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The definition of "Ballroom Dance" depends on the era. We all know or have heard of balls that featured Minuet, Quadrille, Polonaise, Pas de Gras, Mazurka, and other popular dances of the day, which are now placed into the category of Historical dances.
In times past, ballroom dancing was "social dancing" of privileged classes, leaving "folk dancing" for the lower classes. Today ballroom dancing is much more democratic, and the boundaries between once-polarized ballroom and folk dances become blurred. However, even in times long gone many "ballroom" dances were elevated folk dances.
Most competitive ballroom dances were social and/or folk dances before being formalized as ballroom dances, and many of these dances are still danced as social and folk dance.
Ballroom dancing has been in continual use as a social art form since its inception with one obvious exception in the 20th Century. Dance historians usually mark the appearance of the Twist in the mid 1960s as the end of social partner dancing, and they credit what was then called the Latin Hustle for bringing it back in the late 1970s.
Today one may speak of "Competitive Ballroom" dancing, with its competitions, schools, societies, and books of technique, and of "Social Ballroom" dancing, with its emphasis on having fun.
Contemporary ballroom dance technique has been extensively studied and formalized. Medal examinations are a commonly accepted standard of measurement of a dancer's technique according to conventional standards. Franchise studios in the United States classify them as Bronze, Silver, and Gold for the social dancers. For amateur competitive dancers the rankings go Bronze->Silver->Gold->Novice->Prechampionship->Championship (roughly corresponding to the E->..->A->S rankings in Europe and Australia), then Rising Star and Open Professional for the pro ranks. The International Olympic Committee recognizes competitive ballroom dance as a DanceSport.
Coming from grouping dances in competitions, the following divisions of contemporary ballroom dance are recognized: International Standard and International Latin. In addition, American Smooth, and American Rhythm are widely popular in the USA. The former two divisions are called International StyleThis is the list of dance terms that are not names of dances or types of dances. See List of dances and List of dance style categories for those. This glossary lists terms used in various types of partner dances, leaving out terms of highly evolved or spe and the latter two are American StyleThis is the list of dance terms that are not names of dances or types of dances. See List of dances and List of dance style categories for those. This glossary lists terms used in various types of partner dances, leaving out terms of highly evolved or spe.
As you may see below, both International and American styles include dances with the same names. However, they are danced quite differently. Therefore, when discussing dance technique, the dance is named including its style, e.g., it is spoken of American Style RumbaRumba is both a family of music rhythms and a dance style that originated in Africa and traveled via the slave trade to Cuba and the New World. There is a ballroom dance, also called Rumba, based on Cuban Rumba and Son. Also, still another variant of Rumb vs. International Rumba or American Tango vs. International Tango. In a way, "Standard" matches "Smooth" and "Latin" matches "Rhythm".
Australia also has a division called New VogueThe New Vogue dance style is an Australian form of sequence dancing that originated in the 1930s. Since then it has become an important part in the Australian ballroom scene, holding as much importance in social and competition dancing as Latin or Waltz d and is often referred to as 'Australian New Vogue'. It is danced both competitively and socially. In competition there are 15 recognised New Vogue dances which are performed by the competitors in sequence.
As a historical curiosity, ballroom dancing competitions in the former USSR included the Soviet Ballroom dancesCompetitions in Ballroom dancing in the former Soviet Union were held in three dance categories: Standard dances Latin dances and Soviet dances . Soviet category The latter category comprised of Polka Rylio Varu-Varu Sudarushka Russian Lyrical With the ex, or Soviet ProgrammeCompetitions in Ballroom dancing in the former Soviet Union were held in three dance categories: Standard dances Latin dances and Soviet dances . Soviet category The latter category comprised of Polka Rylio Varu-Varu Sudarushka Russian Lyrical With the ex, in addition to Standard dances and Latin dances.
International Standard is sometimes called International Ballroom or Modern Ballroom.
Standard and Smooth are travelling dances: couples travel around the dance floor (along the line of dance (LOD), counter-clockwise). Time may be 2/4, 4/4, 3/4, or 6/8.
Most Latin and Rhythm dances are spot dances, which do not travel, although Samba and Paso Doble travel along the LOD. Time is 2/4 or 4/4.