Ballroom Dance vs Swing Dance vs Salsa
Ballroom Dance
If you have yet to stick your toe into a dance shoe, and hit the dance floor, then you will likely be as confused as I was, when I decided that I had waited too long to learn to dance. I had no idea just how many styles of dance there were, and I do not profess to even know now, however I do know that Ballroom, Swing and Salsa are very often, all danced at the same venue.
Tonight I was at our local USA Ballroom Dance. I danced Tango, Foxtrot, Waltz, Hustle, Night Club Two Step, Cha Cha, East Coast Swing, Mambo, Salsa and Rhumba. Quite a variety, wouldn’t you agree?
Last night it was a Swing Club Dance. We danced West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Country Two Step, Country Waltz, Night Club Two Step, Hustle, Cha Cha and a Triple Step Progressive.
Swing Dance
I suppose that the easiest way to describe the biggest difference, in my opinion, is that Ballroom Dance is “formal” and Swing Dance and Salsa are more lighthearted and “informal”.
Now here is the part that I find interesting. It is my perception that Swing people often think that Ballroom is a bit too stuffy. Ballroom people often thing that Swing is a bit too lackadaisical and I think that Ballroom and Swing dancers perceive Salsa dancers to be a bit too saucy.
In my opinion, I love them all! As long as there is music playing and someone to dance with, I am up for the challenge. I think that I would become bored if I only danced one style of dance. Maybe I am A.D.D.? But there are many people out there that are a strictly one dance, and one dance only type. My suggestion to those of you who are new to the world of dance is to give them all a fair shake. You may be surprised to find yourself, like me a total crossover to all of the dances. I find that I go in spurts and often have new favorites. I also find that there are many similarities in all of the dances. Besides, the more versatile you are the more opportunities that you have to dance!
I would love to hear what your favorite dances are, mine are currently Cha Cha and Country Two step. Of course, next week that might change!
Happy Dancing,
Ras #1
I love ALL forms of dance, from Ballroom to Swing to Salsa to Hip Hop to Lyrical to you name it.
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Michele Rasmussen Reply:
December 1st, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Whoo Hoo! You are like me. Our swing club hired an instructor to teach us ballet, jazz and hip hop. It was a blast! It was also a riot, because even our guys showed up. They were great sports and we really all thoroughly enjoyed the different types of dance. I wish we had an adult hip hop class that was ongoing.
Thanks for stopping by,
Michele
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I appreciate the comparison, but need to make an argument. I think you need them all (even tho I can’t do them all). Every place needs to have a dance style to pull from your pocket. Weddings create a great place to show off with one style while a dance club needs a different flair.
Keep this blog rolling and keep on hitch toeing!
Frank
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Michele Rasmussen Reply:
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Frank, you are a man after my own heart! I like them all, too. On occasion (like this coming New Years’) I have been at various dance workshop that are primarily focused on “one dance”. Well, let me tell you, by the time the weekend is over, I am pretty sick and tired of doing the same dance over and over and over!
Like you said, I think we should all branch out!
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I am totally with you on this. I love doing all different kinds of dance because doing one for too long bores me. There are a few places around where I live that focus on one dance exclusively, namely swing and salsa, but I can only go to those places once or twice a month. Otherwise I get burnt out on that style.
I agree with the perception swing dancers have of ballroom dancers. Swing was the first dance I learned, and I have a lot of friends who do it almost exclusively. Many of them look down on general ballroom for exactly because it’s too “formal” or “stiff.” One of my ballroom friends even tells me that people can tell that she does ballroom when she goes swing dancing.
Variety is the spice of life =)
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Michele Rasmussen Reply:
December 18th, 2008 at 12:53 am
Yes, variety is the spice of life. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked someone to say, Hustle, just to have them reply, oh, that’s a West Coast Swing. (meaning, I don’t Hustle)
I guess I will just have to settle being a “Jill” of many dances……..and master of none!
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Nice post!
I love dancing especially salsa:)
Ballroom is such a great Dance. I’m a salsa dancer actually and I started to dance since I was a kid..
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Michele Reply:
January 27th, 2011 at 12:11 pm
Lucky you! I didn’t start dancing until I was 48!
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I’ve been reading a lot of blogs about salsa because of my interest and this one helps. I’m always surfing about Dance salsa singapore because I’m very eager to be the best salsa dancer.
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