Ballroom and Latin dancing has always been a popular form of expression. Many of the American Style dances developed through the strong influence of Arthur Murray, who established a chain of dance studios, for which these dances were formalized. American Style is divided into two categories: the Smooth dances which include Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, and Foxtrot; and the Rhythm dances which include Cha Cha, Rumba, Bolero, Mambo, and Swing.
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers popularized their particular style of partner dancing on the "silver screen" in the thirties and forties. They continue to captivate viewers with their "lighter than air" gliding and sweeping Foxtrot's, Waltzes and Quicksteps. Ballroom exhibitions and competitions are now regularly aired on prime-time television; and viewers have lived the joy and disappointment of competition vicariously through the international phenomenon of "Dancing With the Stars."
Some dances such as the Black Bottom and the Cakewalk have had a very short life span, and remained obscure, never to resurface. Other fad dances have included the Charleston, Bossa Nova, and the Lambada to name a few.
Most dances have developed from vintage dances. Partner dancing became very popular during the 19th century, with Viennese Waltz as its most enduring success.
Another style of partner dancing is the Folk Dance. These traditional ethnic dances hail from Europe, and are divided into the regions they come from.
International Style dancing developed in Europe almost at the same time as the American style, and was introduced to the U.S. in the 1960's. Originally labeled English Style, it quickly became very popular in the competitive world. Yet, on the social floor, this style still gets second place to the American Style. International Style is divided into two categories which are strictly formulated: Standard which includes Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, and Quickstep; and Latin which includes Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, and Jive.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Argentine Tango gained popularity in America when Rudolph Valentino brought it to the silver screen. Audiences were mesmerized by the sultry, passionate Tango back in the early twenties. It has never lost its charisma. Now, the "Tango craze" has swept the globe, evidenced by the burgeoning number of Tango clubs or "milongas," in addition to the great number Tango shows that have emerged due to audience demand. Other varieties of Tango have developed from the Argentine Tango.
Swing has a long and involved history. One could say that each decade has developed its own style. Each is unique and of course based on popular music trends of its time. Developed as an art form in the twenties, it has grown over the decades to enormous proportions. Many styles have split off from the original Lindy Hop to "jump" style swing, smooth style, West Coast Swing (a slinky, slot dance done to rhythm and blues music), the lightning paced International style of Jive, Carolina Shag, Balboa, New Orleans Zydeco, and Rock'n'Roll or "Le Roc" which is danced in Europe (France specifically). Swing has seen a dynamic resurgence over the past 10 years, initially due to the popularity of the Brian Setzer Band and jump style Swing, the budding of Swing clubs everywhere, and the growing number of Swing films and shows.
Hustle developed in the seventies as a "street" dance, permeated American audiences via the film "Saturday Night Fever;" and now has a following of over a million people.
Latin dancing, which includes the Salsa, Mambo, Merengue, Rumba, Cha Cha, Samba (and other offshoots), originated in the Latin countries such as Cuba, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, et al. and has been embraced worldwide. New York, in the '50's and 60's, became a hub for the imported music and dances. The upsurge of Latin music and dancing can be evidenced by the growing number of Latin clubs that are constantly springing up; as well as the multimedia forums of television, film and theater. Latin music has snatched the limelight much in part due to the popular performers such as Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin, to name but a few, becoming household names.
