Why international ballroom (latin included) is the hardest dance style

Why do I think that international ballroom and latin dancing are the hardes styles of dance to succeed in, especially when it comes to competitive dancing?

I'll start with partnering. Most styles, with the exception of ballet, feature individual dancers, dependant for the most part on their own bodies, showing off their beauty and grace on the floor. Even when in groups, dancers must rely on themselves to be in the right place at the right time, spin twice here, or do a split there. Ballet, of course, does feature partner dancers; yet the connection and body language required for one dance partner to trigger a reaction in the other is nowhere near as demanding or complex. Sure, the male ballerina must be strong enough to pick up the female or spin her several times - yet the dancers are not responsible for making each other's bodies move on command or in response to one another. This connection and successful partnering is the first, and possibly the most important thing that sets apart ballroom dancing from all of the other styles - and makes it significantly more difficult.

Next is variety. Ballroom dancers should be experienced in many kinds of dance styles, not only ballroom dancing alone, to succeed in that respective field. Proficiency in ballet is preferable. On the other hand, to be a successful ballet dancer, proficiency in ballroom is not necessary at all. The same applies to the other dance styles. Ballet is essential for a top ballroom competitor because it adds grace, stability, and flexibility to the dancer's qualities. Jazz adds more style to the dancing. Tap can help greatly in the Paso Doble (as can Flamenco), where one will often see a couple heel-toeing it to the famous rhythm of the Spanish bullfight-themed song.

The high heels on the shoes of any woman ballroom dancer are another issue. In general, heels are 2 1/2 inches high, and in some cases, 3 (though this decreases the stability of the dancer and is therefore much less common). As one can imagine, things are much harder to do in high heels. Anyone who complains from several hours of plainly walking in them during the day will surely testify. Dancing is of course much harder than walking, and dancing in high heels is.... well.... how do the pros do it? one may ask. The answer is practice, practice, practice - and pain. The high heels factor automatically eliminates jazz, tap, contemporary, and all of the other styles in which dancers wear no shoes, heel-less shoes, or shoes on heels much lower than 2 1/2". In comparison to ballet: even though ballet dancers must put their body weight on the very tips of their toes with no support from any kind of heel, they are never in danger of stepping on themselves or their partner, or kicking either in any undesireable places.

Finally, come on - how many of those other (appropriate!) dance styles out there require the ability to shake it once in a while?

:-P