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So you want to ballroom dance? You're about to enter a world of class, tradition, and loads of fun. The good news is it's easier than you can imagine. The bad news is you'll still need to work. Ballroom dance is a somewhat artificial category including many styles of traditional partner dances from several parts of the world and different eras. The thing in common is the expectation that the dance is polite and the dancer's dance-floor relationship somewhat formal (Ballroom dancing is never "Dirty Dancing"--even the more sensual styles such as the Tango are stylized. The sexuality of the dance exists in innuendo, not in hot and sweaty contact between the dancers).
Steps
Learn that unlike most types of partner dancing, ballroom involves multiple styles. While you don't need to learn all of them you will need to learn a few core styles at first. Complicated dances such as the Bolero and paso doble can be picked up later, but if you want to go out dancing and not be stuck in a chair the whole night you'll need to know the rumba, cha-cha, tango, waltz, and fox trot.
Decide what you want to dance for. Do you want to do social dancing or do you want to compete? Do you want to go out each weekend or do you just need to look good at a wedding? A specific type of event might require that you learn only a few styles but you'll want to learn them in depth. You'll be better prepared for a night of casual social dancing if you learn basic steps for a number of dance styles(you will pick up more moves as you go out dancing, practice and the basics become familiar).
Find a teacher and a school you might try the phone directory or a quick Google search for "ballroom dance [name of your city]". Contact one or more of the schools and tell them what your goals for ballroom dancing. You want to find a good fit: Some schools, for example, specialize in competitive dancing, while others focus on helping first-time dancers gain the experience (and courage!) to brave the ballroom dance floor at their next wedding invitation. If you live near a college campus, take a look at their student clubs and activities. Many have ballroom dance teams that compete at a collegiate (rather than pro/am or professional) level, and many are open to non-student members.
Watch the prices as they will vary. You will want to be sure the school and your teacher are worth what you're paying. Group classes will generally be less expensive than private lessons, while the best specialized and personalized coaching for competitive ballroom dance can be a hundred times more expensive. The best ways to see if your dance lessons are worth it.
Be sure you know what you want, and that your needs match your instructors' expertise and methods,
Talk to the other students and see how long they've been at the studio (as a rule, experienced dancers won't stay long at overpriced dance classes) and
Visit one or more dance classes. Many dance studios will offer potential students a free or low-cost initial lesson that will allow you to more easily find a good match between the studio and your goals.
Go to class. This may seem obvious but I'm constantly amazed at how often people skip class. It doesn't matter how good a teacher or dance studio, every time you miss a class, you won't benefit. If you find that a particular class time tends to run into scheduling conflicts, find another time in which you will be able to consistently attend.
Listen to ballroom music. Ask your teacher for a list of songs in the rhythm you're working on. Buy them and listen to them in the background. You might also find some musical collections selected specifically for a particular dance.
Pick out the dance rhythm and count it aloud as the music plays. Many beginning dancers benefit from first clapping the beat with the music. Yet also as you listen, visualize the dancers moving to the music. Feel the style of the dance, in addition to its rhythm.
Practice. Most studios have practice sessions outside of lessons. Go. Don't be afraid to ask more experienced dancers for help.
Dance! You're in this to learn how to dance so go dancing. Even after your first lesson you can "dance" in your mind as you listen to the music or even to try some steps in a safe corner. If you learn two moves a lesson then by your third lesson you know six moves. That's enough to go dancing and look like you truly belong on the dance floor.
Video
Tips
Music and dance go hand-in-hand. Keep in mind that it is not only the time signature of the music (3/4, 4/4, etc.) but also the tempo and the style of the music that makes a great dance song. A great tango musical performance is every bit as spicy and edgy as are a great tango dance couple.
When you are learning a new dance step, remember that great riffs and striking solos are not nearly as important in dancing as is a steady and obvious beat. There will be plenty of time to experiment with the alternative sounds once you are comfortable with the dance step.
