Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Theory and Technique of Ballroom Dancing
    Theory and Technique of Ballroom Dancing
    Theory and Technique of Ballroom Dancing
    Ebook155 pages1 hour

    Theory and Technique of Ballroom Dancing

    By Victor Silvester

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Originally published in 1932, this is a wonderfully detailed guide to ballroom dancing by the then reigning world champion dancer. The book covers everything that is essential in connection with ballroom dancing, from a detailed description of the standardised figures down to the finer points which proclaim the expert dancer. It is a book that will make its appeal both to the novice and to the experienced or professional performer. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Hesperides Press are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. Contents Include A Complete Syllabus for a Ballroom Examination General Knowledge Questions and Answers The Slow Foxtrot The Waltz The Quick Step The Tango Charts Giving a Complete Description of Every Standing Figure
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRead Books Ltd.
    Release dateMar 23, 2011
    ISBN9781446545232
    Theory and Technique of Ballroom Dancing

    Related to Theory and Technique of Ballroom Dancing

    Related ebooks

    Sports & Recreation For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Dancing Into The Ages

      Nov 22, 2019

      Dancing Into The Ages
      7 min read

    • Article

      Dress To Express

      Jul 24, 2018

      Dress To Express
      2 min read

    • Article

      Ballet Meets Science

      Nov 22, 2018

      Ballet Meets Science
      10 min read

    • Article

      Be An Efficient ‘Chunker’

      Jul 24, 2019

      Be An Efficient ‘Chunker’
      2 min read

    • Article

      Let’s Dance

      Oct 6, 2022

      Let’s Dance
      4 min read

    • Article

      Let’s Dance

      Oct 6, 2022

      Let’s Dance
      4 min read

    • Article

      Q&A: An ‘Everyday’ Life In Dance Proves Something Quite Extraordinary

      Jun 15, 2021

      Gavin Larsen’s ballet memoir “Being a Ballerina” opens up the dance world to show the determination, camaraderie, and physical strength at its core.

      3 min read

    • Article

      How Much Is Too Much?

      May 2, 2022

      How Much Is Too Much?
      6 min read

    • Article

      Beyond Technique

      Jul 24, 2018

      Beyond Technique
      3 min read

    • Article

      Blues Headlines

      Sep 20, 2019

      Difficulty 20 mins Tutor: Richard Barrett | Gear used: Atkin J45T IF YOU HAVEN’T HEARD the term before, cross-picking uses a ‘flat pick’ (as opposed to a thumb pick) to articulate patterns across the strings, in a way that may initially seem eas

      2 min read

    • Article

      Let’s DANCE!

      Sep 8, 2022

      Let’s DANCE!
      5 min read

    • Article

      How I MOVE

      Oct 7, 2021

      How I MOVE
      3 min read

    • Article

      Dance yourself SLIM

      Dec 12, 2023

      Still marvelling (or wincing!) at the flexibility of Angela Rippon doing stand-up splits in front of millions in the show’s opening weeks? She proves, at 79, that dancing isn’t just a fun thing to do at a party after a few Sauvignons. It’s fantastic

      3 min read

    • Article

      We Made Fitness fun!

      Oct 20, 2022

      We Made Fitness fun!
      5 min read

    • Article

      We Made Fitness fun!

      Oct 20, 2022

      We Made Fitness fun!
      5 min read

    • Article

      Speed Demon!

      Dec 13, 2019

      Speed Demon!
      3 min read

    • Article

      Variety Show

      Aug 8, 2019

      Variety Show
      8 min read

    • Article

      Super Star Fitness

      Sep 2, 2019

      Super Star Fitness
      8 min read

    • Article

      Alex Megos, Talking Olympics

      Feb 5, 2020

      Alex Megos, Talking Olympics
      5 min read

    • Article

      Ask The Don

      Jan 20, 2022

      Ask The Don
      2 min read

    • Article

      Find Your Inner Creativity

      Aug 1, 2022

      Find Your Inner Creativity
      5 min read

    • Article

      Fiesta Forever!

