Ballroom vs Dancesport

[chachacat]

In the 90's, the term "Dancesport" originated to help ballroom get into the Olympics.

Personally, I don't care for the term, nor use it.
However, I do understand the athleticism of dance; anyone who has seriously studied ballet knows how hard it is.
I'm just old and 'sports' to me is a bad word.

[emeralddancer]

I sooooooooooooooooooo remember the days of ballet. serious ballet on pointe ......................my poor poor toes and calfs and hamstrings. hours at the barr. Sigh how I miss it. A LOT.

I personally like the term Ballroom.

I think dancesport can be off putting to the general public. meh ...

[ttd]

Hmmm.... weeeellll... at my home and my second-home studios, there are quite a few competitive amateur, i.e. Dancesport, dancers who regularly attend socials, and this significantly influences the culture of those ballroom socials... for the better, IMO.

But having higher-level dancers in the community, whether they compete or not, brings the level up, and that's always an improvement.

We have a university here and they have a ballroom club for students and open to general population as well. I don't come to their group classes, because I feel that I've kinda outgrown their level <they haven't been able to bring it up very high, as each year the club gets a new crop of beginner freshmen and loses its most advanced students as they graduate and move>, but I come to their semi-formals and also they come to our open parties.But apparently some of the college kids who started a few years ago decided to go for their advanced degrees here as well, so they didn't relocate, and so some of them have been with the club for over 5 years <maybe it is a reflection of weak job market - they can't find an entry-level position with bachelor's degree, so they go for the master's>. And this seems to improve the level of the entire club, because it seems like the new kids advance faster when they have experienced club members around helping them.

[samina]

hmm, interesting... a few different associations for the use of these terms.

seems that emmie view is it more as competition vs. social dancing (did i get that right?)

TD views ballroom as the codified heart, which DS is what has been brought in from other dance influences -- sounds like the view of a purist.   does remind me of the "which is the one true tango" and "which is the real salsa" intellectual debates i've seen a plethora of elsewhere, hah, which are not my cuppa. but with TD's lengthy background and broader perspective, i can appreciate why this may be an issue of importance to clarify.

i don't mind what is "non-pure" that has enhanced ballroom, because that's just life, that's how things are... they grow, evolve, change, take in influences from all those that come into an enviro and leave their mark. i don't mind rapid competition, i don't mind chillin' at a social... i just love every aspect of it, and don't have an issue with the term "dancesport" because that nicely describes a competitive focus, which *is* different from social dancing.

meh... ballroom, dancesport, yep, i value it from every angle. even the crazy pro-amers who are competing pre-bronze at 7:30 on sunday mornings in full, rhinestoned regalia. every aspect of BR & DS culture is just such a wondrous thing.

[emeralddancer]

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!! Let's just say I love EVERY form of partner dancing.    (er ..... dancing!  )

[samina]

Hmmm.... weeeellll... at my home and my second-home studios, there are quite a few competitive amateur, i.e. Dancesport, dancers who regularly attend socials, and this significantly influences the culture of those ballroom socials... for the better, IMO.

But having higher-level dancers in the community, whether they compete or not, brings the level up, and that's always an improvement.

exactly!

[TangoDancer]

TD views ballroom as the codified heart, which DS is what has been brought in from other dance influences -- sounds like the view of a purist.   does remind me of the "which is the one true tango" and "which is the real salsa" intellectual debates i've seen a plethora of elsewhere, hah, which are not my cuppa. but with TD's lengthy background and broader perspective, i can appreciate why this may be an issue of importance to clarify.

Yeah, I have beem called a purist before, but it is not accurate at all. Everyone who knows me knows that I have also always been called a rebel b/c I have always bucked the purists, followed the heart of the movement, and competed right on the edge of 'great and being DQ'd'. I am all for change as long as it doesn't completely negate the thing that it is enhancing/expanding (unless that is the intention). For some, for DS to replace BR was indeed the intention, but for many, it was only to broaden the scope, and, as someone pointed out, make it more appealing to the Olympic committee as a sport .

My objection is that, in many ways, it has completely erased that which it was only intended to enhance. When one can not tell the difference between the dances if the music is turned off, or when there is 90% fluff and facial expression and arm waving but only 10% dance, or when the original character of the dance is changed completely (for ex: can someone tell the difference between cabaret and theatre arts anymore).  This is unacceptable, and can not be brushed over as growth/change/evolving. This could have been avoided had the powers that be only maintained a degree of integrity in BR while still allowing the interjection of the other elements. Yet, in the effort to make BR more appealing as a sport, the powers that be lost that integrity. Sadly, it will never return.

[SwingWaltz]

Let's not call it BS!

be ashamed... be very ashamed...

lolz

Hahahaha love this! 

[Dora-Satya Veda]

In the 90's, the term "Dancesport" originated to help ballroom get into the Olympics.

Personally, I don't care for the term, nor use it.
However, I do understand the athleticism of dance; anyone who has seriously studied ballet knows how hard it is.
I'm just old and 'sports' to me is a bad word.

That is correct! Dancesport was a term created by the then IDSF to promote Ballroom dancing into the Olympics.

DSV

[QPO]

I still use the term Ballroom.  If you used the word Dancesport the average punter in the street would not know what you were talking about.  I too believe that ballroom dancing is very athletic and it is a sport but an artistic one.

I have heard that there may be an artistic games and Ballroom would be put into that category. fingers crossed.