Ballroom dancing is a sporting discipline that originated from folk and court entertainments. Nowadays, it is practised not only at various events (usually without the participation of professionals), but also at dance tournaments (organised by the International Ballroom Dance Association). Like any discipline - it is governed by its own rules. All dancers are divided into 5 specific age categories and class categories - 3 Hobby categories and 6 Sport categories. Each class is, of course, governed by different rules, even those concerning costume. In order to gain a higher class, you have to score a certain number of points in dance tournaments and stand on the podium a certain number of times. Of course, the categories are judged separately. In a single tournament, couples dance - depending on the category - 4 or 5 standard dances and the same number of Latin American dances. The individual dances differ in their origin, movement pattern, character and music.

Among the standard dances we have (in order at tournaments) the English waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, foxtrot (otherwise known as foxtrot or slowfox) and quickstep. These are very elegant dances - during the presentation, the man is dressed in a tailcoat and varnished shoes, while the woman is wearing a long, airy dress and heeled slippers. Latin American dances actually developed in the 20th century, although the blending of different rhythms of Indian, Spanish-Portuguese and American music occurred as early as the 19th century. Each has a different style and character.

Latin American dances include the rumba, samba, cha-cha, paso doble and jive, the most famous of which is the latter (probably thanks to the Brazilian Carnival in Rio de Janeiro) Here, the man no longer has to wear a tailcoat, but the colour of his outfit should match that of his partner. The footwear is also different - this time it is the men who wear heeled shoes, while the ladies appear in sandals.