| Ballroom dancing is not one particular style of dancing. | | | | Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers two-stepped it back |
| Rather, the name encompasses a group of styles | | | | into our hearts in the 1930's. |
| that include varying types of partner dance. The | | | | There are many national and international |
| most popular styles of ballroom dance are the waltz, | | | | competitions. International competition standards are |
| the fox trot and Latin dances like salsa, tango, and | | | | more rigid than American ones; both require the bars |
| the cha-cha. | | | | per minute to be regulated but international |
| The varying styles are enjoyed both socially and | | | | competition also regulates the time signature. There is |
| competitively. Though it is now enjoyed by all walks | | | | a World Dance Council that oversees international |
| of life, ballroom dancing was reserved for the royal, | | | | competition. The International Olympic Comittee |
| wealthy and privileged historically. | | | | recognizes ballroom dancing as a sport, as well, |
| Ballroom Dancing burst into the common man's scene | | | | though there is currently no Olympic dance |
| in the early 20th century, spurred on by the | | | | competition. |
| popularity of jazz music and a movement across | | | | Though dancing is less popular today, swing and salsa |
| dance styles towards independent movement for | | | | dancing are still popular American pastimes. Watching |
| men and women. The jitter bug, charleston, fox and | | | | ballroom competitions like Dancing With the Stars has |
| turkey trots are some of the many ragtime dance | | | | proved to be more popular than dancing itself in the |
| crazes that took America by storm in the pre-WWI | | | | 21st century. |
| era. Dancing slowed in popularity due to the war, but | | | | |