Balboa Dancing Originally performed in ballrooms on the Balboa Peninsula (from which this style of dancing got its name) of the California Coast in the 1920’s, Balboa dancing was not, in the beginning about twirls, turns, dips, and swings. In fact, it was a rather simple 8-step dance that evolved later during the 1930’s into what would eventually become known as swing dancing. Balboa dancing that is performed today is well-known and loved for the flashy looking footwork though those that perform this dance style will be the first to tell you that when the beat is right, it feels almost effortless. Balboa dancing has not been widely practiced since the height of its popularity. This dance style, however, is making a comeback as of late and is bridging the gap between generations with “old time practitioners” teaching a new generation the ins, outs, flash, and flair that is Balboa dancing. New classes are being offered to teach this new “old” style of dancing to students who are interested and this fascinating father of Swing Dancing is becoming widely popular once again. In pure form Balboa dancing couples stay connected in a close hold throughout the dance. The emphasis is on footwork rather than flashy showmanship. The turning is performed as a couple and the torsos of the pair are touching throughout the dance. Each movement is made together.  Once this style of dancing evolved a bit into what some people call Balboa Swing Dancing improvisation was part of the process. The fancy footwork was there but the close hold formation went out the window, so to speak, at least for a part of the dance and complicated variations were added to the traditional footwork along with spins and turns. Basic footwork for the Balboa is performed in an 8-count pattern that works with the music. Variations, however, are virtually limitless, especially when some degree of improvisation is added into the mix. The closed position, according to many who study this dance, was originally a necessity because the dance floors were too packed for open form dancing. This allowed more bodies on the floor and became a rule in many clubs. For this reason, Balboa-Dancing was a logical choice and its popularity grew though many quickly abandoned this style of dancing during and after the second World War for the flashier style of dancing that we know today as Swing Dancing.  Balboa Swing or Bal-swing is what is commonly taught today as Balboa Dancing. This is a somewhat flashier version of the original but one that most people consider a good deal more fun to watch as well as to perform. The footwork is a little fancier and the twists and turns are exciting for audiences as well as the lifts and twirls that offer a little bit of daring. An even more modern form of Balboa Dancing is the Bal-trot, which combines the movements of Balboa Dancing and take it around the room much like a Foxtrot. Early names in Balboa Dancing include the famous Ray Rand Swingers. Among them are big names such as Maxie Dorf and Hal Takier and Betty Takier. They implemented swing and a little bit of randiness into Balboa dancing that was as exciting to dance as it was to watch and were a big hit until American involvement in the second World War. Be sure to watch a few videos and see for yourself how exciting it can be to watch Balboa Dancing. Even if you aren’t ready for the flashier spins and turns the footwork is a great way to work out your mind and your body to the tunes of some excellent songs from yesteryear.