So you think you can't dance? Think again!

So you think you can't dance? Think  again!

Let’s take a little look at what thoughts go through out heads that tend to keep us away from the dance floor.  Do any of the thoughts below sound familiar?

Thought: "I have no talent."

Such a convincing little voice... There’s one catch with its logic: dancing requires no talent. It just requires learning a few new skills, just like every other new activity. The good dancers you see on the floor are not people with talent. Those are people who have taken a few dance lessons either as adults or as children. The ones that are really good are generally the ones who have taken dance lessons and then practiced what they learned.

Thought: " I have no rhythm."

So you see that some people can hear the beat and you have trouble finding it? How many of those people learned to play an instrument as children? There is a tendency to compare our present music skill level to that of people who have already had musical education and experience. Learning to hear the rhythm often requires some instruction and some practice. Also, isn’t it a bit unfair that, as children, little girls learn activities that coordinate their movement with a beat like hop scotch, jump rope and ballet, while little boys learn to knock each other down on the football field? Which gender do you think usually has an easier time hearing the beat? Hmmm...

Thought: "I don’t have a dancer’s body type - I am too fat, too tall, too short…"

This one always seems to me the most unfair of everything we tell ourselves. So, only skinny supermodels of very particular dimensions get to have fun on the dance floor? Really? Don’t other body types get equal rights?

Thought: " I don’t want to look stupid."

Ahh.. Now we get down to it. When we are up dancing, we may feel more visible than when we are on the sidelines wistfully watching. However, for the most part everyone is far too concerned with their own lives to notice who is and who isn't dancing. It may be that someone may see you dance before you have become the perfect dancer. But, I wonder, when you have seen a couple get up and dance, regardless how unpolished their technique, do you think, "they look stupid", or do you think, “Oh! I wish I had the courage to do that!”? Also, have you not noticed the phenomenon that when someone gets up who is not very coordinated and dances anyway, suddenly a few more people feel permission to get up and dance, too? Dancing is about having fun and moving around to music. Everyone wants to do it, and few have the courage to just get up and get the party started. Once you have started dancing, it is so much fun, it is much easier the next time.

Thought: " I can’t afford lessons."

So, let’s look at how much it actually costs takes to start to dance. You can learn enough to lead and follow in one private lesson, which generally costs around $95.  In several private dance lessons, you can get enough basic moves to feel comfortable going out on the dance floor. 

If you want to learn more patterns for particular dances - salsa, chacha, tango, waltz, you can take more private lessons. Or, you can take group classes, which generally cost about $15 per class. Group classes have the advantage of you getting to meet more nice people that are learning to dance as well, so you can make friends while you learn to dance.

If you want to learn to dance more quickly,  private lessons are a good option, as the teacher can teach at exactly your pace, and you can learn particular techniques that help make your dancing feel more comfortable and lead and follow more smoothly. However, beginning group classes are also a great option to get started. A combination of both is ideal!

The point is that dance requires little money to get going. After you learn, there are so many great opportunities  to try out your newly acquired skills - live bands, ballrooms, weddings, parties... If you want to dance like those on "Dancing with the Stars", it may take a fair number of lessons and a quite a bit of of practice. But, you can learn to dance now with one lesson,  like You!

Get up from the sidelines. Come dance!