Should parents send their boy to a sports ballroom dance club?

OF COURSE!

Correct (both in time and method) classes allow you to maximize the boy’s potential.

SPORTS BALLWARD DANCING for a boy is a good alternative to any sport.

To become a good dancer, you must have the endurance of a sprinter, the coordination of an acrobat, and also have good concentration, like shooting athletes.

Plus, this is ART, A SCHOOL OF TASTE AND A SCHOOL OF LIFE.

Dance classes in our sports dance club:

- will increase physical endurance your son;

- will develop well flexibility and coordination(the boy will be a healthy, strong and active child);

- relieve muscle tension, will remove shyness;

- will form excellent base for the growth of a beautiful, slender body;

- teach the child to be calm about failures and victories, achieve your goals, be more stress-resistant;

- will educate character, since childhood, developed leadership qualities and the ability to work for a common result;

- will be vaccinated good taste and neatness;

- they will give musicality, intelligibility in music;

- improve moral moral qualities;

- will educate ability to build relationships with the opposite sex(well, we already discussed this above);

— environment your sons are the same athletic, beautiful, well-mannered and purposeful children.

“Beauty is always fashionable and relevant”

In order to strive for maximum equalization of the chances of winning and create fair conditions for dance competition participants on the floor during sports tournaments, it is customary to classify dancers. Classes in ballroom dancing are determined by two main indicators: the age level of the athletes and the level of their technical skill.

Classification of dancers by age criteria

It should be noted that the age range in sports ballroom dancing is quite wide and essentially has no boundaries. This allows you to join this sport at almost any life stage. Therefore, according to age, dance couples are divided into five categories: children, juniors, youth, adult dancers and seniors. The categories of children, juniors and seniors also have internal gradation.

Children 0 - the oldest turns 6 years old or younger this year

Children 1 - the eldest turns 7-9 years old this year

Children 2 - the eldest turns 10 - 11 years old this year

Juniors 1 - the eldest turns 12 - 13 years old this year

Juniors 2 - the eldest turns 14 - 15 years old this year

Youth - the eldest turns 16 - 18 years old this year

Adults - the eldest turns 19 years old or older this year

Seniors - the youngest turns 35 years old or older this year

Important! The couple's affiliation with one or another age group determined by the age of the eldest in the couple. One of the partners in a couple can be younger in Children 2, Juniors 1, Juniors 2 by two years, Youth by a maximum of four years, in the Adult category by a maximum of five years. Both partners in the senior category must be at least 35 years old. The Senior classification can be divided into “Seniors 1” = 35-45 years, “Seniors 2” = 45-55 years, “Seniors 3” = 55-65 years and Grand Seniors = 65 or more.

Classification by skill level

Based on the level of preparedness, dancers are divided into classes. Ballroom dance class- this is a certain level of physical development, psychological, technical and musical-aesthetic readiness of the dancer, providing him with the ability to use figures more high degree difficulties. The classes have the following Latin designation: “E”, “D”, “C”, “B”, “A”, “S” and “M”. To participate in competitive competitions, athletes are initially assigned one of the classes of the lowest level of skill: H, which they can later change to a higher one by distinguishing themselves in competitions and earning a certain number of points. In the lower classes there are restrictions on dance figures and the complexity of compositions. The higher the class in ballroom dancing, the more movements are performed at competitions, the more technically and emotionally complex the dance compositions.

• H class (Hobby - Beginners)
  A starting class in which dancers perform from 3 to 5 dances: slow waltz, quickstep, samba, cha-cha-cha and jive. Kit dance elements limited to basic movements.
• E class
  The next class, which can also be a starter. It performs six dances: slow waltz, Viennese waltz and quickstep in the European program and cha-cha-cha, samba and jive in the Latin American program. The set of dance elements is also extremely limited by the rules of the federation. To advance to the next class, a dancer must score 16 - 23 points in competitions.
• D class
  The next step in this classification system. Eight dances are performed on the floor: slow waltz, tango, Viennese waltz and quickstep - European program (Standard); samba, cha-cha-cha, rumba, jive - Latin American. In "D" class some more complex elements are allowed, but restrictions prevail. To move to the next class, a dancer must score 18-28 points.
• C class
  This class implies a serious career as dancers. Dance program consists of ten mandatory dances: slow waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, slow foxtrot and quickstep - Standard; samba, cha-cha-cha, rumba, paso doble and jive - Latin. It is allowed to perform choreography not from the basic list, but restrictions on figures are still present. To move to the next class you need to score 20-30 points in competitions.
• Higher classes
  Next comes a class in ballroom dancing B, A, S And M. Beginning with class B dancers can perform separately in the following types: European program, Latin American program or combined event (ten dances) and are given the opportunity to perform poses and lifts. Number of points to move from IN V A class 22-32. A class- class of professionals. S class: - “special” - assigned by decision of the Presidium national federation based on the results of the national Championship or Championship. M class: International, master class - the highest in dance sport, exists only in Russia. Dancers for whom ballroom dancing has become the way and meaning of life strive for this highest class.

