Posts

A man in black and a woman in red

3 More Things You Thought You Knew About Partner Dancing

/in /by

adult dance studios in ArizonaAre you interested in learning how to Country two step, salsa or swing dance? That’s awesome! There’s no better time than the summer to begin taking adult dance lessons in these popular styles to beat the heat and stay fit.

Now that you know what you want to learn, there’s so much to discover! Most beginners think Country, Swing or Latin dance lessons are just about memorizing steps. Not so! While knowing where your feet go may seem important, there are even more key concepts that take precedence when learning to dance. Here are a few interesting things that you may not know about partner dancing…

First, for the men. Guys you don’t need to use your strength to be an awesome leader on the dance floor. That’s right…there’s no need to hit the gym before you invite your gal for a dance. While it’s common to see ladies being tossed around like rag dolls, especially in the Country dancing scene, treating her with a more gentle touch is best. Not only will you be protecting her arms from being ripped out of their sockets, but you will also be showing her that you know how to take care of a woman by making sure that you do not throw her into other dancers, objects, etc… This may seem like a common sense way to behave on the dance floor, and may just be the reason why you’re taking dance lessons in the first place, but being mindful of your partner is essential, and should be a topic of conversation while exploring partner dancing.  Bottom line: less is more. Learn to lead with finesse and the ladies will be lining up for more!

Next, for the ladies. It turns out that we’re not perfect either! Who knew? 🙂 What we need to keep in mind while out dancing is to not ourselves on the dance floor. All we want is to be turned and twirled, right? Well, ladies, that’s his job. He is the one who technically gets to decide when we get turned because he is the lead on the dance floor. While I can’t blame a newer dancer for turning herself, the idea of letting the leader do his job is key. You may not have known about it before your dance lessons, but now that you know, please empower him by letting him choose what he leads on the dance floor. What comes of this is confidence in a man, and a man that loves to dance, two exciting traits in a guy!

Lastly, you may not know that dancing is mainly about rhythm and connecting with the music. Staying on time with the music makes the dance what it is. For example, salsa dancing has a particular rhythm that you stick to: quick, quick, slow-two faster beats and one slower one. A two step begins with two slower beats followed by two quicker ones. As you learn new patterns and movements, make dancing with the music a priority over memorizing steps. You’ll tap into your inner rhythm and enjoy the dance that much more. I promise! Note: For those that think they don’t have any rhythm to tap in to, if you have a heart beat, you’ve got rhythm. Let your instructor show you how to bring it out, but just know, it’s in there.

You didn’t know you were delving into something so deep when you decided to sign up for beginner’s dance lessons, did you? The wonderful part is that dancing is a romantic and exciting hobby that you will use for years to come in many social situations. Enjoy the process of learning to dance and you will be investing in yourself, your health, your confidence and so much more!

 

 

Three Things You Must Know as a Leader on the Dance Floor

/in /by

country western dance lessons Mesa AZThere’s so much to know as a leader when you’re out there Country two stepping or salsa dancing. Frankly, it can sometimes be daunting to be in charge on the dance floor, right guys? You may secretly wish that she would take over and make this whole dancing thing “easy”, but that’s no fun! Leading is actually a really cool feeling…once you know what you’re doing.

Well have no fear. There are just a few things that you really need to know to show her a great time, whether it be out Latin dancing or swing dancing.

First, you must truly understand how to lead. As an example, you don’t lead a lady around the dance floor by swinging her with your arms. Guys, you actually lead from your torso. If you did not know this already, that’s perfectly OK. It just means that you probably haven’t invested in Private Dance Lessons for yourself yet.

Like any great skill that you will obtain throughout life, there are no shortcuts to getting true results and being “good” at what you’re seeking to be good at. And, in this case, Private Latin, Swing or Country Dance Lessons are exactly what you’ll need to learn how to properly lead anyone around a dance floor with confidence.

In a Group Class setting, which may be free of charge, or certainly nominal compared to private instruction, you will get new patterns and moves, but not the detail and technique that you need to be a competent dancer. That will get you by in the short run, but it won’t have the ladies hoping that you’ll ask her for another dance. So men, take the time to do it right from the beginning and start with Private Dance Lessons. You’ll be out on the social dance floor sooner and with much more information to make you a successful leader.

Next, leaders, you will need to know how to navigate around a crowded dance floor. You’ve done your homework and taken Private Dance Lessons at your local dance studio for adults . That’s awesome! Now you find yourself at a crowded Country bar…freaking out! Why? The music is so loud. People are flinging each other in all different directions. Where’s the poise and etiquette that you learned at the dance studio?? Welcome to the “real world”. In an uncontrolled environment, anything can happen. Make it your priority to protect her from untrained dancers who may be thinking that social dancing is more like a game of bumper cars than anything else. You will need to also be aware of those who may have had more to drink than they needed. These “wild horses” are everywhere and it’s your responsibility as the eyes of the duo to see that she doesn’t get smacked into. It’s a dangerous dance world we live in…especially at the Country bars. 🙂

Lastly, do not end your Private Dance Lessons without a good understanding of how to identify and stay on time with the music. You will need to know when your favorite Latin song comes on if it’s a salsa or a bachata, for example. From there, you will also want to know how to find the beat and stay on it. This sounds so obvious. You are dancing, after all, right? But you’d be surprised how many people can’t hear the beat and then stick with it. It’s perfectly OK to get training on this so that you can make the most of every dance you have. As a woman who hears the beat, it’s an amazing experience to dance with someone who also knows the rhythm and can stick with it throughout the entire song.

See…social dancing isn’t nearly as complicated as you thought. 🙂 It’s actually great fun-especially once you are trained. So go get some Private Lessons and be that guy who knows what he’s doing out there on the dance floor. Trust me, the ladies will be lining up to dance with you before you know it.