Dance-Dance Revolution-London

This article has nothing to do with the ‘Jumping here and jumping there’ Japanese game, famously known as DDR! This is about the Dance sequences which are the most sophisticated and beautiful dance sequences- Ballroom, which took various forms and styles as it moved geographically. Ballroom dancing can be seen in various styles like ‘Slow Waltz’, ‘Tango’, ‘Cha-Cha’, ‘Viennese Waltz’, ‘Quickstep’ etc. This form of dance is usually performed by a couple (generally a man and women) socially as well as competitively around the world.

 

The name ‘Ballroom Dance’ is derived from the word ‘ballare’ or ‘Ball’ which means ‘to dance’, but these days it is usually termed as the dance form in which there are two dancers (a couple) where there is a “leader” and one “follower” who are in physical contact with each other of their upper and lower parts of body. Both the leader and the follower need to know some technicalities and general sequences and patterns of the dance form, as most of the social dances are not choreographed, therefore to communicate the next step, the knowledge of the sequences becomes essential. While the dance is performed in a competition, the contestants are judged on the basis of their posture, frame, speed, timing, body alignment, usage of weight and grooming.

Ballroom dancing has many other dance forms like:

· Tango (ballroom)

Ballroom tango is little different from its original Tango dance form which originated in Argentina. Tango style is generally referred to the style where the couple takes small steps with rhythmic movements, but ballroom dance, which is originated from the Argentine Tango, is different and adjusted with the ballroom sequences. Ballroom tango has smooth rise and fall movements, besides ballroom dancing is more arrogant and hard style of dancing. This dance form is usually considered a powerful yet a smooth dance form.

· Waltz

It is one of the most popular dance forms of the ballroom dances; it is very stylish and very elegant. In the contemporary dance forms, waltz was referred as Viennese Waltz. It is such a dance form where the dancers rotate continuously either clockwise or anti clockwise, and combined with non rotary dance sequences, they change directions. It is one of the oldest ballroom dance forms. This dance form is performed in close position, and is faster in tempo as compared to the original waltz.

· Cha-Cha-Cha

For the Ballroom Cha Cha Cha, the music is steady and upbeat with energetic dance moves, Ballroom Cha Cha Cha is different from the original Cuban Cha Cha Cha, which is more sensual and has more complex sequences. In cha cha cha the footwork is different from other sequences, it is performed by putting a step forward and the transferring the weight later, since the weight is always on one foot at a time therefore the hip movements become prominent automatically to the side of the weighted leg. This dance form is free from any rise and fall, although the ballroom form has changed a bit but the basic moves of the Cuban one remains the same.

· Quickstep

Quickstep is a smooth dance form like other ballroom sequences, and as the name suggests it is really about Quick Steps! The couple takes back many steps long and small, with many rise and falls throughout the performance, whereas Foxtrot, another dance form considered similar to quickstep, has a technique which is a bit different from the latter. It has a dance sequence like slow-slow- quick- quick, there are many turns in this form of dance. Over the time, this dance form is divided in slow foxtrot and quick, where the quick one is termed as the Quickstep.

· Costume

Almost all ballroom dances have similar costumes, but change according to the social gathering or competition. The Females wear Ballroom gowns and since hands are always up therefore most of the gowns will have long flared sleeves which add to the beauty of the ballrooms postures, and men are dressed in fitted suits.

London is filled with dance schools teaching contemporary ballroom dance forms. Some of the famous dance schools are, Dance School L.A., Balads, Argentine Tango etc. Dance is to make you feel free, so just take some time out of your busy Bee life, and enjoy the sovereignty of dance.