Ask everyone to dance! Beginners and experienced dancers will both help you to improve your dancing. Beginners make you check what you know. Experienced dancers will correct you. As a rule ballroom dancers don't say no when you ask them to dance. And remember: ballroom etiquette precludes dancing more than two dances in a row with the same person. If you only want to dance with your boyfriend/girlfriend you can stay home.
Say yes! If someone asks you to dance say yes! It is good etiquette to say yes, and rude to say no. Ballroom dancing is not in itself "dating" and neither partner should attempt to use the physical closeness of ballroom dancing to imply anything else.
It is especially crude and unchivalrous to exploit the physical closeness of ballroom dancing in any way that would cause your partner discomfort. Even when the dance partners are a long term loving couple, ballroom dance requires a certain savoir faire, a style that is based on dancers both utilizing good posture, maintaining careful balance, and attending to the music and to the other dancers on the floor.
When facing a new partner in one of the basic positions, each dancer should look slightly away from the other's face, usually over their shoulder. Otherwise, the intensity of staring into the eyes of someone so physically close can be uncomfortable, even a bit frightening.
It is a fact of life that people come in all shapes and sizes. Adjust your position and your dancing style to accommodate your partner, especially if height differences or body size might otherwise cause uncomfortable body contact. Remember that ballroom dancing is about grace, polish and courtesy.
POSTURE
In ballroom dancing, posture is critical. While style is explicitly judged in competition dancing, it is no less important in social ballroom dancing. Good dance posture isn't just about looks, it affects how well a couple will move together.
A big part of the magic of ballroom dancing is the wonder of how two people can move so effortlessly across the floor, as if they were one. This isn't an optical illusion, but it doesn't automatically happen, either. The secret to dancing together, as opposed to dancing near one another, is communication.
This communication is not verbal, except when first learning a dance step. Instead it is physical. In most ballroom dances coordination messages are communicated through the parts of the dancers' bodies that are in contact: Often the lead's left and the partner's right hands, the lead's right hand at about the mid point of the partner's back, the partner's left hand on the lead's right shoulder, so that the lead's right elbow and partner's left elbow touch.
This communication isn't conveyed through some special code, but is rather accomplished through the subtle body movements that can easily be detected when both dancers are standing upright, with good posture. When the lead moves forward, for example, the right shoulder, left hand, right hand and foot will all move simultaneously. Thus the partner feels the movement in the left hand (on the lead's right shoulder), the right hand (resting in the lead's left hand) and on the back (the lead's right hand moving "backwards" as the step begins). Likewise, as long as both dancers maintain good posture, and the lead moves decisively and consistently (keeping body parallel to the partner, moving the whole upright body (instead of either leaning in or away) the partner can easily detect movement to the right, left, or forward.
In order for this communication to work, the postures of both dancers must be maintained, and any movement of the lead must be "signaled" by the concerted movement of the entire body. Likewise the points of contact--where the messages are communicated from each dancer to the other--must be maintained so that any message received will be unambiguous.
If a lead is sloppy, and leans forward from the waist when not moving the entire body forward:
the partner will feel the right hand (in the lead's left hand),
the left hand (on the lead's right shoulder)
and the torso (as the lead's right hand moves away) all moving backward. In that both bodies should move together, these signals should indicate a backward step. Yet if the lead is simply leaning forward, instead of actually stepping forward, this will end with the dancers breaking their position, as the partner moves a step backward while the lead does not. The communication has failed.
If the lead maintains an erect posture, both hands, the right shoulder and the point of contact between right and left elbows will move only when a step is being indicated. Thus without saying a word, the lead can communicate "move forward (or left, right, or backwards) and the precise distance of the move, without saying a word.
Likewise the partner, if maintaining a good posture and constant communication points, will almost unconsciously sense the movement indicated. Each step learned from that position will be lead with some combination of those communication points, within a specific context. Experienced partners can move quickly and with great precision through a variety of complicated steps, without either dancer even consciously thinking about what will come next.
One frequent error, especially of long-legged men dancing with much shorter partners, is a stride that is just too large.
