Somehow, you’ve arrived at this site because you have some level interest in dancing.  Somebody or some event in your life introduced you to the idea that you could improve your life by adding dance into it.  Take a moment to congratulate yourself for beginning a fantastic adventure.  You’ll find that the rewards are well worth the effort you put into it.

What Motivates us to Dance?

There is a common human desire to move rhythmically to music.  Although we could get very philosophical, we can break the motivation down in to three main reasons:  to express oneself artistically, to fulfill the need for human connection, and to create sexual attraction.

Artistic Expression

When was the last time you found yourself  in the car, listening to a favorite tune on the stereo and tapping the steering wheel, drumming the dashboard or singing along at the top of your lungs?  Music has an emotional effect on us and it, quite literally, moves us.  When you listen to music that you like, you participate in small or large ways either by singing along or moving with the rhythm.

It is a relief to participate in a predictable rhythm.  And an exciting rhythm excites!

Human Connection

A smile directed your way, a “thank you” at the end of the dance or simply enjoying the presence of another person can fill the need that we all have to feel connected to one another.

Creating Sexual Attraction

Expressions of desire and romance can be found in nearly all forms of ballroom dancing.  It brings men and women into close proximity where a physical and mental commitment are made.  While the man is evaluating his partner physically, the woman is evaluating his sincerity, attentiveness and courtesy to her.  And she is evaluating how well he moves, perhaps a sign of things to come.

In the next article we’ll delve into social dance benefits.  In the meantime, get out and dance!

Partner Dancing – Something for Everyone!

Health benefits:

• Continuous dancing for 30 minutes burns between 200 and 2,400 calories
  How vigorous you dance, the style of dance, and who you dance with determines the rate of burn
• Regular social dance exercise improves cardiovascular fitness
  And it’s much more fun than running on a treadmill!
• Many dance motions strengthen the leg muscles
• Improved balance and coordination
• Better body language and self image
  Studies have shown that the way others perceive you is less about what you say than it is about how you communicate in a physical sense.  Face it, how often are you aware of slouching or hunching over at the dinner table?  As you progress and become a better dancer you will become more aware of your posture and begin portraying a better self image.
• Reduced stress
  Partner dancing requires that you be in the moment.  When you’re fully in the moment, problems of work and day to day living are left at the doorstep.

Social benefits:

When you start dancing a particular style of dance you’ll be going to lessons and social dances on a regular basis. Of course, you’ll meet people that also share your passion. Friendships will naturally evolve.

Single Women

Ladies, do you want to meet men that are more than their job, more than eat, sleep and work? How about meeting men that are masculine yet sensitive, attentive and enjoy the arts?
Partner dancing gives you that excuse to buy those cute shoes and wear that sexy dress. You can flirt and explore your playful and sensuous side.
Depending on what your looking for you’ll want to avoid the players. Here are some tips to find a great guy!

Single Men

Whatever dating methods your using, internet, speed dating, bar or club scene, parties and other social gatherings, you’ve got to do a lot of work to do to meet a few women. When you learn to dance you can be holding hands with a lovely girl in 15 seconds and you can easily meet 30 women in a night. Your pickup line becomes, “Would you like to dance?” You can also enhance whatever your already doing by casually dropping that you like to swing dance or salsa dance. You’ll be amazed at how many woman will say, “Oh, I’ve always wanted to try that!” Your gonna want to seize that opportunity.

Several years ago, when I was doing internet dating, it would take between five and fifteen minutes to find a profile, read it, respond to it, wait days and rarely get a reply. The truth of the matter is that a moderately good looking woman gets 30 or more emails a day and doesn’t have time to reply to them all. She’s not mean, she’s just busy. In that amount of time I could have danced with one to three women. Learning partner dances leverages your time and money and is much more satisfying!

Women want an interesting man. Which is more interesting, a man that is expert at micro brews and sits on a bar stool on a Friday night or a man that knows how to dance? Are you going to have a more interesting date if you take her to dinner and a movie or out dancing? Your skills at Halo simply aren’t going to turn her on.

Women want a man with confidence. When you first start you won’t have much skill on the dance floor. Take a long term view. As you progress your confidence will increase on and off the dance floor. Take a look at gaining confidence with women.

Couples

If your just learning to dance, you and your partner form a team to overcome challenges, teach each other, and help one another to learn a new skill. Although this can present challenges to a strained relationship, it can also provide opportunity to build a deeper connection, show your patience and willingness to help your lover and improve your communication. In a future article I’ll cover some points for couples who just starting to partner dance together.

When your dancing with someone you love you get to express your feelings, tease and flirt freely with one another.

Men, partner dancing provides a great opportunity for you to show your partner how confident you are by stretching your comfort zone and getting out there and trying something new. And the fact that your doing it for her gives you bonus points!!!

Ladies, this is your opportunity to dress to the nines and show your self-confidence as well.