7. Ballroom Dancing
Back in the day, dancing with a partner meant “slow dancing.” We’d either rock to the Stones (or later, the Talking Heads or the B-52’s) without touching another human being, or when Stairway to Heaven played, we’d hold onto our partner and awkwardly rock back and forth.
Nobody ever taught me how to actually dance with another person.
Whenever I’ve tried to swing around a dance floor with a partner, I’ve felt stiff and inept. I don’t follow well. Giving up control of the direction of my movements - or of anything in my life! - feels unnatural, and only now as I’m entering the last year of my fifth decade am I starting to let go. There’s not all that much we can actually control, so we might as well enjoy the ride.
And enjoy it I did when I took a ballroom dancing lesson.
I arrived a little early to the Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Dedham and watched as two couples worked with instructors to prepare for dancing at their weddings. Like me, none of them were naturals and they moved a bit woodenly - but by the end of the lesson the guys were picking up their brides and twirling them around. Not bad.
Lessons take place in the studio’s huge and beautifully renovated ballroom. The goal of the introductory lessons, like the one I took, is surely to sign people up for an expensive series of more in-depth lessons. Even though my instructor, Shaun, knew I was doing this as part of my adventure quest and didn’t want to sign on for more - at least not now - he treated me with kindness and patience.
Shaun is a warm and gregarious teacher who clearly loves what he does, both dancing and meeting new people. He introduced me to three dance steps: the fox trot, the rhumba, and swing. He made me feel like I could master the basics, even as I stepped on his foot or moved the wrong way, which happened often.
It’s a little embarrassing, but oh, well. Here’s the “before” video, taken when the lesson started:
Swing was the most fun and felt the most natural to me. With Shaun’s help, I felt like I was beginning to get it. Here’s a clip from the end of the lesson:
Dancing releases endorphins, reducing stress and making you feel good. You do it with other people, so it offers a way of connecting socially. And research shows an association between dance and a reduced risk of dementia.
When my adventure quest ends, this may be one I jump into more deeply. Tango, anyone?
Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Dedham, $80 for one private lesson and one group class for an individual or couple (I had a Groupon, so it cost $31.50).
