PE3: Midterm Notes

Module 6 : Introduction to Ballroom  helps improve non-verbal

Dance communication and social
Social Dancing interaction
 partner dancing that is informal,  a sense of achievement grows,
relaxed, and danced for the enjoyment increasing mo-tivation
of the partners
 danced for enjoyment, socialization, (5) Self-Expression and Creativity
recreation and health  provides an outlet to express
 has no standardized teaching or feelings through movement, with
learning curricu-lum passion and creativity
 dynamic - the types of social dances  enhances creativity, helping you
and styles change with the times express your-self even outside of
dancing
Ballroom Dance  helps increase overall energy levels
 a variety of social dances performed and moti-vation
by couples in which there is a
conventional pattern of steps (6) Stress and Depression
 social dance because it encourages  offer a break from routine,
social inter-action between dance providing a chance to relax and
partners focus on yourself
 derived from the word ball, which in  helps relieve stress and allows you
turn origi-nates from the Latin word to forget daily worries by getting
“ballare” which means “to dance” lost in the movement
 ballroom: a large room specially  can uplift your mood and bring a
designed for such dances sense of calm
 social dancing for the privileged,  can help treat and prevent
leaving folk dan-cing for the lower depression
classes
(7) Social Fun & Friendship
Benefits of Ballroom Dancing  provide a great way to expand your
(1) Ballroom Dance is a great workout social cir-cle and meet new people
 burn fat/lose weight/increase in a relaxed, no-pressure
metabolism environment
 increase flexibility  offers a positive, supportive
 increase muscle strength & community of ar-tistic, cheerful
endurance people, making learning en-joyable
 great for all ages and rewarding
 allow you to meet people from
(2) Physical Health various cultural and professional
 helps lower the risks of obesity and backgrounds
Type 2 dia-betes, while supporting
weight management Ballroom Dance Styles
 improves respiratory function  Enjoyable both socially and competitively
through aerobic movement worldwide
 provides a lower-impact alternative  It refers to a set of partner dancers, which
to jogging or biking, aiding in originated in the Western world
recovery after orthopedic surgery
Two (2) Main Categories of International
(3) Mental Health Style:
 enhances memory, focus, (1) International Latin
alertness, and con-centration, (2) International Standard
benefiting dancers of all ages
 strengthens neural pathways, Standard: elegant, formal, with a strong
reducing the risk of dementia, emphasis on posture and closed positions
especially in older adults
 decreases symptoms of anxiety Examples: Waltz, Quickstep, Foxtrot, Tango,
and depress-sion, particularly in Viennese Waltz
teenagers
Latin: fast-paced, passionate, sensual, with
(4) Confidence rhythmic ex-pression
 boosts self-assurance, both on and
off the dance floor
 PE3: Midterm Notes
Examples: Cha-cha-cha, Mambo,
Rumba,  The widespread presence of rumba
Samba, Jive, Paso Doble rhythms in modern music makes it both
versatile and enjoyable to learn and
Club Dances or Freestyle Dance: more dance
casual, social dan-ces with a focus on  Rumba can be danced to a variety of
personal style and fun music, from con-temporary to traditional