The classification group determines the maximum permissible highest class of skill for a dancer in a particular age category. There are eight classification groups.

Ballroom dancing classes table

Classes in ballroom dancing helps judges when judging competitions. In addition, it becomes some incentive for the dancers themselves to show their full potential and become professionals in the world of dance.

Open and closed classes

The age category and skill class determine two types of competitions in the FTSR:
competitions in which dancers of only the same age category, but of different skill classes (from the highest to the lowest) participate.
competitions closed class, in which dancers of only the same skill class and the same age category compete.

In sports ballroom dancing, the concept of “couple dance class” is important. For a newly created pair, according to the rules of the federation, the class is determined by the class of the partner.

Thus, the developed classification in dance sports allows us to more qualitatively evaluate dance pairs at competitions and objectively encourage dancers different levels skill.

PS: To diversify life and read the article, an unofficial classification is proposed dance couples according to the level of relationships.

Unofficial classification in ballroom dancing

So, there are four types of pairs:

• View 1. Romeo and Juliet
  This is the most positive couple. Love helps move up the dance ladder together, but sometimes partners forget why they came to the dance hall.
• View 2. Masha and the Bear
  She is harmful and absolutely intolerable. He is kind and patient. But the partner does not despair and somehow brings up a wonderful partner for himself. By the way, a slightly different distribution of roles is possible, when the partner is an intolerable and harmful creature, and the partner plays the role of the “bear”.
• View 3. Tom and Jerry
  This couple attracts constant attention coach and everyone present. They don't miss the slightest opportunity to do something nasty to each other. They may value each other very much, but they will never show it.
• View 4. Cat and Dog
  Partners cannot communicate with each other. Life is too short to waste it on meaningless relationships. Showdowns and mutual accusations lead to the couple quickly breaking up.

Thus, mutual respect should be at the core of relationships within a couple. Only under this condition can we move forward...

Once upon a time, when I was looking for mugs for my daughter, we came for a day open doors to a local cultural center and couldn’t take their eyes off the couple on the floor. Arina immediately told me (she was 5 years old at the time): “Mom, I want to dance in such a dress!” I had to sign up for ballroom dancing. Back then I knew absolutely nothing about them. Even now I rely only on our 4 years of experience, but still now we have behind us at least some baggage of our own mistakes and victories. There are other people's stories that happen before our eyes. And I, from 2013, would gladly listen to the advice of those who understand the topic before making a choice.

Why is it needed?

About the most important thing

Every person wants to be successful. Ballroom dancing will not give pleasure if the child does not have results on the floor in the form of points from the judges (and the motivation to simply dance for the soul of ballroom dancers disappears quite quickly). Anyone can dance, but, of course, there are those for whom it will be easier. Pay attention to your child. Here are what seem to me to be good prerequisites for successful dancing (I’m not saying that this is a complete set of qualities, and that if a child does not possess them, then he should not go to ballroom dancing!):

Physical data. Flexibility, mobility, shape, lightness: what is given by nature and improved in training!

Hard work, dedication. If a child is used to achieving results and does not shirk the task at every opportunity, this largely determines success.

Charisma. The child who can be called bright performs well. Children who are timid or do not express emotions find it difficult to count on recognition from judges. In this case, appearance is an important factor only from the moment when it comes to the harmony of the couple (the main thing is that the partners suit each other; individually, their appearance does not matter much).

Leadership skills. On the floor, the child will face competition. It is important that he approaches this without fear, accepting a certain challenge, properly preparing himself for dancing among other dancers. Psychologically, it can be difficult to get ready for the fight. One was pushed in the back - and he went on dancing, the other was pushed - he got upset and barely finished the dance routine.

Non-conflict. Ballroom dancing - pair dances. They are suitable for a child who is interested in dancing with someone and feeling a partner.

Dance fanaticism. Loving to dance is the most important thing in ballroom dancing. Usually, mothers of such children see a penchant for dancing from a very early age. There are no ballers who don’t like their job, believe me. If a child doesn’t want to dance, it’s better to take him away, send him to another direction, or don’t torture him with dancing at all. Too much stress in ballroom dancing eliminates children (as if through a sieve) quite early, leaving real fanatics.

Parents

Children usually start dancing at an early age. Accordingly, first of all, starting to dance is your decision. How younger child, those bigger role adult in his dance classes. Parents need to have almost the same qualities as a little dancer:

Sensitivity. Please note that only you can notice a child’s tendency to dance. And when your journey together into the world of ballroom dancing begins, you will share all the difficulties and rejoice in the big and small successes of your child. You will have to be an assistant both at grueling tournaments: suggesting runs in which a couple is participating, and in routine training: from snacks to accompanying you to the place of training.