      Aug 10, 2023

      Fiesta Forever!
      3 min read

    • Article

      HOP, skip AND A JUMP…

      Mar 4, 2020

      HOP, skip AND A JUMP…
      5 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Theory and Technique of Ballroom Dancing

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Theory and Technique of Ballroom Dancing - Victor Silvester

      RECORDS

      THEORY AND TECHNIQUE

      OF BALLROOM DANCING

      INTRODUCTION

      THE revised and enlarged edition of this book covers everything that is essential in connexion with Ballroom Dancing, from a detailed description of the standardised figures—those that do not change—down to the finer points which go to the making of a good dancer. A large part of the book is devoted to Questions and Answers for a Ballroom Examination, and under this heading is given a complete analysis of the fundamental principles—everything that it is necessary to know, not only from the viewpoint of the experienced performer but from that of the beginner.

      The main feature of the Terpsichorean Art is not what you dance, but how you dance, or to put it a little more clearly, it is not so much the steps you do as how you execute them. If you can move well forwards and backwards, in an easy unaffected manner, keeping the weight of the body in the correct place, it is then simply a matter of memorising, in order to learn the figures that are used in the various dances.

      The first principle of all athletics or athletic pastimes, is to get the best result with the minimum of effort. In order to do this the body must be balanced correctly and the different muscles that are brought into play must be controlled and relaxed so as to avoid all undue exertion. The reader will therefore see that although clever and attractive steps may be the ambition of the majority, they can only be made to appear attractive if the fundamental principles have been mastered. Without finish and style, the more advanced variations, and for that matter the simple ones also, look clumsy, ungainly and hard work, instead of smooth, easy and non-flamboyant, which is the stamp—the hall-mark of the good dancer.

      It is this attention to detail and the technical precision with which all these points have been worked out, that have made the English style of ballroom dancing the best in the world, and the aspiration of the Continental nations.

      Dancing is not a matter of fashion, there is a reason, a why and a wherefore, for everything you do, and it is all based on the most natural standard of performance. When you walk it is natural to use the heel, when you run—the ball of the foot, and as dancing may be explained as a cross between the two, or a mixture of the two, it has been built up on these principles. I could enlarge on this but you will find it all covered in the following pages; I have merely referred to this instance in an endeavour to prove to you that it is not the latest steps that really matter.

      This book will prove very helpful to every student and teacher of Ballroom Dancing. It is written on the lines of a ballroom examination and in connexion with this I would add a word or two of warning and advice.

      Candidates should remember that when taking a ballroom examination, it is not enough to be able to learn the answers to the different questions by heart and to recite them like a parrot. It is necessary to be able to give a practical demonstration while explaining the different answers to an examiner, therefore it is essential that every student should take a course of training from a good teacher.

      This book will tell you the correct answers to the most usual and important questions and it will help you to remember them, but—it cannot make you do them. It cannot loosen your muscles, give you good balance and movement and turn you into a finished dancer. That can only be done by a thorough training and real hard work on your part.

      If you have decided to take up ballroom dancing as a profession then make up your mind to do it properly—not half-heartedly. You may not be able to get to the top of the tree but there is nothing to stop you from being really good and knowing your work thoroughly. And do not forget that it is only by the sweat of your brow, by hard work, more hard work and then some, as the Americans would say, that you will ever make a success of it.

      CHAPTER I

      SYLLABUS FOR A BALLROOM EXAMINATION

      EVERY candidate should be able to demonstrate and explain thoroughly the following subjects and dances.

      1. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE. Balance, Deportment, Contrary Body Movement, Body Sway, Rise and Fall, Alignment, Amalgamation, Time and Tempo, Definitions of Technical Terms.

      2. THE SLOW FOXTROT. (Demonstrate and explain as lady and gentleman.)

      3. THE WALTZ. (Demonstrate and explain as lady and gentleman.)

      4. THE QUICKSTEP. (Demonstrate and explain as lady and gentleman.)

      5. THE TANGO. (Demonstrate and explain as lady and gentleman.)

      Every candidate should be able to perform the above dances showing a high

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1