ILOILO CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN TOURISM MANAGEMENT

SOCIAL AND BALLROOM DANCING

LG. 1 SOCIAL AND BALLROOM DANCING

Time Frame: 1-2 weeks
I. Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this module, I can be able to:

 to commit to the ideals of social and ballroom dancing

 to enhance the skills and values demonstrated in various genres aesthetically, morally,
and physically
 to actively participate in different genres
 to disseminate Latin dances in its pure and authentic form

II. Learning Materials

Smartphone, internet access, printed modules
III. Learning Activities

SOCIAL AND BALLROOM DANCES

 Popular couple dances without set patterns are classified as social and ballroom dances. Most social
dances are characterized by the man leading and the woman partner following whatever steps,
styling, and rhythmic variations he chooses and indicates. Social dances are usually done to
introduce people with one another during a formal social gathering or to welcome guests to a social
gathering. Many of the social dances like polka and mazurka started as folk dances while some were
deliberately designed for its social purpose, such as the waltz, regoudon and polonaise (Nimor,
2006). Social dancing is believed to have existed since the beginning of human society in some
forms. Ballroom dancing has lots of benefits for young people. It is less threatening to their young
developing bodies compared to many sports such as football, basketball and hockey that endanger
forming cartilage, break bones and in some cases disfigurement cause by various swinging sticks and
equipment's. Ballroom dancing provides general conditioning for the body. Mentally, it stretches the
thinking and the “do – it” abilities of the young. The sense of achievement is a confidence builder.
Teamwork of couples is more stimulating to concentration and learning. For older groups,
competitive dancing is an excellent learning achievement and self-confidence. Socially, the young
people have an opportunity to interrelate with others, especially the opposite sex, in a setting that
includes discipline and emphasis on courtesy and consideration for others. Ballroom dancing provides
lesson on social skills that will be beneficial to the youth for the rest of their lives. Ballroom dance
training offers unique advantages. It is not only a rhythmical exercise that adds life, graceful
muscular movements but it is also a group recreation. A child who has learned ballroom dancing
gains not only improved posture and coordination but ease in relationships with companions.

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Dancing is one means of instilling graceful body coordination; it is also a muscular activity that brings social
ease. A girl who has learned to be a good ballroom dancer never fades into a wall flower. A Boy who can
dance is spared from many agonies of a teenage self – consciousness. Children who dance well are popular,
ones instilled; those ingredients of good manners are never forgotten. Ballroom dancing offers more than
mere steps it includes charm of manners and consideration of others. COMMON DANCE TERMS;

1. To Address Partner is to bow to partner. Facing partner, boys bow by bending slightly from the waist as
girls do curtsy. Curtsy is to bend knees and body slightly with a bow of the head; the weight of the body is
on one foot. One foot crosses the other in rear.
2. An Amalgamation is a combination of two or more patterns or movements.
3. An Amateur Dancers is a person who is dancing as a hobby and who does not seek financial gain from
teaching or dancing.
4. A Ball change is a transfer of weight from the ball of one foot to the other foot.
5. A Basic figure is a standardized step pattern, which together with other constitute the basics of a dance.
6. To Brush is to lightly touch the inside edge of the supporting foot with the inside edge of the free foot
between changes of weight.
7. A Chasse is composed of three changes of weight with a close on the second and may be performed
sideward or forward.
8. A choreography is a creation or compilation of steps, patterns and movements, which make up the dance
or a dance routine.
9. To Close is to move the free foot next to supporting foot with one change of weight. 10. A Commando is
a forward or backward rock and close.
11. A Combination is a group of consecutive patterns and choreography. It is similar to amalgamation but it
sometimes involves a slightly more advanced set of patterns.
12. A Continuity Movement is the continuous passing of the step from one step to the next.
13. The Contrary body movement is the action of turning the opposite hip and shoulder toward direction of
the moving leg. It is used to begin all turning movements.
14. A Conversation is a position when partners stand side by side, right hand of the gentleman holds the
lady’s waist; L arm of the lady placed at the gentleman’s, outside arm at the side.
15. A Corte, in tango, is a stop and change of direction either forward or backward.
16. A Cuban motion is a discreet but expressive hip movement achieve by bending and straightening the
knees with carefully timed weight transfer.
17. Dance Sports is the official name given to competitive Ballroom Dancing.
18. The Floor chart is the ability of the leader to maneuver around the dance floor in a skilled and controlled
manner as to avoid colliding with the other dancers.
19. A Drop is a theatrical movement in which the follower’s body remains in contact with the floor.
20. A Fan is a half a turn done on the ball of one foot while the free foot is kept directly behind the foot on
which the turn is made.
21. A Figure is a standardized step pattern that, together with the other patterns, constitute the dance.
22. A Hip motion is a very general term to mean any type of hip movement used in Latin dancing.
23. A Pivot is a turning movement during which the free foot is kept either in front or directly behind the
foot on which the turn is made.
24. A Spin is a turn done in place using both feet, usually done as a couple.
25. Variation is a varied or more advanced pattern than the corresponding basic figure, which still contains
the same main elements.

