Strictly Come Dances

Since the start of Strictly Come Dancing in 2004, the dancers have used well over 200 bottles of fake tan – that's one per couple per show. They have donned over 400 costumes, using over 4m sequins and nearly 100 sets of false eyelashes. Most importantly, there have been well over 4325 hours of dancing.

 

Over 12 million people tuned in to the live Saturday night dazzling dance extravaganza to witness sportsmen Mark Ramprakash and Matt Dawson battle it out in the final to be crowned Strictly Come Dancing Champion 2006. Former England cricketer Mark and his professional dance partner Karen Hardy were eventually victorious, taking home the coveted trophy. 

 

The popularity and influence of this show cannot be disputed; dance schools across the country have reported rising attendances since Strictly Come Dancing started. Darren Gough's series three win caused a surge in some instances. Some men, perhaps previously scornful, were inspired to follow suit. In addition, ITV1 aired Baby Ballroom: The Championship, giving younger dancers the opportunity to showcase their talents. If the only 'Tango' you know is the orange fizzy drink (or Jodie Marsh), check out our guide to the Strictly dances.

The Argentine Tango

 

Referred to as the 'the history of love in three minutes', the Argentine tango is all about the man's control and the woman's seductiveness. No other dance connects two people more closely, emotionally as well as physically. The Argentine tango is magical, intoxicating, romantic, and passionate. It is much smoother and more sensual than the ballroom tango, with the couple's upper bodies close together and lower bodies apart. Dancers face in the same direction (the woman's right, the man's left) and so dance almost cheek to cheek.

Although the dance epitomises the glamour and elegance of high society, the Argentine tango originated in the underbelly of society - brothels. As immigrants streamed into the outskirts of Buenos Aires during the 1880s, many came toward the houses of ill repute. The tango dance originated as an 'acting out' of the relationship between the prostitute and her pimp.

 

Salsa

 

There is much debate about where salsa dance has its origins, but it is generally accepted that it stems from salsa music. As Latin music's popularity grew, so did the dances. During 1970s London, there were Latin dance clubs, divided into those playing Cuban music and those playing Columbian music. Visits to London by great Salsa music artists, such as Tito Puente and Celia Cruz, played a large part in the evolution of salsa.

Salsa is a partner dance, with a leader (male) and a follower (female). The follower must always have light but firm contact with the leader. This allows the leader to guide the follower more precisely, and also allows the follower to feel the signals and the directions given by the leader. Salsa is usually danced in close contact hold with plenty of sexy swings to the rhythm: it's a very hot, sexy dance.

 

The Waltz

 

The waltz has its history rooted in a peasant dance from the Provence area of France in 1559, from a piece of folk music called The Volta. Partners had to hold each other in such a close embrace that many declared it immoral. Louis XIII (1601-1643) even had it banned from court on this account.

 

The Viennese Waltz

 

The Viennese waltz is said to be a derivation of 'The Landler' – a dance developed in Bavaria during the 12th and 13th centuries. The French dispute this, saying that like the traditional waltz, the Viennese waltz was also developed from The Volta.

The Tango

 

The gauchos (cowboys) of Argentina wore chaps that hardened from the foam and sweat of the horse's body, causing them to walk with flexed knees. At night they would go to crowded nightclubs and ask prostitutes to dance, but since the gaucho hadn't showered, the lady would dance in the crook of the man's right arm, holding her head back. Her right hand was held low on his left hip, close to his pocket, looking for a payment for dancing with him.

 

Foxtrot

 

During the summer of 1914, actor Harry Fox was appearing in shows in New York with Yansci Dolly. People at the Jardin de Danse, on the roof of the New York Theatre, soon started to copy the act that Harry was putting on downstairs, leading them to refer to the dance as 'Fox's Trot'.

 

Quickstep

 

During the 1920s many bands played the Foxtrot too fast and some couples couldn't keep up. Over time, a faster version was born, absorbing extra elements of ragtime such as the charleston; this led to the creation of what is now called the quickstep.

American Smooth

 

American Smooth is a form of ballroom dancing with more elaborate moves - think of what you'd see in a typical Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musical. All the basic principles and technique of ballroom dancing still apply, however there are less restrictions: partners only need to be in a hold for 40 per cent of the dance. This allows the dancers to incorporate lifts, spins, shuffles and turns and much more into their routines, wowing the judges and audience with creative and original choreography.

 

Latin American Rumba

 

The dance relies on the age-old premise of the lady trying to dominate the gentlemen by means of her womanly charms. Incorporating all the elements of teasing and withdrawal, it is considered the most sensual of the Latin dances.

 

Samba

 

It's believed that the word samba is derived from a West African Bantu word, meaning to pray or invoke the spirits of their ancestors. Rumoured to be a dance that can excite people to such an extent that it sends them into a trance, it is danced annually at the Rio Carnival in Brazil.

 

Expect to see the contestants sweating it out as they attempt to do some of the above dances justice.