Category: Social Dancing

It is natural in dance—as it is in life—to think of things as black and white, either-or, right and wrong; but things are seldom so clear cut. In our dance lessons and classes, we are always seeking guidance, and it can be tempting to enshrine the answers we receive as definitely RIGHT, casting everything else…

Learning to lead and learning to follow are both challenging in their own ways. Anyone who is accustomed to doing one role and decides to switch usually has an eye-opening experience. Leaders realize that the delicate balance of RE-activity necessary for following is trickier than it appears, and followers gain an appreciation for how leaders…

Take a moment to remember the last time you went to a family or friend’s wedding. After the dinner and the toasts, when the bridal dance and the parent/child dances were over, the lights went down and the DJ cranked up pulsing and energetic dance tunes. A collection of brave souls made their way to…

There is a cultural fiction, an “urban legend,” a pervasive myth about the nature of human ability in regard to dancing that keeps A LOT of people from believing that they can learn to dance. Many of us think that there are people who CAN dance, and people who CAN’T. Just naturally, from birth—they think…

We are ALL learning to dance. Yes, even advanced dancers. Yes, even teachers. Yes, even professional coaches and judges. Everyone who actively dances is also in the process of learning to dance. And yet, so many times, we diligently study new moves, concepts, technique and style on our lessons, in our classes, in practice sessions……

When you start learning to dance, you will definitely feel overwhelmed at times. You will probably jump to the seemingly logical conclusion that you feel like you should concentrate on learning one dance and getting good at that one dance before you learn any others. While this idea might seem to make logical sense, it…

Okay, yes, this statement is a bit of an exaggeration. Probably, if you attend a lot of social partner dancing events, SOMEONE has—at some point in time—asked you to dance. If you’re a leader, then you may end up doing most of the asking because it is traditionally expected that leaders will do so… or…

When you think of Waltz, chances are it calls to mind an image that seems faraway from your everyday life. Elegant ballgowns, posh tuxedos, dancers swirling around an opulent ballroom dripping with crystal chandeliers… doesn’t sound like a useful skill to have in 2020’s Pittsburgh, right? Why, then, is Waltz one of the most popular…

I know, I know… it’s not glamorous, it’s not sexy, it sounds like a big snore when you say it out loud. But if I had to name one thing missing from the philosophy of a lot of dance organizations, teachers and schools, it’s a focus on functionality, especially (but not exclusively!) on the beginner…

One of the most frequent questions people ask right before they start dance lessons is: “What shoes should I wear?” But that question holds an important distinction from the title of this article. Both are relevant and important questions. Let’s start with the answer to the first question: “Do I need dance shoes?” If you’re…