Ginger Rogers, the glamorous frequent partner of Fred Astaire has often been considered every bit the equal in dancing skill. "Because" the comparison goes, "she did every step that Fred Astaire did--backwards and in high heels!"
In most ballroom dances, the initial step is the lead's left foot moving forward and the partner's right foot stepping backwards. In that it is a usual thing to be able to step further forward than backward, the lead must be careful to keep the steps small. Besides, the illusion of floating across the dance floor is not created by a few large swooping strides, but rather by a quick succession of small, incremental steps. Keep the steps small and you will both look better and will maintain better balance in the bargain.
Warnings
Dance at the level of your partner. Don't try to do all your advanced new moves with someone who's just starting out. Social ballroom dancing should be enjoyable for everyone: Both dancers as well as anyone watching. There is no point in trying to make yourself look good by making your partner look bad. When a couple works together, dance is a thing of beauty.
Yes aerials (jumps and balancing moves) are cool. As a beginner you are not ready. Don't try them. Don't even ask about them until you've been dancing for at least a year. Dancing is physical and as with any physical activity if you do it wrong you can get hurt. Any dance step requiring one partner to rely on the other for balance should be approached only under the supervision of a dance instructor, and attempted only if both partners are familiar with their roles.
Ballroom dancing is at its heart, elegant. Think "elegant" as you practice. Dance is not a simple matter of learning where to move your feet, it is a new way of moving your entire body, in close coordination with someone else moving their entire body. You are far better off learning the basic steps so well you can almost float across the floor than by rushing into the complex steps and looking like a moose calf just learning how to walk. If you only know where to put your feet, you don't know the dance.
Gentlemen, lead your lady, but do NOT push her around the dance floor! On the other hand, don't toss her the lead unless she is teaching you a step.
Ladies, don't be a "wet noodle"! Give your partner someone to lead. This does not mean push HIM around the dance floor!
Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Ballroom Dance. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.
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Have you seen Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, Ballroom Bootcamp, etc? If you want to join in the action, you'll need to learn a step or two. The Rumba is a basic Latin Dance. It is very easy; this article will show the male part first (the Lead), then the female part (the Follow), and finish off with the correct dance position.
The over all shape of the complete step is a box drawn on the floor. Forward left, side right, close your feet together, back right, side left, close your feet together. Repeat.
Steps
Leaders
Step forward with your left foot (slow step).
Bring your right foot diagonally across from where you started and step on it (quick step).
Close your left foot beside your right (quick step).
Step back with your right foot (slow).
Bring your left foot diagonally back/to the side (quick).
Close your right foot to your left and change your weight, back to your starting position (quick).
Followers
Step back with your right foot (slow).
Step to the side with your left foot (quick)
Close your right foot to your left, changing your weight (quick).
Step forward on your left foot (slow)
Step to the side (diagonally across) with your right foot (quick).
Close your left foot to your right, changing your weight, back to your original or starting position (quick).
Dance Position
Leaders- Place your right hand just underneath her shoulder blade. Your left hand should come away from your body at a 180-degree angle. Clasp your hands and touch your elbows together.
Followers- rest your left hand on the guy's right arm. Touch your elbows together as you place your right hand in your partner's.
This clips demonstrates how to do the New York step in the rumba.
Video
Kristi and Mark performing the Rumba on the television show, Dancing with the Stars.
Tips
You will rotate to the left. Don't worry if you start going around in circles.
The rhythm pattern is slow-quick-quick, where the slow step takes two beats of music and the quicks take one beat apiece. Kokomo is a good song to practice with.
Keep your weight forward, on the balls of your feet.
When dancing to the music, since this is American Rumba versus International Rumba remember to start on "one".
Warnings
The step may be done starting to the side instead of forward. The forward and back steps are the slow steps, and the "Side," "Close" steps are always the quick ones, whichever way you do the box.
This is merely the Rumba basic, but this box-shaped move is the same (except for the timing) as other dance basics. (i.e. Waltz)
Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Do the Rumba. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.