Hard work and determination. Firstly, children “mirror” adults and behave the same way - set an example for them. Secondly, a fixed intensive schedule is very exhausting. “Sometimes you can skip training,” some will say... But at the tournament you will suddenly realize that skipping immediately greatly affects the quality of the dance. In addition, a responsible parent will remember that his child is not dancing alone. One of the partners did not come - the lesson was only half-hearted for the couple.

- Non-conflict. The relationship between parents is no less important than between partners. Very often, couples separate at the request of relatives. If you could find mutual language with the partner’s “side” - that’s already half the battle! You should immediately talk honestly about how you see the near future. It is important to compare your views on goals, training process, frequency of performances, etc. The most successful couples are those where the parents work in tandem, think alike, and maintain warm, friendly relationships.

Pre-School

If I could change something now, before sending my child to ballroom dancing, I would take her to classical choreography for children. A rug, a swimsuit, a machine and mirrors, frogs, boats and bridges - something that will be interesting to a 3-5 year old child. And only after this, at the age of 6-7, would I start ballroom dancing. The basics of classical dance are needed in any direction. This, in my opinion, is the basis, like letters for reading.

Club

The key decision is the choice of club. Things to take into account:

Location. There are a lot of activities, so it is more convenient if the road to the place is not very long. Although I have heard many stories about how dancers come from another city, and we ourselves do this. :)

Trainer. Main man for your child, like a teacher at school, lays down the technique and instills a love of dance. Naturally, you and your little dancer must like it - this is the key to success. You must trust the coach, he must treat his students with respect, be moderately demanding and love his job (both dancing and teaching!). They say that a trainer’s class should be at least 2 classes higher than that of a dancer (I’ll tell you about classes below). If the coach is a judge, this is an additional important plus: (hereinafter we're talking about about STSR - see explanation below). There may be several coaches in a club, and this is good - everyone has their own style; the result is more varied teaching. Sometimes there is a main coach, and he periodically invites additional coaches so that the children perceive the material presented in a different manner.

Active couples. Find out how many and what kind of couples there are in the club. If possible, watch them perform. It’s good when there are couples of different ages and classes, when the club has a moderate number of dancers. For example, the absence of pairs or 2-3 pairs should be alarming, as should the proposal to study with 20 pairs in a group. You can check all this yourself by looking at the name or on the map. All active pairs will be shown in the table - study it. Successful couples compete regularly and receive qualifying points.

Important addition. There are 2 ballroom dance federations in Russia - the Union of Dance Sports of Russia (STSR) and the Russian Dance Union (RTS). They even have their own tournaments at the international level, and athletes from the two federations never meet on the floor. Any club to which you take your child will be a member of a regional organization (for example, in Moscow there is the Moscow Federation of Dance Sports - MFTS), which, in turn, will belong to one or another federation (MFTS is a member organization of STSR). If not, then you just came to the circle, where the load will be small, and the result is appropriate: for the soul. As far as I understand, there are more clubs in the CTSR, there is its own database of athletes (you can find your dancer in the section), sports books are issued. In general, the STSR is more of a sports federation, while in the RTS dance is treated more like an art. An important point: if you want to change the federation, all results will be reset!

And one more digression. The club is a second family. The children spend a lot of time together, with the coach, and organize joint holidays. Parents form their own “community”. It’s good when a good team is selected, without odious individuals. :)

Curriculum, skill and age classes

Your children will come to ballroom dancing to learn how to dance 10 dances in two directions:

Standard ( W- slow waltz, T- tango, V- Viennese waltz, F- slow foxtrot, Q- quickstep)

Latina ( S- samba, Ch- cha-cha-cha, R- rumba, Pd- paso doble, J- jive)

At the very beginning, young children are taught to dance polka and sometimes disco, but these are dead-end branches of evolution. These dances are learned along with the slow waltz and cha-cha-cha - the first real ballroom dances. As soon as a little dancer manages to learn three dances, the polka is forgotten forever. Quickstep and jive are added to the waltz and cha-cha. And finally, samba and Viennese waltz are connected to this four.

The basics of these 6 dances are learned at the first stage of training: at the Ballroom Dance School (BDS) under the “Mass Sports” program. This is still just preparation for serious dancing. Most often, children begin to dance one by one, as they say, solo. Gradually, the coach forms pairs. But tournaments in the ShBT class are always held for both single dancers and couples. All SHBT dancers have a special skill class - H (beginner).

As soon as the children confidently dance the first six dances and are in a pair, the coach, by his decision, transfers them to the “Sports” category highest achievements". From this moment we can say that your child is engaged in professional ballroom dancing. Along with experience, the skill level of the ballroom athlete grows: they start dancing in E class (6 dances), then successively move to D (8 dances - tango and rumba are added) , C (10 dances are danced from this class - slow foxtrot and paso doble are added), B, A, S, M classes In addition to the dances themselves, classes differ in the allowed figures and lifts. The transition from class to class occurs based on the results of participation in tournaments. where couples earn points. Points are stored in a common database and pasted into the sports book. Upon reaching a certain number of points, a transition to the next class occurs).

