What kind of dance lessons should a beginner adult couple take?

Question

My husband and I would love to be able to dance at weddings, parties, and other gatherings, but we're quite limited in our skills.

Answer 1

SWING! It is so fun, and so in right now! You can modify it for any kind of music, and you'll look like a pro!

Answer 2

One simple answer would be Group lessons versus private lessons. There are advantages to both kinds, group lessons are far more affordable, but private lessons can fine-tune your needs more quickly. I'd start with group lessons, so far I've only experienced group lessons.

Hurry, this might be the perfect timing to contact your local community college and start a semester of beginning ballroom dance classes.

Ballroom dancing defines as "dancing with a partner" and that's exactly what you asked for when you asked for a "beginner adult couple". Ballroom incorporates a long list of dances including night club dances like salsa as long as they are partner dances.

While it is possible to choreograph a partnered tap dance routine, in general, tap dancing is not partnered, so tap dancing is not considered a ballroom dance. Likewise, you can choreograph a solo routine or a team routine in any of the ballroom styles, so the rule here is conceptual and not cast in stone.

Your motivation is to be able to have fun dancing at weddings, parties and other gatherings, and you're going to want to do some swing dancing and some smooth dancing. That's because swing dancing can be done to more music than any other single type of dance, and therefore gets the rating as the most versatile style.

I took my first semester of beginners ballroom dance in Spring of 2006. The dances taught were [American Smooth] Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, and [American Latin] Rumba, Cha Cha, and East Coast Swing. The terms in brackets are the categories those dances fell into.

I've noticed that others gave answers that mentioned other dances that are more advanced, and I'm not going to suggest that you can't learn them, but they didn't point out that they were more advanced dances and that you should get your swing basics with East Coast and Jitterbug in well before attempting to take on the charleston or the balboa.

A comment to the Husband: Head toward Tango, it's the last bastion of male chauvanism, you lead(choreograph): they follow.

A comment to the Wife: Head toward Tango, it's really intimate, and lots of fun. You'll enjoy the spontaneity, and the moves are both natural and intricate. It's a beautiful dance.

I've enjoyed both American Ballroom Tango and Argentine Tango, sometimes both during the same song.

My public library has a collection of VideoTapes and DVDs on the subject of dance instruction, including titles on "Wedding Day Dancing". Check to see if yours does, too.

But don't forget to check your Community College, Universities, Public Libraries and Parks and Recreation Departments, too.

Good Luck and have fun dancing!

-Experienced Newbie-

Answer 3

It depends on how musical you are. If you have good rhythm and want to do dancing because you enjoy moving to music, then ballroom and/or latin may be a good choice, because you will learn a variety of different dances, suitable for a variety of music. But that means mastering a lot of different footwork and different rhythms.

If you just want to dance for social reasons -maybe your sense of rhythm is a bit shaky, or you don't want to devote a lot of time to learning - then pick one style of dance and stick to it.

A good option is modern jive. There are many different names for it, as the dance has changed many times over the years, and some people have stuck to the older styles while others have invented new ones. For instance, West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Balboa, Ceroc, Modern Jive.

The good thing is that you can dance them to almost anything, so you will be able to get up and dance most places. They work best with pop songs or jazz songs, but once you're confident you can dance them at any speed - danced to a slow number, they look like dirty dancing and can be quite impressive!

Alternatively, you'll find that the popular Latin dances, like Salsa, have a lively social scene of their own.

Answer 4

Start out with Social Foxtrot, Waltz and Swing. Salsa is a popular choise too. All these fall into category of social ballroom, if you were curious (except salsa, salsa is nightclub dance). These dances are pretty easy to learn and they are the most popular at social gatherings like weddings and other occasions.

Answer 5

Ballroom dancing. This would include the waltz, tango, and foxtrot. Once you get some experience you can go on to more demanding dances.

There is also square dancing and round dancing for those starting out. You don't have to think of what to do next.

Answer 6

SALSA!!! It's soo much fun and it's a great dance for couples. Its a sexy and active kind of dancing you guys will love it......Good Luck (If I knew where u guys live I can try and recomend a dance company)

Answer 7

Scottish Country Dancing - Lots of fun, meet many couples and get to dance for fun and also, if you want, in competitions and displays

Answer 8

I would say tango or salsa. its a dance for a couple and it brings out the romance and fire in u.

Answer 9

there are many different kinds of ballroom, take a few of those. They aren't hard to learn and don't take much flexibility. good luck! I hope you have lots of fun!

Answer 10

ballroom dancing. It is great for those formal occassions or quiet Saturday nights at home.