Latin Ballroom
“Rhythm becomes fire when precision learns to breathe.”
History & cultural context
International Latin brings together five dances: Cha-cha-cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble and Jive. Their sources are diverse — Cuban son, danzón and mambo, Brazilian samba, Spanish bullfight music, and American swing and jitterbug. The cha-cha-cha takes its name from music by the Cuban violinist Enrique Jorrín in the early 1950s.
In Britain these dances were studied, simplified and codified for competition in the middle of the twentieth century. The result is a style built on hip action, rhythm and the contrast between the partners — more open and theatrical than Ballroom Standard.
Masters, schools & legacy
Pierre Lavelle (Monsieur Pierre) and Doris Lavelle brought Cuban rumba technique to London ballrooms, and Walter Laird's Technique of Latin Dancing became a standard textbook. Competitive Latin is now danced worldwide, while the original social dances continue to live in Cuba, Brazil and across Latin America.
Dances of this world
Further reading
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