Who here knows how to dance?

[makenzie71]

Ballroom dancing, that is.

There's a joint in Lubbock me and Kalee hit up called "Strictly Ballroom"...kalee likes dancing and they had this "special" thing that's like 5 training sessions for $25.  It turns out it's actually really fun stuff...and I'm a macho white guy (meaning I hate dancing).  We learned the basics behind the Rumba, and a little bit of the waltz (which is almost the same thing), some cha cha pieces and some foxtrot steps our first night.  I actually can't wait to go back but it'll be a couple weeks, unfortunately.

Sadly though it's going to be hard to keep learning...this stuff is EXPENSIVE!  It's going to be something like $750 for 15 sessions (which I guess stretched over nearly 5 months with my schedule it's not that bad a price).  I'm going to try and swing it, though...in case anyone wants to make a donation!

Seriously, though, you guys with chicks, sift through your yellow pages and see what you've got locally. If they've got a cheap start out thingy then take your girl...it's as fun as they make it look on TV.

[Wrecent_Wryder]

f3

[Chilly Willy]

Good for you!  I've always wanted to learn how to dance and have often been ashamed of my lack of ability.  Please keep us posted as to how the lessons go.

Chilly

[makenzie71]

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."

-Robert A. Heinlein

I like that.

[yamahonkawazuki]

i can do all that!  cept for that one part...... im still alive 

[starwalt]

My wife and I have been dancing ballroom for about 2 years. It is great fun and super exercise.

Remember this: It is all about the lead (the man) and his ability to communicate to his partner. If you don't remember the steps, it will show.

Get with a group of beginners -- like track days -- and slowly work your way into it. This really does require a lot of practice because you are teaching your mind and body something very unusual.

Dancing, like sex, gets better with practice.  Practice lots.

Pretty soon you will be thinking about the types of dance you can do when you hear a song.

Most modern music goes well with the Cha-Cha.

When it comes to sex on the dance floor, the Tango, Rhumba, and Bolero are the best. Some of the advanced steps really shouldn't be viewed by children. 

Regarding the price, we've done most of ours through the Adult Education center through the school district. Check in your local area for that. Also look into Continuing Ed through the local junior colleges. Finally, if you have a club -- group of people that is -- they often have monthly dances and usually have a lesson before the dance. We've got about 80 members in our club and the monthly dances are just super. We have all levels of dancers in the group. I've seen some wild Swing moves that border on acrobatics.

The prices you are quoting sound like the professional studios. They serve a purpose, but there are alternatives.

Ballroom music is dirt cheap, but kinda hard to locate. It is typically dance specific. At the club dances, we have a total mix of dances and a playlist. Cheryl and I don't know them all, but we certainly will have a run at times of 6 to 8 dances we can do.

Great Rhumba tune: Dean Martin's version of  "Sway" (with me).

Our dances: Waltz, Rhumba, Swing (triple step), Foxtrot, Tango, Cha-Cha, some Mambo. We missed a Salsa (cuban) class.  We know an instructor that teaches private lessons cheap at the local dance school/studio. My wife went to high school with him.

There, that's enough.

[makenzie71]

awesome I'll start looking around for cheaper alternatives...I really would like to continue this but I can't afford the cost of "professional" lessons for just me and Kalee.  I've been thinking about asking her sister and her sister's husband if they would like to take the class with us to share the cost (the cost is for the instructor's time, not per couple).

I'm d/l'ing that song right now

[starwalt]

Here's a link to a USA Dance chapter list.

CLICK HERE

Scroll down to Texas and see if there is a chapter for you.
Membership in a national organization usually gets you a discount at monthly dances. As I mentioned previously, most monthly dances usually have a lesson included in the door fee.

Our local club charges $10/head for the club dance. We are not a USA Dance chapter, but there is one about 40 minutes away. They have a very nice renovated building with a nice floor. Refreshments are included and usually go way beyond pop and chips. We usually have a great dessert table, lots of fruit-veggie stuff and other heavy snacks.

We've attended one club that has a dinner dance with a live band. The floor is way too small though. Our local club uses the gym of a church. We traded out a new sound systsem for the use of the place.

[pantablo]

since no one has gone here yet...
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=31081.0

[ajaxgs]

     back to the meat sausage!!!!!!

[makenzie71]

I don't remember seeing anything on there about dancing...

Thanks Starwalt!

[pantablo]

straight men dont dance...

[makenzie71]

your name is pablo...like you don't dance.

[starwalt]

straight men dont dance...with men

Fixed - Pandy style!

[pandy]

 

You didn't see 'em at my son's wedding.... My son and all his pals danced together. I danced with the bride. Hard to tell how much of all this was the lovely open bar... 

Pssst....don't tell Barishnikov that straight men don't dance.... or Patrick Swayze....ooooh I'll bet Vin Diesel dances...

[pantablo]

your name is pablo...like you don't dance.

I dance...thats how you get the trim...

[Egaeus]

ooooh I'll bet Vin Diesel dances...

ooooh I'll bet Vin Diesel is ghey... 

[makenzie71]

I dance...

Damn straight you do.

[pandy]

ooooh I'll bet Vin Diesel is ghey... 

That's ok..... I'm ok; he's ok!   

[Dr. Love]

Ballroom := space in the front of a man's pants/trousers
Ballroom dancing... er, yeah...