We've said it a thousand times:  learning ballroom teaches more than just "dancing."  Still, if we needed more evidence, our recent visit to a local church group to participate in a three-part "Dance of Marriage" seminar provided it.

A pleasant young couple had previously attended one of our free group classes, and we were sad to note that they had not returned for the session.  But what we didn't know at the time was that one of them was the Associate Pastor of a local church, and while he had not returned to session, he had not forgotten his lesson, either!

We were surprised when, several weeks later, we got a call from him, explaining that his church was putting on a marriage seminar.  He told us that he had been so impressed with his lesson that he wanted to include us as part of the program.  We were delighted!  

Since the church was hosting the event, we'd expected a nice turnout, and we were seriously looking forward to contributing our special brand of fun to it.  What we didn't expect was to find the Fellowship Hall literally PACKED with over 100 people - many of whom had never danced with their partners before! 

As Billianne and I attempted to gather a guest circle to teach the elements of dance, we exchanged looked that clearly said, "Okay...how are we going to make THIS work?"  Our students, who were literally shoulder to shoulder throughout the room, were going to be learning the Waltz and Rumba, yet there was barely enough room to move.  Still, despite our spatial challenges, the energy and excitement was terrific.  We would MAKE it work!

As the evening continued, we became even more enthusiastic.  And, as we instructed our students on the basic principles of lead and follow and moved the couples through the basic patterns, we were thrilled to see that, these guys - not a bit put out by the limited space - were having a blast!  More importantly, they were learning a new way of relating to each other - as people and as couples - and they were having a GREAT time doing it!

By the end of the session, we watched with pride as all our couples - from the youngest to the oldest -  danced together, some for the very first time.  It was clear that, during the course of a single session, they had gained a new-found respect for one another.  We were delightedt to see that the principles of encouragement, respect, and courtesy had not only made an impact, but had provided a platform for great social time and fun.  This is why we teach.  This is why we learn.  This is why we DANCE!

Like anything new, if you're just starting out in ballroom dance, you may be a little uncertain as to what to expect.  Not to worry.  It's easy and fun!

First, it's important to remember that you're going to be moving, so you should be as comfortable as possible.  While some studios will have a dress code, (skirts for the ladies and slacks for the men - no bluejeans), typically, comfortable, attractive street clothes will suffice.  The most important thing about your choice of clothing is that you should be able to MOVE.  Clothing that is too tight or restrictive will inhibit movement.  You'll also be working, so you'll want to be as cool and comfortable as possible.

Your choice of footwear is equally important.  If you're just starting out, odds are you don't have a pair of dance shoes lounging around in your closet.  That's fine - you'll get those later.  But for now, make certain that you wear something that will allow you to move while minimizing the possibility of injury.  For ladies, that means you won't want to wear anything with a super high heel; and stay away from open-backed shoes, as you don't want your feet sliding out of them!  For gentlemen, (and ladies, too), try to stay away from rubber-soled shoes and sneakers.  While they're certainly comfortable, these shoes grip the floor and make it difficult to turn.  Better to stick with a comfortable leather-soled shoe - lace up or loafer.

if you decide to continue with your dancing, you'll want to invest in a good pair of ballroom dance shoes.  Ballroom shoes are specifically made for dancing.  They're flexible, which allow for greater articulation of the feet, and they have suede soles, which allow the feet to move across the dance floor with ease.  A good pair of dance shoes is an investment and can run you anywhere from $30 (online) - which is cheap! - to upwards of $200, depending on how fancy you want to get.  Women, by-in-large, are eager to get into ballroom shoes because, well....they're pretty!  Men are, for the most part, a little less enthusiastic.  But gentlemen, don't despair.  While I've had numerous male students that rebelled against the idea of purchasing ballroom shoes, once they finally got them, they were delighted, and many commented that they wished they'd invested in a pair earlier.  Think of them as a tool.  If you have the right tool, the job is much easier!  The same is true of dance shoes. 

You will not typically wear your dance shoes on the street, so you'll want to come a few minutes early to class so that you can change into your shoes, sign in, and warm up a bit.  It's always a good idea - whether you're taking group classes or private lessons - to practice as much as possible with or without your partner!  Consider it homework.  If you're investing in dance lessons, you'll want to get the most out of it you possibly can, so practice as often as possible to cement the lessons that you've learned.

The most important thing of all?  Relax and have fun.  If there's one thing that ballroom dance is great for, it the chance to leave the cares and worries of the world behind as you focus on the joy of music, movement, and self-expression.  You're embarking on a new adventure that will provide you with tons of personal, social, and health benefits.  Enjoy it!

Whenever people discover I teach ballroom dance, it's a real conversation starter.  In fact, I can pretty much count on a Q & A session following closely behind.  Clearly, ballroom dancing continues to hold a fascination for the general public - for dancers and non-dancers alike.  Comments such as:  "Oh!  I watch that on TV!"  and "I just love ballroom dancing!"  are common.  And of course, there's my personal favorite, "You must be SO talented!  I could NEVER do that!"   

That's because I know something that I'm more than eager to share:  Yes, you CAN dance!  And what's more, learning will very likely transform your lives.

"Oh, Come ON!" you scoff.  Scoff away: I know what I know.  Ballroom is the only social sport that offers music, art, and exercise all rolled into one.  In addition to offering physical and mental challenges, it also encourages goal setting and provides a strong sense of personal achievement, serving to increase mental clarity, physical agility, and self-confidence.  And the social rewards are huge!  Learning ballroom opens doors.  It provides the opportunity to meet new friends, (and impress old ones!), receive positive reinforcement, and reduce stress through engaging in a tremendously rewarding social activity.  In short: ballroom helps bring out the best in you, by helping develop parts of  yourself that may have languished -  undeveloped, unnoticed, or unnurtured - for far too long.  And the best part is, it's downright fun.

If I had a nickel for every woman who told me she just "had no talent" and spent her life as a wallflower at  dances, or every man with "two left feet" who told me he "just couldn't dance,"  "just didn't want to", (or who begrudingingly accompanied his  spouse or  girlfriend),  I'd be a rich girl by now.  I simply adore it when they tell me that, and I simply love showing them how very wrong they are. 

As a teacher, I've been fortunate enough to be an enthusiastic and joyful witness to it all; from the startling transformation of awkward middleschool boys into confident, poised young men,  to the poignantly beautiful moment of watching a breathtakingly beautiful waltz by a dear lady, topping 96 years old; still clear, still joyful, and STILL DANCING.  Young or old, singles or couples, they all had different reasons for learning.  But think its safe to say that all of them - and I mean ALL of them - took away a great deal more from the experience than they bargained for.  I can't tell you how much  joy it gives me, to this day, to see them out doing what they just  "couldn't do" before.  Their joy is what motivates us - as teachers - to keep doing what we're doing.  We're not lukewarm about it.  We're passionate about it!

I'll say it again:  ballroom dancing transforms people's lives.  Whether you're 6 or 96, you can learn to ballroom dance.  You can, and you should.  And when you do, don't be too surprised if what started as a part-time hobby turns into a lifelong passion!  It truly IS a gift that keeps on giving.