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When the word ballroom dancing is mentioned, what are the images that come to mind? This type of dancing can be elegant and sophisticated (like the Waltz) but it can also be hot, sultry and sexy (like the Tango or Paso Doble), or a good bit of lively fun (like the Fox Trot Jive or Quick Step).

Webster defines ballroom dancing as simply “Any of various, usually social dances in which couples perform set moves”. The word ball does not originate from the toy “ball” but from the Latin word “ballare” which means to dance. It is good to note that the word ballet and ballerina has the same origins as ballroom too.

This is a form of dance common to the members of the English upper class in the late 18th and 19th century. This form of dance is not common among people of the working class until late 20th century. Later the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing created a Ballroom Dance Branch, whose sole purpose is to create a standard for the modern day version of ballroom dancing.

There are five major moves that make up the modern day ballroom: the Waltz, the Viennese Waltz, the Slow Foxtrot, Tango and the Quickstep. The American Latin ballroom dance can be classified as Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, Cha-Cha and the Jive. The word Latin America actually refers to Latin and America and not in reference to the Latin countries.

The modern day version of ballroom dancing involves couples dancing closely together in specific tempo and rhythms. Basically, there are five main points of contact between the couples. Three points involve the hand, where his left hand holds her right and her left hand will be on the top of his right upper arm, and the Tango would need her hand to go hand his arm while other right hand will rest on her left shoulder blade. Other point come close as her right side of the set touches his left chest and the elbow, her left touches his right touch each other as they glide round the dance floor. This posture dates back form the days of the European royal courts when royal couples and aristocrats dance gracefully during social gathering.

This right side-to-right side contact of the closed hold may have originated from a time when men danced while wearing their swords, which were hung on their left sides. This is also the obvious reason for the counter clockwise movement, that serves to prevent hitting any of the people watching as he dances past them. It would be interesting to note that the posture change from one dance to another in the American Latin ballroom. The vocabulary, technique, rhythm and tempo of the American Latin ballroom have been standardized for training purposes.