How often have you heard this? “I want to try ballroom dancing for the first time, or for the first time in a long, long time. What do I need to know?”
What do you tell that new person? How do start their lifetime of happy dancing?
We have all been there! Being the newbie on the floor was hard and frustrating, but it can be made easier.
In this article, we offer 50 tips to the first-timers. Feel free to share them and let’s get some more people to come dance with us!
Tips for ballroom first-timers:
- Find a local dance studio or group.It will be better for you if it is nearby. Look up the local USA Dance Chapter! Its members would love to have you at their event.
- Walk through the door!This may sound obvious, but it is often the hardest part. I had a friend who drove to the studio on three different occasions before she gained the nerve to walk through the door.
- Arrive 15 minutes early for the class or social event. This gives you time to navigate the front desk procedures and settle in a bit. You also don’t want to miss the start of the lesson; it’s hard to catch up!
- Wear comfortable leather-soled shoes for better sliding. Ladies, avoid high stiletto heels; regular sandals or slip-ons are not a good idea. Also, consider wearing closed-toe shoes the first few times to protect the tootsies.
- Find out what the dance or theme is before you go and dress accordingly, so you fit in. You don’t want to be that one person not in holiday garb.
- Warm up and cool down with stretches at home.
- You want to look good, but wear comfortable clothes so you can move freely.
- Ensure good hygiene before entering the dance studio, and avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
- Ladies, avoid wearing strong perfume, and men, avoid wearing strong cologne.
- Check the studio’s calendar and start with a dance that interests you. Do you want to try something slow and graceful, like Waltz or Foxtrot? Or, perhaps you prefer something fun and flirty, like Cha Cha or Swing.
- You don’t need a partner to go.My friend didn’t want to go without a partner…she still hasn’t gone.
- If you know someone or a couple who dances regularly, ask them to go that evening, so they can introduce you to the place and people.
- If they rotate through partners during class, take full advantage of that opportunity to learn and meet others. Some people believe they aren’t good enough and hesitate to rotate through…this is a mistake.
- If a more experienced dancer invites you to dance, Go For It!
- Ask the instructor questions and listen to the questions of others.
- Practice your part while the instructor explains the other partner’s part. Understand how it all fits together.
- Try not to talk with others while the instructor is speaking.
- Be willing to laugh at your mistakes.This is ballroom dancing, it is supposed to be fun.
- Dancing is a contact sport. Don’t be afraid to touch your partner.
- Don’t be critical or try to correct the person you are dancing with.They are doing the best they can, too.
- If something is not working, ask the teacher what might be happening.
- Don’t compare yourself to others who are whirling around the floor. They all started in the same place you are at, and have been dancing for years.
- When you aren’t dancing, observe what others are doing and take note of how they do it.
- Ask before you video someone. Most will be complemented but appreciate being asked. Also, make sure video is permitted in the studio.
- Ladies, hold up your frame. It is not the guy’s job to hold you up.
- Men, don’t squeeze the ladies. She can’t do anything if you don’t let her.
- Relax Relax Relax!
- Don’t squeeze hands.This can really hurt, especially if you or your partner are wearing rings.
- Take time to socialize. Ballroom is a social activity.
- Consider some lessons. Some studios offer special discounts to first-time visitors.
- Be patient with yourself. Rome was not built in a day!
- Ladies, be patient with equally new gents. Yes, you will dance better with the more experienced gents, but we all started in the same place.
- Gentlemen, be patient with equally new ladies.The same as above, only the opposite.
- Try not to judge others. You don’t know their story. They might have had a harder time walking through the door that night.
- Remember to smile and introduce yourself.
- Start with the basic steps to build a strong foundation. Professionals even go back to basic steps.
- Keep time with the music. It is often the glue that holds a couple together.
- Don’t feel like you should jump into the intermediate class just because you are a quick learner.
- If you can’t talk and dance at the same time, politely suggest to your partner, “Let’s chat after the dance.”
- Learn the rules of the dance studio. This prevents collisions and problems.
- Don’t give up. You can do this!
- Rest when needed. You don’t need to dance every dance.
- Hydrate well.
- Ask before you dance with someone else’s spouse. It’s a courtesy.
- Count if you need to and remember to breathe.
- Don’t be insulted if the other person is counting.
- Stand tall; good posture is important.
- Remember that the benefits of dance encompass physical, social, mental, and spiritual aspects. This is not only fun…it is good for you!
- When you finish dancing with someone, be sure to thank them. Gentlemen, it is appropriate to return a lady to her seat after a dance.
- Remember, dance is a gift you can give to yourself and others. Focus on having fun!
Do you have a fun story about the first time you stepped onto the dance floor? We would love to hear it. Please send your stories and photos to Managing Editor Rose-Ann Lynch at americandancer@usadance.org.
Thank you for sharing this article and our magazine.
