Dear Friends,
Today I would like to share with you an activity many have loved and may or may not have participated. This passion had led me to travel to many cities in the bay area taking group lessons/Social Dance with like minded friends initially dragging our spouses along first to DVC Pleasant Hill to attend the ballroom dance classes they offered. Spouses interests do differ and finally Bernie had to painfully confess that he has 2 left feet like his father whose fees were refunded after a couple of classes at the Arthur Murray dance studio. As he pursued his interest in tennis and now pickle ball too, I was encouraged to continue with mine- that was 2 decades ago as I transitioned to Line Dancing, as many of the line dances have ballroom dance patterns choreographed into it.
One of the best group lessons I had was up in Emeryville at Allegro Ballroom. I had membership for 2 years just to attend Tytus Bergstrom Sunday 12 noon class. He taught 3 International Latin dances, Cha Cha, Rumba and Samba in monthly alternation. What's so good about his class was that he had a great following of dancers (at least 30 or more every class) who had been with him for years. So when we partner with these experience male dancers, we are really learning the dance together.
Here's an upbeat sample of the Internationl Latin Samba rhythm danced to the music of TICO TICO
|  | Tico Tico - Ballroom Video Series - Musica Da Ballo |
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What I learned from Ballroom dancing is it's musicality, it's simplicity yet complex dance patterns woven into the music rhythm that determines it's dance type. Rhythm patterns are the heartbeat of choreography, it dictates the timing, energy and overall feel of the dance. "True mastery lies in how a dancer interprets and embodies that rhythm, adding layers of complexity, musically and personal expression" Another very important aspect is training my ears to listen to a song's rhythm and then very quickly know what to dance after the music starts. Most serious ballroom dancers have achieved that.
In the Bay Area, there are many senior centers with DJs hosting dance socials for ballroom dancers, such venues are great for retirees, seniors and ballroom dance enthusiasts to enjoy an afternoon together.
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In brief, Ballroom dancing consists of 2 categories - International Standard/Latin and American Smooth/Rhythm. As many social dancing classes are taught the American Smooth style, I'll concentrate on giving you examples of the dance groups in the following videos which you can watch in your free time.
American ballroom dances are broadly categorized into Smooth and Rhythm styles.
Smooth includes Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot and Viennese Waltz, Here below are short videos
demonstrating the four dances.
1. Waltz - "A graceful flowing dance with a distinctive rise and fall characterized by its 3 step
pattern and smooth, continuous movements around the dance floor".
| | Waltz Dance - Waltz No 2 Shostakovitch - Schönbrunn Imperial Palace - V... |
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2. Tango - "A dramatic and passionate dance with sharp, precise movements, often danced
with bent knees and a focus on staccato rhythm"
| | Tango American Smooth, Bronze Demo Routine. Dance instructors: Jānis and... |
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3. Foxtrot - "A smooth and elegant dance characterized by its gliding steps and smooth, flowing
movements across the floor".
| | Slow Foxtrot American Smooth bronze demo routine . Dance instructors: Jā... |
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4. Viennese Waltz - "A faster, more elegant waltz with continuous turning and a sense of
lightness and grace".
| | Wynne Evans & Katya Jones Viennese Waltz to The Blue Danube by Johann St... |
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The Rhythm section includes Cha Cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Bolero and Mambo with videos below demonstrating the dances that characterized their distinct movements, musicality, and techniques.
| | Amazing Cha Cha Basic Routine for Beginners | Ballroom Mastery TV |
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| | East Coast Swing Fun Performance |
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