What's it like going to a dance class as an adult beginner?
December 1, 2021 5:49 AM Subscribe
Learning ballroom has been on my wishlist since I was a teen but I am someone who takes a very long time to learn how to dance because it's just not something that comes naturally. Impatient teachers kill my resolve quickly. What's it like being in a beginner class for adults and how can I work with an instructor so they will be really patient with me? (I am strangely good at waltzing if I have a talented partner so maybe there's hope?)
I've taken belly dance, salsa, and tap as an adult. As a child, I took ballet for less than six months, so I don't have anything you could call a dancing background.
Just as with any class, teachers varied in how good they were at explaining things, but I never felt in any way that a teacher was being impatient with me. I agree that it's always best to have a private instructor for almost anything, but I've been very happy with the classes I've taken. If you want to do it, just go for it. If you don't like the first class you take, try another one. Also, classes I've taken have had a wide variety of ages and body shapes - they've been very inclusive. I love taking dance as an adult.
posted by FencingGal at 6:11 AM on December 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
Just as with any class, teachers varied in how good they were at explaining things, but I never felt in any way that a teacher was being impatient with me. I agree that it's always best to have a private instructor for almost anything, but I've been very happy with the classes I've taken. If you want to do it, just go for it. If you don't like the first class you take, try another one. Also, classes I've taken have had a wide variety of ages and body shapes - they've been very inclusive. I love taking dance as an adult.
posted by FencingGal at 6:11 AM on December 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
I started taking salsa classes at age 40 and it is one of my happiest life decisions. In my experience it is almost always the students who are frustrated by their pace of learning and the teachers who are coaching patience and practice. The number one goal should be to have fun! No need to stick with any instructor who makes you feel bad in any way, whether directly or by how they speak to others. Sure, it sometimes takes a bit longer to pick up a move, but a good teacher will just keep trying different ways to explain and demonstrate.
Bottom line: do it!
posted by meinvt at 6:19 AM on December 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
Bottom line: do it!
posted by meinvt at 6:19 AM on December 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
Additional ballroom versus social dance specific thought: the ballroom scene tends towards dancing as presentation. You will get a lot of really specific feedback about posture, hold, and how you present yourself and your partner. Many (most?) who participate also do some level of competition. Social dance, from Afro-Latin to swing, tends to be much more about how to establish the partner connection with far less focus on presentation. The range varies quite a bit. And, if you find the partner connection distracting there is belly dance, capoeira, afro-beats, tap, etc. as solo dances you can learn. If things don't hit your sweet spot right away, also consider a different dance style as well as instructor. Everyone has their favorites, but your teacher and fellow students will all likely have many opinions to help you find the one that makes your heart sing.
posted by meinvt at 6:25 AM on December 1, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by meinvt at 6:25 AM on December 1, 2021 [7 favorites]
You may well get an instructor who is frustrated, just because the pool of instructors draws from the pool of skilled dancers and there's not a lot of training in how to really teach, so you might get a new or not very good one. For me, that would be a cue to get a different instructor or a different environment - someone who can actually stop and teach you the basic physical tricks.
The big casual dance classes are sometimes like "now spin!" And the good dance classes will be like, "put your left foot forward and shift your weight onto it, then pivot on your toes so you're facing the other way...". You can see there's a lot of difference in how much actual instruction is happening.
posted by Lady Li at 9:13 AM on December 1, 2021 [4 favorites]
The big casual dance classes are sometimes like "now spin!" And the good dance classes will be like, "put your left foot forward and shift your weight onto it, then pivot on your toes so you're facing the other way...". You can see there's a lot of difference in how much actual instruction is happening.
posted by Lady Li at 9:13 AM on December 1, 2021 [4 favorites]
Following up on meinvt, do you mean social ballroom dancing, like in history where you dance with people you (now) know and no judges, or International Ballroom like on competitive TV shows?
Both will be better with a teacher you click with, of course, but the former warrants dance classes with lots of people as soon as you can because being able to dance with anybody is so much of the point. And the postures and leading are different. But if there’s only an IB/AB scene where you are, you can certainly dance socially in it, and that’s what all the teachers will be teaching. You only need to choose if you’re lucky enough to be somewhere with a choice.
