The History of ballroom dancing is seldom found in one all-encompassing place. I have noticed many web sites that give a short description of the background and evolutionary history of the dances they include. But here is one site you surely want to check.

If you are writing a thesis or a paper on the subject, please quote the resource I am going to suggest.

The URL is as follows..
http://linus.socs.uts.edu.au/~don/pubs/modern.html

Hope it will be of help. Good luck.

Sri.

Hello
My name is lavener and i was wondering if any one can help me find the history of ballroom dance.

If anyone has any information please email me at Lavender25@women.com
Please reply before april 26,2000

I think ballroom dancing needs a good wholesome media exposure before companies would start flocking into the sport. Companies have no idea how much audience there is in ballroom dancing. Almost every person have the desire to watch someone dance to a good music. I cannot say that for other sports like toboggan, steeplechase, or rugby(except Aussies).

Have you considered joining a studio as an understudy, and earn the money to defray competition and private lesson expenses?

Professional, the top ones, do get sponsorships but they have earned their keep by having consistently done well on the national and international scene. Since you want to become a professional, and if finding a sponsor is otherwise difficult, giving private and group lessons at a studio might be one alternative.

Recent USABDA rule changes, of which I am not fully cognizant yet, have allowed even amateurs that are "Certified" to charge for instruction - with the proviso that the monies are used explicitly toward competition and lessons. Of how this may be audited, I am not clear yet. But, there is hope for amateurs in the near future.

A warning although for those that already instruct or find recompense by other means, you may lose your amateur status for a period of time if you are found in violation. It may be best to just take the requisite certification exams. I would imagine they have bronze/silver/gold certification levels for amateurs too, as they have for professionals..

In any case, I have digressed. Good luck finding a sponsor. Enjoy.

Sri.

If you live in Europe or Asia, sponsors do exist. Most of the high-level pros and amateurs are sponsored to some degree or another. Not all are fully sponsored to the point of not requiring any other type of income, but some are.

Of course, finding these sponsors is another story. Most of the time, they find you... when you've proven yourself as a good representative of their company. In other words, you have to already be good. Otherwise, you're left to your own devices to find sponsors, which can be very difficult.

If you live in the U.S., finding sponsors is even more difficult. And of the existing sponsors, very few (if any) actually provide enough money to make a living from.

Most U.S. professional competitors use the "Pro-Am" system to support themselves through competitions. They use money they make from teaching to finance their competitive urges. They also take students to competitions, because it it customary for the student to pay the teacher's expenses. If you have a really good student, it alleviates the cost of hotels, airfare, etc. Of course, you still have to pay for your own entry fees and coaching lessons, but it still helps a lot.

To be honest, I have no idea how amateurs in the U.S. get along. I think they just pay their own way to everything. I imagine it's quite difficult.

Sincerely,
Jonathan Atkinson www.ballroomdancers.com