Get Up and Dance
"Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance." — Dave Barry
By Dennis Smith, MS, CNHC, Dance Instructor
The popularity of dance-related shows on TV indicates that there is a lot of interest in dancing and that the interest is increasing. Perhaps you've considered taking some classes to learn how, but don't have the time to devote to the extent that the competitive TV shows require. Relax. There are social dance venues that don't require the dedication and time investment that competitive dancing does.
Dancing is not only a great aerobic exercise that benefits one's physical health, it's also great for mental and emotional health. Learning and remembering dance steps and sequences boosts brain power by building memory skills. Studies have shown that dancing regularly can significantly reduce your risk for dementia. The social aspects of dancing may lead to less stress, depression, and loneliness.
Learning to dance doesn't have to be difficult. Many social dance venues support Dave Barry's quote above. Many with "two left feet" or no sense of rhythm have successfully learned to dance well enough for their own enjoyment.
One popular form of ballroom dancing is pre-choreographed ballroom, otherwise known as round dancing. This form of dancing has borrowed and adapted dance figures from a number of professional ballroom sources. These figures have been used to choreograph specific sequences to specific songs. As practiced worldwide today, there is a cuer announcing the next dance figure in the sequence to the dancers. These announcements, known as cues, are given in English and have been standardized, enabling dancers to travel worldwide and dance to the cues. Men often find this helpful since it relieves them of the "duty" of remembering or inventing sequences. A number of dancers also enjoy dancing in without cues.
Round dancing also differs from other forms of ballroom dancing in that it does not involve competitive dancing. It is a form of recreational dancing and has traditionally been a companion activity to modern square dancing. Like modern square dancing, round dancing is practiced in smoke-free, alcohol-free environments.
Many round dancers enjoy traveling to various festivals and conventions around the globe. They look forward to renewing old friendships and making new ones at these events.
The most useful rhythms to learn first would probably be waltz and swing since they are usually the most popular at weddings and other events. Many also find other rhythms such as foxtrot, cha cha, rumba, and tango to be quite enjoyable. Most ballroom rhythms are shared with round dancing.
Dancing is one of the most social forms of exercise. Seriously consider making a habit of taking dance lessons. Having the routine of dancing means that you will exercise regularly not just physically, but mentally and socially as well. Building and maintaining your overall health may permit you to enjoy life well into your eighties, nineties, and beyond.