Ballroom Dancing

My wife and I are one of the increasing number of people who didn't do much dancing when we were children or teenagers, but have taken it up as adults. We wanted to get more active, both physically and socially. A friend told us about the University of Calgary Ballroom Dance Club. They offer very reasonable prices compared to the dance studios. The trade off is that the U of C club has larger classes, and the dance floor has seen better days. We reasoned that since we knew very little about dancing, anything we got out of a large class still put us ahead of where we were, and that individualized instruction might offer more than we could absorb.

It's worked out very well. We've been dancing for about five years now, and and our enjoyment increases each year as we learn more. The people are friendly, and one of the main goals of the club is to have fun. Each year the club puts on 6 informal dances, and 2 formal dances. In addition, they offer numerous workshops and practice sessions.

Sure, it's a little tough at first and sometimes embarrassing, but everybody in the club has been there, and is willing to help you along. To be honest, I've needed lots of help. There's so much to think about at once. The man has to stay on time, lead the lady into the next pattern at just the right moment, do the pattern himself, all while navigating around the floor without bumping into anyone else. Carrying on a conversation (this is social dancing) at the same time earns you brownie points with the women. Meanwhile, your partner has to do it all backwards, in high heels. It takes lots of practice to trust your feet to be doing the right things while you think about what's going to happen next.

One of the ways to learn more about dance is to become a teacher or teaching assistant. After a couple years of dancing we tried out, and were accepted as assistants. We volunteer our time to help the other club members learn to dance. In exchange, we get free lessons. The club hires two fully qualified dance professionals to instruct us. These classes can be a lot of work, but they're also a lot of fun. You're expected to pick up new patterns quickly, and do the particular school figure exactly as the pro wants it. But people have their brains melt down every now and then. Even good dancers sometimes go blank in the middle of a pattern, sometimes with hilarious results.

But the real bonus is the social aspect. The teachers and assistants spend lots of time with each other and the professionals, so it's only natural we get to know one another better. One aspect of the training that breaks down barriers is having to learn the opposite gender's role. You haven't seen anything till you watch a tiny lady leading, or trying to lead a man who hasn't quite figured out how to follow, with neither of them sure exactly how the pattern works. People switch partners and gender roles regularly and quickly, and you learn to dance with all sorts of people, including ones that are the same sex. Sometimes during mirror dances, such as the Cha-cha-cha, everybody forgets if they were leading or following, and you see some mad arm waving as they try to figure it out on the fly. Some couples can swap the lead back and forth so smoothly it looks like part of the dance.

Why not come out and join the fun? And think of it, where else can you get your arms around a member of the opposite sex within a few moments of introducing yourself?