Ballroom and Latin American dancing in the UK has its roots in European court and social dances of the 18th and 19th centuries, becoming especially popular during the Victorian era as public dance halls grew. In the early 20th century, the UK played a leading role in shaping modern ballroom through the standardisation of dances such as the Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango and Quickstep, led by organisations like UKAdance.
Latin American dances—including Rumba, Samba, Pasodoble, Cha Cha Cha & Jive—were introduced to Britain in the early–mid 20th century and were similarly formalised into a structured syllabus for teaching and competition. While based on authentic cultural dances, the UK developed a distinctive, stylised approach that became the global standard.
Today, the UK remains highly influential in both social and competitive dance, hosting world-renowned events such as the Blackpool Dance Festival and continuing to inspire new generations through dance schools, competitions, and media.
The Ballroom division includes Ballroom, Latin American, Classical & Modern Sequence dance styles. We offer Professional Qualifications and Amateur Assessments/Awards. We also offer teacher and pupil events in these divisions throughout the year, details can be found below.