By Chang Se-moon
I am a dancer. To me, a dancer is someone who enjoys dancing, regardless of how good a dancer one may be. In skills, I am about average, good enough to mix in the dancing crowd but nothing to brag about. What I am not sure is whether I am a ballroom dancer or a social dancer.
Perhaps, the best way of making the distinction is to divide ballroom dancing into two groups: social ballroom dancing or social dancing in brief, and competitive ballroom dancing.
I need to introduce two more confusing terminologies: American dancing which allows free movement, and European dancing which usually maintains a closed position and is more formal. I do not watch dancing programs on TV because their dancing is competitive ballroom dancing, which is judged for posture, timing, body alignment, and more.
If you are judgmental, you are not a social dancer. You should not be, anyway. In social dancing, there is a saying that you dance as if no one is watching. Some competitive ballroom dancers mix quite well in a social dance setting. Social dancers are likely frustrated if they mix in competitive ballroom dancing.
One is not superior to the other. Both have similar basic steps that you have to learn. The two serve different groups of dancers. Competitive ballroom dancing is also called "dance sport" and is under consideration as an Olympic sport waiting to be approved. I think it should be.
So far as I can tell, the sole purpose of social dancing is to enjoy life. Apparently, I am a social dancer.
Leisure World north of Washington DC, where I live, is a classy retirement community with about 8,000 residents that offers all kinds of dancing opportunities regardless of your skill level. I even belong to a nice group of dancers who call themselves Swingles or swinging singles. Near Leisure World, at least two more places are very popular among social dancers.
Hollywood Ballroom Dance Center has a unique program called Tea Dance, which hosts social dancers every Thursday afternoon. They even provide well-prepared snacks. Holiday Park Senior Center has a unique program called Friday 1 PM, which hosts social dancers every Friday at 1 pm. Both are well managed and well attended. Singles and couples appear evenly divided. I have not been able to find similar places in Seoul.
By the way, you usually do not ask someone to dance with you, if he or she is with a partner such as a spouse or a steady. Also, females have as much right to ask males to dance as males do to females. This is especially true in my case because female dancers quickly found out that I could never say no.
Even in social dancing, you really should take lessons on some basic steps. The more basic steps you learn, the easier you can dance with partners you never met before.
A number of steps are interchangeable among fox, rumba, and waltz. A number of steps are also interchangeable among mambo, salsa, bachata, and merengue. Beyond the basic steps, you can be as creative as you want to be in social dancing.
There is bad news for guys. In ballroom dancing, guys usually lead their female partners. This means that guys have to study harder than their female partners. You cannot think of next steps while music is being played. When females are good dancers, they often make ordinary guys look like good dancers.
Let me tell you my story. Mei and Marilyn are very good dancers. I was intimidated to ask them to dance with me. Luckily for me, they first asked me to dance with them.
When Mei and I went to the middle of the dance floor, I was not quite sure which dance step would be appropriate for the music being played. When we realized that there was no time to think, Ms. Mei told me to "just move." Sure enough, I began to move and we danced the music away.
As for Marilyn, I tried a new and sophisticated step that I picked up from YouTube only to realize that I forgot how to close the step. Being a super dancer, Marilyn quickly whispered to me "let me lead" and we moved on to the end of the music. I have no doubt that many who saw us dancing thought that I was a very good dancer. Truth is that Marilyn made me look good well beyond my level of competence.
When I am alone, I practice dancing steps. Importantly, I also practice how to lead. Probably because of my attention to leading, many dancing partners have told me that I am a good dancer. I always try to dress well and wear a tie even when it is not required. I do it out of my respect for social dancing.
One day, I saw an elderly lady at Leisure World who could not even stand up without cane. I asked her to dance with me. We danced very simple steps, while everyone was watching. After the music ended, she looked so happy and whispered to me that it was the best day of her life.
Chang Se-moon is the director of the Gulf Coast Center for Impact Studies. Write to him at: changsemoon@yahoo.com.
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Perhaps, the best way of making the distinction is to divide ballroom dancing into two groups: social ballroom dancing or social dancing in brief, and competitive ballroom dancing.
I need to introduce two more confusing terminologies: American dancing which allows free movement, and European dancing which usually maintains a closed position and is more formal. I do not watch dancing programs on TV because their dancing is competitive ballroom dancing, which is judged for posture, timing, body alignment, and more.
If you are judgmental, you are not a social dancer. You should not be, anyway. In social dancing, there is a saying that you dance as if no one is watching. Some competitive ballroom dancers mix quite well in a social dance setting. Social dancers are likely frustrated if they mix in competitive ballroom dancing.
One is not superior to the other. Both have similar basic steps that you have to learn. The two serve different groups of dancers. Competitive ballroom dancing is also called "dance sport" and is under consideration as an Olympic sport waiting to be approved. I think it should be.
So far as I can tell, the sole purpose of social dancing is to enjoy life. Apparently, I am a social dancer.
Leisure World north of Washington DC, where I live, is a classy retirement community with about 8,000 residents that offers all kinds of dancing opportunities regardless of your skill level. I even belong to a nice group of dancers who call themselves Swingles or swinging singles. Near Leisure World, at least two more places are very popular among social dancers.
Hollywood Ballroom Dance Center has a unique program called Tea Dance, which hosts social dancers every Thursday afternoon. They even provide well-prepared snacks. Holiday Park Senior Center has a unique program called Friday 1 PM, which hosts social dancers every Friday at 1 pm. Both are well managed and well attended. Singles and couples appear evenly divided. I have not been able to find similar places in Seoul.
By the way, you usually do not ask someone to dance with you, if he or she is with a partner such as a spouse or a steady. Also, females have as much right to ask males to dance as males do to females. This is especially true in my case because female dancers quickly found out that I could never say no.
Even in social dancing, you really should take lessons on some basic steps. The more basic steps you learn, the easier you can dance with partners you never met before.
A number of steps are interchangeable among fox, rumba, and waltz. A number of steps are also interchangeable among mambo, salsa, bachata, and merengue. Beyond the basic steps, you can be as creative as you want to be in social dancing.
There is bad news for guys. In ballroom dancing, guys usually lead their female partners. This means that guys have to study harder than their female partners. You cannot think of next steps while music is being played. When females are good dancers, they often make ordinary guys look like good dancers.
Let me tell you my story. Mei and Marilyn are very good dancers. I was intimidated to ask them to dance with me. Luckily for me, they first asked me to dance with them.
When Mei and I went to the middle of the dance floor, I was not quite sure which dance step would be appropriate for the music being played. When we realized that there was no time to think, Ms. Mei told me to "just move." Sure enough, I began to move and we danced the music away.
As for Marilyn, I tried a new and sophisticated step that I picked up from YouTube only to realize that I forgot how to close the step. Being a super dancer, Marilyn quickly whispered to me "let me lead" and we moved on to the end of the music. I have no doubt that many who saw us dancing thought that I was a very good dancer. Truth is that Marilyn made me look good well beyond my level of competence.
When I am alone, I practice dancing steps. Importantly, I also practice how to lead. Probably because of my attention to leading, many dancing partners have told me that I am a good dancer. I always try to dress well and wear a tie even when it is not required. I do it out of my respect for social dancing.
One day, I saw an elderly lady at Leisure World who could not even stand up without cane. I asked her to dance with me. We danced very simple steps, while everyone was watching. After the music ended, she looked so happy and whispered to me that it was the best day of her life.
Chang Se-moon is the director of the Gulf Coast Center for Impact Studies. Write to him at: changsemoon@yahoo.com.
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