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Perhaps when the word ballroom dancing is mentioned, you can see some images of women in flowing gowns with handsome men dancing the night away on the dance floor. There is a variety of dance steps one can perform such as the slow Waltz right to the fast upbeat nature of the Fox Trot.

This definition by Webster of ballroom dancing - “any of various, usually social dances in which couples perform set moves” reveals that the nature of ballroom dancing encompasses a wide variety of moves. The word ball does not originate from the toy “ball” but from the Latin word “ballare” which means to dance. It is good to note that the word ballet and ballerina has the same origins as ballroom too.

In the late 18th and 19th century this form of dance is a craze among members of the upper class in England. People form the working class did not participate in such occasions and therefore were alienated from such gathering and therefore have no opportunity to partake in such lavish activities. In the early 1920’s an association called the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing set up a Ballroom Branch with the purpose to standardize all forms of modern ballroom dance.

Today, ballroom comprise of five major moves - the Waltz, the Viennese Waltz, the Slow Foxtrot, Tango and the Quickstep. The American Latin ballroom dance can be classified as Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, Cha-Cha and the Jive. Make it a point to note that the word Latin America actually refers to the Latin and American styles, not just the South American countries.

There is much similarity in the modern day ballroom dance as it was in the past and all consists of moves in predetermined rhythm and tempo. There are five points of contacts between couples. Three points involve the hand, where his left hand holds her right and her left hand will be on the top of his right upper arm, and the Tango would need her hand to go hand his arm while other right hand will rest on her left shoulder blade. Her right side of the chest will rest against his chest while her left elbow will touch his left elbow as they dance the night way. This makes a very elegant posture that starts from the early days of the English Royal court.

A few decades ago, men danced while wearing their sword and this helps to explain the obvious right-tight contact between the men and the women. The counter clockwise movement is also explained this way, it actually prevents the weapon from hitting any of the dancers while he dance. In Latin American dances, he postures varies from dance to dance. Just as the modern ballroom dance has been standardized, the Latin American dances have been programmed with a similar standardization for easy teaching.