3.5. Jive

Year of appearance: 1927

Homeland dance: North America

The origins of the word "jive" are unknown. It may refers to "jive talk," or badmouthing. This word reflects the character of the dance. It is sassy and loud. The first hints of jive came from African American slaves. These slaves danced several native dances that had triple and single steps. Their music had a continuous drum bass, and several hints of jive rhythms. Jive itself has now split into two parts, one based on this original African beat and the other based upon its evolved style.

Jive can be known by many different names. It is sometimes called Swing, the Jitterbug, Lindy hop or the Charleston, although it is a completely different dance. These dances are all similar, and their steps are interconnected. The music for jive is in 4/4 time, which means four beats to a measure, the quarter note being the dominant note of the measure. It is done with a series of single and triple steps. It is possible for dancers to move into a two-beat jive, where the third and fourth steps are replaced, but this is used only occasionally.

Jive is usually the last dance in a competition, and is also one of the hardest dances to perform. For this reason, many dancers save their energy for one last burst at the end of a night of competing. It contains chasse steps, kicks and turns

with the feet. Often these can get quite complicated, and partners must stay focused on the rhythm so as not to slip off-track.

Jive is most directly related to Swing. This is because it evolved from many of the competitions that were held in American and several parts of Europe during the early 1900's. Jive's music eventually developed its own flavor in the 1950's and 60's. It contains bouncy rhythms and easy melodies. In competitions, partners are often judged on the energy that they give to its performance, in addition to the steps. They are also judged on their interpretation of rhythm and overall performance. Flicks of the foot and kicks should not be mere decoration. They are to be important in the rhythm and timing, and even gestures when used in a certain context. The "moving center" of the dance, in jive's case the handhold, should remain firm. Good coordination is a must, especially when executing sharp turns and difficult hand movements.

Jive is a very happy, boppy, energetic dance, with plenty of knee-lifting, bending, and rocking of the hips. The fastest of the Latin dances, Jive incorporates lots of kicks and flicks, even twirling of the woman, and doesn't move around the dance floor like other dances. Although Jive dancers may appear to be moving their feet haphazardly in every direction, the feet are actually well-controlled under the body with the knees close together.

So, the Latin American ballroom dancers are becoming every year more and more popular every year and attract people of all continents.

4. The best dancers in the world

4.1. Carmen Vincelli

Date of birth: August 30, 1972

Hometown: Stuttgart (Germany)

Beginning of career: 1989

Carmen was not engaged in ballroom dancing since early childhood, as many outstanding dancers, but this did not prevent her from becoming a truly unique dancer. Carmen at age 17 started to go to the dance club and from that moment entirely devoted herself to choreography.

In a new status Carmen achieves significant success with Allan Tornsberg. As is known, this dancer had a great ability to disclosure of the true talent of partners, their femininity and charm. In the period of joint work with Allan, Carmen started with Donnie Burns and won the German Open in 1997. In the same year the couple took 1 place in the «WDC World Professional South American Showdance». This victory was the best result of a pair for all 3 years. The final output of the competitive parquet Duo made 21 January 1999 at the UK Open 1999 in Bournemouth, England, where he won the bronze.

March 17, 1999, began a joint career Carmen Vincelli and Bryan Watson, who acted for Germany. An important event in the career of Bryan and Carmen became a Cup of the world in the Kremlin in 1999, where they won the victory. This speech was a good rehearsal before the upcoming world Championships. In the future, this pair has not lost a single championship for many years. Carmen Vincelli and Bryan Watson became world Champions in Latin American dances from 1999 to 2007 9 times in a row, 7 times became Champions in Blackpool. Last competition Carmen and Brian became Blackpool dance festival 2007. Then, at the very peak of his career in the spring of 2007, by mutual consent, they announced their retirement from the sport dance.