Ballroom: A People’s History of Dancing

‘This book is a MUST read for anyone curious and interested in the special origins and developments of Ballroom & Latin American dancing.’ – Marcus Hilton MBE, with Karen Hilton MBE nine times World Professional Ballroom champion

‘A fascinating book. Hilary French tells the history of dance from the very beginning. I learnt a lot and found it immensely interesting and insightful. If you are interested in dance and how we have got to where we are today, this is an essential read. Enjoy!’ – Matthew Cutler, British, UK and World’s Latin champion, Strictly Come Dancing champion and owner, Matico Dance Studio

‘Hilary French’s pioneering book combines social history, economics, fashion, music, dance technique and architecture and design in an engaging mix … it blends scholarship with infectious enthusiasm.’- Professor Sir Christopher Frayling, Cultural Historian, Broadcaster and Former Rector of the Royal College of Art

In the early twentieth century, American ragtime and the Parisian tango fuelled a dancing craze in Britain. Public ballrooms were built throughout the country, providing a glamorous setting for dancing. The new English style, defined in the 1920s and followed by the films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the 1930s, ensured that ballroom dancing continued to be the most popular British pastime until the 1960s, rivalled only by cinema.
This book explores the vibrant history of ballroom and Latin dancing: the dances, lavish venues, competitions and influential instructors. It also traces the decline of couple dancing and its resurgence in recent years with the hugely popular TV shows Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars.

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