Despite the fact that social dance has been an important aspect of society through the centuries and around the world, social dance in America and beyond in recent years. A particular social dance form that is endangered in our modern era is ballroom dance.
Why should we care? Why should we care when any art form is in danger of dying out? Does it enrich us? Is it history? Is it a form of expression that will no longer be reasonably accessible? We can answer in the affirmative to those last three questions. That tells us we should care.
Here are some reasons why ballroom dance is worth saving. Ballroom dance:
improves memory and concentration
increases physical strength and flexibility
improves cardiovascular health
improves balance and posture
builds self-confidence
builds interpersonal skills
can strengthen relationships
is a good way to meet new people
is a fun active way to spend an evening
can reduce screen time
As you can see, the benefits of ballroom dance are numerious and varied.
Also of note is the fact that ballroom dance is a much broader term than many realize. When people think ballroom they generally seem to think of scenes like in Beauty and The Beast and Scent of a Woman. The dance you see in Beauty and The Beast is the Viennese Waltz.
In Scent of a Woman the dance featured is the Tango.
These two dances seem to be the standard of what comes to mind when ballroom dance is mentioned, but they are only two out of many.
Some ballroom dances are:
Waltz
Viennese Waltz
Cha Cha
Samba
Rumba
Tango
Foxtrot
East Coast Swing
West Coast Swing
Merengue
Bolero
Mambo
Bachata
Night Club 2-Step
As you can see, there are many options and not all of them have the precise posture which most people visualize when they think of ballroom.
There are many styles to account for the individuality of the prospective dancer and each has its own music style. Just because one style does not appeal to the individual does not necessarily mean that ballroom dance is not for them. It’s just like finding a style of clothing. Look for what expresses your personal taste.
How can you help save this beneficial art form? You can:
Spread the word via social media and word-of-mouth
Take dance lessons and go to social dances to:
1. provide others with a dance partner
2. support teachers and groups in the area
If we all lend a hand we will not have to see this wonderful art form relegated to cobwebs. Let’s dance together.