Ballroom and Politics
Historically, ballroom dancing has been commonly used in formal social settings. In general, ballroom dancing brings people together during formal events. In the political world, many well-known figures have ballroom danced to celebrate at these affairs. Political figures often perform a variation of ballroom dance to show respect to another person or to commemorate a happening.
Air cadets dancing at Dwight D. Eisenhower's Inaugural Ball. Photo by Paul Schutzer/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images
Picture 1: Senator/ President John F. Kennedy in New York City, 1955. Photo by Elliott Erwitt. Picture 2: JFK with Jacqueline Kennedy on their wedding. Photo from Pinterest, The Daily Beast.
Photo 1 from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum: President Lyndon B. Johnson dancing with Imelda Marcos.
Photo 2 by Mark Kauffman/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images/Getty Images: Johnson dancing with Princess Margaret.
Photo 1 from Fine Art America: President Richard Nixon dances with the First Lady.
Photo 2 from National Archive/Newsmakers: President Richard Nixon dances with his daughter, Tricia, at her wedding.
Photo from Gerald R. Ford Museum: First Lady Ford and Prince Philip, 1976.
Photos from U.S. News & World Report Magazine Photograph Collection: President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter at a White House Congressional Ball.
Photo 1 from Kera News: President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan dancing at the State Dinner in Algeria.
Photo 2 from the US National Archives: President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan at the Presidential Inauguration.
Photo from the Washington Post: President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush.
Photo 1 from Popsugar: President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton.
Photo 2 from POLITICO: President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton at the Presidential Inauguration.
Photo 1 by Bloomberg via Gettyimages: President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush at the Inaugural Celebration, 2005.
Photo 2 by Pool via Gettyimages: President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush at the Florida Presidential Inaugural Ball, 2001.
Top Left and Middle Photos from ABC news: President Barack Obama dancing the Tango.
Top Right Photo from Alamy: President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the Presidential Inauguration.
Bottom Left Photo from Alamy: President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the Mid-Atlantic Ball.
Bottom Middle Photo from Business Insider: President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the Nobel Banquet in Oslo, Norway.
Photo 1 from Amazon and 2 from National Public Radio (NPR): President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the Presidential Inauguration. Photo 3 from CNN: Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner.
The British Royal Family
Top Left Photo from Time Magazine: Queen Elizabeth II dancing with U.S. President Gerald Ford, 1976.
Top Right Photo from Popperfoto via Gettyimages: Not Ballroom, but social dancing- Queen Elizabeth II and President Nkrumah dance the Ghana shuffle known as "High Life," 1961.
Bottom Left Photo from Good Housekeeping: Prince Charles and First Lady Nancy Reagan.
Bottom Right Photo from CNN: Princess Diana dances with John Travolta.
Q & A
Why is Standard/Smooth more commonly used than Rhythm/Latin in formal settings?
Modern ballroom dancing is a collection of dances that originated from Europe and Latin America. However, historically, the slower dances that come from European countries were performed by the upper class in traditional formal areas, meanwhile Latin dances developed in a general, nonexclusive manner. Nowadays, when someone states that he or she ballroom dances, most people would immediately think of slow European dances such as Waltz and would pass over that many Latin dances are part of ballroom dancing. Therefore, slow dance styles
What is the difference between ballroom dance and social dance?
Social dance is the umbrella term for dances that include two people interacting. When referring to social dance, there's a more casual connotation than ballroom dance. The term, "social," infers that there will likely be a conversation between partners. In addition, ballroom dance is very structured like ballet. Therefore a gentle side-to-side sway would lean more towards social dance.
Why is ballroom dancing more popular in the upper class than the middle class?
Traditionally, slow dances in ballroom were taught to people of higher socioeconomic standing. So, naturally, this type of dance fall at the hands of people who are extremely fortunate financially. Currently, the dance is exclusive, because it can only be skillfully taught through one-on-one interaction with the student(s) and teacher. Therefore, dance lessons are quite expensive, hence the creation of the Y.J. Dance Studio/Program. Although people of middle socioeconomic level do not have to constantly worry about basic necessities, they usually do not find ballroom dancing worth the investment due to its lack of use in their lives. However, those in the higher socioeconomic class invest in ballroom lessons because 1. They are able to support this hobby financially. 2. Ballroom dancing promotes an image of natural elegance in a person.
How did Ballroom dance such as the Waltz spread into Britain and the U.S.?
The Waltz started in Vienna and spread to other European countries and the U.S. like wildfire. Although now, we think of the Waltz as proper and graceful, the dance was rejected by many people as "indecent." Why? They thought it was improper for a man and a woman to be in such close proximity for an extended period of time. Despite the criticisms, Queen Victoria loved ballroom dancing and this type of dance eventually became a tradition of the British Royal family in the form of a ball.