How many Ballroom Dancers are on Single Saints?

[Bluerosedancer]

Just wanting to see how many of my brothers and sisters like to Ballroom Dance. Let me know.

[persianlady]

I have never ballroom danced , I love to dance and would love to learn . to get all dressed up and float on a dance floor. sounds heavenly.I am good a persian dancing too

[JoiceJoker]

Ah................ballroom.............dancing.............

(Most obviously I'm not one of them. But I can sing and play my guitar while you guys hit the floor)

[MerryAnne]

I can do Beledi! And a little Irish Step.
I can do a little bit of ballroom. I do know how to Waltz, traditional or Ballroom. I love waltzing. Polka is ridiculous but loads of fun, and the Cha Cha is fun.

[wight13]

I do some ballroom. I trained to be an instructor so I know a little East Coast, Foxtrot, Rhumba, Waltz, Cha, American Tango, and Hustle... but only a little. I quit after only about a year. I love to dance and it started to feel too much like work. I already have a job.

I now focus my efforts on Argentine Tango but am also trying to learn West Coast Swing and Nightclub Two Step.

I also do freestyle, or what I began referring to as renegade ballroom. I was already a pretty good dancer before I ever took a lesson from over twenty years of no other form of social life. Now my style has elements of ballroom in it but I really don't like to stick to any of the standard dances for an entire song so I mix them up quite a bit.

I don't care so much for memorized sets of patterns, they seem too limiting... besides you seldom ever see those patterns at any professional competition or demonstration showcase. But mostly, those dances are choreographed routines and rehearsed to (hopefully) perfection. I prefer to create, spontaneously with my partner. It is more fun and challenging even if we do screw up and aren't perfect.

[JoiceJoker]

Spoken as truly dedicated to dancing, perhaps you could teach me?
I think in the beginning you need to pop some aspirin, though.

[wight13]

I don't like pain killers very much. I'd rather feel... especially if I earned it!

[JoiceJoker]

I see. *smile*

[nursetracey]

I love ballroom and latin dancing! I took lessons for a while, but just couldn't keep up with the schedule and financially. I think it is fun, great exercise, and a great way to express yourself. And men, it extremely sexy. I know a lot of guys thought it was "girly" to take ballroom, but to be able to lead a woman in dance and handle her on the floor is very masculine!

[JoiceJoker]

I'm a work in progress.
Found a dance partner.
And therefore I'm not in the position any longer to threaten anyone's toes.
I came to find out, that it's actually pretty easy to follow the lead.

[wight13]

Any guy who thinks ballroom dancing is girly hasn't tried it... it hurts! Not only is it a challenge to learn it is physically difficult as well.

[nursetracey]

You are absolutely right about it being physically and mentally challenging. There were times my body screamed to stop, but I was having so much fun! I think some people are afraid of failure or that they will have "two left feet". But, everyone that I know of that just tried it, loved it!

[wight13]

Yes, it is the fear of looking foolish that turns most people away... especially the guys. They then make excuses of it being girly to explain their lack of interest in trying. Of course, this flies in the face of the fact that nobody ever accused American icons like Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire of being girly.

Funny story. The dance studio I worked for had social dances on Saturday and Sunday... I was arriving late (as usual) when I spotted this huge guy, a body builder, sort of meandering around the entrance looking very uncomfortable. I asked if i could help him and he said that he was supposed to check into lessons for himself and his girl friend. I invited him inside so he could talk with the owner but he nervously declined. I've never seen such a big man so afraid. Of course, he probably would have crushed me if I even suggested such a thing!

Just goes to show... no matter how confident a guy is in one area there is usually somewhere else that he is just a little girly.

[tnebergall]

I just started taking classes 5 weeks ago and I am so glad I did. I think that a good dancer looks divine! Our two instructors glide around the floor like they're floating! Classes are on Saturday at 7, so I'm off to the class right now and was just browsing and happened to run across this thread.
If anyone reading this doesn't dance, do yourself a HUGE favor and get to a class... it's an invaluable investment in you!

