For centuries, ballroom dancing has been a fun way to meet other people, make connections, and fall in love (or back into love). Perhaps the most enthusiastic students I’ve encountered are older couples, seeking to rekindle romance that has until recently lost itself in the rush of setting play dates, buying houses and cars, and pushing for the next promotion. Why is dancing such a great way to reconnect to your loved one?
Connection
Partner dancing, at its core, is about partner connection. Just having skin-to-skin contact for longer then 20 seconds releases oxytocin, a pleasure hormone, into the bloodstream.
Even more importantly, you are learning how to move with your partner, like a single unit. It’s about understanding what the other person wants on a level deeper then words.
Teamwork
I always thought of the perfect relationship as a two-person team that supports each other perfectly (I’m practical like that). Likewise, dancing couples can rekindle romance (and look good) if each side focuses on their partner’s comfort. Partner dancing is also about building trust on the dance floor - trust that your partner can make you look better and dance more easily then you can on your own.
Gender Stereotypes
Yes, the leader - who is typically a man - directs his follower - typically a lady - around the floor. But saying ballroom dancing perpetuates gender stereotypes is missing the dance floor for the dancers, so to speak.
Ballroom dancing enforces positive stereotypes which build and rekindle romance in many people. For instance, many women like a man who is powerful and in control, so long as he uses it gently. And male leaders tend to like a lady who is light, responsive, and adds her own embellishments to the dance, as long as she doesn’t steal his show. Ballroom dancing allows men and women to relate to each other in a way that is more then traditional: It is primal. But it should never be disrespectful.
The Feel of a Dance
The movement and emotions that movement carries changes with each dance, from the fire and passion of the tango, to the fun flirtatious snap of the cha cha. Unlike solo dances, the feel of the dance is shared by both partners, as they add their creativity to make something that is uniquely theirs. Few things can rekindle romance faster then realizing your partner can make you feel more excited/romantic/sexy then anyone else.
About the Author
Ian Crewe has been dancing ballroom for almost 20 years, and has a Licentiate in American smooth and rhythm. His passion for dance and his endless seeking for ways to reach new audiences eventually led him to blogging and the World Wide Web. Ian currently teaches ballroom at the Joy of Dance Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.