Ballroom dance, type of social dancing, originally practiced in Europe and

the United States, that is performed by couples and follows prescribed steps.
The tradition was historically distinguished from folk or country dance by its
association with the elite social classes and with invitational dance events. In
the 21st century, however, ballroom dance is present in many parts of the
world and has practitioners in virtually all segments of society. It is performed
in various contexts, including invitational and public dance events,
professional dance exhibitions, and formal competitions.

Standard ballroom dances include the waltz and the polka from the 19th
century and the fox-trot, the two-step, and the tango, among others, from the
20th century. Other popular dances—such as the Charleston, swing dancing,
the mambo, the twist, and disco dancing—have also visited the
ballroom repertoireat various points in the tradition’s history. Owing to the
social and stylistic breadth of the ballroom tradition, the term ballroom
dance has often been loosely applied to all sorts of social and popular
dancing.

Early Ballroom Dance And Invitational Events

The social origin of ballroom dance lies in the European court dances of the
17th and 18th centuries, although many of the dance steps were adapted from
folk traditions. Initially, court dances were performed facing the throne, a
practice known as “fronting the state,” because it was unacceptable to turn
one’s back on a ruler. As court etiquette relaxed in the 19th century, however,
dancers were required to face the ruler only on the most formal occasions or
when they were being presented to the court. Otherwise participants danced
in circles or squares throughout the ballroom.

Early 20th-Century Developments

Ballroom dances and dance events were transformed monumentally—and
indeed, democratized—with the social shifts of the early 20th century. Dances
such as one-steps, two-steps, hesitations, and trots (including the fox-trot)—
all so named because of their generally faster and more
strongly syncopated (with accents placed on normally weak beats) musical
style—could be learned by the public at large from teachers, manuals, or
general-interest newspaper and magazine columns. In this new atmosphere
of accessibility, two subcategories developed: professional exhibition ballroom
dancing, in which a couple was paid to demonstrate in front of a paying
audience, and competitive ballroom dance, in which amateur couples
performed within strict regulations for prizes or titles.

Exhibition And Competitive Ballroom Dance Since The

Mid-20th Century
In the second half of the 20th century, social dance genres followed the
entertainment industries’ pursuit of a youthful audience. Accordingly, popular
rock-and-roll dances (such as the twist), disco dances (such as the hustle),
and break dancing were all in turn publicized, dramatized, and commoditized
within the ballroom dance context. Older forms of ballroom dance, particularly
those derived from 19th-century models, persisted through their association
with new sorts of social rituals, most notably those connected with fund-
raising. These events, generally called cotillions or debutante balls, served
both to raise money for worthy causes and to introduce young people into
society. Early ballroom dance styles also continued to be practiced in
traditional family settings, such as wedding receptions and
Mexican quinceañera celebrations, which mark a girl’s entry into adulthood.

Cha Cha
Ailura / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

The Cha Cha is a lively, flirtatious ballroom dance full of passion and energy. The
classic "Cuban motion" gives the Cha Cha its unique style. Partners work together
to synchronize each movement in perfect alignment. More »

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Foxtrot
Sheridan Libraries/Levy/Gado/Getty Images

The Foxtrot is a ballroom dance that is lots of fun and simple to learn...an
excellent dance for beginners. The Foxtrot is a smooth dance in which dancers
make long, flowing movements across the floor. More »

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Jive
© CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

Jive is a ballroom dance style that originated in the United States from African-
Americans. It is a lively form of Swing dance and a variation of the
Jitterbug. More »

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Lindy Hop
Bettmann / Contributor / Getty Images

The Lindy Hop is the ballroom dance considered to be the father of all Swing
dances. It is known for its unique, athletic style, and often contains aerial jumps,
twists, and flips. More »

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Mambo
I.C. Rapoport/Getty Images

The Mambo is one of the most sensual and emotional Latin American ballroom
dances. Swaying hip movements, facial expressions, arm movements and holds
all add to the sensuality of the dance. More »

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Paso Doble
Bob van Ooik / Contributor / Getty Images

The Paso Doble is one of the liveliest ballroom dances, originating in southern
France. It is modeled after the sound, drama, and movement of the Spanish
bullfight. More »

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Quickstep
oleg66 / Getty Images

The Quickstep is a quick version of the Foxtrot. It is a ballroom dance comprised

of extremely quick stepping, syncopated feet rhythms, and runs of quick steps.
The Quickstep is exciting to watch but among the most difficult of all the
ballroom dances.More »

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Rumba
oleg66 / Getty Images

The Rumba is considered by many to be the most romantic and sensual of

all Latin ballroom dances. It is often referred to as the "Grandfather of the Latin
dances." More »

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Samba
Lonely Planet / Getty Images

Possibly the most popular of all Brazilian ballroom dances, the Samba is popular
with young people as well as older generations. The Samba can be performed solo
or with a partner. More »

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Tango
Tango dancers. Photodisc / Getty Images

The Tango is one of the most fascinating of all ballroom dances. This sensual
ballroom dance originated in South America in the early twentieth century. More
»

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Viennese Waltz
Imagno/Getty Images

The Viennese Waltz is a quick rotating ballroom dance with a subtle rise and fall.
It is considered by most to be one of the most difficult dances to learn. The simple
and elegant rotational movement characterizes the Viennese Waltz. More »

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Waltz
RichLegg/Getty Images

The Waltz is one of the smoothest ballroom dances. It is a progressive dance

marked by long, flowing movements, continuous turns, and "rise and fall." The
dance is so graceful and elegant, Waltz dancers appear to glide around the floor
with almost no effort. More »