1.3. Ballroom dancing and the Olympics

Ballroom dancing for a long time was sport, which was not supposed to the Olympics. On the one hand, ballroom dances were considered not entirely art; and on the other hand, they would not perceive as a sport. As a result, representatives from dancing schools, who have long supported the position that ballroom dancing should be included in the program of the Olympiad, succeeded. Ballroom dancing will finally be included in the program of the XXXI summer Olympic games on the horizon, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro, (Brazil) 5-21 August 2016. This will be the first Olympic games to be held in South America.

For the first time the dancers will show their skills at such a serious site. Many of them dreamt of the day when they can take part in the competition. The most interesting thing in Brazil over 80 years, the authorities have sought Olympic games were held in Rio de Janeiro. And it happened. Today dancers from many countries are preparing for the performances. They practise the dance numbers for the Olympics and Russian professionals, which will show their skills to the strict jury and the audience.

Carrying out of Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, like the inclusion of ballroom dancing in the Olympic program, is a miracle. City, where many years offers some of the best shoes for ballroom dances for a long time could not get to held Olympic games. Since 1936 Brazil applying to host the Olympics. And this time only country that received this right.

Russian athletes have already preparing to take part in the summer Olympic games in 2016. They pick up costumes and ballroom dance shoes, dance work out programs and numbers. Russian dancers always thoroughly came to the performances. No wonder they often received medals and brought home gold.

For the recognition of the professionals, the most important rule of successful performance is constant self-improvement. That is why the dancers so carefully working on the numbers, although a long time already know all the dance steps.

So, in dance sport no age limit, constantly held different competitions, tournaments. Ballroom dancing entered into the program of Olympic games, as their popularity is very high in our time.

2. Europian program

2.1. Slow waltz

Year of appearance: 1923-1924

Homeland dance: England

When first introduced into the English ballrooms in the early 1800`s, the Waltz was denounced by both church and state for its vulgarity and immorality... this was, after all, the first time society had seen this outrageous dance position, with the man holding the lady so close to his body. But the very thing that brought it such criticism also made it appealing, and the Waltz was here to stay.

Throughout its history, the Waltz has undergone many changes. Even before its introduction into society as a ballroom dance, it was a country folk dance born in the seventeenth century in the suburbs of Austria and Bavaria. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the dance had grown in popularity and spread throughout Europe.

The Waltz was introduced into the United States in the mid-1800`s. The standard Waltz tempo at this time was still very fast and quite demanding to the average dancer, and before long, composers were writing music which was much slower. From this music evolved a style of Waltz called the Boston, with slower turns, and more longer, gliding movements. While the Boston eventually faded away, it did stimulate the development of what we now know as Slow Waltz. Throughout the twentieth century, the English refined the movements and codified the technique into the competitive International style Slow Waltz.

Slow Waltz is danced using a normal ballroom-style closed position dance hold. This typically includes the use of body contact, although a more relaxed semi-closed hold is often used in social dance situations, or for learning purposes.

In closed position the man and lady stand in front of each other, slightly offset to the left. The lady's right hand and man's left hand are joined in an upper-hand clasp at approximately the lady's eye level. The man's right hand is placed on the lady's shoulder blade, with the lady's left arm resting easily on his right. The resulting dance frame should be held sturdy, but relaxed and absent of tension or strain.

Waltz is a smooth progressive dance characterized by long, flowing movements, continuous turns, and rise & fall. Graceful and elegant, Waltz dancers glide around the floor almost effortlessly. At 28-30 measures per minute, the tempo is slow at best, but the expressive quality of the music often invites very powerful and dynamic movement from dancers.