Ballroom Dancing is more commonly referred to as “partnership dancing”, as it is a style of dance that requires a dance partner. In Europe and throughout the rest of the world, the International Style of Ballroom Dance has two very distinct categories: Standard and Latin. Here in the United States, these styles were adapted between 1910 – 1930, mainly due to the influence of American jazz, as well as a more social approach to dancing in general. The American Style of Ballroom Dance includes American Rhythm and American Smooth. American Style is similar to its counterpart from overseas, but while International Style allows only closed dance positions in the smooth dances (such as Waltz and Foxtrot), American Style allows the dancers to separate in their dance frame. Over the years, American Style has been expanded to include dances such as Mamba, Salsa and West Coast Swing – always driven by the continual development of music around the world. To learn more about each type of ballroom dance and see a video demonstration, please click on the links to the left.