Ballroom Dance

for Fitness
1. What can you say about the picture?
2. What kind of feeling do you think does the picture impose?
3. What kind of dance do you see on the picture?
Directions: Find ten (10) words in the puzzle
involving ballroom.
 Introduction to
Ballroom Dance

• Dance is more than entertainment. It is

important in building neural circuitry, these
connections which result to improved
functioning in daily life activities.
• It uses mental skills that strengthen the
neural pathways employed in academic
tasks, social interaction, and motor
perception.
• It is also a form of exercise that people
are willing to do in order to meet their
cardiovascular needs.
 Definition to
Ballroom Dance

• Ballroom dancing is a couple’s dance or a set

of partner dances moving to the music using
step-patterns and rhythms that match the
character of a given song.
• It is an activity that one can enjoy at any age
both socially (fitness) and competitively around
the world.
• It does not require any special skills or dance
ability except for competition but once learned
can be used for the entire life.
• It is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and
television. It can be a lifestyle to help in keeping
the body healthy and fit.
 Brief History

• The word “ballroom” is derived

from the word “ball” (a large room)
and “ballare” which means to
dance. The ballroom dancing was
a social dancing term for the
privileged people while folk
dancing is more for the lower
classes.
 Brief History

• Ballroom dancing was very

popular among the upper class of
England, in the late 18th and early
19th century and did not really
catch on with the working class
until the late 19th and early 20th
century.
 Brief History

• The popularity of competitive

dancing began in the early 1920’s.
As a result, the Imperial Society of
Teachers of Dancing (formerly
known as the Imperial Society
Dance Teachers) formed a
ballroom branch whose function
was to standardize the ballroom
dances.
 Two main types of ballroom dance and their basic steps

1. Smooth/Ballroom style of dance – these are

flowing dances that move around the entire
dance floor in a counter-clockwise fashion.
Examples: Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango,
Viennese, Quickstep
2. Latin/Rhythm style of the dance – these
dances stay in one spot on the dance floor
and energetic that reflect the accented
rhythm of the music being dance to.
Examples: Swing, Rumba/Bolero, Cha-Cha
Cha, Salsa/Mambo, Merengue,
Disco/Hustle, Samba, Paso Doble
 Basic
Dance Description Step Music Meter Tempo
Rhythm

- Is one of the
smoothest
ballroom dances. - Close Changes
- A progressive - Natural Turn
Waltz- dance marked by - Reverse Turn Slow ballads
84-90 123 123
  long, flowing - Natural Spin or Instrument
3/4 beats per (strong
International movements, - Whisk music in ¾
minute accent on 1)
Standard continuous turns, - Chasse from time
and “rise and Promenade
fall”. Position
- So graceful and
elegant

- The most
captivating of all Basic Walk
ballroom dances. -Progressive Medium
Tango
- Originated in Side Step tempo 128-132
  Quick-
South America in - Progressive Orchestral, 4/4 beats per
International Quick-Slow
the early 20th. link often march- minute
Standard
- Has influences - Close like
from Spanish and Promenade
Africa culture.
 - A quick rotating
ballroom dance
with refined ride
and fall. Fast Music in
Viennese - to distinguish it ¾ or 6/8 time,
Waltz -Close Changes 123 123
from the Waltz often 174-180
  - Natural Turn ¾ or (strong
and the French classical beats per
International - Reverse Turn 6/8 accent on
Standard
Waltz is the such as minute
  1)
  oldest of the Strauss
current ballroom Waltzes
dances.
- Composer is
Johann Strauss

- Extremely
versatile and can
be danced to a Feather Step
variety of musical - Three Step
styles of tempo. - Natural Turn
- Its modified - Reverse Turn Medium-slow 112-120
Quick-
Foxtrot version called the and Feather jazz/swing 4/4 beats per
Quick-Quick
Slow Foxtrot was Finish music minute
evolved by an -Close Impetus
English. and Feather
- Its inventor was Finish
vaudeville actor
Harry Fox
 - A quick version of
the Foxtrot
- A ballroom dance
of extremely quick
stepping,
syncopated feet -Quarter Turn to
Right 200-208
rhythm and runs of Up-tempo jazz/ Slow-Quick-
Quick Step -Progressive Chasse 4/4 beats per
quick steps -Forward Lock
swing music Quick
minute
- It evolved in the -Natural Turn
1920’s from a
combination of the
Foxtrot, Chaleston,
Shag, Peabody, and
one step.