In addition to skill classes, there is a strict age gradation among ballroom dancers:

6 years and younger - Children-0,

7 - 9 years - Children-1,

10-11 years old - Children-2,

12-13 years old - Juniors-1,

14-15 years old - Juniors-2,

16-18 years old - Youth,

19-20 - Youth-2,

19-34 - Adults,

35 and older - Seniors.

The “age” of the couple is determined by the year of birth of the older partner (if the partner was born on July 25, 2005, and the partner was born on December 10, 2006, then in 2016 the couple must dance in the Children-2 category, and from January 1, 2017 - move to the Junior- category 1, since the partner turns 12 this year). This condition largely limits the possibilities of creating a pair.

Often tournaments are held strictly according to their age class. For a couple where one of the partners is noticeably younger, it will be more difficult to dance with more experienced peers in the other couple. The age difference in a couple cannot be more than 2 years.

Thus, your child inevitably moves by age to a new category every 2 years, and moves through skill classes depending on the success of his performance in tournaments. You can find couples in Children-2 C-class, and there are couples in Youth E-class. According to my observations, with the same skill class, younger couples dance better than their older “colleagues”. In fact, ball students compete for points and promotions to new skill classes. :)

Pair

When your child comes to ballroom dancing school, he will dance alone, solo, even in tournaments for some time. This can continue for quite a long time, for example, 1 year. But loneliness will eventually come to an end and a couple will form. If this does not happen, it means that there is no suitable partner or the level of dancing does not allow the coach to pair the child. In general, a couple in ballroom dancing is a key phenomenon. If in mass sports you can dance without a partner, then in elite sports it is not possible. Actually, the problem of lack of a partner forces many to end their career in ballroom dancing, sometimes very unexpectedly.

Creating a harmonious, successful couple is a whole story. Initially, this is done by the trainer. He pays attention to the level of dancing, the external harmony of the couple, takes into account the characters of the children and the ambitions of the parents. If choosing a partner is not the first time, parents can also take part in this process. As a rule, the first couples are made up of partners from one club. But not everything is always successful; sometimes you have to look for a new partner “on the side.” It's quite difficult. According to my observations, it is a little easier to find a partner because there are more of them. :) That's why girls usually move to the boys' club, sometimes after a competitive screening - it's all a long and creative process.

Mutual understanding and sympathy are very important in a couple. There are cases when children deliberately step on each other’s feet, press on the bones of their fingers - in general, they interact not only through dance. Experienced parents pay attention to how their children communicate. True friendship can be the key to success, so it’s great if there is an opportunity for some joint activities besides working on the floor - cinema, picnics, general trips to museums. If the children don’t want to dance together, it’s unlikely that anything productive will come of it – you need to think about changing partners.

After creating a couple, the realization comes that the partners are highly dependent on each other, that they have a common goal. One partner falls ill - both athletes miss the tournament; someone was in bad mood- the couple lost. But if the partners tried, then the result can be better than each individual, the laws of synergy come into play. So a couple is very, very important. You are no longer dancing for yourself and half the responsibility.

A couple is usually created for a long time: for several years if everything goes well. Sometimes, to create movement, to open up new potential opportunities, it is recommended to change partners. The coach will tell you when. But we must understand that new couple again it takes time to dance, she won’t immediately shine on the floor...

Clothes and hairstyle

In the training room, at first you can get by with a sports swimsuit with a skirt for girls and sports trousers with a T-shirt for boys. But you will have to purchase shoes almost immediately. In the future, you will want to please your dancer with special training clothes - they are comfortable and do not stain. For girls, special costumes: skirts and tops (or dresses), for boys - trousers and T-shirts. Usually this is a uniform black color, which can be found in specialized stores or on the Internet. With the hairstyle, everything is simple - so that the hair does not interfere.

Tournaments are a different story. In the youngest age category “Children” (both in mass sports and in elite sports), all girls dance in rated plain dresses, and boys dance in white body shirts and black trousers. Costumes for Children are universal for all dances. Our first dress was very similar to a simple leotard with a skirt - that was enough - you could dance in it both in training and in tournaments. Gradually the desire came to take a dress in which you would no longer sit on the floor in gym, although it also meets all rating criteria. There are a lot of models, although they are limited to a certain set of styles of sleeves, necks, skirts - you can find them in a store or order individual tailoring. The first option for the initial stages seems to me more rational, but it is important to choose what really suits your child. The costume, especially for a girl, should stand out on the floor and emphasize the features of the child’s appearance.

