| Ballroom Dancing is when a couple performs | | | | forms of dance, are expressions of feelings, |
| any of the various social dances that follow | | | | thoughts and emotions. These dances may be |
| a pattern of predictable steps. Examples of | | | | stricter than other forms of dance and may |
| these dances are the tango, waltz, fox trot | | | | limit the range of steps and body movement |
| and quick step. It has an immensely | | | | involved, but it is still one of the best |
| amplified popularity spreading across Europe, | | | | expressions of love, joy and pain between two |
| the Americas and Asia. Ballroom dancing has | | | | people.Also, all ballroom dances are |
| had a relatively short but interesting | | | | performed by only two people, usually a man |
| history and has evolved from a recreational | | | | and a woman. These dances are performed in a |
| activity to a worldwide sporting | | | | certain position termed as the "Closed Hold". |
| event.Ballroom dancing originated in England | | | | In this position, the couple strictly |
| in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in | | | | remains in contact in five different points |
| which these dances, such as the waltz, were | | | | or places. These five points consists of |
| performed by the upper and elite classes of | | | | three hand contacts, one elbow contact and |
| society in balls and parties. During the | | | | one chest contact.The first hand contact |
| late 19th to the early 20th centuries, it | | | | occurs when the man's left hand holds the |
| became a trend among the working and middle | | | | lady's right hand. Second is when the lady's |
| class where they would go to gatherings and | | | | left hand is placed at the top of the man's |
| events in public dance halls. In the early | | | | right upper arm. In the tango, the lady's |
| 1920s, ballroom dancing competitions started | | | | left hand is placed behind the man's arm, not |
| to boom that in 1924, an organization was | | | | on top of it. The third contact is when the |
| formed called the Ballroom Branch of the | | | | man's right hand is placed under the left |
| Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. The | | | | shoulder blade on the lady's back. The |
| objective of this organization was to | | | | fourth contact is when the lady's left elbow |
| standardize and formalize ballroom dancing | | | | rests on the man's right elbow and both arms |
| techniques, sets of steps and music to which | | | | are kept in a horizontal line. The lady's |
| it was danced to.In legitimate Dance Sport | | | | arms are held comfortably by the man's and |
| competitions and in social events, there are | | | | permit her to follow the man's lead with |
| five standard dances. These are the Modern | | | | ease. This also gives the couple the |
| and the Viennese Waltz, the Tango, the Slow | | | | appearance of having a bearing of royalty. |
| Foxtrot and the Quickstep. These dances are | | | | This is an important characteristic in the |
| standardized and categorized into segregated | | | | ballroom dances that came from Western Europe |
| teaching levels and utilize vocabulary, | | | | because these dances were performed in the |
| rhythm and tempo and techniques which are | | | | royal courts. The last point of contact is |
| accepted internationally.Although these | | | | where the right area of the chest of one |
| dances come from very different backgrounds | | | | touches the right area of his partner. This |
| and have special techniques, aesthetics, | | | | closeness allows very little room between the |
| rhythms and tempos, they do share common | | | | partners' faces thus contributing to the |
| qualities. All ballroom dances, as with all | | | | dance's romantic appeal. |