Whenever you think of ballroom dancing, you most likely think of slow music being played by the violin. Centuries ago, your thinking would have been very accurate. Ballroom dancing was originally performed to acoustic guitars, violins, and cellos. This type of music was appropriate during the time, as most ballroom dances were slow and extremely precise. However, as time passed and ballroom dancing came into common use, the music changed right combined with the dances.
Gone are the days of the mellow acoustic strings; today, many different music is used in ballroom dancing. The music activity depends strictly on the kind of dance being performed. In ballroom dancing, there are over ten traditional dances with many more variations, so obviously the music activity will be different for each one. Here’s a look at some examples of music and songs befitting each dance style.
The paso doble is a Spanish dance that demonstrates the bullfighter’s bravery and agility. Often, the lady represents the matador’s cape. The paso doble is definitely an intense and dramatic dance, so the music selected should fit the scene. Quite often, the music for this particular dance is instrumental, but fast-paced with a dramatic appeal. The Spanish culture ought to be kept in mind, so choose music with horns, maracas, and acoustic guitars.
The jive is often a fun and upbeat dance that allows the dancers to express their careless personality. The moves are quick with lots of fast kicks and spinning or twirling of the woman. Most of the jive is performed inside a stationery place and does not involve getting around on the dance floor. Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” is a superb example for the jive, as is the well-known song, “Born to Hand Jive”. Any song that follows these kinds of tempo is appropriate for the jive.
The quickstep is a combination of the swing and the jive. The steps are extremely quick and movements must be fast and concise. This dance is generally best performed to instrumental music. A number of songs most commonly used for the quickstep are “Big Band”, “Flash”, and “Spoonful of Sugar”. These songs have a cheery and upbeat tempo and have a 1940’s dance club appeal.
The foxtrot is one of the most popular ballroom dances, although it can be one of the most difficult to learn. The foxtrot is definitely a smooth dance with fluid movements, as well as the movements are “slow, quick, quick, slow”. This dance is known as elite and one of the most formal, so choosing music is definitely a challenge. Keep in mind that the music should not be very fast, but should follow combined with steps. Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” and Shakira’s “Underneath Your Clothes” are perfect choices for the foxtrot.
Although not the last of the ballroom dances, the cha cha is a very lively and even flirty type of dance. It is also fast-paced and combines a lot of hip action with quick footsteps. This dance is amongst the easier styles of ballroom dance in terms of choosing music. Shakira’s “Whenever, Wherever” and Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” are perfect songs for dancing the cha cha.
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