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The Salsa is a lively, fiery and enjoyable dance that is really easy to get the basics of. In essence, Salsa is no more than a step forward and a step back, with a rock in between. It's largely a partner dance, but with many fancy "shines" that can be thrown in individually.
Steps
It's important to note first that while Salsa music uses 4/4 time, the dance does not have the usual 1,2,3,4 step count that many dances use. Instead, it leaves out the 4 and 8 count, creating a slight pause. Also note that the male and female steps are directly reversed to allow fluid movement.
The Stance
Salsa can be danced in a closed dance position or hand-in-hand, with the man's palms facing upwards, and the lady taking his hands with her palms down, allowing more freedom of movement. For the dance position, the man takes the lady's right hand in his left, and places his right hand on or around her left shoulder blade. The lady's left hand then sits on his right shoulder, with her arm over his. Be sure to give your partner just enough pressure through the hands and arms to allow your movements to be easily felt, without being aggressive.
The Steps
As mentioned earlier, Salsa does not involve a complete step on every count. Rather, it is danced 1, 2, 3, (4), 5, 6, 7, (8) or in words: step, step, step, pause, step, step, step, pause. This reflects the emphasis Salsa music places on the first 3 of 4 beats. Ladies, be sure to read the men's steps for notes on the steps, as they apply to yours as well.
The Man's Basic Step:
1. Step forward with your left foot. Your weight should now be on your left, and you should be able to take your right foot off the ground (but don't).It may be easier in the beginning to use larger steps, but your movements will be much faster and neater with a smaller step.
2. Shift your weight back from your left foot to your right, leaving your feet where they are. Your right foot should now be holding all your weight.
3. Step or slide your left foot back to bring it next to or slightly behind your right foot. Your weight should be evenly spread over both feet.
4. No steps are taken on this beat, and it can be used to gradually move your weight to your left foot in time for the next beat.
5. Here, the same rules apply as for step 1, but backwards. Bring your right foot backwards with so your left foot is taking none of your weight.
6. Step in place with your left foot without moving either of your feet. Your left foot will now be carrying all your weight.
7. Step or slide your right foot up to meet or slightly pass your left, balancing on both your feet equally.
8. As with beat 4, nothing is done on this beat, except you may take the weight off your left foot in preparation of your next step.
Now simply repeat these steps to the music
The Lady's Step:
1. Step backwards with your right foot.
2. Step in place with your left.
3. Bring your right foot up to meet or slightly pass your left.
4. No steps, but you may want to use this beat to shift your weight across.
5. Step forwards with your left foot.
6. Step in place with your right.
7. Bring back your left foot next to or partly behind your right.
8. Prepare to repeat.
Repeat to the music. Note the man and woman's steps are simply 4 beats apart. This ensures no one's toes are stepped on (which does still happen).
Video
Tips
Begin each song simply getting used to shifting the weight between your feet in time with the music, without actually stepping. This will help you get a feel for the timing, and lets the ladies start their hips shaking.
The man's job is to help show off his beautiful dance partner.
Ladies, make sure not to try and lead, but focus on following your partner's lead. He's trying his best to think of what to do, and needs you to make it look as good as possible.
Only your feet stop moving on the 4 and 8 count, your body should not! Be sure to keep your torso swaying.
Make every step as smooth as possible.
CONFIDENCE! All the moves in the world won't do anything if you're looking at your feet the whole time. People aren't watching to make sure your feet land exactly right, they're watching to see how your whole body is moving.
Warnings
Don't panic if you're stuck for what move to do, you're better off repeating the same few moves than half-doing a new one you can't remember.
Men, only be firm enough to let the lady know what you're thinking of doing. Ladies, return the pressure in his hands so he doesn't have to throw his hands around the dance floor to lead you.
Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Dance Salsa. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.
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Learning to Tango is not easy and requires the right teacher. If you know what to look for in an instructor, you can soon be dancing this sensual, romantic, elegant dance.
