Ballroom dance

Ballroom dance is a style of dance which originated in the western world, and is now enjoyed both socially and competitively in many parts of the world.

Contemporary ballroom dance technique has been extensively studied and formalized. Medals Exams[?] are a commonly accepted standard of measurement of a dancer's technique according to conventional standards, and are classed Bronze, Silver, Gold and Gold Bar. The International Olympic Committee now recognizes ballroom dance as a sport, and some have pushed for its admittance to the Olympics.

Most ballroom dances were social and/or folk dances before being formalized as ballroom dances, and many of these dances are still danced as social and folk dance.

The three divisions of contemporary ballroom dance are called International Standard, International Latin, and American Style Ballroom.

International Standard (also called International Ballroom or Modern Ballroom)

The dances which make up International Standard ballroom dance are:

• Waltz
• International Viennese Waltz[?]
• International Tango[?]
• International Foxtrot[?]
• International Quickstep[?]

International Latin

The dances which make up International Latin ballroom dance are:

• Rumba
• Samba
• Cha-Cha
• Paso Doble
• Jive

American style Ballroom

The dances which are included in American style ballroom include (more than just) the following. Note that American versions of dances which are also danced in the International style usually have differences in technique. Also note that popular club dances such as Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing and East Coast Swing are danced differently in clubs and have different styles than in ballroom studios.

• Foxtrot
• Cha-Cha
• Waltz
• Viennese Waltz
• East Coast Swing
• West Coast Swing
• Lindy Hop
• Tango
• Mambo
• Rumba
• Samba
• Two Step
• New York Hustle[?]