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“Dance is the hidden language of the soul of the body.” - Martha Graham
A study by the University of Sydney in Australia showed that dancing has a positive effect on our heart. That should be enough of a reason for most people.
So why not dance as a couple?
In this article, we’ll be having a look at dance schools, Puerto Rican salsa, boogie-woogie, the waltz, and other information to help you on your way to learning your favourite styles of dance and how to get you and your partner on the dance floor.
Have you and your partner both got two left feet?
By the end of this article, you should know exactly how to rectify the problem.
How Can You Learn to Dance as a Couple?
Learning to dance as a couple takes time and motivation. When you learn to dance as a couple, you need to put in twice as much effort since you’ll need to coordinate with one another and you both need to be motivated.
So where can you learn to dance as a couple?
Your first step is to choose from the multitude of dance styles available and pick one want to learn together. You’re spoilt for choice including Argentine tango, salsa, Viennese waltz, bachata, Merengue, Zouk, swing, rock ‘n’ roll, Kizomba, etc. In fact, most dances are meant to be danced as a couple.
Once you’ve chosen the style for you, you need to work out when you’re both available to learn how to dance. That’s why both partners need to be really motivated because if one person decides they don’t fancy it, neither of them will be able to continue. It's never going to work if only one of you has learnt the choreography and has practised all their dance moves.
You’ll need to work out what works best for both of you and choose the right dance schools near me and dance teacher.
Dance Schools
You could attend a private dance school, dance associations, dance studio, or weekly group dance classes near me, etc.
Get in touch with your local dance school to find out what kind of lessons they offer. You could also ask for more information on how they teach their classes.
The advantages: you can practise in dedicated rooms and you can learn from different partners during your lessons.
The disadvantages: the timetable mightn’t work for you.
Private Tutors
You can find private tutors across the UK including in the countryside. They usually offer free tutoring for the first hour to help you decide whether or not it’ll work for you.
The advantages: you can learn as and when you want. This is particularly useful if you're going to be doing your first dance at your wedding.
The disadvantages: since these are private lessons, it’s unlikely you’ll meet new people.
Going to Social Evenings and Nightclubs
A lot of bars in larger cities organise special evenings. Make the most of them by going and learning how to dance. This does usually take longer than a dedicated lesson as you won’t be explained how to do each step in as much depth.
The advantages: learn to dance when you want to.
The disadvantages: it’s difficult to learn without a dedicated teacher.
How to Learn to Waltz as a Couple
A lot of couples would like to learn how to waltz.
This style originated in Austria and Germany at the end of the 18th century and made its way into France following the French revolution at a time when court dancing was the norm. Before the waltz, couples danced side by side as it was seen as disrespectful to dance face to face.
In terms of dancing, the waltz was the real French revolution.
You need to learn the steps and positioning in order to learn the waltz.
Here’s some advice for learning quickly!
At first, agree on which type of waltz you’d like to learn to do. Be it slow waltz, Viennese waltz, valse musette, etc., you should do your research into each style.
You should then work out when you’re both free and available to learn how to waltz. Whether you choose a dance school, private lessons, or teaching yourself, you need to set aside some time in order to learn how to dance.
Of course, you need to practise outside of your lessons as well. Make the most of special dance evenings to practice, too. This is one of the best ways to put what you’ve learnt in class into practice. Don’t be scared of making mistakes, either.
This is also a great opportunity to dance with different partners. Asking to dance with someone who’s better than you can be really useful. You’ll also learn a bit, too.
Trying out your moves with a skilled dancer is a great way to progress. There are plenty of ways to learn how to dance.
How Can You Learn the Tango as a Couple?
Does seeing people tango make you want to take lessons in Argentine tango?
Tango was invented by immigrants and former slaves in Buenos Aires at the end of the 19th century and, for a long time, had a bad reputation. It would take several decades for the style, which was mainly performed in capital city’s poorest neighbourhoods, to be accepted.
Nowadays, the tango is taught in a large variety of places. It’s known as a passionate and sensual style of dancing. The perfect style for couples. Don’t hesitate to start getting tango lessons.
Be it with a dance school, evening classes, by teaching yourself, or with a private tutor, there are plenty of ways to learn the tango. It all depends on your schedule and which method suits you the best.
Some prefer to get private tutorials while others prefer working in groups. The best thing to do is to practice as much as you can. Make the most of special evenings in your city or organise your own tango evenings if you’re in the countryside.
You and your partner need to agree on the best way to learn. Above all, be patient!
While tango requires a lot of improvisation, you also need to learn a few basic steps. You’ll find these difficult at first, but over time they’ll become second nature. However, you need to be creative when dancing the tango. You need to find a balance between taking control and letting go.
You and your partner need to both be interested in Latin dance, too. If this isn’t the case, you’ll soon give up learning how to dance. The same is true for any style (salsa, waltz, Merengue, Kizomba, cha cha, bachata, zouk, etc.).
Which Style of Dance Should Couples Learn?
There are plenty of advantages to learning as a couple. You can both enjoy a new hobby while growing closer as a couple thanks to communicating with one another. Dance lessons give you both the opportunity to relax and escape the daily grind.
There are plenty of different types of dancing for couples... You can choose from the waltz, foxtrot, swing, pasodoble, flamenco, tango, cha cha, salsa, rumba, mambo, zouk, samba, etc., there’s something for everyone.
With ballroom dancing, Latin dancing, African dancing, etc., how do you choose just one?
When starting out, you should head along to special dance evenings or themed evenings to check out different styles. It’ll help you work out if a certain style is to your taste.
You’ll also benefit from dancing with other partners to work out whether or not it’s for you.
To learn about the different types of dancing available, you can also check out videos online. There are also tutorials for teaching you how to dance.
Above all, choose a style of dancing that you like the accompanying music. Each style is usually accompanied by a particular style of music that often bears the same name as the style. This means that “tango” refers to both the dance and the music.
In order to choose the right style, make sure that both you and your partner like the music. You can also get in touch with a dance school or a private tutor to get a taster session.
A lot of schools and tutors offer the first hour free so that students can work out if it’s for them without having to sign up for the whole year. Make sure you ask questions and fully participate in order to get the most out of this hour. You can then sign up for the year. Now the rest is up to you.
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