In high school, if you asked me what I was bad at, I would’ve told you without hesitation: “dancing and math.” Now, with that in mind, I have no idea what caused my sudden obsession with joining the Kenyon College Ballroom Dance Club that began in my senior year of high school. But at this point I can say that attending practice the week after first semester Newbie Nights was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Not only can I now dance in heels (impressive right?) but I’ve learned a lot of important lessons.
1. Always Ask Questions
Literally NO ONE is going to judge you if you don’t understand something or need a move to be repeated. They were there once too! And even if you’re still confused, at least you know a little more than you did before and will step on fewer toes.
2. It is Easier with a Partner
It is not uncommon to watch your peer instructor demonstrate a move and be completely baffled by how you could POSSIBLY attempt this with a second person. The task seems daunting and you are dreading the words “Okay leads, find a follow” because you just KNOW they are going to think you’re totally stupid for not being able to handle the move. Suddenly the time comes… and it just happens. It was so much easier with the stability of your partner than when you were by yourself.
3. It is Good to be a Little Dramatic Sometimes
Okay maybe a lot dramatic, I like to call ballroom dancing “Competitive Attention Seeking.” I knew that ballroom dancing was the sport for me as soon as I walked into the main room of our first competition this year. Competitions are a whirl of sparkles, swooshy dresses, and guys in weirdly deep v neck tops. The winner is always the couple that was able to best catch the judge’s eye. As a fairly dramatic person in general, there was nothing more appealing to me than multiple costume changes, wild makeup, and attempting to impress people holding clipboards.
4. Sometimes your Friends don’t Want to do what you Like
And that’s okay! The amount of times I have tried and failed to drag my friends to a ballroom event is honestly ridiculous but it’s okay! Dancing with a partner who presumably knows more than you do is scary. Dancing in general can be scary! But it makes it so much more special when they finally cave and come with you because that means that they care about you enough to put away their anxieties and come dancing. Until then I will probably keep trying, because come on guys it’s really so much fun, I wouldn’t lie to you.
5. There is Nothing Better than Putting Away your Stress and just DANCING
I am a collegiate athlete (I consider myself a two-sport athlete with ballroom but that is beside the point) and because of this I don’t have a lot of “me time” between classes, softball practice, and homework, so the two hours every night that I spend at ballroom dancing are an escape from everything. It’s a time when I am totally and completely happy.
In my opinion, there is nothing better than ballroom dancing. Of course, people will disagree with me (they’re wrong). In the few shorts months since I started dancing in September I have made so many great friends and learned so much about this art and I can safely that at this point I am a strong “okay” at dancing.
Image Credit: Studio One Naples, Indi Rinearson