#7 Ballroom Dancing

Ballroom dancing is usually danced with a partner and is a Latin form of dance. Ballroom dance comes from England, and is now world wide. Ballroom dancing focuses on the use of the hips, but the torso and the upper body help compliment the movement that occurs at the bottom half of the body.  Ballroom dancing is very synchronized and clean. There are many forms of ballroom dance, such as the waltz, the tango, the jive, the foxtrot, and many more. Ballroom dance is very entertaining and is used on many TV shows, performed at cotillions, and shown at performances. Male ballroom dancers wear form fitting clothing that show off the lines of the body, and for women, it varies depending on the particular style that is being performed. Some women wear long dresses that they can hold and use in the routine, but for other routines, some women wear short dresses or something that is form fitting as well. Women usually dance in high heals so they are elevated off the ground.

The jive is one of many styles of ballroom dance. The jive originated in the United States during the 1940s and is a variation of swing dancing. The jive is danced at a fast pace and to upbeat music. Since the jive is the fastest form of ballroom, it is danced at 44 bars per minute. In the jive, one has to be able to transfer their weight between each foot quickly. Jive includes a lot of lifts, and quick kicks. The knees remain close together throughout the whole duration of the routine, and is kept controlled under the body.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jive_(dance)
Picture: http://www.my-ballroom-dance-shoes.com/date/2009/08/