Difficulties begin with the Junior-1 category, i.e. from 12 years old. From this moment on, you will understand that a suit may well cost half your salary, that it most likely needs to be made to order and somehow agreed upon with your partner. Standard and Latin require different costumes, including shoes. Children are forced to quickly change clothes between programs, so by adolescence they automatically cease to be shy with each other (I myself watched them alternately in the locker room quickly grab dresses, trousers and change clothes at speed). The older the dancer, the fewer restrictions on outfits and appearance. In the future, rhinestones, makeup, jewelry, high heel. But until the age of 14, everything is quite reserved.

Hairstyle. The sooner you learn how to create it yourself, the better for you. At first, you can just make a bun with hairpins, and gently comb the boys’ hair. Then you will realize that shaggy children on the parquet are quite a sight and you will want to use a little hairspray to fix the hair. Then you will notice a girl with curls on her smooth head, and when you have a partner and an incentive to look better than others, you will strive to get some kind of special hairstyle. Again I send everyone to the Internet, since creating a hairstyle is a separate big topic. The main thing: the hairstyle should be very neat, the couple should look well-groomed and neat.

I have a whole hairdressing kit at home: pins, nets, gel polishes, glitter, clips and special combs... It takes me about 1 hour and 0 rubles at home to do my hair (not counting the cost of consumables), at the tournament the image of the studio is offered to inexperienced parents hairstyles from 1000-2000 rub. and often also about 1 hour in time.

Workout

Training is the key to success and the main thing that takes time when practicing ballroom dancing. Be prepared for serious stress:

Group classes. Coaches usually arrange 2 group classes per week where children learn and repeat choreography, most often individually. As a rule, these trainings are either separately in standard or in Latin (but at first, while there are few dances, they can be mixed). The duration is set by the trainer (for example, 1.5 hours).

Run. During the run-through training, children learn to move on the floor in conditions close to tournament ones. If the child has a partner, then the technique of movements is practiced in pairs. The duration is usually 1 hour.

GPP. Strength exercises and stretching, elements classical choreography- This the necessary conditions High Quality dance, ease on the floor. So no matter how much it may seem like a waste of time to you, a forward-thinking trainer will conduct such classes at least 1 hour a week.

Master classes on acting. It's good to have the opportunity to improve psychological aspects dancing. It is specific for ballers, a lot comes with experience, but the advice of professionals helps many.

Training in other clubs. It’s good if you have the opportunity to sometimes go to training sessions at other clubs (sometimes the coaches agree on this), this allows you to learn something new. But all this is not relevant in the first stages of training. :)

Individual sessions. When creating a couple, the question arises about individual lessons. This is a special time (45 minutes - 1 hour) when the coach can set a program for the couple, work on their own mistakes, and give the couple maximum attention. The number of these classes depends only on the capabilities of the trainer and the wishes of the parents (which, in turn, depends on financial restrictions). Typically 1 to 5 classes per week are offered, which is how I imagine it. We go to 2-3 classes a week.

In total, about 7-8 hours of classes per week... Of course, at initial stages there will not be such a load and, it is quite possible that for 6-7 years old you will be offered about 1.5-2 hours per week of group training. But after a year, you will feel yourself growing up for hours of dancing. :)

Tournaments

Tournaments are the motivation for ballroom athletes. At tournaments you can show yourself and earn points to move to the next class. As a rule, they take place on Sundays, less often on Saturdays, so for dancers Sunday is a completely reserved day. Very often, tournaments for beginner dancers are held in the morning (and then older and more experienced ones perform). Registration for the tournament opens 1.5 hours before the tournament and ends 30 minutes, using sports books (and for beginning athletes, birth certificates). All tournaments are paid for both participants and spectators. Participation in each type of program is paid, so several tickets are usually purchased for a participant. To each solo participant or the couple is given a number (in a couple it is attached only to the boy’s back). For beginners, tournaments are held somewhat differently than for those who compete in E-class and higher. Little athletes perform solo or in pairs in categories H-3 (i.e. dance 3 dances), N-4, N-5, H-6 (i.e. dance all 6 dances) and ALL receive diplomas I-III degree depending on the result. In addition, there are competitions for individual dances (for example, a slow waltz cup) and a super cup for all dances, where everything happens much like in adults: places are distributed between the participants, and the winner/pair of winners receives a cup as a reward.

The dances are judged by a jury. I won’t touch much on the judging system now. There are no special strict evaluation criteria, so the objectivity of judging is achieved through the number of judges (but this does not always help). There is a lot of talk about judges being dishonest, biased, etc. Sometimes they even organize independent competitions “judges without their pairs.” It’s difficult for me to comment on this, since I’m not an expert or interested person, so I’ll just keep silent. The main thing to remember is that it is more difficult to sue a bright, strong couple than an unremarkable couple that does not dance very cleanly. In the case of qualifying performances in categories H3-H6, each dancer/couple is awarded a level 1-3 by the judges, then the average is considered. In cups, the system is 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 finals (depending on how many couples are participating). At the intermediate stages, the judges only need to give crosses to the dancers they like, and in the final, distribute the first 6 places. When there are many participants, they are divided by entry. At the same time, if the numbers of participants are announced for beginning dancers, then starting from the E-class, the athletes themselves or parents must monitor the change of entries! All information is posted on an information board or shown on special displays. And here are the most exciting moments: you can see whether your child made it to the next round or not.