Examples: Swing, Line Dance, Salsa, Basic Steps

Merengue  The basic step involves a simple box
step: two quick side steps followed by a
Module 7 : Rumba Dance slow forward or backward step
Rumba  Unlike many other dances, rumba is a
 a Spanish verb meaning to go to spot dance, meaning the couple stays in
parties, having fun and dancing one location on the dance floor rather
 a fun, sassy Latin-style ballroom dance than traveling around
that fits nicely with most modern  Rumba is performed to slow-tempo music,
types of music focusing on hip movements (Cuban
motion) to create the dance's sensual and
History of Rumba smooth style
 Rumba originated in the West Indies, with
its develop-ment most notably in Cuba Rumba Dance Hold
 Spanish culture and African folk dances  Dancers maintain a traditional frame
played key roles in shaping the style position, con-necting the two partners
 African influences are particularly evident through their arms
in the defensive posture of the female  The leader’s left arm is held at a 90-
dancers toward their male partners degree angle to the floor, a common
 Various regional styles developed across feature in Latin dances
different islands, including Son, Danzón,  This arm position creates a tighter frame
Guajira, Guaracha, and Nañingo between the dancers, adding a more
 Derived from the Cuban "Bolero-Son", intimate and sensual feel to the rumba
American Rumba emphasized small steps Module 8 : Jive Dance
and hip movements created by bending Jive
the knees  a dance style that originated in the
 Rumba became widely known in the United States from African-Americans
1930s thanks to its exposure in the movie in the early 1930s
industry  comes from the name of a form of
African-Ame-rican vernacular slang,
Characteristics of Rumba popularized in the 1930s by the
 Rumba dancers typically have a sassy, publication of a dictionary by Cab
smooth, and sensual attitude, Calloway, the famous jazz bandleader
emphasizing connection with their partner and singer
 The dance emphasizes Cuban motion, a  a lively and uninhibited variation of
signature hip movement, achieved by the jitterbug
keeping the toes at a slight diagonal  many of its basic patterns are similar
 Maintaining a strong connection with your to those of the East Coast swing
partner is key to executing the dance  one of the five International Latin
effectively dances, although it has an African-
 Rumba is the slowest of the competitive American origin
International Latin dances, allowing for  faster version of swing, with shared
more emphasis on smooth, controlled footwork, underarm turns, and swivels
movements
History of Jive
Rumba Music  Jive was first demonstrated by Cab
 Rumba is typically danced to music in a Calloway in 1934
4/4 time signature  Gained popularity in the U.S. in the
 Cuban rumba features strong percussion 1940s, influenced by Boogie, Rock & Roll,
and a smooth, steady beat, creating the African American Swing, and Lindy Hop
signature rhythm  The name “jive” possibly comes from
 The rhythm of rumba is often found in either “glib talk” or African dance terms
contemporary pop music, making it easy  It became a generic term for swing
to find songs with Latin beats that are dancing in the UK
perfect for dancing
 PE3: Midterm Notes
 It was especially popular among youth  lively, non-progressive partner dance
after being in-troduced by American that can be danced to a wide variety
soldiers during WWII of music (from blues to rock & roll)
 Added as the fifth Latin dance in  non-progressive - mostly performed
International ball-room competitions in in one spot, so it is very convenient on
1968 a crowded dance floor
 one of the most versatile partner
Characteristics of Jive Dancing dances you can learn (very social and
 Jive and East Coast swing share similar beginner friendly)
figures, music style, and tempo  easily adaptable to a wide range of
 Jive is characterized by high energy and a tempos
pumping leg action  involves movements with lots of
 Both dances include two triple steps and swinging, spin-ning and rhythmic,
a rock step creative footwork
 Jive starts with the rock step (counted "1,  a group of dances that developed from
2"), followed by the two triple steps ("3 the swing style of jazz music in the
and 4" and "5 and 6") first half of last century
 In competition, jive is danced at 176
beats per minute Different Styles of Swing
 Lindy Hop
Jive Action  Boogie-Woogie
 Jive is a happy, energetic, and bouncy  Jitterbug
dance full of knee lifts, hip rocking, and  Shag
bending  Charleston
 It is the fastest of the Latin dances  West Coast and East Coast Swing
 It features lots of kicks, flicks, and twirls,
especially for the woman Basic Steps (East Coast Swing)
 Unlike other dances, jive does not travel  beginners usually start with East Coast
around the floor as much Swing because it is the easiest of all
 Despite the seemingly erratic swing styles
movements, the feet are well-controlled,  has a basic count of 1&2, 3&4, 5,6
with knees kept close together known as a triple step swing
 the basic pattern is triple step, triple
Jive Music and Rhythm step, and a rock step
 Jive can be danced to swing music, jump
blues, Boogie-Woogie, Swing, and Rock Module 10 : Overview (Social Dances)
and Roll Social Dancing
 Typically danced at about 200 beats per  a major category or classification of
minute dance forms or dance styles
 It is crucial to familiarize yourself with the  sociability and socializing are the
rhythm of the music primary focuses
 Beginners should focus on the drum line,  many social dances are partner
as it provides the beat, rather than the dances (ballroom)
melody  include group dances such as circle
dances, line dances, novelty dances,
Basic Steps or solo club dancing
 The basic jive steps follow a six-beat
pattern: 1-2-3-a-4-5-a-6 Social Dance in West
 Start with a rock step (left foot back, right 14th Century
foot in place), counting "1-2"  social dancing has been preserved by
 Follow with two chasse steps (side steps), musical scores, but there are currently
counted "3-a-4" and "5-a-6" no choreographic representations of
 The rock step involves shifting weight them
between feet with a small step back,  include balli (ballo), carola, stampita,
rather than side-to-side salterello, trotto and roto
 A chasse consists of three side steps, 15th Century (Early Renaissance)
typically done in a quick sequence  the first period of time in the West
with written records of the types of
Module 9 : Swing social dance
Swing  dancing was especially important for
the courts during this time
 PE3: Midterm Notes
 Bassedanse: Burgundian court
dance, where a large group of dancers
perform a series of steps in triple time
 Bassadanza: the Italian courts also
did this dance for social purposes,
which was lighter and had more
intricate choreography

16th Century (Late Renaissance)

 social dancing of peasants and lower
class citi-zens were not recorded until
the Late Renaissance
 According to Richard Powers
(instructor of histo-rical and
contemporary social dance at Stanford
University):
- courtiers in the late 16th century
continually had to "prove
themselves through their social
skills, especially through dance”

Baroque Era
 dancing at court balls was a display of
social status
 Branle: couples stood in a line in
order of their place in the social
hierarchy; the most highly regarded
couples would dance first
 some of the couple dances include:
Menuet and Gavotte

19th Century (Regency Era: 1811-1830)

 Quadrille: became the most popular
dance in England and France;
consisted of a large variety of steps
that skimmed the ground (chassé and
jeté)
 Mazurka: were performed in lines and
squares

20th Century
 Americans began pairing Victorian
dances (Two-Step with Ragtime music)
 include dances such as African-
American Cake-walk, and animal
dances (Turkey Trot dance)
 One-Step: the most popular social
dance of the time

Rock 'n' Roll in the 1950s

 brought about a shift in social dancing
toward rebelliousness
 this shift was seen especially in
teenagers
 the dancing was mostly swing based
but had variations in different regions