is also now being offered as an alternative to physical education to high school and college students – a good indicator that ballroom dancing will remain a favorite activity for years to come.

Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what’s important about Ballroom Dancing.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, proud owner of this top ranked web hosting reseller site: GVO