- A lively, flirtatious
ballroom dance full
of passion and
-closed Basic
energy.
Movement
- The classic “Cuban
-Open Basic
motion” gives the
Movement 2,3 4&1, 2,3, $
ChaCha chacha its distinctive Medium-tempo 128 beat per
-Alternative Basic 4/4 &1 (accent on
Latin Style style. Latin music minute
Movement in place count 1)
- And electrifying,
Spot Turn
syncopated Latin
-Underarm Turns to
dance which
R&L
originated in Cuba in
the 1950’s as a slow-
down Mambo
 - The most
popular with
Natural Basic
young people as
Movement
well as older
-Reverse Basic
generation of all
Movement
Brazilian
-Basic
ballroom dances
Movement to
- Can be Medium
side
Samba performed solo TempoBrazili
-Progressive
  or with partner an Latin 100 beat 1 a2 1 a2
Basic
International - Originated in music with 2/4 per (accent on
Latin Movement
Brazil at the strong minute down beat)
  Samba walks in
beginning of the downbeat
PP
20th century.  
-Side Samba
- A book
Walk
published in
-Stationary
France in 1928
Samba Walks
already
-Rhythm
described how
Bounce
to perform the
samba
 - A lively and
dramatic style of
dance to march-
like Paso Doble -Sur place
Dramatic, Latin
music -Basic movement
Paso Doble “bullfight”
- Originated in forward 120-124 March )one
  music,
France, but -basic movement 2/4 beats per step per
International Latin Frequently a
  modeled after the backward minute beat)
song entitle
sound, drama, and -chasses to R&L
Espana Cani
movement of -drag
Spanish bullfight
- Paso Doble means
“double Step”

- A choreograph
dance with repeated
sequence of steps
in which a group of
people dance in one
Line Dance line or rows all          
facing each other.
- it includes
synchronized
dancing in a line
pattern
 Benefits of Dance and Creative Movement
Physical •Mental/ Emotional •Social •Cultural
Uplifting and Fun
Ballroom and social dances are surrounded by joyful individuals and
uplifting melodies.

Muscle Toning
Resisting the partner’s body strength can tone muscle
including sexy and toned legs.

Alleviates Bones and Joints

Ballroom dancing help protect bone density and prevent osteoporosis. It
can also help speed up knee recovery after surgery since it’s a lower impact
exercise than jogging or biking.

Improved Flexibility
Flexibility is a major benefit of ballroom dancing,
because ballroom dancing itself contains plenty of
stretching and bending. Therefore the more you dance,
the more flexible you will become.

Brain Diet
According to Dafna Merom, et al. (2016) on her study, dancing improves
one of the cognitive domains, which is the vital for learning dance and ballroom
can help prevent the onset of dementia in elderly patients. The partnered
benefits can also decrease loneliness for the elderly.
 Benefits of Dance and Creative Movement
Physical •Mental/ Emotional •Social •Cultural

Burns Fat
Dancing is a low-impact aerobic activity that can boost your metabolism.
In just thirty minutes of dancing, you can burn anywhere between 200-400
calories. Burning an extra 300 calories a day can help you lose between 0.5-1
pound a week.
Creative Outlet
As one gets into dancing, it unlocks beautiful
rhythm in the body and allows to release emotions and
thoughts through artistic moves.

Physical Conditioning
Engaging in just about any cardiovascular or aerobic activity can help
improve your heart health, lower obesity and type 2 diabetes risk, and also
promote lung capacity.
 Benefits of Dance and Creative Movement
Physical •Mental/ Emotional •Social •Cultural

Endurance
Dancing is an effective way to improve general
endurance. As the dance sessions get longer and
longer, your muscles will be working harder and for a
longer period of time.

Social Connectivity
Joining any ballroom dance will expose you to meet
new circle of friends who potentially share common
interests. Being more sociable can help improve your
self-esteem, lower stress levels, and increase sense
of humor and promote a positive outlook on life.
 Ballroom Dance Etiquette

• Counter-clockwise dance travel

direction
• Offer a smile and apology when
accidentally bumped to others dancing.
• Outmost edge of the dance floor for
fast-paced dancers, inner lanes for
slow-paced dancers.
• Invitation is for all genders.
• It is also acceptable to dance with
someone besides your partner.
 Ballroom Dance Etiquette

• Man must return the woman to their

seat.
• When dancing with somebody less
skillful than yourself, its mostly likely
that you will be dancing at their level
of experience, not yours.
• Dance invitations are rarely rejected.
• Applause even when there is no live
band.
• Be considerate and hygienic.