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DANCE POSITION Ballroom or Social Dance Position – partners stand face to face, shoulders
and hips parallel. Boys R hand is placed around Girl’s waist. Girl’s L hand rests lightly against his
R shoulders. Boy’s L hand is raised to the side holding the Girl’s R hand. The fingers of her R
hand rest lightly in the palm of the Boy’s L. 

 Open or Conversation Position – partners stand side by side, both facing the same
direction. Girl R of partner. Boy’s R is around Girl’s waist in back. Girl’s L hand rest lightly on
Boy’s R shoulder. Outside hands may be joined with arms extended forward or the outside
hands maybe on hips or side. Shoulder – Waist Position – partners face each other. Boy’s
places hands on Girl’s waist. Girl’s hands are on the Boy’s shoulders. Cross – Hold Position –
partners stand face to face, R hand joined over L hands, extended about waist level.
Promenade Position – partners stand side by side, both facing on the same direction. Girl at R
of partner. The hand crossed in front, R hands joined over L. Schottische Position – partners
stand side by side, Girl to R of Boy both facing the same direction. Boy’s R arm around Girl’s
waist, her L arm shoulder behind his R shoulder, her L hand resting lightly on that shoulder,
free hands on waist. Varsovienne Position – partners stand side by side, girls stands to the R
and slightly in front of Boy. Boy reaches R arm over the girl’s R shoulder and takes her R hand
in his, his L holds her L a little above his L shoulder. Swing is a rhythmic rotation of a couple
performed with a walking step or shift steps. Elbow Swing – hook designated elbows firmly of
the hand carried at the height of the locked elbows. While swinging, pull away from partner at
shoulders.

One Hand Swing – with the elbow bent and down , join the designated hands at shoulder height. In
balancing “pull against pull” while swinging, apply pressure against the thumbs and heels of hands,
pulling away at shoulders. Two – Hand Swing – Boy present hands at shoulder height with palms up,
elbows close to sides and should support while balancing “pull against pull” leaning away at shoulders.

 Waist Swing – In a modified closed ballroom dance positions with R foot and hips adjacent
the support weight of the body on the R foot swing, balance “pull against pull”, leaning away
from partners at shoulder. Hungarian or Russian Swing – dancers stand facing in opposite
direction with R(L) hips adjacent, each R(L) arm around each other’s waist in front, on partners
hip, L(R) arm curved overhead, both lean slightly away from each other when turning. Star
post – Partners are in opposite directions, their right hands holding each other, lady facing
away from audience ; while gentleman faces the audience. Challenge position- Partners face
each other about a step apart without touching. Cuddle or skating position – Woman is at
man’s left or right side, both facing the same direction; one arm of man is across woman’s
back.

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 SOCIAL DANCE GUIDELINES;
1. Practice correct dancing position even without a partner.
2. Maintain a good standing position. Bring out the best in your look.
3. Keep your weight over the balls of your feet to make you feel quicker and lighter, and place
your weight even on the soles of your shoes. No weight on the heel.
4. Maintain the habit of keeping feet close together unless you are taking a definite step. Feet
apart are not a pretty sight.
5. For a graceful dancing, always turn your toes out, not in.
6. When dancing with a partner, adapt a comfortable position for both of you; not too close and
not too far.
7. Don’t lean forward or backward. Just assume a natural comfortable dancing companion.
8. When facing the audience, the lady is at the right side of the male.

 SOCIAL DANCE ETIQUETTE:

1. Do not teach your partner on the dance floor.
2. Anticipate the next step.
3. Be confident strive to become a proficient dancer.
4. Don’t show off.
5. Find mutual topics of interest for conversation, never gossip.

Dancing Personalities Dancing is an expression of one’s personality. We can read

one’s personality and character by the way he dances. Traits such as timidity,
aggressiveness, and consideration for others, arrogance, and other characteristics are
revealed when people dance.
1. Dancers who love themselves--- point their toes too gracefully.
2. The cuddly couples--- are fun to watch if they are not related to you.
3. The bully type--- meanders around the dance floor, pushing his partner into
everything that comes his way.
4. The casual dancers--- girl shows that sloppy I don’t care posture and the man
just shuffling along.
5. The possessive man--- holds tightly on his partner’s back. His posture is
crouching as though ready for a springing pounce.
6. The jealous girl--- clings to her partner like a glue, looks up in his eyes and is
always tremendously attentive.
7. The timid souls--- could almost sink to the floor if you stare at them. Males have
an apologetic manner and take faltering steps, barely touches his partner. He is
hard to follow because he is too shy to lead. The girls of this type take uncertain
steps, droop their arms and get an until death-do-us part grip on their partner.

