Latin Dances and its Issues

Introduction Latin dancing can refer to two distinct groups of dance, either social Latin dancing, or ballroom Latin dancing. Social, or traditional, forms of Latin dance, include things like the samba, salsa, merengue, mambo, cumbia, rumba, cha-cha-cha, bolera, and many others. Formal ballroom Latin dancing, on the other hand, includes only five styles: cha-cha-cha, jive, paso doble, rumba, and samba. It should be noted that neither jive nor the cha-cha-cha are Latin in origin, and for this reason the style of dance is sometimes referred to as Latin American dancing or International Latin dancing. There are hundreds of styles of traditional Latin folk dancing in Latin America, and listing or describing them all would be a monumental undertaking. A few styles have become widely popular, however, and are danced frequently in clubs in the United States and Europe, as well as in Latin America. One famous style, the Argentinean Tango, is notably not a form of folk dancing, and so although it is usually included as a form of Latin dancing, it is distinct from other Argentinean forms like the gato, zamba, chacarera, and escondido. Although Latin dance is good for social dancing, there are some controversies involving some of the Latin dances.

Body The term "Latin dance" may be used in two different ways: to denote dances that originated in Latin America and to name a category of International style ballroom dances. Many popular dances originated in Latin America, and so are referred to as Latin dances. International Latin is the name of a category of International style ballroom dances. International Latin consists of the following five dances: Cha-Cha, Rumba, Samba, Paso Doble and Jive. These dances are now performed all over the world as Latin-American dances in international DanceSport competitions, as well as being danced socially. International Latin Dances: Cha-Cha: Energetic and sassy, the Cha-Cha is danced to authentic Latin music or Latin Pop. It is an offshoot of the Mambo. Rumba: The Rumba is known as the "dance of love." Danced to romantic, Latin love songs, it is fun and quite easy to learn. Samba: Often difficult to master, the Samba is a lively Brazilian dance consisting of many jumps and turns. The Samba is an extremely fast dance. Paso Doble: Meaning "two step" in Spanish, Pasa Doble is a lively, march-like dance with significantly less hip movement. Jive A variation of the Jitterbug, the Jive consists of dance steps derived from country dancing.

Latin Style: Compared to other ballroom dances, Latin dances are generally faster-paced, more sensual, and have more rhythmic expression. The latin dances are for couples, typically a man and a woman. Partners sometimes dance in a closed, tight position, and sometimes hold only one hand. Latin dancing, as Latin music, is sultry and physical. Quick paced rhythms and playful movements make the various Latin dances endlessly entertaining, sometimes even breathtaking. The Latin dances are derived from the music to which they are danced. The component of the music that most differentiates the dances is their fast or slow tempo. Latin Dance Controversies Ballroom Dance Bashed and Re-Bashed: Controversial Moments in the Waltz's History What comes to mind when someone mentions the queen mother of ballroom dances, the waltz?

When people think of the waltz, they think of how graceful it is. Children generally think of princesses they see on TV, movie screens, or videos in flowing, pastel gowns. They can be seen in huge castle ballrooms swirling while holding their princes as triple-time music played. Even media companies besides the magical Walt Disney Company (famous for its portrayals of royal princesses) portrayed the princess-waltz analogy so well. For adults, they associate the dance with ballrooms as well. For maturity's sake, they analogize it with the music of the Strauss family (notably those of Johann and Johann II). Also, they think of ballroom dancing competitions where couples swirled to the music. But the waltz has its fill of being too indecent for society. Like grinding, a dance that involves rubbing genitals on a partner's buttocks, many people of its history objected to that and banned it. So why was the waltz's history so tumultuous thanks to indecency, even several years past its heyday? Origins and Early Controversy The waltz developed from dances previously danced in courts or peasant parties. As early as the mid to late 16th century, dancers danced close-position dances in courts. Kunz Haas described them as the immoral "Weller or Spinner, whatever they call it." In 17th century Vienna, ladies performed a similar dance with gliding steps to triple time. In France, lower-class people danced a turning dance called the Volta, where the woman leads the man in a close embrace. It became so popular in royal courts that Louis XIII banned it outright. Other contributors to the waltz's development were folk dances. When the laendler came to the suburbs of royal cities in Germany and Vienna, the dance appealed to bored nobles in servant balls. In 1750, peasants in Bavaria, Tyrol, and Styria danced a turning dance called the Walzer, a triple-time dance. Rise of the Controversy Not everyone was thrilled by the allure and swirls of the waltz. Dancing masters complained how easy it was to dance and how dizzy their pupils feel when doing it. But the biggest sources of bashing came from moralists - clergy, poets, and others who want decency. Many Catholic communities, even dioceses, barred couples from dancing so close in triple time when it became popular during the late 18th century and became widespread.

Regency Era Dirty Dancing

Many people with strong morals objected to the waltz because of its closed positions. (Although that man is waltzing, he's actually holding the lady's hands.) In Britain, the inception of the waltz from those Austrians and Germans shocked many moralists. Even poet Lord Byron was not pleased with the dance. He wrote in his poem about the closed positions involved in the dance: But ye --- who never felt a single thought For what our morals are to be, or ought; Who wisely wish the charms you view to reap Say --- would you make those beauties quite so cheap? Hot from the hands promiscuously applied, Round the slight waist, or down the glowing side, Where were the rapture then to clasp the form From this lewd grasp and lawless contact warm? Simply put, it was the "freak dance" of the Regency Era because of the overly sexual moves and positions. Anglican bishops outlawed their parishioners from dancing the dance. Even in America The controversy even came to America, notably in California. (Boston had that problem with close embraces of the dance too.) There, the Salesian Fathers considered it indecent, and

banned it when the dance came to the state. In 1834, they lifted the ban and people started adopting it and creating their own form: the Spanish waltz.

