Ballroom Dancing
Ballroom Dancing
When someone mentions ballroom dancing, you probably think of tuxedoed men twirling bejeweled women in long gowns around a large dance floor in an age gone by. Or perhaps you imagine an era even farther back, as 18th century royalty danced to the latest minuet from Bach or Strauss? But would you think of the Jitterbug or a hot Latin Rumba?
All of these are considered ballroom dances and all of them are still taught today around the country. There are even international competitions where the best dancers in each category compete for top awards and titles. In an age where Americans are becoming more and more overweight, or paying insane amounts of money to gyms so they can force themselves onto a treadmill three times a week, many people are turning to the more traditional - and fun - method of exercise: dance!
In the old days, everyone knew how to dance. It's a great way to meet members of the opposite sex and you can't beat the cardiovascular benefits. Dancing improves coordination, especially partner dancing where you need to work together on the dance floor. There's bound to be a dance studio somewhere in your local area and prices are usually fairly reasonable for group lessons. It's certainly cheaper than a night out at the movies, especially if you want to pay for a hot dog, soda and popcorn.
You can expect to meet a lot of people. There are usually more women than men, so the men usually change partners frequently during the evening to give each lady a chance to practice their steps. If you are a man, this means you can expect to meet a lot of ladies. If you are a lady, you can expect to learn both the male and female steps, as you will have to partner occasionally with another lady. This is a great thing for the women, who will most likely have to teach a future boyfriend or husband how to dance his part someday. Dance groups usually schedule local dance club outings where students can meet more people and practice what they have learned.
There are many styles of dance you can learn. Tap dancing is a great workout and is very impressive, but it is a performance dance rather than a recreational dance. Ballet will increase your flexibility, but you probably won't dance it during an evening out. Some people who love to swing and Jitterbug get all decked out in vintage clothing and hairstyles and dressing up is half the fun. Of course, learning the Cuban Motion to Cha-cha or Samba like a pro will knock 'em dead on the dance floor of just about any nightclub.
Whatever appeals to you, after you learn the basic steps you will begin experimenting, and that just adds to the fun. If you have a regular partner, you can create your own moves. In the end, you will develop a style as individual as you are. All dances were developed from some previous form of dance, so who knows? Maybe the next big dance craze will be named after you!