The tournament schedule is known in advance. It is usually posted on the website of the regional organization. Stay tuned, tournaments can be added several months in advance, and sometimes 2-3 weeks in advance. Their schedule and other details are subject to change!

An important point: attaching the number to the dancer’s back. This must be done quickly, as there are cases when different numbers are given for each category of dances, and there are no large gaps between entries. There are several ways to do this:

Take the number printed on paper and pin it with 4 pins. Fast, cheap, but unreliable, since the paper can be torn, wrinkled and the number will look untidy, and in the worst case, it will not survive until the end of the tournament.

The organizers always offer the option to laminate the number and attach pins to it. Reliable, but expensive (lamination of one number - 100 rubles, sometimes you need 6-9 different numbers for a major tournament).

Insert paper number into a regular A4 paper file, fold the excess part of the file, and secure the protected number with pins. The result is almost light lamination. It's free, but it's not always easy to change your number.

Use a special holder for the number. It consists of buttons that are sewn onto the shirt and a plastic envelope that is secured with buttons on the back. Reliable, fast, but you have to find it, and this is not very easy (you can look at it in field stores at tournaments), and you won’t be able to sew buttons off your shirt, i.e. 4 buttons will be on the back even when they are not needed, for example in show numbers.

For the tournament, do not forget to take money, a sports book, a suit, food and water, warm clothes, a holder for your number (or pins for your number), and a file for certificates.

Fees

After the first year of study (and maybe even during winter break), professional clubs offer summer/winter dance camps. Consider it a theme-based children's camp. You can ignore this proposal, but if you are in a couple, it is better to discuss this issue together. At the training camp, children train intensively for 5-7 hours a day, undergo the same classes, but in a short time and usually with big amount individual training. The purpose of the training camp is to prepare athletes for the new season after the holidays. If there is a change in pairs (and this usually happens at the beginning of the year), the training sessions help the children dance faster. Usually getting ready is an adventure and the children really enjoy it. For small children who are not used to being away from their parents, it may be a little difficult, but tolerable, since there are very familiar people nearby (after all, it’s not a camp where unfamiliar children end up on shifts). Sometimes training camps are held for several clubs at once (if the clubs are small). Therefore, different coaches will work with your children - usually a whole team.

Price

Well, about the price. Costs are rising gradually.

From the very beginning you will have to fork out for group classes and shoes - these are the minimum expenses. Prices in the Moscow region for group classes are about 2000-4000 rubles. 2-3 lessons per week. Keep in mind that there is unlikely to be enough shoes for more than a season: the shoes for ballers are special, with soft leather soles. Price from 2000-2500 rub.

As soon as you have to perform at a tournament (unlikely in the first six months), you will need to purchase a costume for performances. But for now it’s simple, and therefore budget-friendly. I think in the H-class you can even get a used one. Avito is full of offers, and new ones are not very expensive. A simple dress can be purchased from 1000 rubles, the ceiling is not limited, you can find a rated dress for 6000 rubles. :) Get ready that you will have to pay for participation in the tournament, it’s about 400-600 rubles. for one competition (gradually the child will want to compete and will participate in Cups) and a spectator ticket. Don't forget about laminating the number (if you haven't prepared other options - see above). Plus the cost of food, since the tournament is a long event. Usually in the H-class this results in 2000-3500 rubles. at once.

Next, costs will be added for individual lessons (individuals) already in pairs. Expenses for individuals depend on their number. Approximately one individual will cost 20% of the cost of group classes per month. You can start with 1 individual per week. For us, 2-3 individuals are optimal, but there are those who practice every day. This is an expense that depends on you and your partner's parents. Agree among yourselves.

Training camps for 2 weeks will cost 30,000-35,000 rubles. But it all depends on the price of accommodation and the number of individual lessons.

Upon receipt of an athlete's qualification book, a fee is charged (one-time), as well as for club membership (annually). I don’t remember the exact amounts, but no more than 400-700 rubles. in every case.

On major competitions you need sports insurance (cost from 450 rubles) - this is unlikely to be relevant at first.

There is a lot more that could be written about each section, but I set myself the task of only approximately describing what awaits you and your children if you suddenly decide to enroll them in ballroom dancing, and what you need to pay attention to. And yet, if you are serious, you will have to delve into the topic yourself.

Ballroom dance must be performed in pairs. Such dances today are usually called standardized sports dances performed on dance competitions and special events. Today in the world of dance there are two main classifications, together consisting of ten dance styles: European and Latin American programs. Read more about dancing below.

