Until recently, most people didn't think much about ballroom dancing. It has become a popular pastime around the world, thanks to the media which brought it back to the forefront with shows like “Dancing with the Stars”. Shortly after the first season, the dance craze quickly took over America, with more and more people choosing to learn to dance. However, ballroom dancing is certainly nothing new and has quite a vast experience. Let's start by discussing the meaning of the world "ballroom." Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original EssayIn simple theory, it means a place where balls can be organized. The English language adopted this term from the Latin word "ballare", meaning "to dance". Ironically, this also serves as the basis for words like "ballerina" and "ballad." Ballrooms were a very popular source of entertainment before the days of cable television, the Internet or satellite radio. Often, couples would gather here to socialize and dance with other couples, and dancing competitions soon grew in popularity. There are many different dances and versions of ballroom dancing. Each of these unique dances has specific steps and characteristics that differentiate it from other dances – but there is one aspect that remains constant in each dance style. Whatever style of dance is performed, you can be sure that they are performed by a couple. Each ballroom dance involves a man and a woman, who generally remain in contact throughout the routine (although there are some ballroom dances where contact is broken, but the couple reunites at the end of the dance) . As common as it seems, this style of dance was developed in Western Europe in the early 1600s. Dances were often held the evening before men left for battle, to allow men to head off to war in good health. mood. Men often carried their swords when dancing with a woman and it is believed that this led a woman to place her left hand on her partner's right shoulder, while grabbing his left hand for added balance. This is also where the concept of male leaders on the dance floor developed. Over the centuries, many styles of ballroom dancing have emerged. Each particular dance has its own history, but the waltz and foxtrot were the first to gain popularity in ballroom dancing. The dance quickly became a growing trend in several countries, and other styles of ballroom dancing were created based on different cultures. For example, the paso doble was developed in Spain in the 1700s to demonstrate the agility and strength of bullfighters. In Italy, the mambo became a popular dance at weddings and special events, while the quickstep became the trend in America after World War I. By the 1970s, all of these different dances had made their way into American ballrooms and dance competitions quickly became popular. .Keep in mind: This is just a sample.Get a personalized essay now from our expert writers.Get a Custom EssayToday, ballroom dancing is the number one dance form among adults and is widely covered by the media. It is also now offered as an alternative to physical education to high school and college students - a good indicator that ballroom dancing will remain a favorite activity for years to come..