[wight13]

I will also add that if fear of looking foolish is something that concerns you, you may put your fears to rest about taking lessons. You are paying the instructors not to laugh at you. Just kidding... All dancers know the feelings you go through when beginning. All dancers, even the great ones, were beginners once themselves. In fact, only non-dancers are likely to be critical... and my policy is not to pay attention to non-dancers opinions.

It has been my experience that most anyone can learn to dance. Dancing is like walking, you just do it on time with the music. If you can drum the steering wheel in your car when a good song comes on the radio then you can keep time. Most people have trouble turning that ability into dancing ability because they are uncertain about where to step... Uncertainty turns to hesitation and hesitation leads to stepping off time. Learn the steps, lose the the uncertainty and then you can dance.

When I stopped taking ballroom, I broke down all that I had learned. I now make the claim (which I can back up) that I can take any couple and in 3 to 5 minutes can teach them how to dance better than 90% of the dancers in a club. I'm speaking of course of the clubs where there are just your average persons most of which can't dance. Obviously if its a dance club frequented by trained dancers I would need more time and they would need more practice but I could have them holding their own in a very short while. This is something none of the dance studios would attempt. Teaching people ballroom is their livelihood. Ballroom dance instructors don't really teach their students to dance. They teach them to memorize and perform patterns. At a Tango workshop I was teaching, I said that if, after a year, an instructor's students can do nothing more than perform the patterns the instructor teaches them, then the instructor has not taught them how to dance only to mimic. I might have been less charitable on the subject.

Anyhow... ballroom dance studios are where you have to go to learn, in spite of their shortcomings. I personally recommend taking a course so you can become exposed to the various styles and then look into workshops for the ones you like the most.

[nursetracey]

I absolutely agree with everything said above. I love to dance, all types of dance. I took one year of ballroom/latin dancing and although I did pretty well, I had a hard time "memorizing" the moves. I did much better with my instructor than anyone else that I tried to dance with, because I was very used to the way my instructor cued me. But, all that being said, it was still so much fun and I wish I could have afforded to continue even longer. I have forgotten so much in the two years since I have left. But you are right, movement is movement, and just listening to the music and beat is 3/4 of the battle. As a woman, having a strong man lead is essential.

As far as the looking silly part, I think that people only would believe that until they try it. Once they step foot on the floor with a competent instructor, that fear will leave them immediately. Fear holds us back from WAY too many things. I am a 'leap into it' kind of girl (within logical sense). I like to try new things and this was one of them that I will never regret. As a matter of fact, I feel like grabbing someone right now and doing some dance!!! (Rumba is one of my favs....)

[JoiceJoker]

I never danced ballroom before. My education regarding dancing contains ballet and jazz-dance, that's it.

I took one workshop and a course with a dance partner recently to start. After two hours of practicing I discovered that there aren't many guys in the class who can actually lead.

My dance partner was gone on vacation on one of the practicing hours and when he came back he caught a cold. During that class I had the chance to dance with someone far more experienced. I progressed much faster.
So I advised my original dance partner to stay home and get well just to make sure he won't fall into relapse....*concerned* (yeah, right)

I understand that it's hard work for a guy to lead - he has to memorize the steps, integrate patterns, lead (oh boy) and watch out for obstacles on the dance floor.
So, this isn't easy for any beginner.

But for a woman beginning to dance with a non-leading dance partner can be a catastrophe! Especially when you got hooked and want to progress quickly!

Could it be that I'm just not very patient? *innocent*

[wight13]

You gave him the cold didn't you Joice? (She's a witch I say!)

[JoiceJoker]

Why, oh, why would anyone, especially you, ever question my innocence? *confused*

Look at me when I'm talking to you! Could a face like this lie? *innocent*

Besides what are you doing here at this hour? Go to bed!

[JoiceJoker]

I recently danced with someone very skilled and I don't know why (like I ever do...) but somehow I think that I'll never find an(other) equal dance partner again - not ever!

It's a shame but it puts me in a state of despair that's not even funny.

Wight, stop promising.....or I'll keep on wishing. ;-)

Dang, I think I gave you a cold by accident - sorry - reflexes!
I shouldn't have crafted that voodoo doll so handy sized.....
I can hardly keep my hands off of it. *lash*