Ballroom dancers glide across gleaming floors under sparkling lights, seemingly born with an almost supernatural grace that keeps them afloat out there. Don’t be fooled, though: all that effortless style and perfectly honed skill is actually the result of years of practice. Even if you think you have two left feet, or that you lack the rhythm of a Gene Kelley or Ginger Rogers, with just a bit of practice, expertise, and guidance in a safe and fun space, you’ll be impressing your friends- and yourself- with your moves in no time at all.

All you have to do is start.

Why Ballroom Dance?

Ballroom dancing is a popular pastime for people of every age, and everyones reason for starting might look a bit different. There are plenty of excuses to begin your ballroom dance lessons as soon as possible.

Fun

Vicki Baum, an Austrian writer, once said: “There are shortcuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them.” That was true long before Baum said it, and remains true today. Exercising both your brain and your body while learning new dance steps, twirling around the floor, tango-ing or two-stepping; there’s nothing quite like the joy you feel during and after a good dance class. In fact, it’s so enjoyable, it might be the only reason you need to get started and keep coming back.

Fitness

Ballroom dance is also a great work out. Some dances are a bit more intense-think Salsa, Cha Cha, and East Coast Swing-but even the slower styles like the Viennese Waltz and Foxtrot require careful attention to your muscles and movements that give you a whole-body workout that’s second-to-none, especially when you keep it consistent.

Friends

Looking to make new friends? There’s no better place than a dance floor. In-studio dance classes give you the chance to bond with people looking to learn just like you, plus get guidance from professionally trained dancers who are excited to share what they know.

Don’t believe us? The Scientific American backs this up, finding that dancing is one of the best tools for bonding, thanks to its tendency to blur “the self into their groups thanks to the synchronization that occurs while dancing.”

5 Dances Best for Ballroom Beginners

If you’re looking to learn a few dance steps, here are 5 ballroom dances we recommend starting with. Each of these styles is perfect for beginners, thanks to pretty basic steps and regular repetition.

Waltz

When you’re first getting started, the Waltz is absolutely one of the easiest ballroom dances to learn. It’s a slow dance using just four steps. The distinctive smooth and flowing style and three-quarter timing make it fairly intuitive for many dancers to pick up.

The name itself comes from the German word “walzen” meaning “to revolve”, and all of that graceful spinning around the dance floor, especially when you add you’re own flair with the rise and fall in your body expression, are sure to impress.

Foxtrot

Fred and Ginger fans will know this one well. This Old Hollywood staple is a beautiful and rhythmic dance, with a basic step that consists of just two slow steps forwards-backwards if you are the partner following-and two quick steps to the left-to the right if you are following. In other words, the Foxtrot sequence can be defined as a four step slow-slow-quick-quick tempo.

That might sound like complicated lingo, but trust us: this may just be the easiest ballroom dance to start with.

Swing

The high energy and tempo that are associated with swing dance can be intimidating at first, but the truth is learning the basic steps of this style is pretty simple. Plus, these steps can easily be adapted and used to learn other dances.

There are quite a few different styles of swing as well. They include the Lindy Hop, Charleston, Shag, East Coast Swing, and West Coast Swing. When you’re first starting out, most pros recommend the East Coast Swing, since it’s commonly considered the easiest to learn.

The key for many of these styles is shifting your weight between your feet at different times. Once you have that down, you’ll find that putting some swing in your step comes easy. This fun dance also allows plenty of room for a but of personality, so don’t be afraid to put your own twist on it.

Rumba

Originating in eastern Cuba in the 16th century, the Rumba is a sensual dance with basic steps: two quick side steps and a slow forward step. Like other latin styles of dance, such as the Bachata, Salsa and Merengue, the hips are very active throughout.

In this dance the hip movement is called the “Cuban motion”. This is the signature rhythmic rotation of the hips while the spine and torso remain straight, which also involves a bending of the knees.

The satisfying steps and sultry but lively hip movements make this a lovely dance to watch and perform.

Cha Cha

There’s no doubt that you’ve heard of the Cha Cha, and for good reason. This rhythmic ballroom dance is fun, playful, and full of life.

Like the Rumba, the Cha Cha is a latin style dance with origins in Cuba, with a quick and rhythmic step and the added flared of the hip motion (“Cuban motion”). The basic pattern is conducted in 4/4 time, and includes just three steps and a shuffle, which means you can really focus on feeling the rhythm in your hips and having a good time!

Get Started Learning Easy Dances at our Studio in Durham!

Whether you’re starting out on your journey to becoming a pro, or you just want a workout that’s a little more fun that the average gym visit, beginner ballroom dance classes are the best place to start.

At Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Durham, we cater to all levels of dancers, including beginners. For information on our dance classes and dance lessons, call us at 919-489-4313 or fill out our online contact form below!