National Urban Ballroom Dancing Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

European ballroom dancing dates back to the 16th century. In 1580, the French philosopher Michel de Montaigne described a performance he witnessed in Augsburg, Germany.

National Urban Ballroom Dancing Day is observed on the second Saturday of March, which this year falls on March 11. Ballroom dancing, also known as partner dancing, is a formal style of dancing for two individuals. The movements are so graceful and fluent that they cannot be mistaken for anything else; nearly everyone can identify ballroom dancing on sight. Among the masterpieces are the waltz, the foxtrot, and the cha-cha. People of all ages and from all walks of life participate in competitive and social ballroom dancing. It has universal appeal due to its diversity of distinct styles.

The background of National Urban Ballroom Dancing Day

European ballroom dancing dates back to the 16th century. In 1580, the French philosopher Michel de Montaigne described a performance he witnessed in Augsburg, Germany. Ballroom dancing was a preserve of the affluent. It steadily spread from the countryside to the cities, gaining favour with the lower classes. In 1750, peasants in Bavaria, Styria, and Tyrol invented the Waltz, or waltz as it is known today. The wealthy classes danced the Minuet to the music of Mozart, Handel, and other classical composers. Nonetheless, they soon became bored with this routine. They participated in the peasants’ less formal but more pleasant waltz. Composers such as Johann Strauss and Franz Lanner contributed to its rising prominence. Contrary to the expectations of many aristocrats, Europe’s upper classes embraced the waltz.

However, not only in Europe was there a revolution in ballroom dancing. Enslaved Africans fused the French minuet style in the Dominican Republic with their dances, producing Merengue ballroom dancing. By the 1850s, this dance form had spread from the Dominican Republic to neighbouring countries in South America and the Caribbean. Other performing styles flourished globally, influenced by various cultures and social strata.

The Fox Trot made an appearance on Broadway in 1914, courtesy of acting couple Vern and Irene Castle. African Americans popularised the jazz-influenced swing form in the 1920s. The 1930s saw the arrival of merengue dancing in New York, where it spread like wildfire due to its suitability for compact spaces and crowded rooms. In the 1960s, an influx of immigrants from South America gave birth to Rumba. Urban ballroom dancing, which is influenced by African-American and Latino genres, is a relatively recent ballroom dance style.

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NATIONAL URBAN BALLROOM DANCING DAY ACTIVITIES

Enroll up for a dance class

Attend a class for beginners to learn the fundamentals of ballroom dancing. Dancing with complete strangers may be a little intimidating at first, but as you improve, you’ll come to enjoy it. Just let loose and have joy.

Create a film extravaganza

Hollywood has produced a significant number of films about ballroom dancing. To “Take the Lead” and “Shall We Dance?” from “Strictly Ballroom.” There are numerous options available for binge-watching. To make it even more of an experience, invite some companions over for the viewing.

Go to a competition

Observing competitive ballroom dancers is entertaining and educational. You will learn about the various techniques and get a glimpse of how proficient you can become with sufficient practise.

5 FUN FACTS ABOUT DANCING

Ballroom dancing is a low-impact aerobic activity that promotes fat loss, while the rapid turns, steps, lifts, and twists increase muscular endurance and strength.

Ballroom dancing improves concentration, focus, and memory, preventing the advent of dementia in the elderly and enhancing their spatial memory.

Researchers in Sweden discovered that adolescents who engaged in ballroom dancing had lower levels of anxiety, depression, and stress, as well as a substantial improvement in mental health, and patients reported being happier than those who did not engage in ballroom dancing.

You will notice that dancing improves your abdominal strength and balance by increasing your range of motion and flexibility.

Ballroom dancing is a form of self-expression; as your technique improves, you become more comfortable expressing yourself through movement, which enhances your self-esteem.