International Dance Day: All about dancesport and its various forms
Every year, on 29th April, is observed as International Dance Day, on the birth anniversary of Jean-Georges Noverre, legendary French dancer and ballet master. The aim is to encourage more people to participate in this performing art and educate the global population about its various dance forms. As we celebrate International Dance Day today, let us explore a unique form of dance known as dancesport and its variants.
What is dancesport?
As the name suggests, dancesport refers to an activity that combines dance and sport. It improves both physical fitness as well as mental well-being. However, by definition, dancesport refers to a competitive form of ballroom dancing. It stands in contrast to social or exhibition dancing. These competitive events are organised by specific national and international organisations, like the World DanceSport Federation.
Types of dancesport
Primarily, there are five popular types of dancesport, namely: samba, cha-cha-cha, rhumba, tango and waltz. Here’s exploring each one of them further.
Samba: One of the rhythmical Latin American dance routines, samba originated in Brazil and has been deeply influenced by coastal music genre of West Africa. It is now a popular Brazilian ballroom dance style performed in 2 by 4 rhythms comprising of simple forwards, backwards, tilting and rocking (lifted spin) steps.
Cha-cha-cha: Another rhythmical Latin American dance style, cha-cha-cha originated in Cuba, and has been greatly influenced by its predecessor mambo. The style derives its name from the Spanish ‘chacha’ meaning ‘babysitter.’ The four steps involved in this 4 by 4 rhythmic dance form are forward, backward, side-step and rocking.
Rhumba: Rhumba, also known by the name ballroom rumba, refers to a slow-paced partner dance style that although originated in Cuba and east coast of the USA, has its roots in Spain and Africa. It is also performed in 4 by 4 rhythms, and includes walking, forward, backward and twist. Its lyrical and emotional sides make it one of the most popular romantic dances in the world.
Tango: Tango refers to the most standard form of ballroom dance that has its origin in Argentina and Uruguay. This partner dance is regarded as a dance of passion and is the most important part of dancesport routine. It is performed in 3 by 4 rhythms and includes the basic steps of forward, backward and tilting.
Waltz: Waltz is a popular form of ballroom dance performed with strong beats and followed by closed position. It has its origin in Germany and literally means “to roll or revolve.” The two kinds of waltz are, white waltz or English waltz and Viennese waltz. Both are performed in 3 by 4 rhythms. The difference is, white waltz has forward, backward and side-steps, while Viennese waltz has forward, backward and twist.