In common usage, Ballroom dance refers to the ten dances of International

Standard and International Latin, though the term is also often used
interchangeably with International standard dances.

International Style International Standard dances are normally

performed with Western Music. A couple dances counter clockwise around a
rectangular floor following the line of dance. Costume Women – full gown

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
RUMBA The name Rumba was originally applied specifically to the dancing style with lascivious
movement of the hip, bosom and other flexible parts. The Rumba influence came in the 16 th
century from the black slaves from Africa. The native Rumba folk dance is essentially a sex
pantomime danced extremely fast with exaggerated hip movements and with a sensually aggressive
attitude of men and a defensive attitude on the part of women. The music is written in 4/4 time,
which gives 4 counts to each bar of music, 1, 2, 3, 4. The beat values are 2, 3, 4-1 or quick, quick,
slow. Cha-cha-cha There are various theories as of the origin of Cha-cha. It could derived from the
Spanish chacha meaning nursemaid, or chachar meaning to chew coca leaves, or from char meaning
tea. This dance evolved from the Mambo and has its origins in the religious ritual dances of West
Africa. The music is usually in 4/4 time, sometimes 2/4. The Cha-cha-cha is a Cuban dance, based
on the Rumba. Counting is 1,2, 3 and 4 Reggae First developed in Jamaica in the late 1960’s. The
term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the
development of ska and rocksteady. It is based on rhythmic style characterized by accents on the
off-beat known as the skank. It usually accents the second and fourth beat in each bar.The music is
4/4 time and counting is 1, 2, 3,4.

 Samba Comes from Brazil. It differs from other Latin- American dances because it is lively and
vigorous and the feet is constantly leaving the floor. It is literally a bouncing step. It involves much
knee action with the dancers bodies resembling a swinging pendulum as they sway and turn. 2/4
time 1 ah 2 Waltz It is the first dance to use closed dance position. The waltz was to be performed
solely for the demonstration of elegance and not pleasure. The name comes from the German word
to revolve, turning with smooth gliding steps. Music is ¾ time 1, 2, 3. Paso Doble It finds its roots in
the Spanish style music of the 1930’s. It is popularly known as the man’s dance, portraying the story
of the matador with ( the female being ) his cape where the matador is to weild his cape according
to the anger and intensity of the roaring boar. Jive The origin of the word jive is unknown but it may
refer to jivetalk, or bad mouthing. This word reflects the character of the dance for it is sassy and
loud. It came from the African American slaves. It is known by many names, sometimes called
Swing, Jitterbug, Lindy hop, or Charleston, although it is completely different dance. Music is 4/4
time 1,2,3 and 4/ 1 and 2, 3 and 4. Swing An outgrowth of the jitterbug, it is marked by quick,
strenuous movements sometimes accompanied by acrobatics in its present form; it maybe a lively
smooth dance. Benny Goodman is the band leader credited with the developing the rhythm of
Swing. It is named after Charles Lindbergh’s solo flight across the Atlantic ocean in 1927 Music is 4/4
time sometimes 3/4 1,2,3,4/ 1,2 ah 3 Tango Originated in the lower class of Buenos Aires especially
in the Bario de Las Ranas. It was first known as baile con corte- the dance with a stop. It is
characterized by sudden changes of direction and its many flaring and dipping steps. Music is 2/4
time 1,2/

 Foxtrot An American dance evolving from trotting dance in 1913. Dancers gliding around the dance
floor with little up and down motion. It is known as the first truly American ballroom dance, was
named after Harry Fox. Music is in 2/4 time 12/ 1,2

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Activity 1. Essay

A. What makes ballroom dancing unique?

B. For you what is ballroom dancing?
C. What does ballroom dancing consist of?
D. What are the benefits of dancing ballrooom?

References:
Internet www.google.com Youtube.com Rhythmic Activities, Mary Chantelle O. Carlos, Mercy D. Pineda,
Lourdes P. Soriano, Rosauro C. Tabian Isabel O. Gapay, Editors: Vanessa B. Sibug Criselda a. Madriaga E
Published by: St. Andrews Publishing Co. 2012

Rubric per question:

5 pts – understanding
5 pts – content

Prepared by:
GARILLOS, KIM APRIL M. LPT
P.E Instructor