Ballroom Dancing Can Be for the Younger Generation Too!
Ballroom dancing is for people of all ages and social classes. There are many different ballroom dances and many different styles of these dances. The most popular ballroom dances are the Cha-Cha, Foxtrot, Waltz, Samba, Rumba, Jive, Swing, Mambo, Paso Doble, Quick-step, Tango, and the Viennese Waltz. The ballroom dances that are considered to be Latin dances are Cha-Cha, Paso Doble, Salsa, Rumba, Mambo, Merengue, and the Argentine Tango. Since there are so many different styles, sometimes it is easier to learn one dance at a time. If you are learning multiple dances at a time, it’s best to choose dances that are similar in rhythm to hinder confusion.
Ballroom dancing is mainly known as a dance for the older generation, but the younger generation of dancers are growing larger and larger. As the community of ballroom dance is adding in more of the younger generation, it adds more diversity and challenge into the dancing. The younger generation is becoming more involved in this type of dancing all over the world. On social media sites there are more and more videos of kids 10 and under dancing together in competitions and completely astounding the crowds and all of the online viewers. In select colleges they are even offering classes to help the younger generation learn this amazing style of dance.
Not only is ballroom fun, but it also keeps you moving. In today’s age many people are turning into « couch potatoes ». It can also be a fun way to exercise while still socializing and making friends. Many people, especially the younger generation, are shy and unable to come out of his/her shell. Ballroom dancing causes you to slowly become more comfortable in your own skin. I have noticed this in my own life while dancing the West Coast Swing. In this particular dance there are a lot of times when you have to freestyle and do your own thing. I have found that the more I dance this dance, the more I come out of my shell in who I am as a person and who I am as a dancer.
Another great thing about younger dancers is that we can do a lot more than the elderly generation can. I teach a cotillion class to a group of middle school aged students and they learn things so much faster than you could imagine. Whether it is that their bodies are younger and more able to do these moves that I’m teaching them, or maybe it’s that their minds are sharper than the mind of an elderly person. Regardless, ballroom dancing comes so easy to the young generation and they seem to enjoy the style just as much as the more « normal » styles of dance for that age group. Also, the younger generation can « move » better than most elderly dancers. By adding in the younger generation into the mix, we are keeping ballroom dancing alive and fun for generations to come.
Not only is the older generation accepting of the younger generation, but they love watching us dance. Over the years I have never received any negative feedback from older dancers. They all love the fact that the dancing that they have loved for years is being loved just as much from people of a completely different generation. Ballroom dancing is all about having fun and learning to social dance. Ballroom dancing is done at many professional events and is a great skill to acquire. It’s never too early or too late in life to learn such an important style of dance.
