Ballroom Dancing

Ballroom dance may refer, at its widest, to almost any type of social dancing as recreation. However, with the emergence of dancesport in modern times, the term has become narrower in scope. It usually refers to the International Standard and International Latin style dances (see dance categories below). These styles were developed in England and are now regulated by the World Dance Council (WDC). I n the United States, two additional variations are popular: American Smooth and American Rhythm.

Definitions and History

The term “ballroom dancing” is derived from the word ball, which in turn originates from the Latin word ballare which means “to dance”. 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 Minuet, Quadrille, Polonaise, Pas de Gras, Mazurka, and other popular dances of the day, which are now considered to be historical dances.

Victorian Era

The Waltz with its modern hold, took root in England about 1812. In 1819, 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. In the 1840s, several new dances made their appearance in the ballroom, including the 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 20th Century


Later, in the 1930s, the on-screen dance pairing of 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. Although the performances were highly choreographed (often by Astaire or Hermes Pan), and meticulously staged and rehearsed,much of Astaire and Rogers’ work portrayed social dancing.

Competitive Dancing

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 occur. The International Olympic Committee now recognizes competitive ballroom dance. It has recognized another body, the International DanceSport Federation (IDSF), 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.
Ballroom dance competitions are regulated by each country in its own way. There are about 30 countries which compete regularly in international competitions. There are another 20 or so countries which have membership in the WDC and/or the IDSF, but whose dancers rarely appear in international competitions. 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 15 recognised 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 meet perceived needs in the local market-place.
Internationally, the Blackpool Dance Festival, hosted annually in Blackpool, England, is considered the most prestigious event a dancesport competitor can attend.

Elements of Competition

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 of recalls accumulated by each couple through each round until the finals. Using the Skating System, each couple is awarded an ordinal, typically 1-6, though the number of couples in the final may vary.

Medal Tests

Medal examinations for amateurs, enable the dancers’ individual abilities to be recognized according to conventional standards. In medal exams, which are run by bodies such as the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), each dancer performs two or more dances in a certain genre before a judge. Genres such as Modern Ballroom or Latin are the most popular. Societies such as the ISTD also offer medal tests on other dance styles (such as Country & Western, Rock ‘n Roll or Tap). In some North American examinations, levels include Newcomer, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Championship; each level may be further subdivided into either two or four separate sections.


“Ballroom dance” refers most often to the ten dances of International Standard and International Latin, though the term is also often used interchangeably with the five International Standard dances. Sequence dancing, which is danced predominantly in the United Kingdom, is also sometimes included as a type of Ballroom dancing.
Others dances sometimes placed under the umbrella “ballroom dance” include Nightclub Dances such as Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, Nightclub Two Step, Hustle, Salsa, and Merengue. The categorization of dances as “ballroom dances” has always been fluid, with new dances or folk dances being added to/removed from the ballroom repertoire from time to time. So no list of subcategories or dances is any more than a description of current practices. There are other dances historically accepted as ballroom dances, and are revived via the Vintage dance movement.
Latin/Rhythm dances are commonly danced to contemporary Latin American music, and with the exception of a few traveling dances (e.g., Samba and Paso Doble), couples do not follow the line of dance, but perform their routines more or less in one spot. In competitions, the women are often dressed in short-skirted Latin outfits while the men are outfitted in tight-fitting shirts and pants, the goal being to emphasize the dancers’ leg action and body movements.