What is the difference between the show dance, the social dance and the sport dance? How knowledge about these differences can help us in dancing?

In my opinion, when artists perform a show dance, they use their bodies as a language to express (to show) an idea, an action, a sensation or a sentiment or tell a story or an event... In this case, music is a mean that helps the artists to implement their object.

When people dance (socially), they use their body movements as a mean to enjoy the music. It means that they receives other 's ideas, go into raptures with these ideas and then express their excitements...In this case, music is the source of dancers ' actions.

That is only my vague notion! Please, help me to clear the thing up. Thanks for any reply and excuse me for my poor English.

Cu Dinh Tuyen, Hanoi, Vietnam
email: cdtuyen@mail.hut.edu.vn

I've just noticed that you're the third person in this forum that I know who's from Vietnam. Is there a big ballroom scene there? I'd never been aware of it, and I suppose it doesn't conform with the way I'd been thinking about 'nam. Perhaps you can help me to a new perspective?

As for your question, I can only state the simply and obvious fact that
- showdance is pure choreography
- social dancing is pure lead & follow
- competitive dancesport is a mixture of the two, i.e. choreography and floorcraft (which requires ability to lead & follow)

showdance and competitive dancing also differ from social dancing in that you know your partner and practise with him/her for a long time before the show or competition, whilst in social dancing, you constantly have to adapt to the dance habits/patterns/peculiarities (I guess I really mean leg length, stride length, connection (arms), rise & fall) of a new partner.

Hi, Philipp

Ballroom Dancing only appears in Vietnam from the 1930's. Today, it becomes popularly in our life. But sportdance is quite new for us.

Thank you for your very early reply to my question. Your information helps me a lot although it considers the question in an other aspect.