Some Ire Remained The dance caught on with less moral panic in the Victorian Era. Queen Victoria became a fan of the dance and danced it with skill. Some Strauss family members wrote music for it, most notably those of Johann I and his sons. Despite society's adaptations, some objection to the waltz remained. One etiquette manual, Donald Walkers Exercises for Ladies, stated that women would risk back injuries and dizziness because of the excessive swirling. Other books on good manners also discouraged people from dancing that until about 1844, when the polka reached its zenith and became acceptable in dance gatherings. Waltz History Repeated Itself in the 2000s The waltz's history chronicled from a dance that was akin to sexual impulses to the ballroom dance that can be safely performed. But some Chinese allowed the times when moralists of days gone by bashed it for being a too scandalous dance repeat themselves in 2007. So why did China let the ugly head of waltz-outlawing and controversy out of the water again? Well, it started when the education ministry unveiled a new scheme that would combat the growth of childhood obesity: compulsory dancing. That type of ballroom dancing became the primary focus with dances tailored to various grades (see table for dances). School Dances in China by Grade Level Elementary Good Friends Sunny Campus Little White Boat Originally proposed in 2007 Middle Youth Melody The Yangge Dance High The Waltz The Young

Regency Era Repeated in 2007 China

Like those who denounced the waltz in the early 1800's, teachers in China also blamed waistholding and close dancing for "puppy love." Installing the new dances into the physical education curricula can cause a host of other problems. One teacher noted as many moralists noted in the 1800's that it involved the dreaded closed positions, which can lead to falling in love too early in life: The dance plan makes no sense. Running and calisthenics are a more effective way to lose weight. Our school needs to hire a special teacher to teach dancing and it will take up a lot of time. Most importantly, letting students waltz will create hotbeds of adolescent love. That is not good. Schools work very hard to prevent students from falling in love too early. Besides burning less calories than kung fu, the dance was merely extracurricular. One critic said, Making students dance - under duress - is not an essential part of education, it simply creates new burdens for students.

Revisions Had A Few Moral Kinks To curtail "puppy love" from the way it's danced, the education ministry revised the dance steps. They allowed children to dance in fours or switch partners during durations of dances, pretty much like the cotillions of old. But the revised scheme did not sit well with one middle school. They had to opt outof it because a dance ended with girls falling into their boy partners' arms. Although the waltz suffered bad times thanks to morals against it, it became a popular dance for the ballroom. Just think how dull it would be without both the good and bad times of its development!

Lifts or Not? The Controversy in Competitive Ballroom Dance

The breath-taking, unforgettable "lift" is considered the ultimate highlight and "wow" factor in most professional dance performances, leaving its audience mesmerized. Yet "Dancing with the Stars" Judge Carrie Ann Inaba is notorious for policing the no-lifts during dance performances. While the dance instructors vehemently deny feet or toes were off the floor, eagle-eyed Carrie Ann chooses to differ; hence points are deducted. Why is the case? While lifts are permitted in other genres of competitive dance, such as Ballet and Contemporary, they are rendered as a definite "no-no" in Ballroom Dance Competition. This has been an on-going controversy since competitive dance was created. Ballroom Competitive has its own format which restricts the contender to three dance steps. They have one minute and thirty seconds to execute their routine. Both feet must be touching the ground at all times. Any attempt to defy this ruling can and has resulted in disqualifying the contenders. Lifts are not allowed because ballroom competition can have 14 couples on the floor at a time. Every couple has their own routine. Lifts are not safe because they fragile in terms of balance if someone bumps into you. There is, however, show dance, in which the couple are allowed to include any style of dance which they feel best demonstrates their proficiency, including lifts with set rules: A maximum of three lifts are allowed during each performance. Lifts are only permitted in the transitional elements between dances. Each lift may not exceed 2 measures of music or 15 seconds in duration. DWTS has one couple at a time, but they are still not allowed to do lifts because they are supposed to dance regular ballroom, not show dance. Technique on the floor is more important. Currently, Ballroom Dance Competition allows an approximate fifteen-second open choreography both at the beginning and end of a dance routine. Within this tight window, one

lift might be executed, hence returning to the contact dance segment of the routine, which separates competitive dance from the regular dance showcase. Integrating lifts into the Competitive World of Ballroom could be either a milestone or a setback. Most contenders might welcome more lifts as an extra perk, but also realize that weight control and center balance would then play a heavier role, since every step and movement must be in sync, connected and flawlessly executed. But some argue that while lifts can enhance most genres of dance competitions, they would defeat the true concept of what Ballroom Dance Competition represents, the focus on technique and stage presence rather than flash and dazzle.

Methodology The researchers surfed the net for information on Latin Dances and controversies relating to Latin Dances.

Conclusion Although the waltz suffered bad times thanks to morals against it, it became a popular dance for the ballroom. Just think how dull it would be without both the good and bad times of its development. Recommendations Latin dances might have some controversies from its history and to the present time, ballroom dancing is still a good type of dance. So continue dancing for it has positive advantages to the body specially in our health and social aspects.