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Dancing at Any Age, Part Two: Doing Classes with Class

Let's be honest: attending classes at a studio for a senior isn't as simple as just checking what's nearby. There's some important considerations - like how many stairs there are between you and the dance floor.

There's also the challenges of protecting your body during a lesson from partners who don't know better, as well as keeping up with the pace of the lesson. If you want your dance class to be an enjoyable experience, watch on! Continue reading "Dancing at Any Age, Part Two: Doing Classes with Class"

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How to Get More Men to Dance

Any female ballroom dancer knows that the majority of classes and socials she goes to is going to have considerably more women than men. And that means longer waits between before paired with a leader.

True, there are increasingly women who learn the leader's part as well, but this remains in the minority. And the reality is that most women would rather dance with men, and vice versa.

I used to think men's aversion to dance came from seeing it as something only for "sissies". In my own research however, I realized that sometimes there are men who want to dance, but don't. And that's a tragedy.

Tune in for why I believe this is - and what both women AND men can do about it: Continue reading "How to Get More Men to Dance"

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Dancing for Life, Part Four: Sustainable Dancing

One of my favourite things about ballroom dancing is that the better you understand it, the easier and more effortless it gets. And since effort - or at least uncontrolled, forced effort - can be damaging to our bodies, there's some serious health pluses as well.

I've talked a lot about keeping ourselves healthy, but not yet about how dancing BETTER means dancing LONGER into life. Let's explore how to improve our dancing and our body health - at the same time. Continue reading "Dancing for Life, Part Four: Sustainable Dancing"

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20 Dance Humour Gems for Laughing At Mistakes

In our perfectionist society, we’ve been trained to see mistakes as some terrible defection of character, something to avoid at all costs. In the world of ballroom dance however, missteps are simply another form of growth. And good thing too, because you will make many, many mistakes while dancing. Therefore, you and your partner have no choice but to get used each other’s mistakes. And in the social ballroom scene, some well-timed dance humour is the best way to keep calm and dance on. Continue reading "20 Dance Humour Gems for Laughing At Mistakes"

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Guest Post: You Don’t Need a Dance Partner

So you want to dance, but you don’t have a dance partner?  Fear not, fellow ballroom-lover, there’s hope to fulfill your dreams yet.  I knew that I wanted to ballroom dance after watching Johnny, the ultimate dance partner, and Baby in Dirty Dancing.  I was ten.  15 years later I still hadn’t taken a lesson, but my desire to ballroom dance was just as strong.  The thing is that ten-year-old boys, (and boys in my teens and early twenties) didn’t really seem that interested in ballroom dancing.  I felt I ‘couldn’t dance’ without a partner.  It wasn’t until my (life) partner gifted me with lessons twelve years ago that I was finally able to be Baby Houseman to my own Johnny Castle. Continue reading "Guest Post: You Don’t Need a Dance Partner"

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You and Your Dance Partner: Common Leads and Follows

You’re finally ready to start moving with your dance partner to some of the more common ballroom patterns. These patterns are used in multiple dances, but the leads and follows are virtually the same. I recommend you make sure you know the footwork already. Follower instructions will be italicized after the leader’s instructions. Continue reading "You and Your Dance Partner: Common Leads and Follows"

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Rekindle Romance with Ballroom Dance

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? Continue reading "Rekindle Romance with Ballroom Dance"