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Ballroom - Forever Young

By Brian Jones

Today ballroom dancing consists of five standard dances: Modern Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Quickstep and the Viennese Waltz. Coupled with these are the Latin American dances the Cha Cha, Cuban Rumba, Samba, Paso Doblé and Jive.

Over the years the popularity of ballroom dancing has fluctuated. Dance Clubs and RSA’s have maintained the social dance form and dance studios hold functions for their pupils so they can put what they have learned in class into practice.

With the screening of a local production of Dancing With The Stars (DWTS) in 2005 on TV One, ballroom dancing, and couple dancing in general, had a visibility it had not had for a long time. New Zealanders quickly caught on to the idea of local celebrities having to learn a new dance every week and performing it on national television.

Studios, especially those that took advantage of the high profile ballroom dancing was receiving, had an increase in people wanting to learn Ballroom and Latin American dance throughout this time. Competitive ballroom dancing has had a long history in New Zealand with the first official combined national championships being held in 1950 at the Majestic Cabaret in Wellington.

As Gene Kelly once said: ‘dancing was one way to meet girls! Dancing was courtship’. For most who participate it is just fun - a chance to escape from the pressures of busy lives and spend time with a partner.

 Read the full article (Iss. 34)Ballroom Forever Young 

Ballroom-Forever Young

 
 
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