Competitive ballroom is much more than a style of dance. Rather, it is a continually evolving and increasingly global social and cultural arena: of fashion, performance, art, sport, gender and more.

Ballroom explores the intersection of dance cultures, dress and the body. Presenting the author's experiences at an international range of dance events in Europe, the US and UK, as well as featuring the views of individual dancers, the book shows how dancing influences mind and body alike. For students of anthropology, dance, cultural and performance studies, Ballroom provides an ethnographic picture of how dancers and others live their lives both on and off the dance floor.

About the Author/Editor

Jonathan S. Marion is Adjunct Professor of Anthropology at California State University, San Marcos and an adjunct faculty member at San Diego State University and at Palomar College.

Contents

Introduction

Part 1: Setting the Stage
Chapter 1: What is Competitive Ballroom Dance?
Chapter 2: A Brief History of Ballroom
Chapter 3: Judging Ballroom Dance

Part 2: Performing Dancesport
Chapter 4: Ballroom as Spectacle
Chapter 5: Ballroom as Art
Chapter 6: Ballroom as Sport

Part 3: Ballroom Competitions as Events
Chapter 7: Competitions as Festival and Celebration
Chapter 8: Competitions as Ritual

Part 4: Costs, Consequences, and Outcomes
Chapter 9: Costumes and Conduct
Chapter 10: Performing Gender
Chapter 11: Living the Dancesport Life

Conclusion