Competitive ballroom is much more than a style of dance. Rather, it is a continually evolving and increasingly global social and cultural arena: of fashion, performance, art, sport, gender and more. Ballroom explores the intersection of dance cultures, dress and the body. Presenting the author's experiences at an international range of dance events in Europe, the US and UK, as well as featuring the views of individual dancers, the book shows how dancing influences mind and body alike. For students of anthropology, dance, cultural and performance studies, Ballroom provides an ethnographic picture of how dancers and others live their lives both on and off the dance floor.

Explores the steps and the costumes that make ballroom dancing so exciting.--Cover.

Dreams are made and broken every year in the dazzling Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, England. Fierce competition, brutal politics, and stunning artistry are all on the program at the world's most prestigious competition, known to ballroom dance enthusiasts simply as "Blackpool." Sharon Savoy's lifelong love affair with dance manifested itself early on. At the tender age of 16 she left home to train under George Balanchine at the School of American Ballet in New York. An accomplished ballerina, her desire to dance more expressively and with a partner led her on the path that culminated on the competition ballroom circuit. There, her passion and artistry led her to become a four-time champion in exhibition style. But, as with all obsessions, her success came with a cost. In this spellbinding book, Savoy offers a backstage pass to a world where rhinestones and high heels accompany explosive athleticism and staggering talent. With emotionally absorbing and energy-packed prose, she provides an insider's close-up view of all the players who compose this glamorous world that is part dance, part sport, and part art.

Get kids off the couch by sparking their interest! Xtreme Dance brings the popularity of modern TV dance programs to the printed page. Each book features specific dance styles brought to life by amazing action images. From Hip-Hop to Country and Western, kids will read brief summaries of the history, moves, fashion styles, contests, and ways to learn today's most popular dances. Unique quotes and facts add dimension to the text, without making it overwhelming. A glossary of subject-specific words enhances the reader's understanding and knowledge of the dances. A&D Xtreme is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

As the continued success of Dancing with the Stars and Strictly Come Dancing reveals, the appetite for ballroom remains insatiable around the world. Ballroom Dance and Glamour offers a fascinating window into the global phenomenon of competitive dance. Including vibrant photographs and commentary, this book showcases the extraordinary costumes, glamorous dancers and elegance of the sport. Based on years of research at international competitions, esteemed anthropologist, photographer and ballroom dancer Jonathan S. Marion provides a unique insight into this performance art, outlining the history and basics of ballroom and explaining its huge appeal today. Offering a visual journey into the world of dance, Ballroom Dance and Glamour illuminates the beauty, skill, intensity and passion of this sport. Written in a lively and accessible manner, Ballroom Dance and Glamour will delight all dancers, dance and fashion enthusiasts and anyone captivated by the skill and glamour of ballroom dance.

An insider explores the transformation of ballroom dance into an Olympic sport.

Here it is! The ballroom book You ́ve been looking for! Beginning Ballroom: Why’s, Do’s, Don’ts, and Shoes is the user manual for all those who want to get the most out of their ballroom dance lessons. Whether You’re curious about the ballroom culture, the history of the dances, how to practice, how competitions work, or just what all this talk of rhythm and smooth is all about, Beginning Ballroom explains it all without teaching a single step. If You’re a ballroom student of any level, Beginning Ballroom is required reading!

Now in its eleventh edition, this classic and comprehensive handbook has been revised to bring it up to date with changes on the dance floor and in the rules of dance competitions. The Quickstep, Waltz, Foxtrot, and Tango are all illustrated and described in great detail, as well as the versions of most dances approved for championships. Diagrams demonstrate every step from both the Leader’s and Follower’s perspectives, and a collection of photographs new to this edition celebrate the diverse range of dancers involved with ballroom. This is the go-to book for dancers, competition judges, teachers, and anyone who needs to be at the forefront of today’s ballroom technique, from amateur practice to international championships.

The stunning new Buckingham novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Anton Du Beke. September 1940. As the skies split apart and bombs rain down on London, it's all the staff at the famed Buckingham Hotel can do to keep their guests in the luxury they're accustomed to, and evoke the magic of the Grand ballroom for them each night. Home on leave and still reeling from the tragic events at Dunkirk, the dashing Raymond de Guise struggles to define his role in this new world, and to do his duty both to his country, and his beloved wife Nancy- who needs him now more than ever. With profiteers skulking the London streets, and devious rivals plotting the Buckingham's downfall, the hotel staff must all hold onto what matters most- and decide where their loyalties truly lie. As the bombing intensifies and Christmas fast approaches, somehow the show must go on...

In 1927, on the northeast corner of Cherokee and Iowa Streets in south St. Louis, a multistory, multipurpose building was erected. Retail shops and a bowling alley occupied the first floor, while upstairs was a place that defied the imagination of someone driving by in their brand new Model T Ford. Today, that upstairs space, with its lofty ceiling, huge maple tongue-in-groove dance floor, and wraparound balcony, is the Casa Loma BallroomSt. Louis last grand ballroom. Today, one gets the feeling that the ghosts of the big bands and the vocalists still linger thereand with good reason. Just about everybody who was anybody played there at one time or another. Ol Blue Eyes himself, before he was the idol of millions, received just a meager Featured Singer, Frank Sinatra note at the bottom of the Casa Loma bill the night he played with the Harry James Orchestra.