Ballroom dancing is for people of all ages and walks of life. There are many different ballroom dances and many different styles of these dances. The most popular ballroom dances are the cha-cha-chá, the foxtrot, the waltz, the samba, the rumba, the jive, the swing, the mambo, the pasodoble, the quick step, the tango, and the Viennese waltz. The ballroom dances that are considered Latin dances are the chachachá, the pasodoble, the salsa, the rumba, the mambo, the merengue, and the Argentine tango. Because there are so many different styles, sometimes it’s easier to learn one dance at a time. If you are learning several dances at once, it is best to choose dances that have a similar rhythm to avoid confusion.
Ballroom dancing is mostly known as a dance for the older generation, but the younger generation of dancers is getting bigger and bigger. As the ballroom dance community joins more of the younger generation, it adds more diversity and challenge to dancing. The younger generation is getting more involved in this type of dance all over the world. On social networking sites there are more and more videos of children under the age of 10 dancing together in competitions and completely stunning the crowd and all online viewers. At select universities, they even offer classes to help the younger generation learn this amazing style of dance.
Not only is it fun in the ballroom, but it also keeps you moving. In today’s age, many people are becoming “couch addicts”. It can also be a fun way to exercise while socializing and making friends. Many people, especially the younger generation, are shy and unable to come out of their shell. Ballroom dancing gradually makes you feel more comfortable with yourself. I have noticed this in my own life while dancing the West Coast Swing. In this particular dance, there are a lot of times where you have to freestyle and do your own thing. I have found that the more I dance this dance, the more I come out of my shell about who I am as a person and who I am as a dancer.
Another great thing about younger dancers is that we can do so much more than the older generation. I teach a class of cotillion to a group of high school students and they learn things much faster than you might imagine. Either their bodies are younger and better able to do these moves I’m teaching them, or maybe their minds are sharper than an older person’s mind. Regardless, ballroom dancing is very easy for the young generation and they seem to enjoy the style just as much as the more “normal” dance styles for that age group. Also, the younger generation can “move” better than most older dancers. By adding the younger generation to the mix, we keep ballroom dancing alive and fun for generations to come.
The older generation is not only accepting of the younger generation, but they love to see us dance. Over the years, I have never received negative feedback from older dancers. Everyone loves the fact that the dance they have loved for years is loved so much by people of a completely different generation. Ballroom dancing is all about having fun and learning how to dance socially. Ballroom dancing is performed at many professional events and is a great skill to acquire. It’s never too early or too late in life to learn such an important dance style.