History of Latin American Dance
The syllabus included ‘crush’ versions of each dance. This was deemed necessary as due to the popularity of the style in the venues where Latin American music was played they were notoriously crowded, hence ‘crush’ style. The demand for examinations had to be met by the only three examiners employed at this early stage: Pierre, Doris Lavelle (who had been his dance partner since the early 1930s) and Doris Nichols.
The performance presentation of Latin American dance has moved with contemporary cultural trends. For example, since the 1980s, the music has slowed down and costumes are constantly changing in line with fashion. Recently, Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC has enhanced the popularity of Latin American dancing, especially with adults.