Steps
Learn that the Tango requires balance and the willingness to learn. There are three types of tango: Argentine Tango, International Ballroom tango, and the American Ballroom tango. Argentine Tango has become quite popular because of its free form, ad-lib steps and focus on the woman. Many amateur groups exist to teach and promote it.
Find a teacher that focuses on dance technique and not on memorizing steps and patterns. The teacher should be able to dance both lead and follow so he/she can teach you both how to do it and how it feels for your partner.
Take group classes to find a good instructor and take private classes to really learn how to dance. Attend Milongas or tango dance parties and give it a try don't worry it will be a blast.
Video
Tips
Be patient with yourself, the Tango is not a dance than can be learned in one evening or with one lesson. That is what makes the tango so much fun, there is so much to learn and it can take you your whole lifetime to learn and understand the tango.
If you decide on the real stuff, Argentine Tango, learn the difference between Apilado, Salon, and Fantasia/stage tango.
Make sure you wear comfortable clothes, that allow you to move easily.
It can be difficult to select a good Tango dance instructor. Here are somethings to look out for:
Your instructor should be well versed in all three major Argentine Tango styles: salon, apilado (aka: milongero) and tango nuevo. If they only dance one style, find yourself a different instructor. Why let them decide how you should dance before you figure out which one you like best.
Learn from different instructors. Do not limit yourself to only learning from one person. Try an instructor out before you make a financial commitment. You might find out that you do not like the personality or the style of the instructor.
Pick instructors who teach in couples. They are better able to meet your needs. I man might be able to lead you but only a woman will help you become an excellent follower and vice versa.
Warnings
If your instructor is not an excellent dancer, then stay away. You want to learn from the best dancers not a dancer who is just learning or who does not make it look easy and fun.
Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Dance the Tango. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.
Find a song that is a slow 3/4 song because anything faster would be a different type of waltz, with different set of guidelines. Though you can keep the basic waltz steps and apply it across different genres.
Learn the basic handhold ("frame"). The right hand of the man will be on the woman's shoulder blade, rarely the waist or under her armpit. The lady's left hand is on the partner's shoulder or upper arm.
Girls, mirror what your partner does. But that's only for the beginning. If you are trying to learn it and become a competitive dancer, you need a real coach.
After the dance, if both partners are comfortable with it, give each other a hug. After all, it is a close position dance. Nothing better to finish it off with a close embrace. The traditional ending, especially for someone you are not close with, would be a simple "thank you for the dance."
This video shows the basic steps for leading the waltz.
Tips
Talking is optional. at the start. Sure, it is hard to focus and learn a new dance, but you have to stay relaxed and make sure you keep your partner engaged. After you get better, it would be good to talk to your partner and hold a normal conversation. Slow dances like waltz does allow for that. Besides, it can be a very intimate dance. If you can't talk, then don't force it. After all, your eye contact can say so much - although competitively trained ballroom dancers will often avoid eye contact to maintain the correct "looking left" frame. But after you get better, do everything to have a conversation.
Watch 'Dancing With The Stars' and 'So You Think You Can Dance'. Waltz is one of the most classical ballroom dance you can learn and the most common dance to be competed upon.
Take advantage of all mediums to learn the waltz. Video is a great way to visually learn how to waltz and commit them to memory.
Before you even dance, do what a musical conductor does: Trace a triangle anti-clockwise with your right hand going across in the first beat. That way, you can get the feel for what 3/4 beat is like, and hopefully you can stay in time.
Don't be afraid to tell your dance partner what level you dance at, if you are a beginner or have been dancing for years. This helps your partner figure out what sort of steps they should be leading, or what sort of steps the should expect to follow.
Dance with all levels of dancers!
Your movements should be fluid, so you might try pretending you are floating on a cloud.
Warnings
There are many types of waltz, from the strictly closed position international waltz to the faster, more open (where you and your partner won't be eye to eye all the time) Viennese Waltz (that's your 3/8 and 6/8 songs like 'That's Amore' by Dean Martin). Though the basic techniques are the same, the degree of freedom for open spins and twirls and the speed of music vary. But no matter what, waltz is supposed to be an 'effortless' dance. Though the men have to be very in control of what he does and be a good leader.
