Easy Instructor Series - How to Dance - The Latest and Most Complete Instructions in Ballroom Dance Steps

Various

Description

This vintage book is a detailed guide to learning a variety of ballroom dances, with step-by-step instructions, simple diagrams, tips on etiquette, and much more. This volume will be of considerable utility to anyone with an interest in learning a range of dances from the foxtrot to the tango, and it would make for a fantastic addition to collections of related literature. Contents include: “Section I. The Waltz”, “Section II. The Foxtrot”, “Section III. The Tango”, “Section IV. Round Dances”, “Section V. The Quadrilles”, and “Section VI. Etiquette”. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on dance.

Informations

• Publié par: Read Books Ltd.
• Date de parution: 01 décembre 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9781528762694
• Langue: English

Extrait

EASY INSTRUCOR SERIES
HOW TO DANCE
THE LATEST AND MOST COMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS IN BALLROOM DANCE STEPS

THE A.B.C. OF MODERN DANCING
DANCING THE LATEST STEPS
FROM THE SQUARE DANCES TO THE SWING WALTZ

A C OMPLETE D ANCE G UIDE
WITH
51 I LLUSTRATIONS BY S EAMAN
Copyright 2013 Read Books Ltd.
This book is copyright and may not be reproduced or copied in any way without the express permission of the publisher in writing
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
A Short Introduction to Dance
Dance is a type of art that generally involves movement of the body, often in a rhythmic fashion and to music. It is performed in almost all cultures around the globe as a form of emotional expression, social interaction or exercise, in a spiritual or performance setting, and is sometimes used to express ideas or tell a story. Definitions of what constitutes dance are extremely difficult to form - and can depend on social and cultural norms, as well as aesthetic, artistic and moral sensibilities. Definitions may range from functional movement (such as folk dance) to virtuoso techniques such as ballet. Martial arts Kata (choreographed patterns of movements) are often compared to dances and sports such as gymnastics, figure skating and synchronized swimming are generally thought to incorporate dance.
There are many styles and genre of dance; African dance is generally interpretative , ballet, ballroom and tango are examples of classical dance styles , square dance and electric slide are forms of step dance and break-dancing is a type of street dance. Any of these dances can be either participatory, social or performed for an audience. Due to the nature of dancing itself however, it is very difficult to trace a history of the genre. Dance does not leave behind clearly identifiable physical artefacts such as stone tools, hunting implements or cave paintings. It is thus simply not possible to say when dance became part of human culture. Archaeological evidence (in the forms of statues and decorations on vases) indicates that dance has been an important part of ceremony, ritual, celebration and entertainment since the earliest civilisations though.
Examples of the evidence we do have includes 9,000-year-old paintings in India at the Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (Raisen District, Madhya Pradesh) and Egyptian tomb paintings depicting dancing figures, dated c. 3300 BC. One of the earliest structured uses of dances may have been the telling of myths. Before the invention of written languages, dance was one of the methods of passing stories down from generation to generation. Another early use of dance may have been as a precursor to ecstatic trance states in healing rituals - and it is still used for this purpose today by many cultures from the Brazilian rainforest to the Kalahari Desert. Most contemporary dance forms can actually be traced to such traditional, ceremonial or ethnic dances. For example, some Sri Lankan dances are related to aboriginal, mythical devils known as yakkas and according to local legend, Kandyah dance (originating in a hilly region of Sri Lanka) began as a ritual that broke the magic spell on a bewitched king.
