The History of Ballroom Dancing

Early Roots (Renaissance to 18th Century) The word "ballroom dancing" comes from the Latin ballare. It means "to dance." At first, rich people enjoyed it as a hobby. Common folk stuck to their own dances.

It started in European royal courts during the Renaissance. This made it a fun social event for the upper class. Over time, it grew with ideas from many cultures and groups. Now it's a rich art and sport.

Early Roots (Renaissance to 18th Century) The word "ballroom dancing" comes from the Latin ballare. It means "to dance." At first, rich people enjoyed it as a hobby. Common folk stuck to their own dances.

• Minuet: This began as a French village dance. Courts in Paris picked it up around 1650. It ruled ballrooms until late in the 18th century. The steps were formal. They stressed poise and good manners.
• Académie Royale: King Louis XIV set up the Académie Royale de Musique et de Danse in the late 1600s. It made the first clear rules for dancing. This base split later into ballet and ballroom styles.

19th Century: Waltz Takes Off and Society Shifts In the 1800s, the Waltz changed everything. It came from folk dances in Germany and Austria.

• A Bold Hold: People first disliked the Waltz. Its close partner grip felt too daring back then.
• Hits and Fresh Steps: Soon it caught on big. By the 1840s, Polka, Mazurka, and Schottische joined in. Dancers ditched fancy ballet moves. They went for simple walks that felt real.
• Going Pro: Dance lessons moved from parties to studios. Experts and groups took charge. This set the dance teacher role in stone.

20th Century: Jazz Vibes, Latin Beats, and Film Stars Early 1900s brought the Jazz Age. Livelier tunes and Black American styles shook up ballroom dance.

• US Hits: Foxtrot got big thanks to actor Harry Fox. Quickstep came from fast Foxtrot and Charleston. Both had smooth, speedy steps to match jazz beats.
• Latin Spark: Music from the Caribbean and South America added Rumba, Samba, and Cha-Cha. They brought lively rhythms and hip action.
• Silver Screen Magic: Films with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers added shine. They got folks everywhere keen to dance.
• Set Rules and Contests: Groups like the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing made standards. This sparked competitive ballroom, or dancesport.

Today Ballroom dance thrives worldwide now. It mixes social fun with top contests. Shows like Strictly Come Dancing lift its fame. Its story shows endless cultural swaps. What began as elite play now delights everyone.

By 1918, rag and jazz tunes hit from America. This fresh sound sparked new dances. Syncopated beats won fans fast. Working folks loved American pop music from 1918 on. This included jazz from Black artists. Key English ballroom dances like Quickstep and Foxtrot came from US rag steps. (German, L. 1998 online) Dancers walked to the beat. Out-turned feet from old styles gave way to parallel ones. This kicked off the modern look. It challenged Old Time ways. Onestep, Twostep, and Foxtrot began here. Modern dances had no fixed speed or steps yet. Dancers made it up as they went. Hammersmith Palais de Danse opened in 1919. Other halls popped up too. Tea dances filled top hotels. Folks craved spots to dance. Schools sprang up nationwide. Radios played the hot new tracks everyone wanted to try. In the early 1920s, tea dances boomed. Through the 1930s, they packed seaside halls from Blackpool to Brighton. London's Covent Garden loved them too.