2. Brief History

Modern ballroom dancing refers broadly to a set of partner dances codified in the 20th century that are enjoyed socially and competed professionally (sometimes referred to as Dancesport). Famous dance halls like Winter Gardens, Blackpool, England, and the Savoy Ballroom in New York City provided space for people to come together and dance, contributing to the growth and culture of ballroom dancing during this time.

Examples of ballroom dances include, but are not limited to, Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz, Quickstep, Cha Cha, Rumba, Swing, Mambo, Samba, and various social dances. There is an International School (British), categorizing dances as Standard or Latin, and an American School, categorizing dances as Smooth or Rhythm. English dances originate from earlier courtly and folk traditions (e.g., Waltz, Polka), with Latin dances originating from Ingenious American, West African, and European dance styles, and swing dances originating in North America. Hilary French aptly describes the history of ballroom dances as “a story of adoption, appropriation, and reinvention.”

Ballroom dance styles have been enjoyed by upper-class debutantes as well as in an underground, nightclub culture, through the years. The dances have been greatly influenced by popular music (e.g., Jazz, Swing, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Rhythm & Blues) and kept in the public spotlight through Hollywood movies, television shows, and competitions.