PS - social dancing is the single thing I miss most in Covid caution. And it’s better with more dancers, so any experienced dancer with sense will be eager to dance some with beginners because that’s the only way to get experienced dancers. Lots of people weren’t naturals, they just liked the music, or a movie, or a sweetie dragged them to it long enough for them to get good. People can go years counting under their breath and still be great to dance with!
If you dance well with a good lead, you’re good at following which is an actual gift.
posted by clew at 11:09 AM on December 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
Both will be better with a teacher you click with, of course, but the former warrants dance classes with lots of people as soon as you can because being able to dance with anybody is so much of the point. And the postures and leading are different. But if there’s only an IB/AB scene where you are, you can certainly dance socially in it, and that’s what all the teachers will be teaching. You only need to choose if you’re lucky enough to be somewhere with a choice.
PS - social dancing is the single thing I miss most in Covid caution. And it’s better with more dancers, so any experienced dancer with sense will be eager to dance some with beginners because that’s the only way to get experienced dancers. Lots of people weren’t naturals, they just liked the music, or a movie, or a sweetie dragged them to it long enough for them to get good. People can go years counting under their breath and still be great to dance with!
If you dance well with a good lead, you’re good at following which is an actual gift.
posted by clew at 11:09 AM on December 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
Answering your actual question , sorry, MOST of the beginners in most of my waltz classes have been at least thirty. Many sixty. Heavy sprinkling of people who want a social thing that wasn’t in bars - that comes in all ages.
Only too late if you don’t start now.
posted by clew at 11:17 AM on December 1, 2021
Only too late if you don’t start now.
posted by clew at 11:17 AM on December 1, 2021
How slow the instructor is willing to go will depend on the class size, how quickly everybody else is picking it up, and the instructor’s own personality. I ended up having to retake the beginners’ tango class, but it was fun and I really needed the repetition.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 3:32 PM on December 1, 2021
posted by The Underpants Monster at 3:32 PM on December 1, 2021
I did a short introduction to dance course in my forties and it was both excruciating and fun. I think I was the eldest and I was pretty bad but I didn’t really care - I probably wasn’t going to see any of these people again! Give it a whirl. It was a smallish class (8ish?) and as others have said, the smaller a class, the more attention from the teacher you’ll get. You’d hope any teacher teaching adult beginners would be patient - mine was - so if they’re not, leave and find another.
posted by fabius at 6:06 AM on December 3, 2021
posted by fabius at 6:06 AM on December 3, 2021
I am really bad at dancing but have taken a couple social ballroom classes. I may have gotten lucky but everyone was very welcoming and patient with my complete ineptitude. It seemed like a very friendly community and I have fond memories of the people I met.
posted by sepviva at 5:28 PM on December 3, 2021
posted by sepviva at 5:28 PM on December 3, 2021
You can practice some things before class that should make class easier. These build on each other:
1) listen to good danceable music! Enjoy the phrases, the slight changes in tempo, the verve of the beat
2) Walk around to the music, one step per beat. V useful for beginner waltz to always take a step per beat, get that "into your feet" and in class your head only has to worry about where to step, not when or which foot.
3) Walk tall, shoulders relaxed, back of your head high, don’t look down at all. This is a gentle counter-action to hunching over desks and cellphones, too.
4) Relax while walking so your legs can swing freely from the hip joint straight forward and back. We are now partway into a Pilates class or something like, doing this is not easy in a sitting life, but it will make your dancing better and should feel pretty good.
posted by clew at 12:04 PM on December 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
1) listen to good danceable music! Enjoy the phrases, the slight changes in tempo, the verve of the beat
2) Walk around to the music, one step per beat. V useful for beginner waltz to always take a step per beat, get that "into your feet" and in class your head only has to worry about where to step, not when or which foot.
3) Walk tall, shoulders relaxed, back of your head high, don’t look down at all. This is a gentle counter-action to hunching over desks and cellphones, too.
4) Relax while walking so your legs can swing freely from the hip joint straight forward and back. We are now partway into a Pilates class or something like, doing this is not easy in a sitting life, but it will make your dancing better and should feel pretty good.
posted by clew at 12:04 PM on December 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
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posted by tipsyBumblebee at 6:05 AM on December 1, 2021 [1 favorite]