Ballroom Dancing

Ballroom dancing is a form of partner dance performed by couples using prescribed steps, which is enjoyed both socially and as a competitive activity around the world. Its structure, grace, and elegance affords people not only social contact and recreation, but the added benefit of exercise combined with physical expression. Ballroom dance has a broad based appeal that reaches young and old alike making it a popular pasttime that crosses gender and generational boundaries.

The term “Ballroom dance” is sometimes used as a broad umbrella term to describe almost any type of partner dancing, but more accurately refers to International Standard and American Smooth styles.

In Ballroom dances two individuals, a “leader” and a “follower,” dance with physical contact through their upper or lower bodies, or simply through their arms depending on the particular dance. This contact is necessary for the leader to communicate the next dance move to the follower, and for the follower to respond to this lead. This stands in stark contrast with the styles of dance seen in clubs and other social gatherings where physical contact tends to be optional. Some knowledge of step patterns is essential for both the leader as well as for the follower to be able to effectively practice the art of ballroom dancing.

Ballroom dancing originated in England in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when dances, such as the Waltz, were performed by the upper and elite classes of society in balls and parties. During the late 19th to the early 20th centuries, it became a trend among the working and middle class to go to gatherings and events in public dance halls. Ballroom dancing had been in continual use as a social art form since its inception until the Twist in the mid 1960s marked a decrease in the popularity of social partner dancing. What was then called the Latin Hustle is credited for bringing it back in the late 1970s. In recent years Ballroom Dance has experienced a resurgence of popularity on stage, film, and on television.

American style Smooth ballroom was developing on the west side of the Atlantic during the same period as English (International) style ballroom was developing near the east side of the Atlantic. Although there was probably some cross fertilization each style saw mostly independent development. American style was developed by the major U.S. studio chains, Arthur Murray and Fred Astaire, and by the independent U.S. studios. International style was developed by the British, particularly through the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) and the International Dance Teachers’ Association (IDTA).

By the early 1920s, ballroom dancing competitions started to boom which led to ballroom dance techniques, steps and music becoming standardized and formalized. Competition seems to have started to dominate the development of English style fairly early (1920s), while American style was more rooted in social dancing as taught by the chain studios and a desire to emulate the stage and screen dancing as epitomized in the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies. It wasn’t until the 1950s and 1960s that English style really started catching on internationally, and came to be called International style (and later, Standard).

At Firefly we teach both International Standard and American Smooth. Each has different technique, styling and dance patterns in their respective syllabi. Most studios in Australia focus on one or the other but we are proud to be able to offer both.

The dance styles which are included in International Ballroom (Standard) are Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz and Quickstep. These dances are characterised by anti-clockwise movement around the dancefloor and the dancers remaining in closed dance position throughout.  The figures in these dances are standardised and categorised into various levels for teaching, with internationally agreed vocabularies, techniques, rhythms and tempos. The International Ballroom (Standard) dances are taught using a sequence of patterns (routine) determined by the teacher, which gives the dancer an opportunity to focus on the foot positions, footwork and timing initially and build the leading and following skills later. The “routines” may differ from class to class and student to student, but the patterns included are universally known, allowing students to dance with different partners.

American Smooth ( Ballroom) has an extensive repetoire of exciting patterns. While most of the basic principles and techniques of Ballroom dancing still apply, partners are not required to maintain continuous body contact (closed dance position), allowing dancers to dancers to perform underarm turns, spins, dips and other variations, which would not be permissable in International (Standard) Ballroom dancing. American Smooth (Ballroom) incorporates four styles – Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Tango and Foxtrot, with the music used being basically the same as that used for International Ballroom (Standard). At a basic level American Smooth (Ballroom) is very easy to learn and enjoyable due to it’s interesting syllabus. At higher levels more skill is required as the patterns become more elaborate and creative. American Smooth (Ballroom) teaches indvidual patterns which can be used in numerous combinations depending on the situation, rather than a “routine” making lead & follow very important and dancing with a range of partners easier.

If you are interested in learning International Ballroom (Standard) or American Smooth (Ballroom) you can do so through Private lessons or through our Group class program.

• Talk to Firefly on 1300 725 977 and will be happy to answer any questions you may have
• You can check the 8 Week Group Class Timetable or Casual Group Class timetable for class dates & times
• If you have danced previously and you would like to attend group classes speak to us to see which class is right for you
• Enquire Now