History of ballroom dance

The origin of the concept of “ballroom dance” comes from the Latin word “ballare”, meaning “to dance”. In past times, such dances were secular and intended only for high-ranking people, while folk dances remained for the poor. Since then, such a class division in dance, of course, no longer exists, and many ballroom dances are actually ennobled folk dances. In particular, modern ballroom dancing has been greatly influenced by the culture of African and Latin American peoples.

What is called ballroom dance depends on the era. At balls at different times, various dances were presented, such as polonaise, mazurka, minuet, polka, quadrille and others, which are now considered historical.

In the 1920s, the Ballroom Dancing Council was founded in Great Britain. Thanks to his activities, ballroom dance then acquired a competition format and began to be divided into two groups - sports and so-called social dances. The program included: waltz, tango, as well as slow and fast types of foxtrot.

During the period of the 30s - 50s, the number of dances increased: the following pairs were included in the program Latin American dances, like rumba, samba, cha-cha-cha, paso doble and jive. However, in the 60s, ballroom dancing ceased to be an ordinary entertainment, since it required certain technical training from the dancers, and was supplanted by a new dance called the twist, which did not need to be danced in pairs.

European program dances

The program of European dances, or Standard, includes: slow waltz, tango, foxtrot, quickstep and Viennese waltz.

Slow waltz

In the 17th century, the waltz was a folk dance in Austrian and Bavarian villages, and only at the beginning of the 19th century was it introduced at balls in England. It was considered vulgar back then because it was the first ballroom dance where a dancer could hold his partner so close to him. Since then the waltz has taken many different forms, but each of them is united by unique elegance and romantic mood.

The peculiarity of the waltz is time signature three-quarter time and slow tempo (up to thirty beats per minute). You can master its basic figures at home on your own.

Tango is a ballroom dance originating in Argentina. late XIX century. At first, tango was part of the Latin American dance program, but then it was transferred to the standard European program.

Perhaps, having seen tango at least once, subsequently everyone will be able to recognize this dance - this assertive, passionate manner cannot be confused with anything. A feature of tango is a sweeping step over the entire foot, which distinguishes it from the classic “flow” from heel to toe.

Slow foxtrot

The Foxtrot is a relatively simple ballroom dance that gives beginners an excellent foundation for further development. Foxtrot can be danced at a slow, medium or fast tempo, which allows even beginners without special skills to move gracefully across the floor. The dance is quite easy to learn from scratch.

main feature Foxtrot is an alternation of fast and slow rhythms, but the steps must be smooth and light, which should give the impression that the dancers are fluttering above the hall.

Quickstep

Quickstep appeared in the 20s of the XX century as a combination of foxtrot and Charleston. Musical groups At that time they played music that was too fast for foxtrot movements, so they were modified into quickstep. Since then, as it has evolved, this ballroom dance has become even more dynamic, allowing dancers to show off their technique and athleticism.

Quickstep combines many different elements, such as chassis, progressive turns and steps, and many others.

The Viennese Waltz is one of the oldest ballroom dances, which is performed at a fast tempo that characterizes the first waltzes. The golden age of the Viennese waltz in Europe was early XIX century, when the famous composer Johann Strauss still lived and worked. The popularity of this waltz rose and fell, but it never went out of fashion.

The size of the Viennese waltz is the same as that of the slow one, it is three quarters, and the number of beats per second is twice as large - sixty.

Latin dances

The Latin American dance program is usually represented by the following sports ballroom dances: cha-cha-cha, samba, rumba, jive and paso doble.

Samba

This ballroom dance is considered national dance Brazil. The world began to discover samba in 1905, but this ballroom dance became a sensation in the United States only in the 40s thanks to the singer and movie star Carmen Miranda. Samba has many varieties, for example, the samba danced at Brazilian carnivals and the ballroom dance of the same name are not the same thing.

Samba combines many of the movements that distinguish other Latin American ballroom dances: there are circular movements of the hips, “springy” legs, and measured rotations. However, it is not very popular for learning: the fast pace of performance and the need for physical preparation often deprive beginning dancers of enthusiasm.

The name of this dance is a reference to the sounds dancers make with their feet while dancing to the maracas rhythm. The dance evolved from rumba and mambo dance. Mambo was widespread in the USA, but under its fast music It was very difficult to dance, so the Cuban composer Enrique Jorin made the music slower - and the cha-cha-cha dance was born.

A special feature of the cha-cha-cha is the so-called triple step on two counts. This feature made the cha-cha-cha a separate dance, distinguishing it from mambo, although other movements are quite similar to this style. The cha-cha-cha is also characterized by minimal movement around the hall; basically, this ballroom dance is performed almost in one place.

Rumba has quite rich history- it arose simultaneously and how musical genre, and as a dance style whose roots go back to Africa. Rumba is a very rhythmic and complex dance that has given rise to many other dance styles, including salsa.

