Systematics of musical and plastic modifications of Latin American ballroom dances

Abstract

Object. The aim of this study is to identify and systematise the stage forms of Latin American ballroom dances in the context of their musical and plastic modifications. 
Methods &methodology. The study uses a structural-functional, cultural-historical and comparative analytical approach, combined with elements of systematisation of the stage forms of Latin American ballroom dancing. 
The results of the study show that Latin American ballroom dances function as a complex and multilayered artistic phenomenon that combines aesthetic, cultural and communicative dimensions. Three main groups of Latin American dances are distinguished – folk, social and ballroom – each of which is characterised by a specific rhythmic organisation, compositional structure and performance vocabulary. A detailed classification of the main musical and plastic modifications of Latin American ballroom dance on stage is proposed, including choreographic miniatures, chamber or group dance, theatrical dance, dance shows and choreographic performances. These forms are interpreted as flexible structures that synthesise music, plasticity and dramaturgy, maintaining a balance between traditional motifs and innovative means of expression.
Conclusions. Latin American ballroom dancing is defined as a flexible, multifunctional branch of contemporary choreographic art that constantly adapts to new sociocultural and aesthetic paradigms. In the process of genre hybridisation and the introduction of multimedia and performative techniques, it is transforming from a codified sporting discipline into an expressive stage form. The proposed classification forms the theoretical basis for understanding the evolution of this phenomenon and the development of contemporary dance research.