Ballroom Dancing

Samba has its roots in the Afro-Brazilian culture of Brazil.  The current form of Samba, a couple;s dance, came from a folk circle dance.  The name Samba, to those who practice a religion called Candomba means to pray or to call your personal god/saint.  When the Europeans came to Brazil, they originally considered the dance immoral, but some still joined in.

The Samba rose in popularity in the 1920's and 30's  and hit its peak in the 1960's, when a new type of Brazilian boss nova music came out.  This new music greatly influenced the original dance moves and rhythms.

The dance became popular in the US  when it was featured in the movies starting in the 1940's.  Through the last 60 years, the dance has evolved and developed to fit with more modern music and now is considered a favorite among ballroom dancers of all ages.

The Jive's origins were said to come from African slaves.  The original Jive dance, still danced today, is based on the African drum beats.  The dance has evolved so that it now can be danced in a ballroom setting or with a swing band and is considered to have two forms.

This a quick, bouncy dance that is very versatile. It requires much energy with its fast steps and often times is danced last in competitions.  This requires that the dancers pull together a great burst of adrenaline at the end of the competition.

The beat is usually based on 4/4 timing.  The name Jive is often used to refer to other times of swing dancing because of its similarity to the Lindy Hop and others, but is actually a unique dance on its own.

Many find learning the Jive dance somewhat difficult because it is such a quick and lively dance but those who learn find it extremely fun, entertaining, and a terrific source of exercise.

The Tango had its beginning back in the late 19^th century.  It contains elements of Cuban and Uruguayan music as well as African elements. The birthplace is Argentina and hit its golden age in the 1940s.  It came to the US in 1910 when it was performed in a Broadway musical.  Throughout the last several decades , the dance has grown into a national craze.

Part of the mystery and fascination with Tango dancing is that it teaches the dancers to stay connected and in the moment even more than other dances.  This is because when dancing the Tango, the couple is always improvising and creating in the moment.  The dancers can change the course of the dance through subtle changes in positioning and  pressure.  This means there has to be constant communication between the dancers.  This helps grow a strong, special relationship between the partners. 

Dancing the Tango is a different experience and is said to be more complex than the other ballroom dances.  It is a matter of mind-body connection and an intimate relationship between partners.  If you are up for the challenge, then start learning to Tango today and be rewarded with a unique, very satisfying experience.

The Foxtrot dance can be credited to a gentleman by the name of Harry Fox, along with his wife, who took the name Fox after his grandfather.  They were seen dancing it in NYC in 1914.  Later, a well-known dancer of the time, GK Anderson,  made it his signature dance.  There is some controversy out there as to whether this is the correct story but as with most of the ballroom dances, the Foxtrot certainly has been influenced by other styles and evolved itself throughout the years.

As the popularity grew in America, the dance had to be modified as it proved to be very tiring.  The glide or saunter step was incorporated at this point.  The dance has been very popular since and is famous for its smooth and graceful steps.  It is now known to represent high society.

The Foxtrot is typically danced to the music of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett.  There is the slow Foxtrot and the quickstep, a faster version.  Some would say that the Foxtrot dance has been the most consistently popular of all the dances since the 1940's. 

If you want to learn a dance that will serve you well at parties and other formal events, the Foxtrot is for you.