For beginners, no matter how many times you trip on your partner's toes, never look down at your feet. Though the partner would figure that you are an amateur. Then after you get better, glide on the floor. Recent comment from the judges of 'So You Think You Can Dance' said that waltz (when the comment was made, the dancers were doing Viennese Waltz) should be floating, gliding and very flowing and effortless.
Things You'll Need
Willing partner that doesn't mind dancing close proximity, preferably one with similar height and body size.
A song in 3/4 time (or 3/8 or 6/8 for other types of waltz).
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The slow dance: you've probably either loved it or hated it since middle school. No dance can be so romantic and sensual, and yet many people who have no trouble shaking their booties all night at the club start to creep toward the sidelines when the music slows down. Don't turn into a wallflower at the end of the evening. You, too, can learn to love a slow dance.
Steps
Find someone to dance with. You can't slow dance alone, at least not without looking, well, slow. If you brought a date, you'll probably want to ask him or her to dance. If not, find a partner. Set the mood by looking that person in the eyes when you ask him or her to dance.
Get your partner on the dance floor. Escort your partner to the dance floor slowly and smoothly. If you're already on the dance floor, the key here may be to keep yourself and your partner on the dance floor--no easy task if one or both of you is nervous about slow dances. If your partner is nervous, tell him or her that there's nothing to worry about, and be understanding if he or she doesn't want to dance. If you're nervous, don't show it.
Assume the position. Face your partner, standing so that your head is about a foot or two away from his or hers. Standing toe-to-toe may not be the optimal position. Some couples stand offset, with each person's right foot inside the other persons pair; some partners may have the woman's feet to the inside of the man's. If you are a teen you can always place both hands on the girl's hip (if you're a man.) and if you are a girl place both arms around his neck.
Assess your relationship with your partner. Akk! You need to know where to put your hands and how close to dance. This doesn't need to be awkward. Keep in mind that the right-hand-left-hand directions here can be reversed if you are both more comfortable that way.
To be safe the man should put his right hand on his partner's left hip (the side of the hip, Romeo) and his left hand should gently grasp his partner's right hand and hold it up at about shoulder-level (of the taller partner) so that both partners' arms are bent upward from the elbow. The woman's left arm will generally be placed on her partner's shoulder. This is a traditional ballroom dancing position (as well as a safe junior high dancing position), and you should still be standing about a foot from your partner.
If you're closer with your partner, very much in love or something like that, the man should gently pull the woman close to him and either put his right hand on her hip as above, or place it on the small of her back. The left hand may hold her hand as above or, for a very close dance, may be placed on her upper back. If at any time the woman pulls away or seems uncomfortable with how the man is holding her, he should step back and revert to the safe position. The woman may also initiate the closer dance position with the same caveat that if her partner feels uncomfortable she should revert to the position above. Either partner may also bring the other closer by clasping their hands - ladies behind his neck, men behind her waist.
Begin to move. Traditionally, the man leads the dance and the woman follows his movement. This is still generally true, but not always. If you are leading, simply guide your partner by subtly pushing or pulling her right hand (assuming you are holding it in your left hand) in the direction you want to go. Movements should be slow and smooth, and you need not move very much. You can follow a set dance form, such as a waltz or foxtrot, or you can simply transfer your weight back and forth from right foot to left foot without moving much at all. To vary, move or rotate, slightly lift the foot your weight is not on and slide that foot a little forward, back, or sideways. If you are moving your foot, your partner will need to compliment your action: as the leader moves his right foot backward, for example, his partner should mover her left foot forward. forwards.)
Follow the music. Your steps should move roughly in time to the beat of the music so that you make a step every beat or so. This is not as hard as it might sound since the music will most likely be slow during a slow dance.
