Ballroom dance, depending on how it is used, may denote an extensive variety of partner dances. In general it includes professional standard section dances such as foxtrot or waltz, and Latin section dances such as rumba and cha-cha-cha. Standard dances are typically danced to a steady-beat of Western music where couples perform around the dancing floor. When formalized, the woman wears a long dress and the gentleman tails and a bow-tie.
Latin dances are generally danced to off-beat, jive or Latin music; couples might dance relatively in one spot or move across the dancing floor. In formalized Latin dances, the lady wears a Latin outfit and the gentleman is dressed in black. The dances take roots in Europe, Africa and Latin America. International-style dances are mostly British variations of such dances; as well as American-style (otherwise known as Social Style) dances are variations developed in the United States. The difference in the technique and steps between the two styles is dependent on the particular dance.
List of Ballroom Dances:
1) Professional Standard Section - Tango, Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Quickstep, Foxtrot.
2) Professional Latin Section -- Cha-cha-cha, Rumba, Samba, Jive (dance), Paso Doble.
3) American Smooth - Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz.
4) American Rhythm -- Mambo, Cha-cha-cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Bolero.
5) Nightclub -- Nightclub Two Step, Modern Jive, Hustle, LeRoc, Swing, Ceroc.
6) Latin Nightclub - Salsa, Cumbia, Merengue, Bachata, Cha-cha-cha.
7) Country/Western -- C/W Polka, C/W Two Step, C/W Cha-Cha-Cha, C/W Waltz.
8) Cajun Dances -- Cajun One Step, Zydeco, Cajun Two Step, Cajun Jitterbug, Cajun Waltz.
The debut World Championships in ballroom dancing was held in 1909 and has been run ever since then. Records of the editions earlier than the First World War are vague, and it was only in 1922 when the dancing sport split into amateur and professional levels and complete records began to be kept. The 1922 World Championships also were the first to present a single 'world championship' as in opposition to titles in the individual events.
These yearly contests only received an official status in 1936, and since that year the title has just one time left the United Kingdom. As the Second World War broke out, the championships were halted for six years.
The Professional Standard section of dance sport covers such dances as tango, waltz, foxtrot, quickstep and Viennese waltz and has a fixed set of professional standard rules for its competitions.
The latest World Championships in Professional Standard section were held in February 2004 in Tokyo, and were dominated by the British couple Hazel Newberry and Christopher Hawkins who became 2004 Professional Standard champions.
Recent Professional Standard section champions:
2004 -- Christopher Hawkins and Hazel Newberry (England);
2003 -- Christopher Hawkins and Hazel Newberry (England);
2002 -- Christopher Hawkins and Hazel Newberry (England);
2001 -- Luca and Loraine Baricchi (England);
2000 -- Augusto Schiavo and Katerina Arzenton (Italy).