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Partner Balance

A key to ballroom dancing, relationships, and life is finding a balance between holding on and letting go. We need to be able to dance well and strongly in our own space, to be able to dance well with others. In dance and life, latching onto a partner and being too dependent and passively following will not work; nor will aggressively leading or dancing too independently. Coming together, dancing in separate spheres while staying connected with equal force, allows an active conversation where both dancers can alternately lead and follow for a dynamic partnership.

 

Solid Base in Dance and Life

The physics and feelings involved in ballroom dancing are so complex that every lesson reveals gems of wisdom for life. Learning balance in motion is extremely challenging in and of itself, but also required are actively listening and reacting to the music, strongly connecting with your partner, and expressing your individual style  – all simultaneously, in every single step. Sometimes my teachers work with me on upper body posture, sometimes footwork, other times on connection or musicality. My last lesson focused on the importance of a solid base, both feet spread wide with balanced weight. This is not as easy as it sounds, especially in high heels. Similarly in life, a solid base is necessary to maintain balance and a sense of ease. I think family, friends, religion/spirituality, work, daily routines can help establish a solid base, but balancing all of those things with ease presents its own challenge…

Benefits of Ballroom Dancing

Ballroom dancing is about growing into the best version of yourself, and bringing joy and inspiration to others by expressing your authentic self. It is about physics and feelings, connections and relationships. It feeds the mind, body, and soul. It is a glamorous antidote to life’s doldrums, which anyone who steps into a colorful competition room will experience.  Here is just a partial list of benefits:

  • human and social connections – more important than ever in this technology age!
  • cardiovascular and toning exercise
  • fun and joy for yourself and entertaining others
  • confidence and self-esteem
  • getting out of your comfort zone and learning to let go of judgment
  • cultivating balance in motion, which helps with staying centered in daily life
  • experience healing effects of movement and music together
  • thrill of competitions, and evolving from newcomer to advanced levels
  • I invite you to share others!

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to the “Life Lessons from the Dance Floor” blog! Dancing has been one of my greatest joys and self-care tools for five decades, and I hope to dance into my nineties! This art form has helped me through numerous life challenges and to discover/rediscover my authentic self time and again.

As a very young child, I recreated movie dance numbers and performed in our basement. In middle school, I disco danced in the cafeteria every morning before classes. In high school, I danced in Pippin and West Side Story musicals. In college and as a young adult, I dabbled in adult jazz and ballet lessons. When my children were young, I held Saturday night family dance parties in our living room. I became a “dance mom” and performed with other parents in some of my daughter’s recitals and Nutcracker ballets.

After my marriage ended I delved into competitive ballroom and Latin dancing for five years and also tried club salsa dancing. During the pandemic, I cranked classics and boogied around my house every day to keep my spirits up. Post-pandemic I went out club and swing dancing wearing a mask. In 2023 I took up group and private tap lessons and dipped my toes back into ballroom lessons. A goal for 2024 is to dance as often as possible and enjoy as many styles as possible including ballroom, tap, salsa, and swing — and of course, disco!