Ballroom Dancing, the disciplines

Ballroom dancing originated in England in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in which dances, such as the waltz, were performed by the upper and elite classes of society in balls and parties. They distinguish themselves very nicely from the folk dances. The traditional ballroom partner dances of today include: Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Quickstep, Viennese Waltz, Rumba, Cha cha, Swing, Jive, Samba, Mambo, Bolero, and Paso Doble. Most of it is in the International Style of Dance. Some of the dances may be obsolete except for exhibition or competition dancing.

“Many social dancers were afraid of the dance once, too. But they learned to love the music
and embrace the dance and accept the mistakes they would make."

Non-traditional dances also include: Country 2-Step, Night Club 2-Step, Argentine Tango, Merengue, Polka, West Coast Swing, Lindy, Salsa, and many more! Peripherals, that specialize in only one dance are very popular in Hawaii. The five most popular Ballroom dances in the world today are Foxtrot, Waltz, Rumba, Cha Cha, Samba, Tango and Swing. Dancers skilled in these dances can dance with partners from any part of the world. And these are the music and dances preferred by the social dancers, much of the music dating back.

"Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi  (1986)

The dances covered in the Ten Dance are the five (Standard) dances: waltz, foxtrot, quickstep, tango and Viennese waltz, along with the five International Latin Dances: rumba, samba, paso doble, cha-cha-cha and jive, as defined in International ballroom dancing terms. The most important difference in style is between the modern or standard dances and the Latin dances. American Smooth refers to a category of dances in American Style Ballroom competitions in the waltz, quickstep, foxtrot, tango and Viennese waltz. The Latin dances are the cha-cha-cha, samba, rumba, paso doble and jive. Social Dancers are something else.

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”  ~ Oscar Wilde