dullard
Elite Member
- May 21, 2001
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My wife is a ballroom dance instructor, and I've done several public ballroom dance performances. So I thought this was going to be about a slow ballroom style dance (rumba, nightclub twostep, or bolero). But I do a lot of "high-school" style dancing as well, especially if I just want to hold her close.
Someone above did mention that there are two styles: old and young. I think it is better to consider it a bit differently: defined steps or swaying. I've seen plenty of couples in their 90's doing the swaying, and couples in their teens doing the dances with defined steps.
Obviously no one can teach dancing on an online forum. But the vast majority of romantic songs are in 4/4 time. Meaning each measure of music has 4 beats. But most songs don't actually have an instrument playing a clear beat on all four. Almost always you will hear a drum on beats #1, #3, and #4. Thus the three slow dances I listed above also take three steps per measure (one slow step for counts #1 and #2, and two faster steps for counts #3 and #4). You of course don't have to do that if you don't want to. Other good ways to dance will be to take one step on each beat (#1, #2, #3, and #4) - but note that there won't be a clear signal to step on #2 so this can be easy to get off beat and this will be a bit fast for some songs. The other good way to dance is to take a step on #1 and a second step on #3. This will involve a slow sway to the left (for the males, right for the females) on #1 and a slow sway to the right (for the males, left for the females) on #3. If you have no dance experience I suggest you do this last method. Note in Europe the directions are reversed (males start to the right on the first step).
How to avoid stepping on feet: That one is a bit tricky for beginners. Here are some things to think about. Stand with your feet slightly apart - let her stand with her feet slightly apart as well. She should be slightly off center (on your right). Thus your left foot is free to step whereever it wants to the left since she doesn't have any feet there. Your right foot will point between her feet. As long as you don't do anything crazy your foot will stay there, between her feet (not on top of them). Same goes for the girl. Her left foot should be free, and her right foot pointed between your feet. As long as you stay that way, there will be no stepping on each other's foot. Also note: the most romantic ballroom dances (rumba and bolero) don't involve picking the foot up (it slides along the floor). When you slide the foot you cannot possibly step on the other person. However you can slide your foot right into her toenails if she is wearing open toed shoes. You most likely will be wearing shoes that cannot slide very well, so you won't be able to slide them. But just take small steps, and don't lift far enough off the floor for her foot to go underneath yours. You will have no problems that way. Also if you are really clutzy, you can step more on your heels and not the balls of your feet, so in case you do step on her foot you won't be using any pressure (Note: this is the opposite of how you would dance properly in many romantic ballroom dances, they step only on the balls of the feet).
Someone above did mention that there are two styles: old and young. I think it is better to consider it a bit differently: defined steps or swaying. I've seen plenty of couples in their 90's doing the swaying, and couples in their teens doing the dances with defined steps.
Obviously no one can teach dancing on an online forum. But the vast majority of romantic songs are in 4/4 time. Meaning each measure of music has 4 beats. But most songs don't actually have an instrument playing a clear beat on all four. Almost always you will hear a drum on beats #1, #3, and #4. Thus the three slow dances I listed above also take three steps per measure (one slow step for counts #1 and #2, and two faster steps for counts #3 and #4). You of course don't have to do that if you don't want to. Other good ways to dance will be to take one step on each beat (#1, #2, #3, and #4) - but note that there won't be a clear signal to step on #2 so this can be easy to get off beat and this will be a bit fast for some songs. The other good way to dance is to take a step on #1 and a second step on #3. This will involve a slow sway to the left (for the males, right for the females) on #1 and a slow sway to the right (for the males, left for the females) on #3. If you have no dance experience I suggest you do this last method. Note in Europe the directions are reversed (males start to the right on the first step).
How to avoid stepping on feet: That one is a bit tricky for beginners. Here are some things to think about. Stand with your feet slightly apart - let her stand with her feet slightly apart as well. She should be slightly off center (on your right). Thus your left foot is free to step whereever it wants to the left since she doesn't have any feet there. Your right foot will point between her feet. As long as you don't do anything crazy your foot will stay there, between her feet (not on top of them). Same goes for the girl. Her left foot should be free, and her right foot pointed between your feet. As long as you stay that way, there will be no stepping on each other's foot. Also note: the most romantic ballroom dances (rumba and bolero) don't involve picking the foot up (it slides along the floor). When you slide the foot you cannot possibly step on the other person. However you can slide your foot right into her toenails if she is wearing open toed shoes. You most likely will be wearing shoes that cannot slide very well, so you won't be able to slide them. But just take small steps, and don't lift far enough off the floor for her foot to go underneath yours. You will have no problems that way. Also if you are really clutzy, you can step more on your heels and not the balls of your feet, so in case you do step on her foot you won't be using any pressure (Note: this is the opposite of how you would dance properly in many romantic ballroom dances, they step only on the balls of the feet).
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