Concert or performance dance is primarily related to Europe and North America. One of its most famous forms - ballet - originated first in Italy and then in France from lavish court spectacles that combined music, drama, poetry, song, costumes and dance. During the reign of Louis XIV, himself a dancer, dance became more codified. Professional dancers began to take the place of court amateurs and ballet masters were licensed by the French government. The first ballet dance academy was the Acad mie Royale de Danse (Royal Dance Academy), opened in Paris in 1661. Shortly thereafter the first institutionalized ballet troupe, associated with the Academy, was formed; this troupe began as an all-male ensemble but by 1681 opened to include women as well.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, there was an explosion of innovation in dance style characterised by an exploration of freer technique. Early pioneers of what became known as modern dance include Loie Fuller, Isadora Duncan, Mary Wigman and Ruth St. Denis. Other more modern dances, including tap dance, disco, jazz dance, swing dance, hip hop and break-dance developed in everyday spaces, rather than in dance studios, schools or companies. Most of these forms of movement originated with African American communities, often living under considerable hardship and racial prejudice - left with little alternative other than to create dance for themselves.
Today, dancing has become fully professionalized and there are many occupations surrounding its performance, including dancers, dance teachers, costume designers, producers and choreographers. Dance competitions are frequent, especially in classical as well as street styles and there are many schools specifically dedicated to educating people in the academic discipline of dance. It is hoped that the current reader is inspired by this book to try some dancing of their own! Enjoy.
CONTENTS
S ECTION I. THE WALTZ
1. T HE S WING W ALTZ
2. T HE R ITZ C ARLTON
3. T HE H ARVARD H ESITATION
4. T HE S AVOY
5. T HE W ALTZ R IGHT T URN
a. The Advanced Waltz Right Turn
6. T HE W ALTZ L EFT T URN
a. The Advanced Waltz Left Turn
7. T HE P ICTURESQUE T URN
8. T HE V ALENCIA T URN
9. T HE W ALTZ C ANTER
10. T HE F ORM OF THE W ALTZ
a. Posture
b. The Walking Step
c. The Chassez
d. The Hesitation
1. T HE F ORWARD H ESITATION
2. T HE B ACKWARD H ESITATION
3. T HE S IDEWISE H ESITATION
4. T HE D OUBLE H ESITATION
5. T HE P IVOT
6. T HE R IGHT P IVOT
7. T HE L EFT P IVOT
8. T HE P IVOT AND L EFT S LIDE
9. T HE W ALK AND P IVOT C OMBINATION
10. T HE C HASSEZ -P IVOT
11. L EFT P IVOT AND L EFT C HASSEZ
12. T HE R EGAL T URN
13. G ENERAL W ALTZ V ARIATIONS
S ECTION II. THE FOX TROT
1. L A B OMBA
2. T HE S UZI -Q
3. T HE S HIM -S HAM -S HIMMY
4. T RUCKING
a. The Walkeroo
b. The Boll Weevil
5. T HE R HUMBA
6. T HE L INDY H OP
7. T HE B LACK B OTTOM
8. T HE C HARLESTON
9. T HE F ORM OF THE F OX T ROT
10. G ENERAL V ARIATIONS OF THE F OX T ROT
S ECTION III. THE TANGO
1. T HE P ROMENADE
2. T HE B ACKWARD P ROMENADE
3. T HE C HASSEZ
4. T HE W ALTZ C ORTE
5. T HE B REAK
6. G ENERAL V ARIATIONS OF THE T ANGO
7. T HE E L C HARONNE
S ECTION IV. ROUND DANCES
1. T HE P OLKA
2. T HE R EVERSE
3. T HE S CHOTTISCHE
4. T HE P AUL J ONES
5. T HE V IRGINIA R EEL
S ECTION V. THE QUADRILLES
1. T HE P RIMARY P OSITIONS
2. E XPLANATION OF T ERMS U SED
3. T HE F IVE F IGURES
a. Calling the Figures
S ECTION VI. ETIQUETTE
1. T HE S OCIAL F ORM OF E TIQUETTE
FOREWORD
T HE PLEASANT pastime of dancing fulfills two important roles in the average person s life. They are, briefly, a social role wherein people find a common basis for gathering and enjoyment, and a physical role, wherein the body is exercised healthfully, and pleasantly with beneficial results.
It will not be the purpose of this book to teach anyone the art of Acrobatic and Adagio dancing. This is merely a text-book for the average dancer, or the pupil with no more knowledge of dancing than is absolutely necessary.
The diagrams and illustrations in this book are done with simplicity so that anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of rhythm in music will have no difficulty in following them. It is wise to practice the steps that one finds here with a certain amount of real application in order to gain that very essential quality of gracefulness, balance and poise.
Though the lead, or male part of