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