Latin American
It was Monsieur Pierre, a young man from the Basque region of France, who introduced this style to the English Dance scene in the 1930's. Pierre was an accomplished dancer and teacher who had an unquestionable love for the Latin music and the dances: Rumba, Samba, Paso Doble, Jive and Cha Cha Cha. These five dances were to become established favorites.
The Latin American faculty of the I.S.T.D. was formed in 1946 by Monsieur Pierre and his partner Doris Lavelle along with colleague Doris Nichols. These were latter joined by Gwenethe Walshe and Dimitri Petrides. This band of dedicated specialists worked vigorously to establish an examination system of set syllabus for the I.S.T.D. This allowed both amateur and professional dancers to dance and compete within the same technical framework.
With the vibrant energy and easy going nature that this style of dance rhythms inspire, Latin American dance is as popular today as it has ever been.
The five dances are now danced the world over both socially and in DanceSport competitions. The dances are for couples, usually consisting of a man and a lady. The holds vary from figure to figure in these dances, sometimes in closed hold, (a type of Ballroom hold, but not so formalized), and sometimes with partners holding each other with only single hand contact.
The Romance languages (Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Rumanian) derived from the ancient Latin language, define a cultural that has spread over a substantial part of the Americas. Three dances from this area, one from Spain/France and one from the U.S.A. constitute the set dances known as "Latin American".
The name 'Paso Doble' in Spanish means 'Two Step'. This dance is derived from the many Spanish folk dances associated with Spanish Life. The gentleman portrays the Torero, (Matador) whilst his partner, the lady portrays the cape. It is danced to a characteristic march music.
When Pierre Lavelle visited Cuba in 1952 he realised that there was an alternative rhythm being used for the Rumba. This alternative rhythm contained an additional two beats. On his return to the U.K., he started teaching this as an alternative dance, this then became known as the Cha Cha Cha. In the mid 1950's this dance was described as a "Mambo with a guiro rhythm". The guiro is a musical instrument consisting of a dried gourd rubbed by a serrated stick. In the mid 1950's this dance was described as a "Mambo with a guiro rhythm". The guiro is a musical instrument consisting of a dried gourd rubbed by a serrated stick.
This dance evolved in the 1830's from the plait figures from the Negro dances and the body rolls and sways of the indigenous Lundu (or Lundum which was brought to Brazil by Bantu slaves from Angola and surrounding areas) Carnival steps were added later. Gradually member of the high society of Rio embraced it, and then it was popularised by 'Fred Astair' and 'Ginger Rogers' in their first film together; "Flying down to Rio". This was further popularised in the 1950's by 'Princess Margaret', who played a leading role in British Society.
This dance had it's origin with the African Negro slaves imported into Cuba, whose dances emphasizes the movement of the body rather than the feet. It evolved in Havanna in the 19th Century by combination with the 'Contradanza'. La Contradance has a very interesting ancestry. The "Country Dance" of England became popular on the Continent and as it became accepted into court society it became more formal. It was danced at court functions during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I at the end of the 17th Century. From there it became popular in South America and Mexico. This dance was introduced to the U.S.A. in the 1930's as a composite of the rural Rumba and the Cuban Bolero along with a few other dances for good measure! The British dancer 'Pierre Lavell' visited Havanna in 1947 and discovered the Rumba and discovered that this Rumba was danced with the break step on beat one of the bar rather than beat one as danced in the U.S.A. This then became the standard "International Cuban Rumba".
This dance originated with the Negroes in the South East of the U.S.A., where it had an affinity with t he war dance of the 'Seminole Indians in Florida. The exuberant dancing and music of the Negroes contrasted with the limited and dour dances of the upper class in the U.S.A. and U.K. In the wake of the deaths of 'Prince Albert' and 'Queen Victoria I', the English speaking society felt more free to engage in more exuberant and energetic dances. This brought along a series of simple dances; Turkey Trot, Bunny Hug, Eagle Rock to name a few. In 1910 these individual dances were brought together, a change that was described as a change of interest from steps to rhythm. This change coincided with the publication of Irvin Berlin's "Alexandra Ragtime Band", and the International Jive was born.
