Categories and subcategories of dance

[Keris1972]

Hello!

Just wanted to ask a bit of advice about categorization and sub-categorization of dances. Let me explain. I am setting up an info website on ballroom dancing. In time I hope to have complete instructions for about 16 dances. But it occured to me that I don't really know how to classify them so it makes sense to people.

On the home page I want to have buttons for about 5 categories, Home, First steps (absolute basics - positions etc)...then what? I want the general gategories of dance to start on the main page, so I thought under Classic (or is Classical better?) I'd put Waltz, Vienesse waltz, Foxtrot, One step, Charleston, Lindy, Polka,

Then under Latin I'd put Rhumba, Mambo, Tango, merengue, Calypso etc

Does this make sense, or is tere a better way of categorizing them? What would make the most sense to you if you were looking for dancing info and you were looking for those dances?

What about subcategories?

I reckon this site is going to be well over 100 pages! But someone is making the buttons for me now, so I want to have all the ones I'm going to need before I start.

Complicated, isn't it?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[fascination]

welcome to DF keris...let me ponder this and get back to you

[GalacticDancer44M]

Have you looked at other existing websites that have dance instruction? Benchmark one of these and then try to improve upon it. Here's one example:

www.bustamove.com

[tangotime]

There are possibly several different areas you may wish to consider. First-- The ballroom field as defined by the recog, societies. For e.g-- International standard, International Latin, American Smooth, American rythm, -- Add to the list-- Ancillary latin dances ., then, Country and Western,--maybe you want to add break dancing, hip hop , all the various types of swing. There have been over 80 different dances introduced to the general public over the last one hundred yrs. So-- how extensive a list will yours become ?. And- remember , many of these are already available thru research .Lastly, be careful where you place which YOU say , a dance should occupy-- Tango is always included in the Ballroom section, strange, I know, but unless you are categorising by origin, see where I,m going with this ?. And lastly, what would determine the 16 you would choose ? Good luck on your project .

[Chris Stratton]

I reckon this site is going to be well over 100 pages! But someone is making the buttons for me now, so I want to have all the ones I'm going to need before I start.

Strongly recommend you start with the areas you have enough information to cover, and only expand into other areas as you learn about them. Trying to set up the whole structure ahead of time is going to lead to many mistakes or at least less than optimal decisions, which you will need to be able to revise as you discover them. So the pre-made buttons idea is not going to fly. While nice graphic design won't hurt, if you want your site to have impact in the offline world (ie, the dance floor) it is the content that is really important.

[Keris1972]

Hi and thanks for the replies

I am definitely going for content rather than look, but my main concern is that dancers or wannabe dancers can find their way to the info they want easily, throug the links on the site. I need the buttons/categoriesto mean something to them. Got lots of content waiting to go!

I am focusing on traditional, good old fashioned ballroom dancing - no hip hop or break etc. I have plumped for 'classica' and 'latin' a sthe main categories and 'other' for anything else - unusual stuff that may not be ballroom, like square dancing and Balinese etc.

Want a sneak preview - there's nothing there to see yet, just a template that doesn't move, but I'd be intereste din your opinions.

It's at ballroomdancingmastery and its a com, if you see what I mean.

Thanks again for your replies.

[tangotime]

I have one question for you that needs to be answered .What is your background in dance ?-- In otherwords, when you say " complete " breakdown, what does that mean to you ? . have been a Fellow and examiner for over 30 yrs. ( in 5 divisions ) and wondered if you knew the complexities of the task at hand . Also, are you aware that there are several well established " tomes " already in print in Amer.style---- Arg. tango-- Intern. style etc. ?, that can be readily referenced .