SOCIAL DANCES

 Intended primarily to get to know other people in attendance to a certain social function
 They are also called ballroom dances.
 They are usually performed in pairs (male & female) but many also performed in groups.

Classification of Social Dances

A. Modern-standard Dances
 They wear ankle length gowns for females and coat-and-
tie for males.
 Most of the time, movements in these are restricted to
close ballroom position with partner.

1) Slow Waltz
- Began as a country folk dance in Austria and Bavarian in the
17th century
- In 19th century, it was introduced to England
- It was the first dance where a man held a woman close to his
body
- The Slow Waltz is danced with 28-30 beats per minute, making it difficult for dancers to
maintain perfect smoothness. Thus, the Slow Waltz challenges a dancer’s core strength and
balance, and it takes skill to dance so smoothly.

2) Tango
- Originated in Argentina in the late 19th century
- The word tango is of Latin American Spanish origin, probably from an African root word.
- A dramatic ballroom dance, and the expressive music that goes along with it.
- It is danced in both open and closed embraces which focuses on the lead and follow moving
in harmony of Tango’s passionate charging music
- The tango is known for being a passionate, emotional form of dance in which the dancing
couple hold each other closely and make abrupt — yet graceful — movements

3) Foxtrot
- It is an American dance believed to be of African-American origin.
- Popular in Europe and America
- Named by a vaudeville Harry Fox in 1914.
- It is a smooth progressive dance characterized by long, continuous flowing movements
across the dance floor. It is danced to big band (usually vocal) music.

4) Quickstep
- It is an English dance and was invented in the1920’s as a combination of faster tempo of
foxtrot
- Includes walks, run, chasses, and turns of the original foxtrot dance, with some other fast
figures such as locks, hops, and skips.
- The quickstep is generally performed on 4/4 time.

B. Latin-American Dances
 Latin dances distinguish themselves by the
costume worn by performers.
 They are somewhat revealing, tight-fitting, sexy yet
sophisticated in nature.
 They are also distinguished by the nature of the
movements.
 They are freer and can be performed in close or
open hold
 1) Cha-cha
- Was developed by Enrique Jorrin in the early 1950’s
- A fast ballroom dance of Latin American origin, similar to Mambo, that follows a rhythmic
pattern based upon a quick three-step movement.
- The popular dance was at one time referred to as Cha Cha Cha. By 1959, the dance
movement gained so much popularity that it eventually replaced the Mambo as the most
popular dance.

2) Samba
- It is the national dance of Brazil
- In 1905, samba became known to other countries during an exhibition in Paris.
- In1938, samba was introduced in America
- It is danced with a slight bounce which is created through the bending and straightening the
knee.
- 2 different types of samba: 1. Rural samba – characterized by greatly emphasized
syncopation; 2. City samba – which is more monotonous in rhythm.

3) Rumba
- The Rumba originated among the African slaves in Cuba in the sixteenth century
- The Rumba is considered to be one of the most beautiful Latin style dances, earning it’s
nickname as “The Dance of Love.”
- This ballroom style of rumba came from a Cuban rhythm dance called the bolero-son.
- The word “rumba” comes from the Spanish verb “rumbear” which means to go dancing, party
and to have a good time.
- Came to United States from Cuba in the 1920’s and became a popular cabaret dance during
prohibition
- It includes Cuban motions through knee-strengthening, figure-eight hip rotation, and swiveling
foot action.
- It began as a fast and sensual dance with exaggerated hip movements. The dance was said
to be representing the male pursuit of a woman and the music played with a staccato beat to
keep time with the expressive movements of the dancers.

4) Paso Doble
- It is originated from Spain and its dramatic bullfights
- The dance is mostly performed only in competitions and rarely socially because of its many
choreographic rules.
- The lead plays the role of the matador while the follow takes the role of the matador’s cape,
the bull, or even the matador.
- The pasa doble still stands out as a dance with flair– it is fast and features sharp moves
punctuated by stomps and other flamenco-style variations.

5) Jive
- This dance style has origins in the US jazz music scene of the late 1920s and early 1930s
- Is part of the swing dance group and is very lively variation of the jitterbug.
- It is an energetic, upbeat partner dance with one partner leading and the other following. Jive
dance relies heavily on kicking and spinning, which makes it very similar to East Coast swing
dance.

Don’ts in Terms of Outfit and Dance Shoes

1. Do not wear sneaker or any shoe with rubber or spongey sole.

2. Avoid sleeveless shirts and strapped dresses.
3. Avoid shaggy, baggy, low armpit upper shirt.
4. Avoid accessories like big rings, watches, loose/long necklace and big belt buckles.
5. Long hair should be put up or tied in a ponytail.
Personal Grooming

Before the dance….

1. Shower and use deodorant

2. Brush your teeth and use mouthwash/breath mint.
3. Don’t smoke.

No-fault Dancing

1. Never blame a partner for missed execution of figures.

2. Dance to the level of your partner
3. The show must go on.

Demeanor

1. Be personable, smile and make an eye contact with the partner.

2. Project a positive image on the dance floor even if its not your personal style.
3. No teaching on the dance floor, it may insult your partner.
4. Do not cut other dancers off.