Previously, this Latin American dance was considered too vulgar due to its relaxed movements. It is still called the dance of love. The mood of the dance can change during its performance - from measured to aggressive. The performance style is reminiscent of mambo and cha-cha-cha styles. The main measures of rumba are QQS or SQQ (from English S - “slow” - “slow” and Q - “quick” - “fast”).

"Paso doble" means "two steps" in Spanish, which defines its marching nature. It is a powerful and rhythmic dance characterized by a straight back, eyebrow gaze and dramatic poses. Among many other Latin American dances, Paso Doble is notable for the fact that you will not find African roots in its origin.

This Spanish folk dance was inspired by bullfighting, with the man invariably portraying the matador tamer and the woman playing the role of his cape or bull. However, when performing a paso doble at dance competitions, the partner never portrays a bull - only a cape. Due to its stylization and large number of rules, this ballroom dance is practically not performed outside of dance competitions.

Jive

Jive originated in African American clubs in the early 40s. The word "jive" itself means "misleading chatter" - a popular slang word among African Americans of the time. US military personnel brought the dance to England during World War II. There, jive was adapted to British pop music and took the form it has today.

A characteristic feature of jive is the fast pace of the dance, thanks to which the movements come out springy. Another feature of jive is straight legs. This sporty ballroom dance can be danced on either a six-beat count or an eight-beat count.

Hearing the phrase “ballroom dancing”, many imagine luxurious dresses, exquisite men’s tailcoats and quiet classical music. This is because the word “ball” is associated with solemn royal events and activities that we read about in children's fairy tales.

In fact, “ballroom” began to be called secular, non-professional, pair dances that arose in the Middle Ages in Europe. Throughout their history, they have undergone significant changes, and each era has invested in them its own characteristics and specific features.

In the 20th century, ballroom dances consisted of European dances, which included elements of Latin American and African culture. In fact, most of the modern ballroom styles have real African “roots” that have been “polished” by European masters and dance schools.

Division of ballroom dancing and new items that have become popular

• foxtrot (fast and slow);
• waltz;
• tango.

Nowadays, thousands of large and small classical dance competitions are held annually. In most cases, they are divided into three programs - Latin American, European, and “ten”.

Everything you need to know about ballroom dancing

If we talk about contacts, Latin American dances are characterized by greater freedom of movement, and partners touch only with their hands most of the time. At some points, contact is lost completely, and sometimes it intensifies during the execution of special figures.

IN modern world The popularity of ballroom dancing has decreased significantly, due to the fact that its performance requires special skills and grueling training to constantly maintain shape.

In the sixties of the 20th century, a twist appeared, the popularity of which became the “beginning of the end” for paired dance styles. Tango, waltz, foxtrot have practically sunk into oblivion and ceased to serve as a way of entertainment for the broad masses of people.

Without a doubt, it is wrong to talk about ballroom dancing as one direction - each of them has its own characteristics that deserve special attention. But undoubtedly, the most harmonious and vibrant are two dances - tango and foxtrot. In one period of time, they managed to cover several continents at once, and to this day they remain popular and favorite destinations for millions of people around the world.

Tango

This style appeared in the African communities living in Buenos Aires and was based on the ancient dance moves, invented by the inhabitants of the hottest continent.

It was “brought” to Europe by touring orchestras and dancers, and for the first time it was performed in the capital of France - Paris, and only after that “went” to Berlin, London and other cities.

In 1913, the dance became popular in Finland, the USA and many other countries.

During the “Great Depression” there was a real “golden age” of tango - at that time many ensembles were created, which included ordinary people who eventually became real stars.

In the year 83 of the 20th century, the Forever Tango show was created in New York, after which people around the world began to take classes in order to master this beautiful, rhythmic and passionate direction.

Foxtrot

There is a misconception that this dance owes its name to the English word “foxtrot”, which translated means “fox gait”, however, in fact, the name comes from the name of the man who became the founder of the style - Harry Fox.

Introduced in the United States in 1912, the foxtrot immediately after World War I won the hearts of Europeans.

A special feature of this dance was the “weightlessness” of the steps, which gave all movements a special lightness and airiness. Perhaps, no other “ballroom” direction can boast that partners, in the process, become literally one whole, merging into an ideal organism.

Classification of ballroom dances

Latin American includes such styles as:

• cha-cha-cha (from 30 to 32 beats per minute);
• jive (42 to 44 beats per minute);
• paso doble (60 to 62 beats per minute);
• rumba (from 25 to 27 beats per minute);
• samba (from 50 to 52 beats per minute).

• tango (from 31 to 33 beats per minute);
• slow waltz (from 28 to 30 beats per minute);
• quickstep (from 50 to 52 beats per minute);
• slow foxtrot (28 to 30 beats per minute);
• Viennese waltz (from 58 to 60 bars per minute).