The Magic of Ballroom Dancing

by Jean Reynolds
Im swirling around a beautiful ballroom in the arms of a
handsome man. He expertly guides me through one complex dance
pattern after another, perfectly matched to the music playing in the
background. At the end of the day I go up to the judges table, where
Im given a handful of blue and gold ribbonsawards for my dancing
skills. Ive been a ballroom dancer for over twenty years, and what
began as a casual pastime has become a passion. Ballroom dancing
has enriched my life in ways I couldnt have imagined.
One unexpected change has been increased confidence. Im an
English teacher whos always been more comfortable in a classroom
or library than at a party. When I started taking ballroom lessons, my
teacher told me that I needed to go to the studio parties to practice
dancing with other partners. I was terrified: Who would want to
dance with an absolute beginner like me? What would we talk about?
Would I fit in? What I discovered was that dancers are gracious
people who encourage one another and arent bothered at all by an
occasional mistake. Our shared interest in dancing meant that there
was always something to talk about, and I began to expand my world
beyond the academic little box where I usually spent my time. Twenty
years later, I have rich friendships with a diverse group of men and
women who love dancing as much as I do.
Another surprise was learning to appreciate music on a new level.
Ive always loved music, I have a huge CD collection, and I often

stream songs on my computer when Im writing. But I had never

thought about phrasing, breaks, tempo changes, and other features of
popular songs. After a few years of lessons and dance parties, I began
to listen more closely to how songs are orchestrated and sung. For
example, I used to think that most of Frank Sinatras songs were
pretty much alike. But now I know that his music can be romantic,
sassy, tender, brash, or elegant. My favorite discovery is that I can
perform right along with Sinatra by improvising an arm movement or
tossing my head at an exciting moment in a song.
The greatest gift that dancing has given me is fun. I love dressing
up, experimenting with makeup and hairdos, and wearing fancy shoes
decorated with rhinestones. Dance parties are always full of laughter,
and often we play games on the dance floor. I used to be afraid of
competitions and showcases because I thought the dancers would be
stuffy and arrogant. The truth is very different: Dancing attracts
people who want to squeeze the most enjoyment out of their lives.
Ballroom dancing is surprisingly playful, with lots of teasing and
joking on the dance floor. Im always glowing at the end of an evening
of dancing. The biggest surprise of all is that the lessons are just as
much fun. Its a totally different kind of learning thats good for my
body and soul.
It took courage for me to walk into a dance studio the first time,
and even more courage to come back for the next lesson. It was scary
to watch the other students gliding confidently with their teachers.
Would I ever be able to dance the way they did? The first steps are
the hardest, my teacher reassured meand he was right. Im so glad

I decided to try ballroom dancing, and I cant wait to put on my dance

shoes again for another evening of sheer delight.