Ballroom Dance

Ballroom dance is one of the world's most popular social activities accompanied by music. Ballroom dances are typically choreographed couples dances, although several styles include larger groups of people to encourage socialization, such as the quadrille, a precursor to the folk style known as square dance. People all over the world from all social classes participate in ballroom dances for social interaction, exercise, therapeutic objectives, and their own entertainment. In China, for example, a visit to one of the many parks in major urban areas reveals hundreds of people exercising in the morning: some are jogging; others practice martial arts such as Tai Chi; many play physical games such as basketball; and still more dance waltzes or fox trots, with or without musical accompaniment. Latin ballroom dance trends, such as tango, mambo, and cha-cha, were international crazes decades before rock and hip-hop music became global forces.

Explore More:

• Explore Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers

• Explore Highlife

• Explore Salsa

• Explore Rhythm

Pathways:

• Follow this Pathway to “The Missouri Waltz” from The story of Vernon and Irene Castle (at 1hr 17m 40sec)

• Follow this Pathway to the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing

• Follow this Pathway to the ABC show Dancing with the Stars

Ballroom Dance

Ballroom dance is one of the world's most popular social activities accompanied by music. Ballroom dances are typically choreographed couples dances, although several styles include larger groups of people to encourage socialization, such as the quadrille, a precursor to the folk style known as square dance. People all over the world from all social classes participate in ballroom dances for social interaction, exercise, therapeutic objectives, and their own entertainment. In China, for example, a visit to one of the many parks in major urban areas reveals hundreds of people exercising in the morning: some are jogging; others practice martial arts such as Tai Chi; many play physical games such as basketball; and still more dance waltzes or fox trots, with or without musical accompaniment. Latin ballroom dance trends, such as tango, mambo, and cha-cha, were international crazes decades before rock and hip-hop music became global forces.