Interact with your partner. For most of us, a slow dance is more about being close to your partner and getting to know each other than it is about moving. Feel free to talk to your partner, to look into his or her eyes and, if the situation is appropriate, to steal a kiss or two. If you're both in a romantic mood, you may draw each other closer as the dance progresses.
Thank your partner for the dance. Whether you're dancing with your wife of 60 years or someone you've never met before, thank your partner. You won't lead someone on with a simple "Thanks for the dance."
Continue to the next dance or retreat gracefully. Once you're comfortable with slow dances, you might not want to flee the floor as quickly as possible--one dance is just the beginning. If, however, you've had enough dancing for the moment, retreat from the dance floor. Ladies, if you have to go find your girl friends and squeal about the cute guy you just danced with, go do it. Guys, if you need to go brag about the cute girl you just danced with, do it. Offer to escort your partner to his or her table or wherever they want to go, or ask him or her if they would like to retreat if you want to do so. Keep in mind, however, that retreating may also be used to find a place of relief from someone who may want to dance with you again, but with whom you don't want another dance.
Tips
If you are a Man, do not place your hands on the woman's behind while dancing unless you are in a close relationship with her and she is fine with it. This can be extremely rude and offensive.
While you don't need to know any formal dance steps to slow dance, it doesn't hurt. Learning how to dance is a valuable and rewarding experience that can make you more comfortable on the dance floor and in the many social situations of which dancing is a part. It's also good exercise.
Enjoy the dance. Dancing is supposed to be fun. Let yourself go, and let it be fun.
Make sure your dancing posture is comfortable. Position your feet so that you don't have to strain or stretch as you dance.
The tradition of men leading women in the dance is not necessarily sexist, and many women who are otherwise quite independent feel comfortable following a man dancing. It can be very seductive to dance with a strong man who leads well. You should always assume you will be leading unless the woman asks to do so (this may happen if she's a better dancer than you, for example). Do not shy away from the opportunity to lead. Be confident, and do your best.
If you do know how to dance, either fluently or at a beginner level, rather than assume anything about your partner, ask them or try them out. Who knows, perhaps this bridesmaid does know how to tango (literally). Ladies, feel free to ask your partner if he knows how to dance. If he does and you don't, asking him to teach you may get you a few more dances through out the night, and a date in the future if you want it.
Be respectful.
Allow conversation to happen. Many people will slow dance just to get the chance to talk with you. If the conversation flows, let it. If you let it flow, be genuinely interested in the conversation, or be genuinely interested in your partner.
Try Sliding your feet instead of picking them up. This way you are less likely to step on your partners feet.
Make lots of eye contact with your partner as this will make the relationship stronger and dancing more comfortable.
Warnings
Talk to and look at your partner, not your friend's partner! Looking over your partner's shoulder at someone else isn't going to end well.
Women, if you are assertive, that's fine; but this is couples or partner dancing. The women's part is often one of following, or else mutual leading. Only rarely will a situation arise in which the woman should lead, and you should never try to fight for the lead. Not only is fighting over the lead tactless, but it can actually be dangerous if you are dancing a faster dance with a man who knows how to lead; your insistence to lead can get you both hurt.
Men, do not ever even consider leading a woman in any way other than gently. It can be a firm gentle, but it had better be gentle. Several reasons: A) If you hurt her, she's not likely to dance with you again, and she'll probably tell her friends, who won't either. Worst case, she'll tell security and you're in trouble. B) This beautiful woman you're dancing with might not relate the same way the guys at the bar do: a jerk on her arm might bruise it, not make her feel like she's having a good laugh. C) Practice does indeed make perfect. Maybe this one won't dance with you again, ever - but maybe the cutie in the cocktail dress just noticed how you treated this dance as a gentleman should ... and she's looking for the next time you're free.
If you step on someone's feet, apologize, and for heaven's sake try not to do it again. If someone steps on your feet and apologizes, let them know how you feel, but be forgiving. Chances are, it was an accident.
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7. Introduction to Cha-Cha Dancing for Beginners Video:
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