Number One Reason People Take Ballroom Dance Lessons

Passion is an emotion achieved through a cascading sequence of events.

1. Interest
2. Desire
3. Passion

First, we become interested in one thing or another. Then that interest builds up into a desire to learn more. If the desire keeps building, then before you know it, you are passionately pursuing what was just an interest not too long ago.

Ballroom dancing is a unique business and wonderful hobby for all ages. Listening to music you love and dancing with a partner to it, can make an evening special and tons of fun.

Basic social dancing is fun and easy to learn. It is healthy for the mind and body. It is also a good way to meet other people. There are a lot of reasons people like to social dance, but most have the same reasons for learning to dance.

My own reasons for choosing dance as a profession, was influenced in my early years of life. I know these events steered my decision to twinkle my toes for a living.

However, my decision to choose one profession or a hobby over another is irrelevant. The why is what is important!

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As humans, we don’t have to worry too much about primordial survival as much as we used to. The lions, tigers, and bears are not just outside the entrance of the cave. Protecting ourselves and the tribe once took up a great deal of our time.

Nowadays – not so much!

Therefore, we are always trying to enrich our lives with some form of a purpose and fun. The human experience demands a certain level of enjoyment. We must have time to smile, laugh, and to be appreciated. This is what allows us to endure the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Better known as the stress from being alive.

Happiness can be found in having an achievable purpose. Most students I know are not interested in having a purpose of becoming a competitor. A showcase, once or twice a year, their private and group lessons, and the weekly parties are as serious they want to get.

Still, it doesn’t matter which kind of a student you are, casual or competitor, the reason remains the same for taking lessons. Everybody is trying to make their life more fun, interesting, and exciting.

When King Arthur, asked Merlin the Wizard what to do because he was feeling depressed and sad, he answered,

“How many times must I tell you, Wart? Learn something! Simply, learn something!”

Learning something new, in some way, enhances the person you are. It does make you feel better! Learning to dance has made me feel incredible for more than 50 years.

So, if you’re an instructor and a new student stands before you, remember the reason they are wanting to take lessons. If you remember the sequence of events it will help.

Spark your student’s interest to learn. Feed their desire to know more. Assist them through depression and frustration that comes with all learning. Keep setting achievable goals to stoke the flames of passionate learning. Always give credit where credit is due.

Summary: A motivational closing for the naysayers. The ones that say they can’t dance.

I never want to hear people say they can’t learn to dance. If you can walk, then you can dance. Social dancing is nothing more than organized walking to a beat.

I’ve taught thousands of people to dance who said they couldn’t hear the beat, had two left feet, or were just unteachable. However, there are three reasons this is not true:

1. If you can hear the music, you can hear the beat because it is inside the music. You are just unable to recognize the beat.
2. I have never met a person who actually had two left feet. If they did, buying shoes would be rather expensive.
3. An unteachable person is someone who already thinks they know everything, or they have no interest in learning.

The unteachable person is usually when a spouse drags their partner in hoping the instructor can spark some interest in them. This can work but it’s not an easy job for an instructor.

Remember who the true teacher is on a lesson. It is the student not the instructor! The instructor can only instruct; they can’t make a person practice the information given to them. It is the student who is responsible for their own learning.

When a person takes responsibility for their learning then it is much easier to help them become a good, confident, and comfortable social dancer.

So, if you love music, don’t be afraid to give dance a chance.

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Peace, Love, and Unconditional Happiness!